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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
21 - 40 of 51 results
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Importance of Trace Fossils and Bioturbation in Carbonate Reservoir Characterization and Reservoir Quality: Examples from the Khuff Formation
By Dirk KnaustSeveral aspects of the study of trace fossils (ichnology) are relevant for the characterization of carbonate reservoirs, of which the following are most important: (1) facies interpretation by utilizing the ecological information of trace fossils and ichnocoenoses; (2) reservoir zonation by identifying sequence boundaries and flooding surfaces for correlation; and (3) reservoir quality and connectivity, which is directly affected by bioturbation. The vast shallow-marine carbonate platform of the Middle Permian to Lower Triassic Khuff Formation in the Middle East comprises broad facies belts with little significant changes in the lithofacies. However, trace fossil assemblages and ichnofabrics, in combination with sedimentological observations, serve in subdividing this platform and in distinguishing sub-environments. From proximal to distal, these are sabkha and salina, tidal flat, restricted lagoon, open lagoon, platform margin, shoreface/inner ramp, slope/outer ramp and basin/deeper intra-shelf. In this way, changes in relative sea level can be better reconstructed and guide the sequence stratigraphic interpretation.
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Uncertainties on Basal Khuff Clastics in Outcrop in Saudi Arabia
More LessVarious types of clastic and mixed clastic-carbonate deposits represent the transition from the pre-Hercynian and Hercynian Palaeozoic formations and the marine Khuff carbonate in Saudi Arabia. Due to sedimentary and erosional hiatuses, the complexity of this sedimentation is particularly reinforced near the outcrop and on top of the Central Arabian Arch or of the Rayn Plate. Therefore, age and lithostratigraphic assignments of the litho-units resting underneath the Khuff carbonate are often uncertain or questionable. In order to avoid unconsidered assignments to a particular formation of these sediments prior to any critical analysis of the retained criteria, this study proposes a review of typical uncertainties and proposals of clarification.
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Diagenetic Trends in Arid Carbonates: What Makes the Khuff Dolostone Reservoirs?
More LessNumerous studies and publications have shown that the Khuff reservoirs in the Middle East consist of carbonates that were deposited on shallow, hypersaline epeiric platforms. Hypersaline deposits are represented by evaporites, whilst carbonates correspond to the more open-marine conditions. The availability of diagenetic hypersaline brines favoured dolomitization and precipitation of anhydrite cements. Thus, a significant percentage of the Khuff Formation contains dolostones, which were formed during early diagenetic stages (sabkha and/or reflux dolomitization) and during burial (burial dolomitization and fault/fracture-related dolomitization).
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Khuff Formation in Kuwait: Depositional Facies and Diagenetic Control on Reservoir Characterization
Authors D.A. Khan, R. Husain and A.A. Sajer and M.M. Al-AjmiThe Permian–Triassic Khuff Formation holds huge oil and gas reserves in the Arabian Gulf region and is an important exploration target. The formation is poorly explored in Kuwait due to its occurrence at greater depths and hostile drilling environment. The Khuff Formation in Kuwait is divisible into A, B, C and D members. The Upper Khuff comprises A, B and C members and is separated from the Lower Khuff D Member by the Median Anhydrite.
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Diagenesis Control on Reservoir Properties of a Permian Triassic Carbonate Reservoir, North Oman
Authors S.Z. Al Farqani, I.G. Perez and M. Claps and H. PetersThe subsurface Permian–Triassic Khuff carbonates in North Oman are sour reservoirs with variable amounts of H2S and CO2. A diagenetic study was part of an integrated multidisciplinary project aimed to understand the origin and distribution of H2S, attributed either to bacterial or thermochemical sulphate reduction, and its relation to the hydrocarbon charge history for these reservoirs.
