f Discovering New Exploration Targets, Aegean Region, Turkey

Western Anatolia or more regionally Aegean region is defined by wide outcrops of Early to late Miocene sediments which from time to time alternate with local volcanic products and related sediments. Another common feature observed in the region are the graben features. All these observations and outcropping features have been interpreted similarly by several authors, although they may differ in details. The most common is the extensional tectonism efecting the area since end of Upper Oligocene, and the resulting depressional areas together with uplifted areas which became subject to erosions. The most important features for the hydrocarbon exploration are the regression took place after Upper Oligocene and creation of embayments which later converted to lacustrine systems which from time to time became large scale depressions where clastic sedimentation took place. These depressions later on became areas of alluvial and fluvial sedimentation. The important features in this stratigraphy are the existence of lacustrine source rocks, alternating with high potential reservoir rocks, and high geothermal gradient in the whole region throughout its geologic history. The features mentioned above constitue the most important parts of an active hydrocarbon system. The geological and geophysical studies for hydrocarbon exploration work starting in 1998 in the Alasehir basin with early success show that these successe are not coincidental or local but a small piece of a bigger system. The region could bring a great inpurt to countries economy after an intensive exploration.