The Oligo-Miocene deepwater system of the Levant Basin

- 4 -The discoveries of the early 2000's promoted the acquisition of geophysical data throughout theentire Eastern Mediterranean area. The new geophysical data sets include about 12,000 km ofregional 2D seismic reflection lines and several 3D seismic cubes, as well as new gravity andmagnetic surveys.Following the successful drilling, the petroleum commissioner in the Israeli Ministry ofInfrastructure initiated a regional analysis of the Levant Basin and margin. The first phase of thisstudy that was completed in 2006 was aimed at reconstructing the overall basin's stratigraphy,structure and tectonic history (Gardosh et al., 2006; Gardosh et al., 2008). One of the main results ofthis study was the finding of an extensive submarine canyon system in the Oligo-Miocene sectionoffshore Israel. The stratigraphic position of these canyons is below the Messinian evaporite sealand above potential Mesozoic source rocks. They are therefore considered as a prime target forexploration.The purpose of this report is to analyze the Oligo-Miocene depositional system in the Levant Basinand surrounding area. We hope that the results presented herein will encourage and support furtherexploration activity of the prolific, yet under-explored, Levant Basin.1.2 Geologic settingThe Levant Basin and surrounding area were shaped by three distinct tectonic phases:(a) Rifting phase(b) Post-rift, passive margin phase(c) Convergence phaseRifting in the Levant region is related to the breakup of the Gondwana plate and the formation ofthe Neotethys Ocean system (Freund et al., 1975; Garfunkel and Derin, 1984; Garfunkel, 1998;Gardosh and Druckman, 2006). Four extensional pulses were postulated: (1) in the latest Paleozoic;(2) in Middle Triassic (3) in Late Triassic; and (4) in Early Jurassic. These pulses are reflected innormal faulting with throw reaching several kilometers, in magmatic activity and in the formationof NE-SW oriented graben and horst systems. Four basement structures associated with the EarlyMesozoic extension are found in the deep parts of Levant Basin (from east to west): the Yam,Jonah, Leviathan, and the Eratosthenes highs (Gardosh et al., 2006; Gardosh et al., 2008). The mainstructures inland are the Gevim, Ga’ash and Ma’anit highs and the northern Sinai, Judea and Ashergrabens. The rifting in the Levant area reached an early magmatic stage. Although magmatic