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Third EAGE Workshop on Arabian Plate Geology
- Conference date: 28 Nov 2011 - 01 Dec 2011
- Location: Kuwait City, Kuwait
- ISBN: 978-94-6282-058-6
- Published: 28 November 2011
1 - 20 of 51 results
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Global to Regional Plate Tectonics during the Permo-Triassic
Authors C. van Oosterhout and M. PoppelreiterPlate reconstructions prior to the Jurassic, lack the calibration from Oceanic seafloor, which is not preserved. Only the continental fragments can be constraint with paleomagnetic and other geosocience data. The objective of this study is to bring together the key geosciences data to constrain the plate model to be able to explain the Khuff Formation Development and deformation. Global constraints are needed in order to get a sensible plate tectonic model that underpin the evolution of the Permo-Triassic Khuff Formation along the passive margin of the Neo-Tethys Ocean. Most geodynamic scenarios describe the plate tectonic process as an oceanic Tethys slab subducting under the Eurasian craton. Such models suggest subsequently tearing of a ribbon-like suit of continental basement terranes called ‘Cimmerian’ from the Gondwana margin to form the Neo-Tethys Ocean. The subduction zone subsequently consumes the Neo-Tethys as the Cimmerians terranes dock onto the Eurasia margin. This slab-pull and slab-push sequence of events has important implications for the Africa-Arabia margin.
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Sequence Stratigraphy, Reservoirs, Diagenesis and Hydrocarbon Contents in the Khuff Formation and its Equivalents: Independent or Linked?
More LessThirty years ago, the author undertook a detailed sedimentological, petrographic and reservoir quality evaluation of extensive cores through the Khuff Formation from Well Zakum-182 in offshore Abu Dhabi. Many new observations, including detailed depositional and early diagenetic fabrics preserved during dolomite replacement and the presence of sulphur as a late diagenetic phase infilling the cores of anhydrite nodules, vugs and fractures, ignited a lifelong interest in this fascinating formation and its equivalents, notably the Dalan and Kangan formations of Iran. This was followed by a much larger project in which the author, as part of a multi-disciplinary team, was responsible for a regional analysis of the sedimentology, diagenesis and reservoir quality of the Khuff Formation over a wide area ranging from subsurface sections in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Qatar to outcrops in Saudi Arabia, Oman and the Musandam Peninsula.
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The Khuff Formation in the Middle East: New Insight into Regional Stratigraphy and Palaeoenvironmental Reconstruction using Bio-assemblages and Facies Analysis
Authors Jérémie Gaillot, A. Virgone, B. Caline and G. Frébourg and F. GisquetA multidisciplinary synthesis of outcrop and subsurface data of the carbonates and evaporites of the Late Permian Khuff Formation was carried out in order to constrain the spatial and stratigraphic distribution of the depositional facies.
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Review of the Permian–Triassic Gas Play in the Arabian Gulf Region
More LessSignificant amounts of non-associated gas reserves are proven from the Permian–Triassic Khuff-Dalan play across the Arabian Gulf region (Figure 1). This play is part of the Paleozoic petroleum system that is mainly sourced by the base Qusaiba hot shale of the Silurian Qalibah Formation. It is sealed by the Triassic Sudair-Aghar shales (Figure 2) and trapped in high relief, north-trending anticlines or salt domes.
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Khuff Formation in Kuwait: An Overview
Authors R. Husain, D. Ahmad Khan and A. Sajer and N. Al-AmmarThe Khuff Formation represents an intra-Late Permian, Tatarian transgression over a varied topography in Kuwait. The formation occurs at greater depth in comparison to adjoining regions and is fully penetrated only in the wells located over the Kuwait Arch. The formation comprises mainly dolomudstone, foraminiferal and algal dolowackestone, peloidal and algal dolopackstone, peloidal and oolitic dolograinstone, anhydrite and minor limestone deposited in evaporitic low energy inner to middle ramp setting. Dominantly supratidal to subtidal, restricted setting and hypersaline conditions were prevailing during the deposition. Dolomitization has caused rare development of intercrystalline porosity, however mostly over dolomitization coupled with anhydrite cementation has deteriorated the porosity.
