f Pre-Salt Structures in the Tuz Gölü and Çankırı-Çorum Basins, Central Anatolia: Implications on Oil Explorations

Following recent oil discoveries of nearly 16 billions barrels of recoverable oils in the allochthonous sub-salt and autochthonous pre-salt structures by Petrobras in Brasil’s offshore areas, these sub and pre-salt structures became very interesting exploration targets in the world. Evaluation of seismic and well data indicate that pre-salt structures exist also in the Tuz Golu and Cankiri-Corum basins in Central Anatolia. In the Tuz Golu basin, previous exploration and drilling activities aimed to test the Caldag reefs, sandstones in the Kirkkavak and Haymana formations, sandstone pinch-outs and fault-related closures at the flanks of the salt structures. In the Cankiri-Corum basin, Malibogazi reefs, sandstones in the Incik formation and structures at the flanks of salt bodies are considered as the main prospects. Of course, all these above structures are obviously very important for oil exploration, but the pre-salt structures, orinated by pull-up movements during the ascension of salt deposits and non-explored in Turkey so far, are excellent oil accumulation sites in these sedimentary basins. Upward movements of salt bodies under the gravity and tectonic forces, for exemple eastward movement of the Menderes Massif and westward displacement of the Kirsehir Massif evidenced by subsurface diabasic intrusion, created fractured anticlinal structures which are very attractive for oil exploration. Evaluation of seismic and well data reveal certain interesting pre-salt structural trends in the Tuz Golu and Cankiri-Corum basins. Evaluations and testing these pre-salt structures in the Tuz Golu and Cankiri-Corum basins and even in the eastern Mediterranean offshore areas, will open a new exploration concept for future oil researches in Turkey.