Tectonics characterization of the salt influenced structures: Insights from a seismic data interpretation in the eastern part of the Persian Gulf, Iran

Abstract

Salt tectonics can influence the petroleum systems via the development and distribution of ductile migration pathways through the structural and stratigraphic traps. In this study, the effects of base-salt relief on the development of salt décollement horizon and the salt-influenced structures were investigated in the eastern part of the Persian Gulf, NE of the Afro-Arabian Plate. For this purpose, data from hydrocarbon exploration wells and seismic lines of the region have been used. To set the position in a time of the main stratigraphic and acoustic markers, and to compare well and seismic data, the processing of synthetic seismogram and the conversion of logs in the time domain has been performed for the selected well.Interpretation of seismic sections revealed the occurrence of a NE-SW trending horst structure and development of a natural model of the salt tectonics on its overburden of the Oligocene to Miocene sedimentary layers. The presence of Oligo-Miocene saliferous beds as a décollement has provided suitable conditions for overburden sediments gravitational sliding and development of thin-skinned extension which started during the Miocene time and it was evolved up to the present time. This condition controlled the geometry of salt-influenced structures in the eastern parts of the Persian Gulf and resulted in the formation of special structural features namely hereafter as Curly Bracket Structures in the overburden.