H. Eltom, O. Abdullatif, M. Makkawi, A. Abdulraziq
Outcrop analogs are used to improve the characterization of reservoir stratigraphy, to understand subsurface facies architecture and heterogeneity, and to overcome the limitations associated with large inter-well spacing within individual oil fields. This study characterized and modeled outcropping strata equivalent to the Upper Jurassic Arab-D carbonate reservoir in Central Saudi Arabia. The study presents qualitative and quantitative sedimentological and petrographic descriptions of lithofacies associations and interprets them within a high-order stratigraphic framework using geostatistical modeling, spectral gamma-ray, geochemistry, petrography and micropaleontology. The sedimentological studies revealed three lithofacies associations, which are interpreted as a gentle slope platform depositional environment comprising nine high-frequency sequences. The biocomponents of the study area show a lower degree of diversity than the subsurface Arab-D reservoir; however, some key biofacies are present and provide indications of the nature of the paleoenvironments. The geochemical results show a strong correlation between the major and trace elements and the reservoir facies, and suggest that the concentrations of elements and their corresponding spectral gamma-ray logs follow the same general upward-shoaling pattern. The 3-D geocellular model captures small-scale reservoir variability, which is reflected in the petrophysical data distribution in the model. This investigation increases the understanding of the stratigraphy of the Arab-D reservoir and provides a general framework for zonation, layering, and lateral stratigraphic correlations.
{"title":"Characterizing and modeling the Upper Jurassic Arab-D reservoir using outcrop data from Central Saudi Arabia","authors":"H. Eltom, O. Abdullatif, M. Makkawi, A. Abdulraziq","doi":"10.2113/geoarabia190253","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2113/geoarabia190253","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 Outcrop analogs are used to improve the characterization of reservoir stratigraphy, to understand subsurface facies architecture and heterogeneity, and to overcome the limitations associated with large inter-well spacing within individual oil fields. This study characterized and modeled outcropping strata equivalent to the Upper Jurassic Arab-D carbonate reservoir in Central Saudi Arabia. The study presents qualitative and quantitative sedimentological and petrographic descriptions of lithofacies associations and interprets them within a high-order stratigraphic framework using geostatistical modeling, spectral gamma-ray, geochemistry, petrography and micropaleontology. The sedimentological studies revealed three lithofacies associations, which are interpreted as a gentle slope platform depositional environment comprising nine high-frequency sequences. The biocomponents of the study area show a lower degree of diversity than the subsurface Arab-D reservoir; however, some key biofacies are present and provide indications of the nature of the paleoenvironments. The geochemical results show a strong correlation between the major and trace elements and the reservoir facies, and suggest that the concentrations of elements and their corresponding spectral gamma-ray logs follow the same general upward-shoaling pattern. The 3-D geocellular model captures small-scale reservoir variability, which is reflected in the petrophysical data distribution in the model. This investigation increases the understanding of the stratigraphy of the Arab-D reservoir and provides a general framework for zonation, layering, and lateral stratigraphic correlations.","PeriodicalId":55118,"journal":{"name":"Geoarabia","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"68186812","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2014-04-01DOI: 10.2113/geoarabia1902107
Mohammed Y. Ali, D. Cooper, M. Searle, A. Al-Lazki
Gypsiferous intrusions are exposed in road-cuts in the south-central Hawasina Window in the central Oman Mountains. They are located at lower structural levels in the allochthonous Hawasina Complex and lie along faults that cut Upper Cretaceous structures related to the obduction of the Semail Ophiolite and Hawasina Complex deep-water sediments onto the Arabian Plate. The intrusions form gypsiferous pods that are up to 200 m long, in which the gypsum occurs as a dark, fine-grained matrix that contains a pervasive network of anastomosing veins of gypsum and anhydrite. The intrusions contain abundant sub-angular to sub-rounded litharenites, and less common fragments of chert and fine-grained limestone. Although these clast types are undated, their petrographic characteristics suggest they originate from the local Hawasina (Hamrat Duru Group) country rock. Very well-rounded pebbles and cobbles of feldspathic litharenites, some of which show a well-developed cleavage, and rarer cobbles of well-rounded vein quartz appear to have come from the basement. Gravity investigations indicate salt diapirs are not present beneath the Hawasina Window. Instead, the gypsiferous intrusions are interpreted as having been brought up from depth during compression to form disconnected pods along deep-rooted faults, bringing with them small amounts of the basement country rock. Strontium isotope analysis and regional considerations, in particular the distribution, age and nature of other evaporite units on the eastern Arabian Plate, suggest the gypsum may have its origins in the Neoproterozoic (Ediacaran) to lower Cambrian Ara Group evaporites, perhaps from a previously unknown extension of the Fahud Salt Basin beneath the Hawasina thrust sheets.
