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Structural modelling of the complex Cenozoic zone of
the Levant Basin offshore Lebanon
Ramadan Ghalayini
To cite this version:
Structural modelling of the complex Cenozoic zone of the
Levant Basin offshore Lebanon
Par Ramadan Ghalayini
Thèse de doctorat de Géoscience
Présentée et soutenue publiquement le 9 Juillet 2015
Devant un jury composé de :
Dominique FRIZON de LAMOTTE Professeur U. Cergy-Pontoise (Rapporteur)
Olivier DAUTEUIL Directeur de recherche CNRS, U. Rennes (Rapporteur)
Eric BARRIER Chargé de recherche CNRS, Sorbonnes Universités Paris VI (Examinateur)
Sylvie LEROY Directeur de recherche CNRS, Sorbonnes Universités Paris VI (Examinatrice)
Christian BLANPIED TOTAL (invité)
Catherine HOMBERG Maître de conférence, Sorbonnes Universités Paris VI (Directrice de thèse)
Jean-Marc DANIEL IFPEN (Co-Directeur de thèse)
STRUCTURAL MODELLING OF THE
COMPLEX CENOZOIC ZONE OF THE
LEVANT BASIN OFFSHORE LEBANON
__ “All faith is false, all faith is true;
truth is the shattered mirror strewn
in myriad bits; while each believes
his little bit the whole to own” __
Sir Richard Burton, The Kasidah
Table of contents ... 7
CHAPTER I ... 11
I. Introduction ... 13
CHAPTER II ... 19
II. Regional Geology ... 21
II. 1 Current tectonic setting ... 21
II. 2 Pre-Neogene geological history of the Levant ... 24
II. 2.1 Rifting and extension ... 24
II. 2.2 Late Cretaceous / Tertiary compression ... 37
II. 3 Neogene tectonic history ... 50
II. 3.1 Geodynamics of Arabia ... 50
II. 3.2 Description of LFS structures ... 53
II. 3.3 Proposed models for the evolution of LFS ... 59
II. 3.4 Points of convergence and similarities: ... 66
CHAPTER III ... 69
III. Tectonic structures offshore Lebanon ... 71
III. 1 General Methodology ... 71
III. 2 Abstract ... 76
III. 3 Introduction ... 77
III. 4 Regional setting ... 78
III. 5 Dataset and methodology ... 80
III. 6 Structural style of the northern Levant Basin ... 82
III. 6.1 Pre-Cenozoic structures... 83
III. 6.2 Cenozoic structures ... 84
III. 7 Discussion ... 99
III. 7.1 Influence of pre-Cenozoic structures ... 99
III. 7.2 Origin of the NW-SE normal fault system ... 101
III. 7.3 Late Cretaceous to Early Tertiary deformations ... 101
III. 7.4 Late Miocene Pre-Messinian deformation ... 102
III. 7.5 Post-Messinian tectonics ... 103
III. 7.6 Strain partitioning along the LFS and current shortening ... 105
CHAPTER IV ... 109
IV. Effect of the Palmyra graben on the Lebanese restraining bend: insights from analogue modelling ... 111
IV. 1 Modelling parameters ...112
IV. 1.1 Scaling ... 112
IV. 1.2 Analogue material ... 116
IV. 2 Previous work ...119
IV. 2.1 Analogue modelling of strike-slip systems ... 119
IV. 3 Modelling of the Levant margin ...123
IV. 3.1 Natural example ... 124
IV. 3.2 Experimental setup and procedure ... 126
IV. 3.3 Results ... 130
IV. 3.4 Discussion ... 138
IV. 3.5 Conclusion ... 147
CHAPTER V ... 149
V. The normal fault array of the Levant Basin ... 151
V. 1 Literature review of normal fault systems ...151
V. 1.1 Definition of a fault ... 151
V. 1.2 Mechanics of faulting ... 152
V. 1.3 Fault displacement ... 154
V. 1.4 General aspects of fault growth ... 157
V. 1.5 Faults in multilayer systems ... 166
V. 1.6 Polygonal fault systems ... 175
V. 1.7 Literature review conclusion ... 182
V. 2 Growth of layer-bound normal faults under a regional anisotropic stress field ...183
V. 2.1 Abstract ... 183
V. 2.2 Introduction... 184
V. 2.3 Regional framework ... 186
V. 2.4 Dataset and methodology ... 187
V. 2.5 Description of the normal fault array ... 190
V. 2.6 Evolution of the normal fault array ... 205
V. 2.7 Discussion... 211
V. 2.8 Conclusion ... 215
CHAPTER VI ... 217
VI. Discussion ... 219
VI. 1 An updated structural model of the Levant region...220
VI. 1.1 Basin Geodynamics ... 220
VI. 1.2 Role of structural inheritance and the westward extension of the Palmyra Basin ... 230
VI. 2 Toward an integrated petroleum system model for the Levant Basin .232 VI. 2.1 Review of the Levant petroleum system ... 233
VI. 2.2 Timing of trap formation ... 234
VI. 2.3 Implication of normal faulting ... 235
I - Introduction
Table of contents
II. 1 Current tectonic setting ... 21
II. 2 Pre Neogene tectonic history of the Levant ... 24
II. 2.1 Rifting and extension ... 24 Late Paleozoic rifting pulse ... 27 Middle to Late Triassic rifting pulse ... 28 Early to Middle Jurassic rifting pulse ... 29 Early Cretaceous extension ... 31 Rifting model for the Levant Basin ... 32
II. 2.2 Late Cretaceous/Tertiary compression ... 37
Structures of the Syrian Arc fold belt ... 38 Syria ... 39 Lebanon ... 42 Israel ... 44 Sinai ... 46
