Intro Pages.Pmd

THE GEOLOGY OF LEBANON

Fadi H. Nader Department of Geology, IFP Energies nouvelles, Paris

Scientific Press ii

ISBN 978-0-9575310-3-1

Published by Scientific Press Ltd, PO Box 21, Beaconsfield, Bucks, HP9 1NS, UK

Printed in UK by Knowledge Point Ltd, Wokingham, Berks iii

Foreword, 1

Since my first visit to Lebanon in 2006, I series of excellent publications in scientific have been amazed by its people, traditions, journals. food and geology. I have had the good There has not been a book before which fortune to visit the country many times covers the general geology of Lebanon, so during my professional life with I was excited to hear of Fadi’s plans to Petroleum Geo-Services (PGS), who prepare the present volume. His continue to assist the Lebanese background, academic career and field Government prepare for offshore experience, as well as a period working hydrocarbon exploration. In 2006, when with the Ministry of Energy and Water, few people associated Lebanon with have given him a comprehensive petroleum, PGS began to acquire offshore understanding of the geology of Lebanon, 2D and 3D seismic data. The purpose was and access to important material which he to try to understand the hydrocarbon has used in this book. potential of the offshore area and to attract After a lot of hard work, the book has the oil industry to carry out more detailed finally become a reality. It takes the reader exploration activities. Through this work, right through the geology of Lebanon — I have begun to know Lebanon well and from the beautifully preserved marine have had the pleasure of working closely fossils recovered at the Haqel quarry near with Lebanese earth scientists, exchanging Byblos on the coast of northern Lebanon, ideas and views. As the work proceeded, I to the offshore petroleum potential which became acquainted with Fadi Nader and is yet to be fully assessed. I believe that over time this acquaintance has developed reading this book will be a great and into a close friendship. enlightening experience, just as it was for Fadi’s work has contributed greatly to me. Enjoy! our present understanding of the offshore and onshore geology of Lebanon. He has Per Helge Semb put old and new geological data into a Regional Manager, Middle East & CIS coherent framework and has made it Petroleum Geo-Services, Oslo available for professionals worldwide in a May, 2014 iv v

Foreword, 2

With a history of more than 6000 years of over the years to make this challenging culture and civilization in the centre of dream a reality. In May 2013, Lebanon the Old World, Lebanon has the great good launched its first licensing round and Fadi fortune to occupy the Central-Northern returned to his work at IFP Energies part of the Levant Basin, which is nouvelles to continue the journey. considered to be one of the few remaining With the solid resolve and dedication underexplored hydrocarbon provinces left which has stamped his personality since in the World. his early school days, Fadi is achieving My friendship with Fadi Nader goes with this book an important milestone on back to our early school days – we shared his career path. This book has successfully the same desk for many years. Our paths achieved the objective of being a geological crossed again at the American University guide to Lebanon. There is also a special of Beirut where Fadi completed a BSc. in focus on the hydrocarbon prospectivity geology. Some 16 years later in 2011, our offshore and onshore, which is based on paths crossed one more time at the numerous papers and research published Lebanese Ministry of Energy and Water, during the last 60 years, and also on Fadi’s and we worked together on the own work at the Ministry of Energy and preparations to launch the first licensing Water including the interpretation of round offshore Lebanon. By then, Fadi had extensive 2D and 3D seismic data sets. earned his doctorate in sedimentology and I hope my dear friend continues to have I had returned to Lebanon following 12 a productive mind for many years to come years of work for an international oil as he achieves more of his dreams while services company. at the same time enriching the geological This was more than a common project library of the “Land of the Cedars”. for both of us, it was a dream – the opportunity to help make our small country (which is barely visible on the Wissam E. Chbat geographic map) highly visible on the Lebanese Petroleum Administration energy map. Fadi worked hard, using the Head of Geology and Geophysics knowledge and experience he had acquired Beirut, May 2014 vi vii