{"title":"Origin of gypsiferous intrusions in the Hawasina Window, Oman Mountains: Implications from structural and gravity investigations","authors":"Mohammed Y. Ali, D. Cooper, M. Searle, A. Al-Lazki","doi":"10.2113/geoarabia1902107","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2113/geoarabia1902107","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 Gypsiferous intrusions are exposed in road-cuts in the south-central Hawasina Window in the central Oman Mountains. They are located at lower structural levels in the allochthonous Hawasina Complex and lie along faults that cut Upper Cretaceous structures related to the obduction of the Semail Ophiolite and Hawasina Complex deep-water sediments onto the Arabian Plate. The intrusions form gypsiferous pods that are up to 200 m long, in which the gypsum occurs as a dark, fine-grained matrix that contains a pervasive network of anastomosing veins of gypsum and anhydrite. The intrusions contain abundant sub-angular to sub-rounded litharenites, and less common fragments of chert and fine-grained limestone. Although these clast types are undated, their petrographic characteristics suggest they originate from the local Hawasina (Hamrat Duru Group) country rock. Very well-rounded pebbles and cobbles of feldspathic litharenites, some of which show a well-developed cleavage, and rarer cobbles of well-rounded vein quartz appear to have come from the basement. Gravity investigations indicate salt diapirs are not present beneath the Hawasina Window. Instead, the gypsiferous intrusions are interpreted as having been brought up from depth during compression to form disconnected pods along deep-rooted faults, bringing with them small amounts of the basement country rock. Strontium isotope analysis and regional considerations, in particular the distribution, age and nature of other evaporite units on the eastern Arabian Plate, suggest the gypsum may have its origins in the Neoproterozoic (Ediacaran) to lower Cambrian Ara Group evaporites, perhaps from a previously unknown extension of the Fahud Salt Basin beneath the Hawasina thrust sheets.","PeriodicalId":55118,"journal":{"name":"Geoarabia","volume":"154 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"68186739","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2014-04-01DOI: 10.2113/geoarabia1903139
M. Hussein, Mohammad Alqudah, S. V. D. Boorn, S. Kolonic, O. Podlaha, J. Mutterlose
Sediment petrographic studies combined with carbon and oxygen stable-isotope analyses are considered to be powerful tools in deciphering the depositional and diagenetic history of carbonate rocks. These studies have been found valuable for understanding the environmental controls and global changes of climate and oceanography. Two cores of Eocene bituminous marls (OS-22 and OS-23) from central Jordan with thicknesses of 222.4 m and 256.3 m, respectively, were logged. A total of 103 thin sections were analyzed for sediment petrographic investigations. Another 295 bulk rock samples from Core OS-23 were selected for stable-isotope analysis (δ13C, δ18O). The two cores show similar lithologic variations that correspond to third-order sea-level changes. The sediment petrographic study reveals the presence of six major microfacies that range from mudstones to grainstones. The distribution of these six types of microfacies in the two cores indicates an overall shallow-marine environment in an interior carbonate-platform setting. Within this environment, conditions fluctuated between open and restricted marine. The stratigraphic variability of the carbon-isotope data of Core OS-23 reflects a highly dynamic depositional system that exhibits a variable rate of organic matter accumulation in the sediments, which can be directly linked to the interaction between primary organic-matter burial and oxidative weathering of reworked organic matter. Within the overall diagenetically controlled δ18Ocarb profile an excursion is observed for a specifically enriched organic matter interval. This excursion is believed to coincide with the Middle Eocene Climatic Optimum (MECO), suggesting that next to seawater, porewaters were influenced by this event and making it the first record of this event in the region.