Driving mechanisms ... 48 II. 3 Neogene tectonic history... 50
II. 3.1 Geodynamics of Arabia ... 50
II. 3.2 Description of LFS structures ... 53
II. 3.3 Proposed models for the evolution of LFS ... 59 Roum fault, main active branch of the LFS in Lebanon ... 59 Lebanon part of the Syrian Arc ... 60 Major thrusting as part of the LFS... 60 Distributed deformation model ... 63 Folding followed by faulting dominated deformation ... 63
II - Regional Geology
II. 2 Pre-Neogene geological history of the Levant
II - Regional Geology
II - Regional Geology
′
II - Regional Geology
II - Regional Geology
II - Regional Geology
II - Regional Geology
II - Regional Geology
II. 3.4 Points of convergence and similarities:
Table of contents
III. 1 General Methodology ... 71
III. 2 Abstract ... 76
III. 3 Introduction ... 77
III. 4 Regional setting ... 78
III. 5 Dataset and Methodology ... 80
III. 6 Structural style of the nortnern Levant Basin ... 82
III. 6.1 Pre Cenozoic structures ... 83 Description ... 83 Interpretation ... 83
III. 6.2 Cenozoic structures ... 84 Normal faults ... 87 Description ... 87 Interpretation ... 87 ENE-WSW striking strike-slip faults ... 89 Description ... 89 Interpretation ... 91 Thrust faults ... 93 Description ... 93 Interpretation ... 95 NNE trending anticlines ... 97 Description ... 97 Interpretation ... 98 III. 7 Discussion ... 99
III. 7.1 Influence of pre Cenozoic structures ... 99
III. 7.2 Origin of the NW-SE normal fault system ... 101
III. 7.3. Late Cretaceous to early Tertiary deformation ... 101
III. 7.4 Late Miocene to pre-Messinian deformation ... 102
III. 7.5 Post Messinian tectonics ... 103
III- Tectonic structures offshore Lebanon
III- Tectonic structures offshore Lebanon
III- Tectonic structures offshore Lebanon
III- Tectonic structures offshore Lebanon
III- Tectonic structures offshore Lebanon
III. 7 Discussion
III- Tectonic structures offshore Lebanon
III- Tectonic structures offshore Lebanon
Table of contents
IV. 1 Modelling parameters... 112
IV. 1.1 Scaling ... 112
IV. 1.2 Analogue material ... 116 Sand ... 116 Wet clay ... 118 Silicone... 118 Honey ... 119 IV. 2 Previous work ... 119
IV. 2.1 Analogue modelling of strike-slip systems ... 119 IV. 3 Modelling of the Levant margin ... 123
IV. 3.1 Natural example ... 124
IV. 3.2 Experimental setup and procedure ... 126 Testing of variable parameters ... 126 Initial setup ... 126 Pre-existing structures ... 128 Materials and scaling ... 129
IV. 3.3 Results ... 130 Popup size ... 130 Experiments with silicone ... 132 Reactivation of pre-existing structures ... 133
IV. 3.4 Discussion ... 138 Effect of pre-existing structuration ... 138 Growth of restraining bends ... 141 Pre-existing structures ... 141 Evolution and ongoing activity ... 143
IV - Analogue modelling
IV. 1 Modelling parameters
IV. 1.1 Scaling
Sg = 𝐿𝑎 𝐿𝑛
𝜕𝜎𝑖𝑗
𝜎 = 𝜇 . 𝜀̇
𝜀̇
𝜀̇
𝜇 =𝐿 . 𝑔 . 𝜌 𝜀̇
IV - Analogue modelling
𝜇 = 𝐿2 𝑉
IV. 2 Previous work
IV - Analogue modelling
IV - Analogue modelling
IV - Analogue modelling
IV - Analogue modelling
Table of contents
V. 1 Literature review of normal fault systems ... 151
V. 1.1 Definition of a fault ... 151
V. 1.2 Mechanics of faulting ... 152
V. 1.3 Fault displacement... 154
V. 1.4 General aspects of fault growth ... 157 Isolated fault model ... 161 Coherent fault model ... 163
V. 1.5 Faults in multilayer systems ... 166 The relationship between nature of host rocks and faults ... 166 Mechanical stratigraphy ... 167 Forced nucleation ... 167 Propagation and refraction ... 170 Vertical restriction and segment linkage ... 171
V. 1.6 Polygonal fault systems ... 175 Definition ... 175 Characteristics ... 176 Mechanism ... 179
V. 1.7 Literature review conclusions ... 182 V. 2 Growth of layer-bound normal faults under a regional anisotropic stress field... 183
V. 2.1 Abstract ... 183
V. 2.2 Introduction ... 184
V. 2.3 Regional framework ... 186
V. 2.4 Dataset and methodology ... 187
Thickness variation along fault planes ... 197 Displacement vs length relationship ... 198 Lateral variation in throw and throw gradients ... 199 Zone A... 202 Zone B ... 202 Vertical variations in throw and throw gradients ... 203 Zone A ...203 Zone B ... 203
V. 2.6 Evolution of the normal fault array ... 205 Trigger of faulting ... 205 Nucleation and mechanical stratigraphy ... 207 Timing and growth of the normal faults ... 209
V. 2.7 Discussion ... 211 Volumetric contraction ... 211 Growth of contractional faults ... 213
V - Normal Faults
V - Normal Faults
V. 1.4 General aspects of fault growth
D = 𝑐 . 𝐿𝑛 (
V - Normal Faults
V - Normal Faults
V - Normal Faults
V. 1.7 Literature review conclusion
V - Normal Faults
V - Normal Faults
V - Normal Faults
