Seismic interpretation of the Messinian salt of the Levant basin offshore Lebanon: new insight into the geology and tectonics of the eastern Mediterranean region

Abstract

Little is known about the relationship between the Messinian salt layer in the eastern Mediterranean region and the formation of the offshore tectonic structures. The objective of this study is to leverage 3D seismic reflection data from the northern Levant basin offshore Lebanon in order to map the Messinian salt layer and understand its effect on the structures around it. For that, we used current 3D time seismic reflection data to map the seafloor and the top and base of the salt layer, and we generated their corresponding bathymetric and structural maps. In addition, we generated isochron maps of the salt layer and the post-salt sedimentary section in an attempt to detect the variations in the lateral thicknesses of these layers. The presented maps helped to understand the impact of the Messinian salt deformation on the geological structures both in the pre-salt and post-salt sections. In addition, we assess the distribution and geometries of the salt structures, and discuss the thick and thin salt deposits. We also relate the movement of the Messinian salt in the subsurface to the formation of bathymetric features along the seafloor. The results enable geoscientists to have solid knowledge about the salt tectonics of the Messinian salt layer in the Levant basin, and allow hydrocarbon explorers to build on this knowledge and pursue further investigations on the hydrocarbon potential in relation to the Messinian salt deformation.