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Fracture Mineralization and Fluid Flow Evolution: An Example from the Permian–Triassic Carbonate Successions of United Arab Emirates
Authors I.S. Al-Aasm, S. Fontana, A. Ceriani and S. Morad and F.H. NaderFractures are often the primary conduits for pore fluids, and thus have important impact on the diagenetic and reservoir quality evolution of the host rocks. Therefore, fluid flow can be used to develop conceptual models for the spatial and temporal distribution and connectivity of reservoir porosity and permeability on a regional and basinal scale. In the context of the hydrocarbon-rich Middle East, the Permian–Triassic Khuff Formation hosts huge gas accumulations in the subsurface of the Arabian Plate. Reservoir properties of this formation are strongly influenced by depositional facies and diagenetic evolution (Ehrenberg et al., 2007; Fontana et al., 2010; Moradpour et al., 2008). In the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah (RAK), in the northeast of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), there are excellent outcrops of the Permian–Triassic rock sequence, which is partly correlatable with the Khuff Formation (Strohmenger et al., 2002; Maurer et al., 2008, 2009). In this study, which involves fieldwork, petrographic, fluid inclusion and isotope (O, C and Sr) investigations, outcrops of Permian– Triassic carbonate rocks have been studied to relate fracture mineralization to tectonic history of the area.
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Permo-Triassic Source Rock Assessment by Inherited of the Triassic Oils in Kuwait
Authors R. Andriany and A. Al-KhamissTwo majors of the younger petroleum systems in Jurassic age of Najmah-Najmah (!) and Cretaceous age of Makhul-Burgan (!) have been identified and characterized. Crude oils trapped in the older reservoir of Triassic age at Mutriba and Kra Al-Maru fields showing different characters compared to the oils in younger systems. Biomarker, diamondoid, and carbon isotope are the most resistant compounds throughout the geological processes. Hence, the specific characteristics of crude oils trapped in Triassic reservoirs can be utilized for the source rock tracking. Genetic characters of the parent rock will be inherited to the oils produced. Oil and source rock are having a reciprocal relationship, by determining nature of the source rocks, the produced oil characters can be predicted and vice versa.
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The Khuff Impact on Unayzah Seismic Response: Umm-Jurf Field
More LessThe combined effects of variations in thickness and impedance in the Khuff Formation are significant and are sources of noise in the seismic image of the Unayzah Formation in the Umm Jurf Field. They obscure important reservoir signals and degrade the accuracy of the depth and thickness maps. The influence of these variations is readily seen on seismic time and horizon slices.
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Petrophysical Rock Types of the Khuff C - Eastern Saudi Arabia
By E. ClerkePetrophysical rock types (PRTs) can be defined as objects in the three dimensional space defined by Thomeer pore system parameters. Classifications in the Thomeer parameter space must also be accompanied by relationships to convenient well bore measurements (commonly well logs) and geologic parameters to create economic value in the petroleum business. Recent and detailed core-and-log-based high-frequency, sequence-stratigraphic characterization of the Khuff-C by Eid, Dukhayyil and Tawil are now complete and this work builds on that important geological foundation. Hence, any effort to define petrophysical rock types must include and utilize a host of multidisciplinary data.
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Reservoir Rock Characterization, Classification and Pore Typing in the Dalan/Kangan Carbonates (Khuff Analogues), South Pars Field
More LessThe South Pars Field, discovered in 1990, is part of the world's largest single gas accumulation located in the Gulf. The Iranian part of this immense gas accumulation accounts for 5% of the world’s and 60% of Iran's total gas reserves. This Field produces from Dalan/Kangan carbonates (Khuff analogues). These Permian–Triassic carbonate reservoirs in the field are highly stratified in nature and display layer-cake geometry. Combined core analysis and detailed thin section studies are used for facies analysis. Accordingly, 14 major facies were recognized in these carbonates. Facies analysis shows that their depositional setting was located along the inner part of an epiric carbonate system that extended from a peritidal setting to a shallow subtidal zone (back-shoal setting), passing over to a high energy shoal and fore-shoal facies (Figure 1).
