Reprocessing and interpretation of seismic reflection data at Messara Basin, Crete, Greece

Antonis Vafidis1*, Nikolaos Andronikidis1, Nikolaos Economou1, George Panagopoulos2, Avraam Zelilidis3 and Emanouil Manoutsoglou2

1Laboratory of Applied Geophysics, Department of Mineral Resources Engineering, Technical University of Crete, Polytechnioupolis, 73100 Chania, Greece 

2Research Unit of Geology (Tectonics, Stratigraphy, Environmental Geology), Department of Mineral Resources Engineering, Technical University of Crete, Polytechnioupolis, 73100 Chania, Greece 

3Laboratory of Sedimentology, Department of Geology, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece

(*vafidis@mred.tuc.gr)

( Received 05 September 2012; accepted 13 December 2012)


Abstract:   Messara sedimentary basin located at Central Crete, Greece is covered by Quaternary and Neogene formations. Seismic reflection data along a 30 km W-E seismic line acquired by the Hellenic Petroleum Company (HPC) at Messara basin is reprocessed. The Kirchoff migrated data were subsequently spectrally balanced using a Ricker wavelet. The reprocessed seismic section provides an improved image of the shallow structures delineating a number of continuous reflectors in the upper Neogene formations. The maximum depth to the top of the preNeogene basement reaches 1000 m along seismic line Z1. Two structures are also imaged, the former consists of several thrust sheets and the latter is regarded as a positive flower structure. These reprocessed seismic data depict for the first time the subsurface structure of an extended area.