The Messinian Salinity Crisis as a trigger for high pore pressure development in the Western Mediterranean

Evaporites are typically described as impermeable seals that create some of the world's highest reservoir pressures beneath salt seal. However, several laboratory studies demonstrate evaporites can retain open pore spaces hydraulically connect sediments above and below them in sedimentary basins. During Messinian Salinity Crisis (5.97–5.33 Ma), up to 2,400 m thickness were rapidly deposited Western Mediterranean, which may have generated high fluid overpressure basin sediments. Here we use one-dimensional numerical modelling quantify temporal evolution at two distinct locations Liguro-Provençal Algero-Balearic basins, from Miocene Present. We reconstruct sedimentation history basin, considering disequilibrium compaction an mechanism constraining model parameters (such permeability porosity) using experiments literature. In 11.2 MPa occurs within halite during deposition Pliocene Quaternary sediment, while base Emile Baudot Escarpment, 3.1 also but stage 3 (5.55–5.33 Ma). could been sufficient hydro fracture sediments, agrees with development escape features observed on seismic reflection profiles. general, our models evaporite rates 20 kyr?1 permeabilities 10–18 m2, suggest overpressure, approaching lithostatic, be