Evidence of Messinian Channels Deposits in the Valencia Basin from 3D Seismic Analysis - A Possible Messinian New Play

In the light of this work, we could recognize the different Messinian unconformity surfaces documented in the Mediterranean Sea and the paleo-drainage system which consists of a major NW-SE oriented valleys network and 1700m as a minimum of erosion.

So far, most of the discoveries in the Valencia Basin are related to the Mesozoic play, the carbonates reservoirs fed from the Langhian/Burdigallian source rocks.

In addition, our study of the wells in the area of the Casablanca field has shown that most of them had gas/oil shows, fluorescence, in practically all of the Tertiary section. This reveals that the fluids could migrate vertically from the mature deep source rocks, most probably via faulting.

Today, we believe that the Messinian play has been overlooked in the past and that is likely to work. In fact, the expected good reservoirs of Messinian age filling the Messinian channels evidenced by the seismic attributes generated from a good 3D seismic quality, have an excellent chance of being filled by the deeper source rocks, particularly where they are cut by the faults that characterize the paleohighs affecting the Mesozoic platform.

Importantly, the seismic attributes revealed that none of the wells penetrated the channels.