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Integrated Biostratigraphy of the Saiq Formation (Al Jabal al-Akhdar, Oman Mountains) and its Implication for the Regional Correlation of Khuff Time-equivalent Deposits
Authors H. Forke, M. Pöppelreiter, T. Aigner, B. Koehrer, L. Walz and D. Bendias and M. HaaseWe present a multi-disciplinary approach (sequence-biostratigraphy, palaeoenvironmental analysis, gamma-ray, and carbon isotopes) for the stratigraphic subdivision of Khuff timeequivalent deposits in Oman (Saiq and lower Mahil Formation, Al Jabal al-Akhdar). The Khuff is herein subdivided into six third-order depositional sequences. According to the proposed biostratigraphic zonation, the KS6 to KS5 is Middle Permian (Roadian?–Wordian– Capitanian), the KS4 to basal KS2 is Late Permian and the remaining part of KS2 and KS1 is Early Triassic. Major biotic crises occurred during the upper KS5 (“end-Guadalupian faunal crisis”) and in the basal KS2 (“end-Permian faunal extinction”). The transition from Middle to Late Permian is further accompanied by a palaeoenvironmental shift from a differentiated bioclastic ramp to more uniform microbial-mediated platform deposits. The biozonation and biotic events have been applied to correlate outcrop sections and subsurface on a regional scale across the Arabian Platform.
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Sequence Stratigraphy and Reservoir Development of the Khuff Formation of the Arabian Plate
Authors A. Alsharhan and Ch.J. StrohmengerThe Middle Permian (Capitanian) to Early Triassic (Induan) Triassic Khuff Formation is a prolific gas reservoir of the Arabian Plate. It is composed of mainly shallow- water carbonates and evaporates, representing a second-order transgressive- regressive sequence, which is composed of seven third-order composite sequences (KS1-KS7). The maximum flooding surface of Khuff Sequence KS4 (Khuff MFS4 at ca. 258 Ma) is interpreted to also represent Khuff second-order maximum flooding. The transgressive system set of the Khuff second-order sequence starts with Khuff Sequence KS7 and ends at the Khuff maximum flooding surface of Khuff Sequence KS4 (Khuff MFS4). The highstand systems set starts on top of Khuff second-order maximum flooding surface and ends at the Top Khuff Formation (top of Khuff Sequence KS1).
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High-resolution Sequence Stratigraphy of the Late Permian Khuff-C in Hawiyah, Ghawar Field
Authors Ghazi Al Eid and Aus Al TawilThe Late Permian Khuff-C carbonates of the Khuff Formation in Ghawar Field are composed of four high-frequency sequences, Khuff-C1 to Khuff-C4 (KC1 to KC4), with numerous mappable small-scale shallowing-upward cycles that vertically partition the reservoir. Each sequence is bounded by well-defined sequence boundaries, observed in core and logs, with well-defined transgressive systems tract (TST) and a highstand systems tract (HST), separated by a mappable maximum flooding surface (MFS).
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The Khuff Multi-dimensional: Results From Outcrop Analogue Studies in Oman
More LessThe Permian–Triassic Khuff platform is a classical epeiric sequence with limited seismicscale reservoir geometries. It is referred to by some as the thickest “pile of grainstones on earth” and shows significant variations in productivity.
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Lithofacies Variation and its Consequence on the Reservoir Quality of Kangan Formation in Fars and Persian Gulf Area
More LessKangan Formation of Lower Triassic is one of the most important hydrocarbon reservoirs in Fars and Persian Gulf areas. The Kangan Formation unconformably is underlain by Permo-Triassic while its upper boundary with Aghar Shale Member of Dashtak Formation is conformable. Containing mainly carbonate rocks, Kangan Formation is interbedded especially in the Upper part with shale and claystone which can be considered as equivalents of Sudair Shale sourced from south west. In some parts of the Fars area, the nearly clean carbonates of the Kangan Formation ranging from tidal flat to shoal in terms of depositional environment, abruptly change to argillaceous limestone and shale of outer ramp (Figure1). In this case, a clay content map provides a powerful mean to delineate the area rich in clay; where is called "Gray zone"(GZ) hereafter. With a length of 350 km., a width of 100 km and an Azimuth of 150°, the GZ extends from Khalfani field located on the coast of Persian Gulf to Dashtak field in interior Fars area, forming ~30° angle against main Zagros fault.
