Abstract

The Southern Tethys Margin region combines the Arabian, North Africa, and Southern Eurasia plates. For much of geologic history the Phanerozoic sedimentary fill over these plates had a common history with similar tectonic, depositional settings, and a stratigraphy that often can be correlated across many parts of the region. This same sedimentary fill has prolific proven accumulations of hydrocarbons and many more remain to be found.

The Paleozoic depositional section is dominated by siliciclastics from continental to fluvio-deltaic and glacial settings flanked by transitional marine and carbonate and evaporite deposits. In contrast, the Mesozoic section is dominated by shallow water carbonates and evaporites, and slightly deeper marine carbonates, some interbedded with fluvio-deltaic and transitional marine deposits. The Cenozoic is a mixture of carbonates, evaporites, and siliciclastics. Collectively these Phanerozoic stratigraphic packages contain source, seal, and reservoir rocks that responded to epeirogenic movement, leading to the formation of many styles and sizes of hydrocarbon trap.

Historically the focus of exploration has been confined to the giants and super-giants of the Middle East and North Africa. These proven petroleum systems contain numerous new plays that can be expected to evolve to new hydrocarbon discoveries. Similarly, regions paralleling the Southern Tethys may contain other large hydrocarbon accumulations matching those of the traditional Middle East regions, but as yet are underexplored in these exploration frontiers. This chapter highlights the stratigraphy and depositional settings of the Southern Tethyan region and its numerous petroleum systems. The intent of this chapter and volume is to spark future exploration in the region.