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Fourth EAGE Workshop on Arabian Plate Geology
- Conference date: 09 Dec 2012 - 12 Dec 2012
- Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- ISBN: 978-94-6282-059-3
- Published: 09 December 2012
1 - 20 of 38 results
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Keynote Speech: Prof. J. Fred Read (Virginia Tech, USA)
By J. Fred ReadCarbonate platform types relevant to the Jurassic-Cretaceous passive margins of the region include homoclinal ramps, with uniform gentle slopes on the deep ramp of 0.1 degree to a few degrees, along with low energy, distally steepened ramps, in which the gently sloping deep ramp distally steepens (up to several degrees) into the basin, and rimmed margins, characterized by reefal rims and steeper marginal slopes. Modern analogs for interiors of the immense, relatively flat topped platforms that typify the Arabian Peninsula are lacking. Differentiation of the platform interiors generated large intrashelf basins and source rocks in silled, stratified settings, bordered by basinward prograding ramp systems. Low sedimentation rate in platform interiors, differential subsidence and siliciclastic poisoning all may have played a role in formation of the intrashelf basins.
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The Relation between Regional (Palaeo-)stress Engines, Sand Machines, and Carbonate Factories in the Middle East Region
By A. KoopmanRelative sea-level fluctuations exert primary control on patterns of sediment dispersal and differential erosion. Generally subtle, but locally significant lateral variations of “carbonate factories” and “sand machines”, are critically controlled by the combined effects of the global eustacy record and regionalscale structural evolution of the Arabian Plate. It is generally accepted that regional-scale structural development is related to plate-boundary forces, associated with plate-tectonic models of Neo-Tethys, throughout its Mesozoic history. An assessment of the main driving forces (“stress engines”) involved may contribute to better-constrain structural framework models for the Mesozoic Middle East region, including the Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous time period. No full paper available.
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Sequence Stratigraphy and Depositional Systems in the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous (Oxfordian to Valanginian) of the Arabian Plate: Implications for Regional Exploration and Reservoir Description
Authors R.B. Davies and M.D. SimmonsThe Oxfordian to Valanginian succession on the Arabian Plate is dominated by carbonate shelves and intrashelf basin deposits. Evaporites are a major component of Kimmeridgian to Tithonian deposition in both shelf and basinal locations. Siliciclastics are less important, though they increase in the Early Cretaceous. Important petroleum systems reflect the presence of numerous source, reservoir and seal combinations. Local stratigraphy is well understood where there are major petroleum systems but there are considerable stratigraphic, depositional and preservational variations across the Arabian Plate and correlations between more distant areas are not well documented. There is a dearth of comprehensively documented age control. Nevertheless careful sequence stratigraphic analysis means that many correlations can be established, and that a plate-wide sequence stratigraphic framework can be applied. Sharland et al (2001) identified ten plate-wide maximum flooding surfaces in this succession. Further work continues to validate these surfaces world-wide. We use them to discuss the sequence stratigraphy of the interval across the entire Arabian Plate and its importance for future exploration and detailed reservoir description. Our methodology facilitates high resolution Gross Depositional Environment mapping and detailed play fairway analysis. This is fundamental to identifying new stratigraphic trap and continuous play potential across the Arabian Plate.
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Stratigraphic Aspects of the Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous of Saudi Arabia
By G.W. HughesThe Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous, Oxfordian to Valanginian, lithostratigraphic succession of Saudi Arabia is divided into the Jurassic Shaqra Group and the Cretaceous Thamama Group, the boundary of which lies within the uppermost Tithonian. This interval includes at least five third-order sequence boundaries and maximum flooding zones. J60 and K40 are two regionally recognized sequence boundaries, and J50 and J100 represent two regionally established Jurassic maximum flooding surfaces. The Upper Jurassic succession includes shallow- to deep-marine carbonates of the Hanifa (Oxfordian) and Jubaila (Kimmeridgian) formations, and shallow-marine carbonates and evaporites of the Arab (Kimmeridgian) and Hith (Kimmeridgian to Tithonian) formations. The Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous succession includes the shallow to moderately deep carbonates of the Sulaiy Formation (Tithonian to Berriasian) with the overlying Yamama Formation being of Cretaceous age (Valanginian). These formations were deposited in a period of increasing global temperature, during a transitional phase leading to greenhouse.
