Tectonic and Karstic Effects on the Western Taurus Region, Southwestern Turkey: Relations to the Present Temperature Gradients and Total Organic Carbon Content

• Published in: Energy sources Vol. 22; no. 5; pp. 431 - 441
• Main Author: Ismail Hakki Demirel, Yilmaz Gunay
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia, PA Informa UK Ltd 01.06.2000; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: 02 PETROLEUM; 03 NATURAL GAS; Applied sciences; CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS; Crude oil, natural gas and petroleum products; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; Fuels; Geology and geochemistry. Geological and geochemical prospecting. Petroliferous series; NATURAL GAS DEPOSITS; PETROLEUM DEPOSITS; Prospecting and exploration; Prospecting and production of crude oil, natural gas, oil shales and tar sands; RESERVOIR FLUIDS; RESERVOIR TEMPERATURE; SALINITY; TECTONICS; Tectonism And Karst Temperature Gradient Western Taurus Region; TEMPERATURE GRADIENTS; TURKEY; Asia; Turkey; Geothermal gradient; Petroleum geology; Karst; Formation water; Geological prospecting; Total organic carbon; Petroleum source rock; Tectonics; Ion composition; Temperature gradient; Salinity
• ISSN: 0090-8312; 1556-7036; 1521-0510; 1556-7230
• DOI: 10.1080/00908310050013848

The western Taurus region is one of the promising hydrocarbon provinces and the largest karstic terrain of Turkey. The Mesozoic Beydaglari units deposited in the study area are composed mainly of a carbonate succession which has potential hydrocarbon source rocks of various ages. To confirm the tectonic and karstic influence on the regional temperature gradient and total organic carbon content, subsurface data obtained from four drillholes, and the results of the surface samples and water samples analyses, were used. The low salinity values (less than 2500 mg/liter) of the formation water, and the measured hole temperatures, indicate the presence of the meteoric water circulation in the geologic section. Since the Late Miocene, intensive tectonic deformations and karstification have provided the development of the aquifer characteristics of the Beydaglari units. Water circulation in the aquifer system has influenced the total organic carbon content and karstic conduits within carbonates.