Styles of Salt Tectonics in the Sab'atayn Basin, Onshore Yemen

Abstract

AbstractIn the Sab'atayn Basin of Yemen hydrocarbons were generated from pre-salt Upper Jurassic source rocks during the Cenozoic and the salt provides the ultimate seal for the pre-salt and intra-salt traps. Therefore the proper understanding of salt tectonics is critical for ongoing hydrocarbon exploration efforts in the Sab'atayn Basin.A variety of distinct salt tectonic features are present in the Sab'atayn Basin. Based on the regional interpretation of 2D seismic and locally available 3D seismic reflection data calibrated by exploration wells in the central part of the basin, an Upper Jurassic evaporite formation ("salt" from this point on) produced numerous salt rollers, pillows, reactive, flip-flop, active and falling diapirs.Due to regional extension, halokinetics began by formation of salt rollers, as soon as the early Cretaceous, within just a few million years after the deposition of the Tithonian Sab'atayn Formation. The salt locally formed salt pillows which evolved to salt diapirs and diapiric salt walls as the result of renewed extension in the basin. As the result of a prominent extensional episode at the end of the Cretaceous most of the diapiric walls in the basin are controlled by large normal faults on their updip flanks. Some of the diapiric walls even evolved into falling diapirs due to ongoing extension. As the post-Cretaceous sedimentary cover is largely missing in the study area, the assumed reactivation of salt structures during the Cenozoic remains poorly constrained.As the Sab'atayn Formation has typically several massive salt intervals in it, it defines post-, intra- and pre-salt play types in the basin. However, other than just providing traps and seals in the basin, salt tectonics is also very important for source rock maturation in the basin. As there are many salt diapirs in the study area, their cooling effect on the the pre-salt hydrocarbon kitchens appears to be quite significant, based on our preliminary basin modelling efforts.