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Middle Jurassic to Early Cretaceous Calcareous Nannofossils from Onshore North Kuwait: A New Record
Authors A.P. Kadar, S. Crittenden and K.A. KaramA new record of calcareous nannofossil datum markers from Middle Jurassic to Early Cretaceous (Aalenian to Valanginian) strata of onshore North Kuwait has been calibrated with nannofossil marker species of the global Jurassic to Early Cretaceous nannofossil biostratigraphy schemes and compared with calcareous nannoplankton assemblages recorded from Lower to Middle Cretaceous strata offshore Kuwait. The studied sections embrace, in ascending order, the Dhruma, Sargelu, Najmah, Gotnia, Hith, Makhul, Minagish and Ratawi formations and comprise argillaceous limestones, grainstones, packstones, bituminous packstones, wackestones, dolomite, anhydrite, laminated bituminous calcareous mudstone and calcareous shales all representative of a variety of environments from marginal marine (sabkha) and shallow hypersaline (salina) to fully marine mid to outer shelf settings.
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Callovian to Valanginian Chemostratigraphy of the Eastern Arabian Plate Margin
Authors V. Vahrenkamp and A. Al MansooriFollowing the breakup of Gondwana the northeastern passive margin of the Arabian Plate entered during the Permian a period of long-term thermal subsidence that lasted until renewed tectonic activity in the Early Turonian. This resulted in the more-or-less continuous deposition of mainly carbonate shelf sediments with the section reaching a thickness of up to 4,000 m. A composite carbon-isotope profile for the Callovian to Cenomanian time period has been generated for the eastern Arabian Plate using more than 2,000 carbon-isotope data. The profile has some 1,800 m thickness, is anchored by biostratigraphy, Sr-isotope data and tightly sampled carbon-isotope profiles from various cross-correlated cored wells in the United Arab Emirates and Oman. Further time control is provided by correlation with published curves of carbon-isotope ratio variations through time mainly form the northern Tethys carbonate sequences. A large data set of strontium-isotope data provides absolute time control via correlation with well-dated curves of strontium-isotope ratio variations in seawater over time.
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Middle Jurassic to Early Cretaceous Petroleum Systems of the Arabian Plate
Authors G.J. Grabowski, D.E. Sherrett, T.W. Jones, W.B. Maze and J. KendallWhat are arguably the most prolific petroleum systems in the world are driven by multiple world-class source rocks. These highly organic-rich rocks account for most of the discovered oil and gas on the Arabian Plate. The source rocks were deposited in widespread shallow-marine intrashelf basins and deep-marine basins. They differ in age between basins and are not correlative with global occurrences of organic enrichment. Burial under Mesozoic and Cenozoic strata has caused the source rocks to generate oil and gas. Timing of generation differs mainly by variations in sedimentary load; differences in the kinetics of generation and regional heat flow play a lesser role. In the west of the Arabian Plate, generation occurred under Cretaceous and Paleogene sedimentary load, whereas in and near the Zagros Foldbelt generation continues under recent syntectonic sedimentary load. The most organic-rich source rocks are carbonates containing mainly marine (Type-I/II) organic matter that has generated sulfur-bearing oil and gas. The gas in some carbonate reservoirs is further enriched in H2S derived from thermal-sulfate reduction. Clay-rich source rocks contain a mixture of marine and land-plant (Type II/III) organic matter and have generated a mixture of low-sulfur oil and gas. Gas is more common also where the source rocks are deeply buried and more thermally mature. Low-angle structural dip of highly continuous strata allowed oil and gas to migrate laterally for greater than 150 km from areas of generation to traps, limited only by the extent of structural dip and continuous seal. Intervals of widespread evaporite and shale acted as barriers to vertical migration. Oil and gas migrated to younger rocks through gaps in migration barriers caused by non-deposition or erosion, including localized karst dissolution, or by faults that pierce these migration barriers, commonly where they are thin. Oil and gas generated from Jurassic and Early Cretaceous source rocks are found in many Jurassic, Cretaceous and Cenozoic reservoirs, but rarely occur in older rocks. The Arabian Plate is reservoir rich, with multiple reservoir-seal pairs for oil and gas accumulations. Most reservoir rocks are shallow-marine carbonates and paralic sandstones, but nonmarine and deep-marine sedimentary rocks and even fractured basement are reservoirs in some basins. Shallow burial and limited cementation in the subsurface have favored preservation of porosity and some superb reservoir quality. Most traps are structural. Compressional thrusted anticlines dominate the Zagros Foldbelt, whereas compressional anticlines with reactivated basement-involved faults occur on the Arabian Platform. Halokinesis of deeply buried Cambrian-Precambrian salt forms traps, especially in the offshore Gulf and in Oman. Extensional faulted anticlines form traps in rift basins, notably in Syria and Yemen. The few discovered stratigraphic traps include truncation pinchouts and reefal buildups.
