2 and 3 Dimensional Structural Models of active Structures of Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Pipeline - Kumisi-Teleti area

Author: Aleksandre Gventsadze
Co-authors: Victor Alania, Onise Enuqidze, Nino Kvavadze
Keywords: Structural wedge, fold-and-thrust belt, back-thrust zone
Annotation:

The Achara-Trialeti fold-and-thrust (ATFTB) belt is located within the northernmost part of the Lesser Caucasus orogen and is associated with Arabia-Eurasia convergency. Building of thick-skinned structures of eastern Achara-Trialeti was formed by basement wedge movement within the cover to the north. Within eastern ATFTB have been found several principal structural units from south to north: south- vergent backthrust zone, north-vergent forethrust zone and triangle zone. The study object is Teleti- Kumisi area including back-thrust zone of the eastern ATFTB. The surface area of the study territory is mainly built of Cretaceous, Paleogene, Neogene and Quaternary volcanic rocks. Our interpretation has integrated 2-D seismic reflection profiles, several oil-wells, and the surface geology data to reveal structural characteristics of the study area. Seismic reflection data reveal the presence of structural wedge and south-vergent backthrust. The main style of deformation within the backthrust belt is a series of fault- propagation folds. Interpreted 2-D seismic refection profiles, structural cross-sections, and earthquakes reveal the presence of an active blind wedge under backthrust zone. The kinematic evolution of south- vergent backthrust zone is related to northward propagating structural wedge. 2-3D structural models show that Kumisi and Teleti earthquakes related to a north-vergent blind wedge thrust system.