{"title":"Eocene oil shales from Jordan - their petrography, carbon and oxygen stable isotopes","authors":"M. Hussein, Mohammad Alqudah, S. V. D. Boorn, S. Kolonic, O. Podlaha, J. Mutterlose","doi":"10.2113/geoarabia1903139","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2113/geoarabia1903139","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 Sediment petrographic studies combined with carbon and oxygen stable-isotope analyses are considered to be powerful tools in deciphering the depositional and diagenetic history of carbonate rocks. These studies have been found valuable for understanding the environmental controls and global changes of climate and oceanography. Two cores of Eocene bituminous marls (OS-22 and OS-23) from central Jordan with thicknesses of 222.4 m and 256.3 m, respectively, were logged. A total of 103 thin sections were analyzed for sediment petrographic investigations. Another 295 bulk rock samples from Core OS-23 were selected for stable-isotope analysis (δ13C, δ18O). The two cores show similar lithologic variations that correspond to third-order sea-level changes. The sediment petrographic study reveals the presence of six major microfacies that range from mudstones to grainstones. The distribution of these six types of microfacies in the two cores indicates an overall shallow-marine environment in an interior carbonate-platform setting. Within this environment, conditions fluctuated between open and restricted marine. The stratigraphic variability of the carbon-isotope data of Core OS-23 reflects a highly dynamic depositional system that exhibits a variable rate of organic matter accumulation in the sediments, which can be directly linked to the interaction between primary organic-matter burial and oxidative weathering of reworked organic matter. Within the overall diagenetically controlled δ18Ocarb profile an excursion is observed for a specifically enriched organic matter interval. This excursion is believed to coincide with the Middle Eocene Climatic Optimum (MECO), suggesting that next to seawater, porewaters were influenced by this event and making it the first record of this event in the region.","PeriodicalId":55118,"journal":{"name":"Geoarabia","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"68186850","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2014-04-01DOI: 10.2113/geoarabia1902177
A. Ghabra, D. Tatum, A. Gardiner, D. Stow
The Souedih (also spelled Suwaidiyah) Oilfield is located in the extreme northeast of Syria in part of the Mesopotamian Basin. The principal reservoir of most fields in this region is the Upper Cretaceous, carbonate-rich Massive Formation. Using data from 25 wells and 36 samples/thin sections, this study focuses on the nature and distribution of porosity in the main Souedih reservoir. The Massive A reservoir is 100Ð120 m thick and represented by uniform, bioturbated bioclastic packstone and bioclastic packstone-grainstone, deposited in a well-oxygenated, moderate to high-energy, shallow-marine environment. It is generally well cemented by microsparite and micrite, and more rarely by sparite. Porosity is highly variable, ranging from < 1% to 20%. Mouldic porosity is the most common type, with rare channel and fracture porosity. Average porosity values tend to decrease eastward across the reservoir, which can also be divided vertically into five zones. The uppermost of these shows the highest average porosity > 15%. The dominance of mouldic porosity throughout the study area indicates that secondary dissolution was the primary cause and that pre-existing bioclasts were the principal targets for this dissolution. The source of these diagenetic fluids is still unclear, although our data do lend some support to the karstification theory. These characteristics are important for understanding and managing reservoir production, not only for Souedih but for the region in general.
{"title":"Carbonate reservoir characteristics and porosity distribution in Souedih Oilfield, northeast Syria","authors":"A. Ghabra, D. Tatum, A. Gardiner, D. Stow","doi":"10.2113/geoarabia1902177","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2113/geoarabia1902177","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 The Souedih (also spelled Suwaidiyah) Oilfield is located in the extreme northeast of Syria in part of the Mesopotamian Basin. The principal reservoir of most fields in this region is the Upper Cretaceous, carbonate-rich Massive Formation. Using data from 25 wells and 36 samples/thin sections, this study focuses on the nature and distribution of porosity in the main Souedih reservoir. The Massive A reservoir is 100Ð120 m thick and represented by uniform, bioturbated bioclastic packstone and bioclastic packstone-grainstone, deposited in a well-oxygenated, moderate to high-energy, shallow-marine environment. It is generally well cemented by microsparite and micrite, and more rarely by sparite. Porosity is highly variable, ranging from < 1% to 20%. Mouldic porosity is the most common type, with rare channel and fracture porosity. Average porosity values tend to decrease eastward across the reservoir, which can also be divided vertically into five zones. The uppermost of these shows the highest average porosity > 15%. The dominance of mouldic porosity throughout the study area indicates that secondary dissolution was the primary cause and that pre-existing bioclasts were the principal targets for this dissolution. The source of these diagenetic fluids is still unclear, although our data do lend some support to the karstification theory. These characteristics are important for understanding and managing reservoir production, not only for Souedih but for the region in general.","PeriodicalId":55118,"journal":{"name":"Geoarabia","volume":"28 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"68186652","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2014-04-01DOI: 10.2113/geoarabia1902137