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Northern Rub' Al-Khali Upper Jurassic – Lower Cretaceous Petroleum System
Authors P. van Laer, P. Nederlof, S.A. Ahsan and F. Al KatheeriThe Jurassic–Lower Cretaceous petroleum system in the northern Rub’ Al-Khali Basin contains some of the largest oil and gas accumulations of the Middle East. Carbon isotopes and biomarkers indicate that the main source of hydrocarbons originated from the Jurassic-aged Tuwaiq Mountain and Hanifa basinal source rocks. Other source rocks, despite being less significant and being often overlooked, have also contributed in considerable amounts to the charge and include the Jurassic Jubaila and the Lower Cretaceous Habshan, Thamama and lower Bab intervals. All these source rocks are marine carbonates and the kerogen type is mainly, but not exclusively, represented by the oil-prone, low-activation energy and sulphur-rich type IIS. We are presently reviewing the stratigraphic setting of the source rocks to better map out their thickness distribution and initial source rock properties.
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Geochemical Characterization and Volumetric Assessment of the Prolific Mesozoic Source Rocks of the Northeastern Arabian Plate
More LessThe Middle-Upper Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous strata of the NE Arabian Plate contain several prolific world-class source rocks for some of the largest petroleum systems globally. They are located within the Zagros and Mesopotamian Foreland Basins covering north, central and south-eastern parts of Iraq together with western and south-western parts of Iran, particularly the Lurestan and Khuzestan provinces. These source rocks principally include the Bajocian–Bathonian Sargelu, the Callovian–Early Kimmeridgian Naokelekan and the Late Tithonian–Early Berriasian Chia Gara Formations of Iraq and their chronostratigraphic equivalents in Iran. They have charged the main Cretaceous and Tertiary reservoirs throughout Iraq and Iran (in various trap types and sizes) with more than 250 billion barrels of proven recoverable hydrocarbons.
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Regional Framework and Controls on Jurassic Evaporite and Carbonate Systems of the Arabian Plate
More LessDetailed sequence stratigraphic framework shows distribution of evolving sedimentary facies on varying spatial and temporal scales and provides an understanding of the chronostratigraphy, tectonics, climate, palaeogeography, depositional systems and diagenetic trends and petroleum systems of the region and identifies potential exploration plays. Framework is subdivided by surfaces that are the product of local low frequency tectonic movement, associated with Wilson's cycles of tectonic plate motion; further subdivided by surfaces formed during higher frequency eustatic changes in sea level and varying rates of sediment accumulation. Jurassic fields are in shallow water carbonate and evaporite sediments in Saudi Arabia Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE and Yemen associated with high rates of organic production that accumulated in the arid rain shadow of the lea shores of the equatorial seaway flanking the eastern margin of Gondwanaland and the consequent restricted basins were confined behind structural and/or depositional barriers that formed over Hercynian structural highs. The Jurassic section common shallow water carbonate play elements are tied to platform evaporite depositional settings that are comprised of sabkha, salina, and mudflats; and subaqueous salterns; and shallow or deep basin center evaporite plays.
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Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous Stratigraphic Model for the Eastern Arabian Plate
By H.J. DrosteA new stratigraphic model for the Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous has been constructed for the eastern Arabian plate based on well correlations calibrated with seismic.
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Latest Jurassic to Early Barremian Carbonate Systems from the United Arab Emirates to Oman: Regional Stratigraphic Architecture and Controlling Factors
Authors P. Razin, C. Grélaud, E. Dujoncquoy and A. LebecThe latest Jurassic–Early Barremian carbonate systems of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman are organized as a succession of prograding wedges over almost 300 km towards the northeast. The integration of outcrop and subsurface data allows the definition of clinoform architecture, the proposal of regional correlations, and the characterization of the main stages of evolution of this part of the Arabian Plate (Figure 1).
