TECTONIC CONTROLS ON THE EVOLUTION OF POROSITY IN THE CRETACEOUS MARDIN GROUP CARBONATES, ADIYAMAN OILFIELDS, SE TURKEY

Abstract

The mid‐Cretaceous Mardin Group carbonates constitute the principal reservoir in a number of oilfields near the city of Adiyaman in SE Turkey (the Adiyaman, G. Adiyaman, Cemberlitas, Cukurtas, Bolukyayla and Karakus oilfields). Porosity development in these carbonates was controlled by two phases of brittle deformation. The first of these accompanied the emplacement of the allochthonous Koçali‐Karadut Complex in the Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian), which principally influenced the development of porosity in the northern oilfields. Subsequently, movement during the Mio‐Pliocene on the transcurrent Adiyaman fault affected porosity development in the south.The topmost unit of the Mardin Group, the Karababa Formation, consists of argillaceous carbonates, whose permeability and porosity were increased as a result of abundant tectonically‐induced microfractures and stylolites. The underlying Derdere Formation includes porous limestones and dolomites, which are the principal reservoir units in the Adiyaman fields.Porosity versus depth and geothermal gradient versus depth curves indicate that porosity trends are controlled principally by the transcurrent Adiyaman fault and its antithetics. The Koçali‐Karadut thrusts have had less influence on the evolution of porosity in the Mardin Group carbonates in the study area.