M. Searle, Alan G. Cherry, Mohammed Y. Ali, D. Cooper
The tectonics of the Musandam Peninsula in northern Oman shows a transition between the Late Cretaceous ophiolite emplacement related tectonics recorded along the Oman Mountains and Dibba Zone to the SE and the Late Cenozoic continent-continent collision tectonics along the Zagros Mountains in Iran to the northwest. Three stages in the continental collision process have been recognized. Stage one involves the emplacement of the Semail Ophiolite from NE to SW onto the Mid-Permian–Mesozoic passive continental margin of Arabia. The Semail Ophiolite shows a lower ocean ridge axis suite of gabbros, tonalites, trondhjemites and lavas (Geotimes V1 unit) dated by U-Pb zircon between 96.4–95.4 Ma overlain by a post-ridge suite including island-arc related volcanics including boninites formed between 95.4–94.7 Ma (Lasail, V2 unit). The ophiolite obduction process began at 96 Ma with subduction of Triassic–Jurassic oceanic crust to depths of > 40 km to form the amphibolite/granulite facies metamorphic sole along an ENE-dipping subduction zone. U-Pb ages of partial melts in the sole amphibolites (95.6– 94.5 Ma) overlap precisely in age with the ophiolite crustal sequence, implying that subduction was occurring at the same time as the ophiolite was forming. The ophiolite, together with the underlying Haybi and Hawasina thrust sheets, were thrust southwest on top of the Permian–Mesozoic shelf carbonate sequence during the Late Cenomanian–Campanian. Subduction ended as unsubductable cherts and limestones (Oman Exotics) jammed at depths of 25–30 km. The Bani Hamid quartzites and calc-silicates associated with amphibolites derived from alkali basalt show high-temperature granulite facies mineral assemblages and represent lower crust material exhumed by late-stage out-of-sequence thrusting. Ophiolite obduction ended at ca. 70 Ma (Maastrichtian) with deposition of shallow-marine limestones transgressing all underlying thrust sheets. Stable shallow-marine conditions followed for at least 30 million years (from 65–35 Ma) along the WSW and ENE flanks of the mountain belt. Stage two occurred during the Late Oligocene–Early Miocene when a second phase of compression occurred in Musandam as the Arabian Plate began to collide with the Iran-western Makran continental margin. The Middle Permian to Cenomanian shelf carbonates, up to 4 km thick, together with pre-Permian basement rocks were thrust westwards along the Hagab Thrust for a minimum of 15 km. Early Miocene out-of-sequence thrusts cut through the shelf carbonates and overlying Pabdeh foreland basin in the subsurface offshore Ras al Khaimah and Musandam. This phase of crustal compression followed deposition of the Eocene Dammam and Oligocene Asmari formations in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), but ended by the mid-Miocene as thrust tip lines are all truncated along a regional unconformity at the base of the Upper Miocene Mishan Formation. The Oligocene–Early Miocene culmination of Musandam and late Cenozoic folding
{"title":"Tectonics of the Musandam Peninsula and northern Oman Mountains: From ophiolite obduction to continental collision","authors":"M. Searle, Alan G. Cherry, Mohammed Y. Ali, D. Cooper","doi":"10.2113/geoarabia1902137","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2113/geoarabia1902137","url":null,"abstract":"The tectonics of the Musandam Peninsula in northern Oman shows a transition between the Late Cretaceous ophiolite emplacement related tectonics recorded along the Oman Mountains and Dibba Zone to the SE and the Late Cenozoic continent-continent collision tectonics along the Zagros Mountains in Iran to the northwest. Three stages in the continental collision process have been recognized. Stage one involves the emplacement of the Semail Ophiolite from NE to SW onto the Mid-Permian–Mesozoic passive continental margin of Arabia. The Semail Ophiolite shows a lower ocean ridge axis suite of gabbros, tonalites, trondhjemites and lavas (Geotimes V1 unit) dated by U-Pb zircon between 96.4–95.4 Ma overlain by a post-ridge suite including island-arc related volcanics including boninites formed between 95.4–94.7 Ma (Lasail, V2 unit). The ophiolite obduction process began at 96 Ma with subduction of Triassic–Jurassic oceanic crust to depths of > 40 km to form the amphibolite/granulite facies metamorphic sole along an ENE-dipping subduction zone. U-Pb ages of partial melts in the sole amphibolites (95.6– 94.5 Ma) overlap precisely in age with the ophiolite crustal sequence, implying that subduction was occurring at the same time as the ophiolite was forming. The ophiolite, together with the underlying Haybi and Hawasina thrust sheets, were thrust southwest on top of the Permian–Mesozoic shelf carbonate sequence during the Late Cenomanian–Campanian. Subduction ended as unsubductable cherts and limestones (Oman Exotics) jammed at depths of 25–30 km. The Bani Hamid quartzites and calc-silicates associated with amphibolites derived from alkali basalt show high-temperature granulite facies mineral assemblages and represent lower crust