Preface

The idea of writing this book has been described in Chapter 3. Chapters 4 and 5 haunting me for a decade. Eleven years ago together comprise an overview of the I was about to start teaching sedimentology stratigraphy, lithology and petrography of at the American University of Beirut, and outcropping rocks. Practical aspects of I realised that no textbook on the geology Lebanese geology are discussed briefly in of Lebanon was available. Lebanon is Chapters 6 and 7: hydrogeology, and fortunate to have a beautiful countryside mining and hydrocarbon exploration, in which there are some outstanding respectively. The last subject is treated geological features. Although many of these only superficially despite its growing features have been documented in importance, and readers are invited to dig international journals and other into the specialised literature listed in the publications, there is as yet no introductory References (pp. 99-106) for further book which illustrates and discusses their information. characteristics in a comprehensive form. It is my hope that this small book will This book aims to fill that gap. make it easier for students and In this book, I attempt to give the reader geoscientists to familiarise themselves (whether student or experienced geologist) with the geology of Lebanon. The book is an introduction to the rock units which are intended to be a “good read” whose exposed at the surface in Lebanon. The purpose is to encourage geologists to visit, plate tectonic framework and geodynamic explore and investigate the spectacular evolution of Lebanon and surrounding Lebanese countryside. areas are summarized in Chapter 2. Structural features (faults and folds) have profoundly influenced the make-up of the Fadi H. Nader Lebanese landscape and these are Paris, April 2014 viii

Contents

Chapter 1. Introduction 1 – 5

Chapter 2. Plate Tectonics and Regional Setting 6 – 13

Chapter 3. Structural Elements 15 – 29

Chapter 4. Lithostratigraphy, part 1 31 – 63 1. Jurassic Carbonate Platform i. Kesrouane Formation ii. Bhannes Formation iii. Bikfaya Formation iv. Salima Formation 2. Cretaceous Carbonate Platform i. Chouf Formation ii. Abeih Formation iii. Mdairej Formation iv. Hammana Formation v. Sannine Formation vi. Maameltain Formation

Chapter 5. Lithostratigraphy, part 2 64 – 75 1. Drowning of the Cretaceous Carbonate Platform i. Chekka Formation ii. Eocene Formations 2. The Miocene Emergence of Lebanon i. Marine Miocene deposits ii. Continental Miocene deposits iii. Pliocene iv. Quaternary

Chapter 6. Elements of Hydrogeology 76 – 79

Chapter 7. Mining and Petroleum Exploration 80 – 97 1. Mining 2. Petroleum Exploration i. Historical Background ii. Onshore Hydrocarbon Prospectivity iii. Hydrocarbon Prospectivity Offshore Lebanon

Chapter 8. Concluding Comments 98

References 99 – 106

Index 107 – 108 ix

Acknowledgements

Preparation and production of this book preparing the artwork and drafting many was supported by Petroleum Geo-Services; of the figures. without their generous sponsorship, the Hughes Badaoui helped me take the book would not have been possible. field photographs. Johnny Tawk is also I begin by thanking those students with acknowledged for helping me to format whom I have had the pleasure of working and prepare the photographs. Pierre Abi on themes related to the geology of Saad kindly provided photographs of the Lebanon: S. Al Haddad, J. Doummar, G. S. fossil fish on page 48. Bellos, N. Crognier, D. Dodoo, C. Asmar, There have been some truly great N. Hawie, S. Bou Daher and R. Ghalayini. Lebanese geologists and their work is cited I am indebted to François Roure (IFP liberally throughout this book. Among Energies nouvelles), Rudy Swennen (KU them I would like to mention in particular Leuven, Belgium), Mikhael Mouty Dr Georges Sabbagh, who I met recently (University of Damascus), Lucien and who gave me some much-needed Montadert (Beicip-Franlab) and Ziad energy while I was working on the book. Khayat (UNDP – Ministry of Energy and I am very grateful to H. E. Minister Water, Lebanon), whose critical reviews Gebran Bassil who invited me back to improved the book greatly. Lebanon in 2011 at the beginning of In particular I thank Professor Swennen preparations for the first offshore for his help during my Ph.D and for all his licensing round. His enthusiasm was an kindness and support subsequently. essential factor which helped convince me I would like also to thank Professor to work again on the geology of Lebanon. Roure for the fulfilling discussions which I recall my colleagues at the Ministry of we have had, and for his continuing and Energy and Water (Beirut) whose valuable support. friendship and support has touched me. I consider myself very fortunate to have Wissam Chbat (Geology and Geophysics had the chance to learn from Professor Dept, Petroleum Administration of Mouty and Dr Montadert about the Lebanon) has been a supportive friend and geology of the Levant region and the colleague, and I am grateful for his Eastern Mediterranean. encouragement and for the long I am grateful to Christopher Tiratsoo discussions we have had which have (Journal of Petroleum Geology) who always been rewarding. managed the editing and publication Finally, this book would have not existed process on behalf of Scientific Press Ltd; without the support of Per Helge Semb and to Rowland Benbrook (RB Graphics: (Petroleum Geo-Services). I am grateful to [email protected]) for him for his trust and friendship. x

To my parents, Marie and Henri Nader