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The Opening of Neo-Tethys and the Formation of the Khuff Passive Margin
More LessAny investigation of regional geology and palaeomagnetism in the Middle East will show that in the Permian a series of terranes separated from Gondwana and drifted north, opening the Neo-Tethys Ocean in their wake. To the north of these terranes, the Palaeo-Tethys Ocean closed and was largely subducted. Eventually in a non-synchronous movement but largely in Late Triassic and Early Jurassic times, these terranes docked with the northern margin of the former Palaeo-Tethys during the Cimmerian Orogeny.
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Multi-scale Assessment of the Middle Eastern Permian–Triassic Khuff Carbonate: Structural Evolution and its Impact on Reservoir Properties
Authors M. Vroon and V. Zampetti and R. BorkhatariaThe Khuff Petroleum System Study is a multi-scale, multi-disciplinary analysis that integrates subsurface and outcrop, rock and fluid samples, and static and dynamic data in order to characterize the Permian–Triassic Khuff carbonate, one of the major petroleum reservoirs in the Middle East region. At regional scale, the Khuff carbonate shows a variety of depositional environments (with facies ranging from coastal plain anhydritic claystone, tidal flat/low-tohigh energy lagoonal deposits to open-marine dolostones alternating with grainy limestones and high-energy shoal-dominated dolostone/thick grainy limestones) and thicknesses (from near zero at the pinch-out of siliciclastic facies in Central Saudi Arabia, to more than 400 m (1,300 ft) in Ghawar Field in northern Saudi Arabia, expanding to 800 m (2,600 ft) in the North field, Qatar and to nearly 1,000 m (3,300 ft) in the eastern United Arab Emirates.
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Hydrocarbon Potential of the Upper Permian Chia Zairi Formation in Northwest Iraq
Authors Aboosh H. Al-Hadidy and Adnan A.M. AqrawiIn Iraq the Upper Permian Chia Zairi Formation, together with the overlying Lower Triassic Mirga Mir Formation, forms the chronostratigraphic equivalent for the Khuff Formation of eastern Arabia and the Dalan and Kangan formations of Iran. The Chia Zairi Formation extends from upper-north Ora outcrops near the Turkish border to southern Iraq (wells West Kifil-1 and Diwan-1), thus covering central and eastern parts of the country. It is absent in the far western deserts at the Jordanian border and some areas near the Syrian border (i.e. Khelsia High region and south of Jabal Sinjar) due either to non-deposition or erosion. Lithologically, the Chia Zairi Formation is composed of both carbonates and siliciclastics, and the carbonate proportion increases northward and eastward. However, the formation is deeply buried in most regions except from the northwestern and potentially southwestern region too, where, based on seismic, it is estimated to be around 3–5 km deep.
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Khuff Reservoir in Offshore Abu Dhabi Field; Future and Challenges
Authors O. Saif, M. E. Elsaid and T. El-Din Hamdy and H. Bu FutaimOffshore Abu Dhabi lies on the eastern part of the Arabian platform. The area is situated between two major structural highs, the Qatar Arch to the west and the Oman mountains to the east. This area has undergone relatively grater subsidence throughout post Lower Permian history resulting in the accumulation of a thick sedimentary section; the Upper Permian to recent section alone has a thickness in excess of 17000 ft. Structural development is typical of the Arabian Platform, being characterized by gentle simple folds, some of which are quite large. These folds are regarded as the expression of periodic re-activation of North-South aligned deep-seated basement features. In addition, salt tectonics has played a rule in the development and modification of structures in the area. A period of uplift and erosion terminated the clastics deposition of the Paleozoic.
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Carbon- and Oxygen-isotope Stratigraphy: A Tool for Confirming Sequence Stratigraphy in the Early Triassic Kangan Formation, Northern Part of the Arabian Plate
Authors Fadi H. Nader, H.R. Pour-Bonab and M.R. Kamali and M. PeyraviThe Early Triassic Kangan Formation, which is equivalent to the Upper Khuff Formation, is the main reservoir for natural gas in southwest Iran and the northern Gulf. Investigations of this formation in offshore “Field A” indicate that it is composed of 14 facies deposited in tidal flat, lagoon and oolitic barrier settings in the inner part of a carbonate ramp or platform. Vertical variations of microfacies and gamma-ray, log profiles show that the formation consists of three depositional sequences (KG1 to KG3), each consisting of transgressive and highstand systems tracts and each bounded above by a Type-2 unconformity. Carbon- and oxygen-isotope profiles from a well-dated carbonate section were compared to sedimentological data and the results from a sequence-stratigraphic study. The profiles showed negative and positive peaks coinciding with sequence boundaries and maximum flooding surfaces, respectively.