material exhumed by late-stage out-of-sequence thrusting. Ophiolite obduction ended at ca. 70 Ma (Maastrichtian) with deposition of shallow-marine limestones transgressing all underlying thrust sheets. Stable shallow-marine conditions followed for at least 30 million years (from 65–35 Ma) along the WSW and ENE flanks of the mountain belt. Stage two occurred during the Late Oligocene–Early Miocene when a second phase of compression occurred in Musandam as the Arabian Plate began to collide with the Iran-western Makran continental margin. The Middle Permian to Cenomanian shelf carbonates, up to 4 km thick, together with pre-Permian basement rocks were thrust westwards along the Hagab Thrust for a minimum of 15 km. Early Miocene out-of-sequence thrusts cut through the shelf carbonates and overlying Pabdeh foreland basin in the subsurface offshore Ras al Khaimah and Musandam. This phase of crustal compression followed deposition of the Eocene Dammam and Oligocene Asmari formations in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), but ended by the mid-Miocene as thrust tip lines are all truncated along a regional unconformity at the base of the Upper Miocene Mishan Formation. The Oligocene–Early Miocene culmination of Musandam and late Cenozoic folding","PeriodicalId":55118,"journal":{"name":"Geoarabia","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"68186460","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
B. Beiranvand, E. Ghasemi-Nejad, M. Kamali, A. Ahmadi
Facies associations, microplanktonic diversity, palynofacies variations, geochemical data, and natural gamma-ray logs were analyzed from the Danial and Gurpi sections of the Campanian–Selandian Gurpi Formation in the Zagros Mountains, southwest Iran. The biostratigraphic data indicate that deposition across the Cretaceous/Paleogene boundary was continuous in the Danial Section. In contrast, a minor stratigraphic break seems to be present in the Gurpi Section, where several planktonic foraminiferal subzones are not identified. Nine depositional sequences were interpreted and correlated between the two sections. They are apparently of great lateral extent because they closely correlate to the global sea-level cycles. The Maastrichtian maximum flooding surface MFS K180 (68 Ma) of the Arabian Plate was also identified. Detailed palynofacies analysis, integrated with standard tropical/subtropical planktonic foraminifera, indicate warm Neo-Tethyan upper-bathyal to middle-shelf depositional environments for the Gurpi Formation.
{"title":"Sequence stratigraphy of the Late Cretaceous–Paleocene Gurpi Formation in southwest Iran","authors":"B. Beiranvand, E. Ghasemi-Nejad, M. Kamali, A. Ahmadi","doi":"10.2113/geoarabia190289","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2113/geoarabia190289","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 Facies associations, microplanktonic diversity, palynofacies variations, geochemical data, and natural gamma-ray logs were analyzed from the Danial and Gurpi sections of the Campanian–Selandian Gurpi Formation in the Zagros Mountains, southwest Iran. The biostratigraphic data indicate that deposition across the Cretaceous/Paleogene boundary was continuous in the Danial Section. In contrast, a minor stratigraphic break seems to be present in the Gurpi Section, where several planktonic foraminiferal subzones are not identified. Nine depositional sequences were interpreted and correlated between the two sections. They are apparently of great lateral extent because they closely correlate to the global sea-level cycles. The Maastrichtian maximum flooding surface MFS K180 (68 Ma) of the Arabian Plate was also identified. Detailed palynofacies analysis, integrated with standard tropical/subtropical planktonic foraminifera, indicate warm Neo-Tethyan upper-bathyal to middle-shelf depositional environments for the Gurpi Formation.","PeriodicalId":55118,"journal":{"name":"Geoarabia","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"68186816","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2014-01-01DOI: 10.2113/geoarabia1901161
R. Jaff, M. Williams, I. Wilkinson, F. Lawa, Sarah Lee, J. Zalasiewicz
Species of the benthonic foraminiferal genus Bolivinoides provide a refined biostratigraphic biozonation for the Late Campanian to Early Maastrichtian (Late Cretaceous) Shiranish Formation in NE Iraq. Three biozones and two subzones are identified: the Bolivinoides decoratus Biozone (Late Campanian) subdivided into a lower B. decoratus Subzone and upper B. laevigatus Subzone; the B. miliaris Biozone (Earliest Maastrichtian); and the B. draco Biozone (late Early Maastrichtian). These zones can be related to the biostratigraphical interval of the Globotruncana aegyptiaca (Late Campanian), Gansserina gansseri (latest Campanian–Early Maastrichtian) and Contusotruncana contusa (late Early Maastrichtian) planktonic foraminiferal biozones. Combined, the benthonic and planktonic foraminiferal biostratigraphy enables the informal recognition of lower and upper intervals within both the Globotruncana aegyptiaca and Gansserina gansseri biozones that may be important for more refined inter-regional correlation in the Middle East and North Africa. The new Bolivinoides biozonation precisely locates the Campanian–Maastrichtian boundary in NE Iraq. The foraminiferal assemblages also constrain the timing of a shallowing marine trend in the Shiranish Formation beginning from the latest Campanian that is consistent with shallowing facies noted globally at this time.