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Stratigraphy and Depositional History of the Marib-Jawf Basin, Yemen
More LessThe sedimentary fill of the Marib-Jawf Basin is Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous. Initial marine transgression occurred in the Middle Jurassic, with the Kohlan Formation unconformably overlying Paleozoic sedimentary rocks and Precambrian basement. These basal fluvial to nearshore-marine sandstones and shales are conformably overlain by intertidal to shallow-marine carbonates of the Saba Formation of Callovian-Oxfordian to Kimmeridgian age. Extensional faulting formed grabens that deepened during the Kimmeridgian and Tithonian. Up to 6000 feet (2000 meters) of deep-marine sediments unconformably overlie and lap onto high margins of the basin. At the base are outer-shelf/slope argillaceous carbonates and shales of the Arwa Formation. These pass upwards into slope and basinal shales with minor limestones and sandstones of the Meem Formation, which in turn are overlain by shales with interbedded sandstones and limestones of the Lam Formation. The sandstones were deposited by turbidity currents from the margins of the basin, where submarine fan deposits are present. Shales of the Meem and Lam formations are organic rich and are the source rocks for most of the oil and gas in the basin. A drop in relative sea level occurred in the middle to late Tithonian with restriction of the basin from the open ocean. Three progradational sequences (Yah, Sean and Alif Members of the Alif Formation, from base to top) of fluvial-alluvial to deltaic-marine siliciclastic sediments were deposited down the axis of the basin, passing into offshore-marine shales and basinal evaporites to the east. The sandstones are the main reservoirs for oil and gas in the basin. A transgressive shale at the top of the Alif Formation records marine flooding of the basin, followed by deposition of five sequences of basin-filling evaporites of the Safer Formation. Thick halite beds were deposited subaqueously when the basin was filled with hypersaline water and have thin anhydrite beds at top and base. These evaporites are separated by lowstand fluvial to shallow-marine siliciclastics, including thin, organic-rich shales that are minor source rocks for oil. The evaporites are the primary seal for the reservoirs of the Alif Formation. Berriasian-Valanginian shelfal-marine shales and limestones of the Azal Formation unconformably overlie the Safer evaporites. The lower part of the Azal Formation is dominantly limestone and shale, the middle is shale with few thin limestones, and the upper unit has limestone, shale and minor sandstone. These are overlain by the Tawilah Group, possibly as old as Valanginian-lower Hauterivian and at least as young as Aptian in parts of the basin, equivalent to the Qishn Formation to the east. The Tawilah Group is dominated by nonmarine to shallow-marine sandstones and shales with minor thin dolomite and skeletal-limestone beds. Regional erosion truncates the sedimentary fill of the basin, progressively cutting out more strata toward the west and in places exposing Middle Jurassic rocks at the surface.
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Stratigraphic Architecture of the Latest Jurassic - Early Cretaceous Carbonate Platform System of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Authors C. Grelaud, P. Razin, V. Vahrenkamp, D. Popa, F. Al Katheeri, P. Van Laer and K. LeyrerThe integration of subsurface and outcrop data has allowed to build a 200 km NW-SE correlation transect across 7 oil fields in Abu Dhabi. It reveals new possible concepts on the stratigraphic organization of the Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous systems in the U.A.E.
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Upper Arab Reservoir Correlation in a Giant Gas Field in the United Arab Emirates: Integration of Core, Log, Borehole Image & Pressure Data
Authors F. Al Darmaki, D.A. Lawrence, R.P. Singleton, N. Lucas and E. SwindellsThe upper interval of the Arab Formation is a secondary reservoir objective in a major gas field currently under development in onshore Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE). This presentation will illustrate the impact of integrating core sedimentological descriptions, log response, borehole image and pressure data to develop a sequence-stratigraphic correlation of thin reservoir targets in the upper interval of the Arab Formation.
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Field-scale Heterogeneity of Carbonate Reservoirs from the Arab Fm – Lessons Learned from Seven Case Studies
Authors B.P.R Caline, C. Maza, A. Roumagnac, E. Zuckmeyer and M. RousseauPreparation of robust reservoir model from the Arab Fm relies on thorough characterization of the different carbonate facies from core and thin section examination. However the key step remains to properly extrapolate the detailed facies recognition in cored wells to uncored wells. The objective of this presentation is to illustrate how electrofacies have been successfully first calibrated on few cored wells and then extrapolated to all uncored wells in several hydrocarbon fields in UAE (5 fields) and Qatar (2 fields). The sedimentary interpretation of the Arab reservoirs from the different studied fields is primarily based on the integration of: - high-resolution stratigraphic architecture of the carbonate-evaporite series allowing subdivision of the reservoir interval into meter-scale stratigraphic units, - recognition of depositional and diagenetic trends within each stratigraphic unit in order to constrain the distribution of the main facies. Special attention was paid to properly define along selected cored wells a number of pre-rock types; each of them being characterised by a specific log signature and porosity/permeability relationship. Once this calibration exercise has been carried out, the pre-rock types have been propagated to uncored wells. The robustness of the propagation needs to be validated by few blind tests on cored wells not used in the calibration step. This method has proved to be successful in recognition of the main reservoir facies including grain-supported facies affected by tar mat deposition. Preparation of maps per stratigraphic units where both thickness and proportion of electrofacies are displayed on well basis is used to constrain the field-scale distribution of reservoir facies taken into account the depositional and diagenetic trends provided by regional paleogeographical reconstruction. Results from the seven field case studies will be highlighted during the presentation.