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Stratigraphic Controls on Carbonate Evaporite Stratigraphy - Importance to Hydrocarbon Exploration: Examples from Middle Eastern Oil Fields and Their Response to Plate Tectonic Cycle, Climate, Basin Position and Sea Level
More LessPaleozoic, Mesozoic through Cenozoic sedimentary fill of the Tethys southern margin is subdivided stratigraphically by the beat of second- and third-order changes in eustasy, tectonic movement, sediment supply and Wilsonian cycles of plate movement. This northeastern flank of Gondwanaland extends from the Arabian Plate through Zagros and Taurus Mountains, Levant and North Africa. Regional chronostratigraphic charts and crosssections detail products of these processes and major petroleum production from carbonates and evaporites interbedded with clastic sequences; with flatter-lying horizons in Arabia, folded in the Zagros and Taurus Mountains of Iran and Turkey, wrenched margin through the Levant and disrupted block-faulted terrains in North Africa from Egypt through Libya.
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The Khuff Outcrop Project in the Oman Mountains: Framework and Research Approach
Authors T. Aigner and M. PöppelreiterThis overview presentation introduces an extensive outcrop analog study that has been ongoing for more than three years on the Khuff-equivalent strata in the central Oman Mountains, Sultanate of Oman. This project is focussed on the sequence stratigraphy and the stratigraphic architecture of grainstone bodies as potential reservoir analogs for the subsurface. An integrated multi-dimensional, multi-disciplinary and multi-scale approach led to a series of nested reservoir models that allow to better understand controlling factors and to destill some general trends. The results may be directly used (1) to reduce uncertainties on near well- and field-scale correlation, (2) in reservoir modelling of analogous fields, and (3) as predictive rules in exploration. This overview is followed by detailed presentations on the various Khuff sequences.
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Khuff Sequence KS6: Paleorelief-influenced Facies and Sequence Patterns in the Lower Khuff Formation, Sultanate of Oman
Authors D. Bendias, T. Aigner and M. Pöppelreiter and B. KöhrerThis outcrop analog study of Lower Khuff Sequence KS6 (Saiq Formation) aims to capture lateral reservoir facies distribution during the initial phase of basin-fill. The Hercynian tectonic event triggered the erosion of Cambrian to Carboniferous strata in Oman and formed the topography of the Sub-Khuff Unconformity. When the Neo-Tethys Ocean flooded the Arabian Shield clastic sediments, the so-called "Basal Khuff Clastics" became preferentially deposited in possible paleo-lows. One main objective of this study was to unravel the effect of this paleo-relief on reservoir facies distribution within the overlying sediments.
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Khuff Sequence 5 (KS5), Oman Mountains: Lateral Facies and Sequence Variability – a Record of Differential Subsidence?
More LessThis study focuses on the sequence stratigraphy and 3-D modelling of the Khuff Sequence 5 (KS5) in the Oman Mountains (Al Jabal al-Akhdar), Sultanate of Oman. The Lower Khuff sequences (KS5 and KS6) are at this stage poorly understood, since most of the reservoir units are located in the Upper and Middle Khuff sequences (KS1 to KS4). Previous studies (Koehrer et al., 2010, 2011) revealed layer-cake geometries of grainstone bodies in the Middle and Upper Khuff sequences (KS1 to KS4) on outcrop to exploration scales. The key question of this study was if the layer-cake geometries continue to be present or are different in the KS5.
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Khuff Sequence KS4: High-resolution Anatomy of a Middle Khuff Grainstone Package, Oman Mountains, Sultanate of Oman
Authors M. Haase and T. Aigner and H. ForkeThis outcrop study is part of a larger-scale project on the Saiq Formation in the Oman Mountains (outcrop analog of Khuff Formation), and focussed on the small-scale heterogeneities of the lower part of Khuff Sequence 4 (KS4). This interval is dominated by massive grainstones that at first glance seem extremely homogenous with distinct trough cross-bedding detectable in spite of strong dolomitization. Serrated gamma-ray patterns made small-scale cycle interpretations difficult. Therefore a very detailed facies and sequence analysis was necessary to decipher the vertical microfacies make-up of the grainstones and link it with potential pore types.