{"title":"A refined foraminiferal biostratigraphy for the Late Campanian–Early Maastrichtian succession of northeast Iraq","authors":"R. Jaff, M. Williams, I. Wilkinson, F. Lawa, Sarah Lee, J. Zalasiewicz","doi":"10.2113/geoarabia1901161","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2113/geoarabia1901161","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 Species of the benthonic foraminiferal genus Bolivinoides provide a refined biostratigraphic biozonation for the Late Campanian to Early Maastrichtian (Late Cretaceous) Shiranish Formation in NE Iraq. Three biozones and two subzones are identified: the Bolivinoides decoratus Biozone (Late Campanian) subdivided into a lower B. decoratus Subzone and upper B. laevigatus Subzone; the B. miliaris Biozone (Earliest Maastrichtian); and the B. draco Biozone (late Early Maastrichtian). These zones can be related to the biostratigraphical interval of the Globotruncana aegyptiaca (Late Campanian), Gansserina gansseri (latest Campanian–Early Maastrichtian) and Contusotruncana contusa (late Early Maastrichtian) planktonic foraminiferal biozones. Combined, the benthonic and planktonic foraminiferal biostratigraphy enables the informal recognition of lower and upper intervals within both the Globotruncana aegyptiaca and Gansserina gansseri biozones that may be important for more refined inter-regional correlation in the Middle East and North Africa. The new Bolivinoides biozonation precisely locates the Campanian–Maastrichtian boundary in NE Iraq. The foraminiferal assemblages also constrain the timing of a shallowing marine trend in the Shiranish Formation beginning from the latest Campanian that is consistent with shallowing facies noted globally at this time.","PeriodicalId":55118,"journal":{"name":"Geoarabia","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"68186573","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2014-01-01DOI: 10.2113/geoarabia1901143
Mohammed Y. Ali, A. Watts, A. Farid
Gravity measurements onshore and offshore of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have been used to construct a new Bouguer gravity anomaly map of the region. The gravity data, which has been gridded at 2,700 m × 2,700 m interval, has been used to constrain the tectonic elements, major lineation trends and structures of the Neoproterozoic basement of the Arabian Plate and the distribution of infra-Cambrian salt basins. Advanced transformation techniques (including first vertical derivative, total horizontal derivative, tilt derivative and Euler deconvolution) were applied to identify gravity source edges as an aid to structural interpretation and geological modelling of the study area. Three major structural provinces (fold-and-thrust belt, foreland and salt tectonic provinces) were identified based on the residual Bouguer gravity anomaly field. The eastern fold-and-thrust belt province is associated with short-wavelength positive gravity anomalies, which are attributed to the allochthonous series of the Semail Ophiolite and its related thrust sheets. The central foreland basin province is characterised by NNW-oriented negative gravity anomalies associated with deepening of the basement and thickening of Aruma and Pabdeh sediments in the foredeep basins and flexure of the top and base of the crust by the load of the Semail Ophiolite. The western salt tectonic province displays well-defined local gravity lows superimposed on a regional gravity high, which probably reflects the swelling of infra-Cambrian salt above a shallowing of the basement and thinning of the foredeep sediments. In addition, gravity modelling constrained by seismic and well data indicates the presence of substantial infra-Cambrian salt bodies in all basins of the UAE both onshore and offshore including the southern area of the Rub’ Al-Khali Basin. An extensive array of previously unmapped N-S, NW- and SW-trending lineaments affecting the basement and possibly overlying sediments are mapped in the UAE. The N-S Arabian trending lineament represents the effect of a major structure, along which many important oilfields are located (e.g. Bu Hasa). The SW trend has regular spacing and is dominant in the southern and central part of Abu Dhabi, east of the Falaha syncline. The NW-SE lineament is the most striking and includes two well-defined trends that cross Abu Dhabi Emirate, which in this paper are named as the Abu Dhabi Lineaments. These lineaments are associated with a linear gravity high extending from the southwestern border with Oman to the offshore close to Zakum oilfield. They are probably related to the Najd Fault System.
