f Exploration of the Gas Field in Western High Related to Thrace Basin Using Seismic Method

In the Marmara Sea the North Anatolian Fault consists of a main strand and a few subsidiary branches. The main strand is made up of the Ganos (15 km long), Central Marmara (105 km) and North Boundary (45 km) fault segments (Okay et al., 2000). Western Part of the Central Marmara Fault crosses on The Western High which is located between Tekirdag and Central Marmara Basins. The Western High and Cinarcik Basin is one of the major regions of geological interest which is the area close to the NAF where evidence of gas hydrates and fluid escapes have been observed during previous scientific cruises. To understand the kinematics of the NAF and origin of the gas, collecting data was focused on these areas by the latter cruises. It started with TAMAM (Turkish-American Marmara Multichannel) cruise in July 2008 by R/V Koca Piri Reis which belongs to Dokuz Eylul University, and after that it continued with MARMESONET (Marmara Demonstration Mission Program supported by European Seafloor Observatory Network) in December 2009 by R/V Le Suroit opreated by IFREMER. This cruise consists of two legs; leg-1 is about collecting multibeam and AUV data, Leg-2 is about collecting High Resolution 3D Seismic data. The last cruise was carried out in June 2010 by R/V Koca Piri Reis, its aim was collecting 2D High Resolution Seismic Data. These studies were funded by EU ESONET MARMARA-DM Project. These 2D high resolution seismic data was processed by Hakan Saritas. 3D HR data which was processed by Bruno Marsset, Yannick Thomas and Alexis Rochat. 3D seismic data provide detailed information about fault distribution and subsurface structures. Computer-based interpretation and display of 3D seismic data allow for more thorough analysis than 2D seismic data. The objectives of this survey are to find locations of gas strata and gas hydrate formation in the western high related to Thrace Basin. Previos studies show us the gas components of Thrace Basin where have been found many industrial gas field and Western High in sea of Marmara are fairly the same. The other objectives of this survey are studying on geological structure of this area, understand kinematics related to dextral strike slip North Anatolian fault, focus on the mud volcano where close to NAF and observation gas fluid through to seabed, oil seepage and find its location. In conclusion, there were some cruises related to collecting various marine geology and geophysics data in the Western High. The investigations have been focused on gas hydrate, gas escape, location of the gas strata and tectonics related to Thrace Basin.