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Khuff Sequences KS1 to KS4: Grainstone Geobodies in the Middle and Upper Khuff of the Oman Mountains, Sultanate of Oman
Authors B. Koehrer, M. Zeller and T. Aigner and M. PöppelreiterThis study is part of a research project on Khuff grainstone bodies carried out in the Al Jabal al-Akhdar area (Oman Mountains) in the Sultanate of Oman (Figure 1) and focusses on Khuff sequences KS1 to KS4. Its aim was to unravel the Khuff stratigraphic architecture on hierarchical scales to understand geometries and textural variation of grainstones as potential reservoir bodies. Hierarchical static 3-D geological models were generated that visualise the sedimentary architecture of primary reservoir bodies using industry standard 3-D geomodelling software.
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Arid Region Carbonate Platforms: Middle East Reservoirs
More LessCalcitic grainstones and some dolomitic packstones are amongst the most common Middle East reservoir lithologies and they host some of the best hydrocarbon reservoirs in the world. They are well-sorted, winnowed carbonate deposits with little or no carbonate mud, normally formed in moderate to warm shallow-water, high-energy settings. Substantial accumulations of this facies may form in relatively shallow, subsiding basins so that deposition and subsidence remain in balance thus permitting continuous deposition. Where these sediments remain only partially cemented, fairly open porosity is maintained and upon burial there is only moderate compaction and such sediments can act as excellent hydrocarbon reservoirs. The packstones accumulated both downslope from the grainshoals and updip to their lea. Their porosity is in part depositional and in part diagenetic.
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Basement Configuration and its Impact on Permian–Triassic Prospectivity in Kuwait
Authors P. Singh, R. Husain and A. Al-Kandary and A. Al-FaresPetroleum exploration efforts to date primarily have been focused on the Cretaceous and Jurassic targets and very little effort has been made for exploring deeper prospects in Kuwait. The seismic data quality due to its infestation with multiples does not allow for mapping the deeper prospects with confidence. For meeting this objective, an integrated modelling of seismic, gravity, magnetic and borehole data is carried out for generating a basement configuration map to evaluate the likely preservation of the Lower Silurian Qusaiba hot shale. The Qusaiba hot shale is the source for some of the most important petroleum systems of the Middle East and is believed to have charged the Devonian Jauf, Carboniferous–Permian Unayzah and Permian–Triassic Khuff formations.
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The Arabian Plate and the IGC Programme 572 (Permian–Triassic Extinction and Recovery): Results From the Muscat - Gutech (German University of Technology in Oman) Field Meeting (February 2010)
Authors A. Baud, M. Bernecker, L. Krystyn, S. Richoz, O. Weidlich, B. Beauchamp, F. Cordey and S. Grasby and Ch. HendersonThe Permian–Triassic transition has been surveyed in the Oman Mountains and new detailed sections have been presented (Baud and Bernecker, 2010), from autochthonous shallow-water units (Saih Hatat and Al Jabal al-Akhdar) to slope deposits in the Jabal Sumeini area (Wadi Maqam units), from distal tilted block (Wadi Wasit) to oceanic deep-water deposits (Buday’ah).
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Upper Permian to Lower Triassic Carbon Isotope Record in the Oman and Zagros Mountains: An Overview from the Shallow Platform to the Basin
Authors S. Richoz, A. Baud and L. Krystyn and M. HoracekThe Oman Mountains as well as the Zagros Mountains expose a segment of Neo-Tethyan southern margin. We will review the 13C and 18O isotope curves in various sections from shallow- to deep-water facies zones for the Upper Permian–Lower Triassic carbonate sequences from Oman and show some preliminary results from Zagros. The shallow-water environment was measured in the Al Jabal al-Akhdar Mountains (Wadi Sathan section), the Saih Hatat (Wadi Sawat) and the Musandam (Wadi Shahha), and the slope carbonates of the platform margin in the Sumeini area (Wadi Maqam). Deep-water deposits from the basinal sector of the margin were studied in the Hawasina Nappes (Wadi Wasit South, Wadi Musjah and Buday’ah) and the Bata’in complex (Sal). Drowned carbonate platform (Oman Exotics) and tilted blocs of the platform have also been studied (Ba’id and Wadi Wasit block).
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