利用阿拉伯联合酋长国(UAE)陆上和海上的重力测量数据,构建了该地区新的布格重力异常图。利用2700 m × 2700 m格网的重力资料,对阿拉伯板块新元古代基底的构造要素、主要线理走向和构造以及下寒武统盐盆地的分布进行了约束。利用一次垂直导数、总水平导数、倾斜导数和欧拉反褶积等先进变换技术识别重力源边缘,辅助研究区构造解释和地质建模。根据残余布格重力异常,确定了褶皱冲断带、前陆构造和盐构造3个主要构造省。东部褶皱冲断带省与短波长正重力异常有关,其成因是塞梅尔蛇绿岩及其相关逆冲片的异质系列。中部前陆盆地省以nnw向负重力异常为特征,与前深盆地基底加深、Aruma和Pabdeh沉积物增厚以及塞梅尔蛇绿岩负荷下地壳顶底弯曲有关。西部盐构造省显示出明显的局部重力低叠加在区域重力高上,这可能反映了下寒武统盐在基底上的膨胀和前深沉积的减薄。此外,受地震和井数据约束的重力模型表明,阿联酋所有盆地(包括Rub ' Al-Khali盆地南部)的陆上和海上都存在大量的下寒武纪盐体。在阿联酋绘制了一系列以前未绘制的N-S、NW和sw走向的线条,这些线条影响着基底和可能的上覆沉积物。北-南阿拉伯向线代表了一个主要构造的影响,沿着这个构造有许多重要的油田(如布哈萨)。西南走向间距规整,主要分布在阿布扎比南部和中部,法拉哈向斜以东。西北-东南线是最引人注目的,包括两个明确的趋势,穿过阿布扎比酋长国,在本文中被命名为阿布扎比线。这些特征与从阿曼西南边界延伸到Zakum油田附近的线性重力高压有关。它们可能与Najd断裂系统有关。
{"title":"Gravity anomalies of the United Arab Emirates: Implications for basement structures and infra-Cambrian salt distribution","authors":"Mohammed Y. Ali, A. Watts, A. Farid","doi":"10.2113/geoarabia1901143","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2113/geoarabia1901143","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 Gravity measurements onshore and offshore of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have been used to construct a new Bouguer gravity anomaly map of the region. The gravity data, which has been gridded at 2,700 m × 2,700 m interval, has been used to constrain the tectonic elements, major lineation trends and structures of the Neoproterozoic basement of the Arabian Plate and the distribution of infra-Cambrian salt basins. Advanced transformation techniques (including first vertical derivative, total horizontal derivative, tilt derivative and Euler deconvolution) were applied to identify gravity source edges as an aid to structural interpretation and geological modelling of the study area.\u0000 Three major structural provinces (fold-and-thrust belt, foreland and salt tectonic provinces) were identified based on the residual Bouguer gravity anomaly field. The eastern fold-and-thrust belt province is associated with short-wavelength positive gravity anomalies, which are attributed to the allochthonous series of the Semail Ophiolite and its related thrust sheets. The central foreland basin province is characterised by NNW-oriented negative gravity anomalies associated with deepening of the basement and thickening of Aruma and Pabdeh sediments in the foredeep basins and flexure of the top and base of the crust by the load of the Semail Ophiolite. The western salt tectonic province displays well-defined local gravity lows superimposed on a regional gravity high, which probably reflects the swelling of infra-Cambrian salt above a shallowing of the basement and thinning of the foredeep sediments. In addition, gravity modelling constrained by seismic and well data indicates the presence of substantial infra-Cambrian salt bodies in all basins of the UAE both onshore and offshore including the southern area of the Rub’ Al-Khali Basin.\u0000 An extensive array of previously unmapped N-S, NW- and SW-trending lineaments affecting the basement and possibly overlying sediments are mapped in the UAE. The N-S Arabian trending lineament represents the effect of a major structure, along which many important oilfields are located (e.g. Bu Hasa). The SW trend has regular spacing and is dominant in the southern and central part of Abu Dhabi, east of the Falaha syncline. The NW-SE lineament is the most striking and includes two well-defined trends that cross Abu Dhabi Emirate, which in this paper are named as the Abu Dhabi Lineaments. These lineaments are associated with a linear gravity high extending from the southwestern border with Oman to the offshore close to Zakum oilfield. They are probably related to the Najd Fault System.","PeriodicalId":55118,"journal":{"name":"Geoarabia","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"68186523","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The exposed Cenozoic carbonates of the Dammam Dome are studied to: (1) characterize fractures and associated structures; (2) interpret the fracture mechanism; and (3) gain insights into fracture development within dome-like structures in the subsurface of the Arabian Gulf region. The fieldwork is integrated with structural analysis of the near-surface horizons mapped from interpretations of 3-D reflection seismic and borehole logs. Fractures are mapped from the outcrops of the middle limestone unit of the Eocene Rus Formation. The outcrops are concentrated in the central, northern and western areas of the Dammam Dome. The fractures are interpreted as opening-mode, bed-bounded joints that form orthogonal sets in most areas. The primary (older) joint set (J1) developed in long lineaments, some of which can be traced for over 300 m across entire exposures. The J1 set is found to be broadly consistent in its trend over the dome, indicating that formation of J1 fractures was systematic and not influenced by local structural anomalies (including karst collapse) formed during the Miocene to Recent. The trend of the J1 set does not correlate with the NE-SW compressional orientation of regional stresses associated with the Zagros Orogeny. Field data interpretation, allied with analysis of dome’s growth and curvature, suggest that the overall joint pattern reflects the growth of the strata as a dome. In addition, the joint density is controlled by structural position on the dome and mechanical stratigraphy. The study results provide a first-order conceptual fracture model for the subsurface reservoirs to guide future development.
