GEOLOGICAL FEATURES OF SYRIAN OIL FIELDS

Abstract

Over the past 60 years, exploration in Syria has focused on the major late Paleozoic and Mesozoic sedimentary basins. Source and reservoir rocks were deposited during major regional extensional periods in the late Paleozoic and Mesozoic. Oil and gas fields are concentrated mainly in the eastern and northeastern regions of the country, including the Palmyra, Deir-ez-Zor and Homs areas. The main oil fields are concentrated in the north-eastern and eastern regions of the country, in the oil and gas regions of Rmeilan, Tishreen, Jibsin, Tim and Ward. Most of the gas fields are located in the Palmyra region. The reserves of recoverable oil in Syria are estimated at 350 mln m3, and the reserves of recoverable gas – at 250 bln m3. According to some estimates, the recoverable resources of shale oil on land are about 7 bln m3. On the territory of Syria, with a total area of 2190 km², there are huge gas reserves – 600–700 bln m3 and oil reserves – 50 mln m3. New objects can be explored in Paleozoic and Mesozoic petroleum systems. Stratigraphic traps may include Paleozoic siliciclastic successions, isolated Cretaceous carbonate buildups or Jurassic-Cretaceous carbonate platforms and karsts, and marine basin-floor siliciclastic fans.