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Earthquake-triggered Post-depositional Deformation at the Rim of the Arabian Platform (Permian–Triassic, Oman Mountains)
Authors O. Weidlich and M. Berneckerthe eastern rim of the Arabian Platform. It represents a lateral equivalent of the Khuff Formation, a major hydrocarbon reservoir in the Middle East. Late Permian to Early Triassic deposits comprise the following sequence of lithofacies associations in Wadi Aday located in Saih Hatat, in the eastern Oman Mountains (Weidlich and Bernecker, 2011, Figure 1).
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Pre-Permian Extensional Deformation and Uplift in the Central High Zagros, Iran
Throughout the Arabian Plate (Figure 1), a more-or-less prominent sedimentary hiatus separates the late Carboniferous (?)–Permian sequence from the older sedimentary formations. This hiatus and corresponding unconformity is generally named the “Hercynian unconformity” suggesting a relationship with the Hercynian (Variscan) Orogeny, which affected Western Europe and westernmost Africa during the Carboniferous. In the High Zagros Belt (HZB), which belongs to the Zagros Fold-and-Thrust belt (ZFTB), this pre- Permian unconformity exists everywhere. However, this unconformity seals truncated Lower Paleozoic strata and normal faults by the new mapping and field evidences (Figure 2).
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Using Gravity and Magnetic Data to Delineate Deep Basin Geometry and Faulting: Implications for Paleozoic Sourcing for Permian–Triassic Reservoirs in the Partitioned Zone/Divided Zone of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait
Within the Partitioned Zone/Divided Zone (PZ/DZ) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the State of Kuwait, Wafra Joint Operations (WJO) utilizes non-seismic geophysical technologies as a means of complementing and leveraging the value returned by seismic exploration efforts – this in order to optimize development of the PZ/DZ asset. Legacy gravity data available in the area (dating back to 1949) were confirmed and supplemented by a ground gravity program acquired in 2010. Future plans initiated by WJO include the execution of an airborne gravity gradiometry and magnetic survey using latest technologies.
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Depositional Sequences of the Lower Triassic Kangan Formation, Southwest Iran
Authors M. Ali Kavoosi, A.M. Jamali and M.R. Naiji and R. NematollahiThe Lower Triassic Kangan Formation is a major gas reservoir in southwest Iran. It is composed mainly of limestone and dolostone with evaporite interbeds. The lower and upper contacts with the Upper Permian Dalan Formation and the Lower–Middle Triassic Dashtak Formation are discontinuous but conformable. To study the facies and depositional environments of the Lower Triassic Kangan Formation, eight wells and the Surmeh outcrop section were studied. Field and petrographic studies combined with wire-line well logs analyses resulted in the recognition of facies related to tidal flat, lagoon, shelf margin, basinal facies tracts, which were deposited on a carbonate ramp.
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Reservoir Facies Controlling Factors in the Upper Permian Dalan Formation, Southwest Iran
Authors M. Ali Kavoosi, M.R. Naiji, A. Mahmoudi and M. Nazarian and A.M. JamaliThe Upper Permian Dalan Formation is an economically significant gas and condensate reservoir in the Fars region of southwest Iran. It is composed mainly of limestone and dolostone. Facies analyses, depositional environments and diagenetic processes of the Dalan Formation in eight wells and the reference section at the Surmeh Anticline were studied. Field and petrographic studies combined with wire-line well-logs analyses and available seismic images resulted in recognition of various carbonate facies related to tidal flat, lagoon, shoal, basinal facies tracts, siliciclastic and evaporitic facies deposited on a carbonate ramp.
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