{"title":"Modeling of the Dammam outcrop fractures: Case study for fracture development in salt-cored structures","authors":"M. Al-Fahmi, M. Cooke, J. C. Cole","doi":"10.2113/geoarabia190149","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2113/geoarabia190149","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 The exposed Cenozoic carbonates of the Dammam Dome are studied to: (1) characterize fractures and associated structures; (2) interpret the fracture mechanism; and (3) gain insights into fracture development within dome-like structures in the subsurface of the Arabian Gulf region. The fieldwork is integrated with structural analysis of the near-surface horizons mapped from interpretations of 3-D reflection seismic and borehole logs. Fractures are mapped from the outcrops of the middle limestone unit of the Eocene Rus Formation. The outcrops are concentrated in the central, northern and western areas of the Dammam Dome. The fractures are interpreted as opening-mode, bed-bounded joints that form orthogonal sets in most areas. The primary (older) joint set (J1) developed in long lineaments, some of which can be traced for over 300 m across entire exposures. The J1 set is found to be broadly consistent in its trend over the dome, indicating that formation of J1 fractures was systematic and not influenced by local structural anomalies (including karst collapse) formed during the Miocene to Recent. The trend of the J1 set does not correlate with the NE-SW compressional orientation of regional stresses associated with the Zagros Orogeny. Field data interpretation, allied with analysis of dome’s growth and curvature, suggest that the overall joint pattern reflects the growth of the strata as a dome. In addition, the joint density is controlled by structural position on the dome and mechanical stratigraphy. The study results provide a first-order conceptual fracture model for the subsurface reservoirs to guide future development.","PeriodicalId":55118,"journal":{"name":"Geoarabia","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"68186822","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
M. Hussein, Mohammad Alqudah, O. Podlaha, S. V. D. Boorn, S. Kolonic, Jörg Mutterlose
The study of trace fossils is widely used in facies interpretation. It provides a crucial tool for reconstructing depositional paleoenvironments when used in combination with other sedimentological and paleontological proxies. Here we present the first detailed study of Eocene trace fossils from Jordan. Two sections of Early to Middle Eocene age, with a total thickness of 478.7 m, from central Jordan were cored and investigated. The results of individually occurring (isolated) or co-occurring (combined) ichnofabrics and bioturbation levels, in combination with results from biostratigraphic and geochemical studies, were used for stratigraphic and paleoenvironmental reconstructions. The bioturbation index (BI) was used to classify the burrowing density versus the preservation of the original sedimentary structures. The two cores show highly variable grades of bioturbation with BI ranging from 0 to 6. Four ichnogenera were identified: Thalassinoides, Chondrites, Teichichnus and Zoophycos. Both the ichnofabrics and the variations of the BI suggest a shallow, highly dynamic depositional system with rapid changes of water depth and degree of bottom-water oxygenation.
{"title":"Ichnofabrics of Eocene oil shales from central Jordan and their use for paleoenvironmental reconstructions","authors":"M. Hussein, Mohammad Alqudah, O. Podlaha, S. V. D. Boorn, S. Kolonic, Jörg Mutterlose","doi":"10.2113/geoarabia190185","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2113/geoarabia190185","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 The study of trace fossils is widely used in facies interpretation. It provides a crucial tool for reconstructing depositional paleoenvironments when used in combination with other sedimentological and paleontological proxies. Here we present the first detailed study of Eocene trace fossils from Jordan. Two sections of Early to Middle Eocene age, with a total thickness of 478.7 m, from central Jordan were cored and investigated. The results of individually occurring (isolated) or co-occurring (combined) ichnofabrics and bioturbation levels, in combination with results from biostratigraphic and geochemical studies, were used for stratigraphic and paleoenvironmental reconstructions. The bioturbation index (BI) was used to classify the burrowing density versus the preservation of the original sedimentary structures. The two cores show highly variable grades of bioturbation with BI ranging from 0 to 6. Four ichnogenera were identified: Thalassinoides, Chondrites, Teichichnus and Zoophycos. Both the ichnofabrics and the variations of the BI suggest a shallow, highly dynamic depositional system with rapid changes of water depth and degree of bottom-water oxygenation.","PeriodicalId":55118,"journal":{"name":"Geoarabia","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"68186393","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}