Journal of Petroleum Geology, vol. 23 (1), January 2000, pp. 91-106
Copyright 2000 by Scientific Press Ltd. All rights reserved.
CRETACEOUS CARBONATES IN THE ADIYAMAN REGION, SE
TURKEY: AN ASSESSMENT OF BURIAL HISTORY AND SOURCE-ROCK POTENTIAL
I. H. Demirel* and S. Guneri**
The burial history and source-rock potential of Cretaceous
carbonates in the Adiyaman region of SE Turkey have been investigated. The carbonates
belong to the Aptian-Campanian Mardin Group and the overlying Karabogaz Formation. The
stratigraphy of these carbonates at four well locations was recorded. At each well, the
carbonate succession was found to be incomplete, and important unconformities were present
indicating periods of non-deposition and/or erosion. These unconformities are of variable
extent. When combined with the effects of rapid subsidence and sedimentation which took
place in the SW of the Adiyaman region during end-Cretaceous foredeep development, they
have resulted in variations in the carbonatesÂ’ present-day burial depths, thereby
influencing the regional pattern of source-rock maturation and the timing of oil
generation. Burial history curves indicate that the carbonatesÂ’ maturity increases
from SW to NE, towards the Late Cretaceous thrust belt. Predicted levels of maturity for
the Mardin Group are consistent with measured geochemical data from three of the wells in
the study area (the exception being well Karadag-1).