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Regional Stratigraphic Framework, Depositional Environments, and Exploration Concepts of the Upper Jurassic Carbonates and Evaporites, Saudi Arabia
Authors D.Z. Tang, P. Lawrence, W. Tan, A.F. Bakhiet, G. Gregory, S. Wharton and K. ShokairThe Jurassic carbonates host significant oil reserves and produce from giant and super giant oilfields. The Upper Jurassic (Oxfordian) Hanifa Formation and Middle Jurassic (Late Callovian) Tuwaiq Mountain Formation contain world-class hydrocarbon source rocks and carbonate reservoirs. The grainy carbonates of the Arab A, B, C, and D members are among the best Jurassic carbonates reservoirs. The Hith Formation evaporites (Tithonian) provide excellent regional seal of the exceptionally prolific Jurassic petroleum systems. Understanding the regional stratigraphic framework by integrating core, well-logs, and 2-D/3-D seismic interpretations is essential for unlocking the hydrocarbon exploration potential and new exploration opportunities. The Hanifa reservoirs (skeletal/oolitic limestones and packstones) were deposited as prograding clinoforms during the highstand of the Hanifa third-order composite sequence along the margins of the Hanifa intrashelf basin, which was inherited from the Tuwaiq Mountain intrashelf basin. The Hanifa grainstone shoaling complexes shifted further basinward as a result of continuous carbonate growth and progradation, progressively infilling most of the accommodation space that was created after Bathonian time. The organic-rich mudstones of both the Tuwaiq Mountain and Hanifa formations were deposited in the intrashelf basins of the Jurassic Arabian carbonate platform interior. An early Kimmeridgian base-level fall, as revealed from core and 3-D seismic chronostratigraphic analysis, terminated the Hanifa carbonate platform and resulted in substantial subaerial exposure of previous grainstone shoaling complexes and proximal areas. A renewed regional transgression occurred post-Hanifa time, leading to deposition of the Jubaila Formation and infilling the remaining accommodation space. Widespread deposition of packstones and grainstones of the Arab-D Member represents the maximum flooding and the beginning of the late Kimmeridgian sea level fall, which resulted in the deposition of Arab-A, B, C members, and pervasive Hith anhydrite deposits across the region, marking the turning point from a predominantly carbonate factory to an overall evaporite factory. Gross depositional environment (GDE) maps of the Upper Jurassic formations have been reconstructed by integrating core/drill cutting sedimentology, well-log electrofacies, and seismic attributes. These GDE maps depict evolving depositional environments that span the Hanifa intrashelf basin, Arab Formation carbonate platform, and finally the Hith evaporite system. A variety of new exploration concepts has emerged through building a robust stratigraphic framework and reconstruction of gross depositional environments.
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Sequence-stratigraphic Framework and Depositional Facies Interpretations in Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous Section in Saudi Arabia/Kuwait Partitioned Zone (PZ)
Authors Q. Ye, K.D. Kelsch, D. Angstadt, K. Sukhdarshan and R. CorleyHydrocarbons have been found and produced for a long time in PZ area, however, a sequence stratigraphic framework study has never been carried out previously due to poor seismic data. With increased effort in exploring new resources and characterising existing base production, a comprehensive study to examine the sequence stratigraphic framework is vitally important in PZ area. This study is aimed to achieve part of that goal for improved evaluation of future exploration targets.
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Structural and Stratigraphic Trapping of Hydrocarbons within Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous Section as Observed from Drilling and 2-D/3-D Seismic in Partitioned/Divided Zone of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia/Kuwait
Authors K. Kelsch, S. Kumar, S. Al-Anazi, R. Corley, M. Ye, P. Thompson and Y. Ahmad MohammadStructural and stratigraphic traps in the Partitioned/Divided Zone (PZ) between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait suggest minimal tectonics during carbonate build-ups within the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous (Figure 1). Today, these same reservoirs are structurally compartmentalized as determined from pressure data, wells and the incorporation of an array of 2-D/3-D seismic data (Figure 2).
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Makhul Formation in Kuwait
Authors G. Gega, A. Al-Fares, G. Ghaida Al-Sahlan, M. Al-Baghli and P. ClewsThe Makhul is an unconventional formation in Kuwait. This paper will compare the Makhul Formation in Kuwait with the Makhul Formation in other Arabian Plate countries and add insights to the differences of the sequence stratigraphy and sedimentology to other studied areas. The sedimentology study provides additional insight into the environments of deposition and digenesis of the Makhul in Kuwait to aid in the complete understanding of this formation. Core, cuttings, thin sections, logs will be evaluated to provide the study with comprehensive insight.
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