A surface section of the Gercus Formation (Middle-Late Eocene) was studied in Berafat area, Dohuk Governorate, Northern Iraq. The Gercus Formation consists of a mixed siliciclastic sediments, evaporates and carbonate sequences in the studied region, predominantly in the upper and middle parts. Nevertheless, it usually consists of upward-fining carbonate-rich sandstone cyclothems, marl, conglomerate and siltstone along with a gypsum lens and thin micrite carbonate beds. The Gercus Formation was deposited in delta and delta front of occasionally depositional environment which is represented by red-brown claystone and reddish-brown mudstone lithofacies. Cross bedded pebbly sandstone, trough cross-bedded sandstone and laminated cross-bedded sandstone lithofacies are deposited in braided delta environment. Marl lithofacies and gypsum lithofacies are deposited in intertidal and supratidal environments. The sea level fluctuation caused the river base level to occasionally rise and fall. In addition, the process changed from erosion to deposition, while the grain size also changed at different environments from gravel to sand and clays. The Gercus succession of northern Iraq was developed during the Middle-Late Eocene in an active margin basin, where the last stage closure of the New-Tethys and its collision with the Eurasian plate took place between the northeastern Arabian plate. It caused major episodes of uplifts and subsidence along with base level variations due to eustatic ups and downs. Within Gercus Formation, several fourth order cycles can be recognized, reflecting generally asymmetrical cycles, as well as the difference between sediment supply and accommodation space.
Twelve storm dust samples were collected from three cities in Iraq. The samples were collected in the same time during big storms which hit Iraq in summer, 2012 and 2013. The deposited dust on 4 by 4 nylon sheet on surfaces of selected buildings in cities of Baghdad, Fallujah and Al-Ramadi were collected. Each sample was put in sealed Marinilli beaker and kept for 4 weeks to reach the equilibrium state between radium and its short half-life daughters. Gamma spectrometry system based on HPGe was used for analysis of natural and artificial radionuclides in the dust. The activities of natural radionuclides were found to be ranged between 13-19 Bq/kg, 9-14 Bq/kg and 200-240 Bq/kg for Ra-226, Th-232 and K-40 respectively, while Cs-137 w
... Show MoreThe seismic method depends on the nature of the reflected waves from the interfaces between layers, which in turn depends on the density and velocity of the layer, and this is called acoustic impedance. The seismic sections of the East Abu-Amoud field that is located in Missan Province, south-eastern Iraq, were studied and interpreted for updating the structural picture of the major Mishrif Formation for the reservoir in the field. The Mishrif Formation is rich in petroleum in this area, with an area covering about 820 km2. The horizon was calibrated and defined on the seismic section with well logs data (well tops, check shot, sonic logs, and density logs) in the interp
... Show MoreThe current study focuses on utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) techniques to identify the optimal locations of production wells and types for achieving the production company’s primary objective, which is to increase oil production from the Sa’di carbonate reservoir of the Halfaya oil field in southeast Iraq, with the determination of the optimal scenario of various designs for production wells, which include vertical, horizontal, multi-horizontal, and fishbone lateral wells, for all reservoir production layers. Artificial neural network tool was used to identify the optimal locations for obtaining the highest production from the reservoir layers and the optimal well type. Fo
The present study includes the evaluation of petrophysical properties and lithological examination in two wells of Asmari Formation in Abu Ghirab oil field (AG-32 and AG-36), Missan governorate, southeastern Iraq. The petrophysical assessment was performed utilizing well logs information to characterize Asmari Formation. The well logs available, such as sonic, density, neutron, gamma ray, SP, and resistivity logs, were converted into computerized data using Neuralog programming. Using Interactive petrophysics software, the environmental corrections and reservoir parameters such as porosity, water saturation, hydrocarbon saturation, volume of bulk water, etc. were analyzed and interpreted. Lithological, mineralogical, and matrix recogniti
... Show MoreSeventeen samples of Hartha Formation in Balad (1) well, central Iraq, are studied on the basis of stratigraphic ranges of the recorded calcareous nannofossils for twenty species belonging to twelve genera. The studied section reveals three biozones arranged from oldest to youngest as follows; (1) Calculites ovalis Interval Biozone (CC19), (2) Ceratolithoides aculeus Interval Biozone (CC20), (3) Quadrum sissinghii Interval Biozone (CC21). These Biozones are correlated with other calcareous nannofossils biozones from both local and regional sections, leading to conclude the age of the Middle Campanian.
Rerecorded eighteen ostracode species that belong to eleven genera are identified,
... Show MoreStable isotopes 18O/16O and 13C/12C in the carbonate rocks of the Mishrif Formation are examined here to define the depositional characters in the basin includes paleo temperatures and paleo depth.
The Mishrif formation (Cenomanian – Early Turonian) has extensive distribution in Iraq and Middle East. Mishrif Formation composed of organic detrital limestone. Four boreholes in four oilfields, Noor – well (11), Amarah – well (14), Buzurgan – well (24), Halfaya – well (8), in south east of Iraq have been studied.
The studied samples have negative δ18O isotope values studied well, with Average (-4.11‰), (
... Show MoreThe Bouguer gravity and magnetic RTP data were used to detect the depth of basement rocks in middle and south Diyala Province, east Iraq. The depth of the basement rocks was calculated by using the Source Parameter Imaging (SPI) method. New attempt is achieved to applied the SPI technique to the gravity values to estimate the depth of basement rocks. The depths of basement map derived from gravity data range 8-14 km, the depth of basement map derived from magnetic data range 9-13.5 km and the basement depth prepared by C.G.G, 1974 range 9-11 km. The derived maps from SPI method and that prepared by C.G.G, 1974 show good matching in the distribution of the depths of the study area. This study showed that basement’s depth range from
... Show MoreMicroorganisms establish both structural and functional construction in the marine environment, despite scientific advances, the identification of marine bacterial species is still considered as a common challenge in microbiology. Nevertheless, the present study aims to make an effort, although it seems modest, but it could establish a basis for studying the bacterial diversity in the Iraqi marine area, because of what this aspect entails of the poverty of studies related to this aspect in the studied area. The current results show the marine studied area are classified within worming area, where the average temperature ranged from 23.17 to 26.17 ºC. The recorded number of bacteria was increased with temperature increasing (0.210, 0.250
... Show MoreIron ore deposits have been identified from Nawgwezany Mishao in the Shalair Valley area within the Iraqi Zagros Suture Zone (IZSZ) at NE-Iraq. The iron ore is mainly hosted by the Shalair Metamorphic Rock Group calcschist. The transmitted and reflected light microscope study and X-ray diffraction of the calcschist revealed that the predominance minerals are calcite, and sillimanite, while muscovite, graphite, k-feldspar, and opaque mineral represent minor constituents. Meanwhile, skarn host rock as a second host rock shows the mineral assemblages of clinopyroxene, quartz, hornblende, epidote, plagioclase, sericite, garnet, and opaque minerals. The field and petrographical data indicated that the iron ore includes magnetite, hem
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