ÇAĞRILI KONUŞMALAR / KEYNOTES Invited Speeches ... - TPJD

Discovering New Exploration Targets, Aegean Region, Turkey
Ongun Yoldemir, Kadir Gürgey, Oğuz Kılıç, Tuba Sökmensüer, Müjdat İşçi, Didem İşçi
Merty Energy, Ankara
Western Anatolia or more regionally Aegean region is defined by wide outcrops of Early to
late Miocene sediments which from time to time alternate with local volcanic products and
related sediments. Another common feature observed in the region are the graben features.
All these observations and outcropping features have been interpreted similarly by several
authors, although they may differ in details. The most common is the extensional tectonism
efecting the area since end of Upper Oligocene, and the resulting depressional areas together
with uplifted areas which became subject to erosions. The most important features for the
hydrocarbon exploration are the regression took place after Upper Oligocene and creation of
embayments which later converted to lacustrine systems which from time to time became large
scale depressions where clastic sedimentation took place. These depressions later on became
areas of alluvial and fluvial sedimentation. The important features in this stratigraphy are the
existence of lacustrine source rocks, alternating with high potential reservoir rocks, and high
geothermal gradient in the whole region throughout its geologic history. The features mentioned
above constitue the most important parts of an active hydrocarbon system. The geological and
geophysical studies for hydrocarbon exploration work starting in 1998 in the Alasehir basin with
early success show that these successe are not coincidental or local but a small piece of a bigger
system. The region could bring a great inpurt to countries economy after an intensive exploration.
Keywords: Aegean region, HC potential, Alasehir basin, Lacustrine source rock
177