The Cretaceous Balambo Formation from three sections in Kurdistan Region of Northern Iraq was studied. The selected sections are located in the Zagros Fold -Thrust Belt. Eleven rock samples were analyzed by means of the organic geochemical method, Bitumen extraction method, and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry to determine the bitumen and hydrocarbon content, kerogen types, origin of organic matter, thermal maturity level, and depositional environment. The analyzed samples are considered to have an excellent potential in Baranan-1.G1 and Sazan sections, with poor to fair potential in Baraw section. The Baranan-1.G1 source rocks are of type II kerogen (oil prone), whereas Sazan and Baraw samples are of type II/III (oil/ gas prone). Detailed distribution analysis of biomarkers such as normal alkane, isoprenoids, sterane and terpane was performed on saturated hydrocarbons. The mode of n-alkanes and isoprenoids distribution in all analyzed samples is similar, with a unimodal distribution that indicates non-biodegraded hydrocarbons, with the same range of alkane compounds between C13-C34 alkanes. The results of n-C17, pristane, n-C18 and phytane, and regular steranes show that the source rocks of Balambo Formation in Baranan-1.G1 are mainly rich with algal marine organic matter deposited under a reducing environment, while Baraw and Sazan sections are composed of mixed marine organic matter that refers to terrestrial land plants input deposited under reducing anoxic/dysoxic environments. Thermal maturation appraisal is deduced from Pristane/n-C17 versus Phytane/n-C18 diagram, Carbon Preference Index (CPI), C29 ββ/ (ββ+αα), C29 20S/ (20S +20R), C32 22S/ (22S+22R), and Ts/ (Ts+Tm). All these parameters indicate that the analyzed samples are mature and have entered the oil window (early to peak oil window). Biomarker ratios of C22/C21, C24/C23 and C26/C25, C31R/C30H show that the Balambo Formation is composed mostly of carbonates with less shale beds.
The present work is conducted on the Paleozoic (Ordovician) Khabour and the (Silurian) Akkas shales in the Akkas-1 well of western Iraq. The study is aiming to determine the implications of clay mineral transformation, organic mineral distribution and maturity of hydrocarbon generation, using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in addition to organic matter concentrations. In the shale of the Khabour Formation, amorphous organic matter is common and includes various Tasmanite-type organic matter, vitrinite, inertinite, and bituminite. The main clay minerals observed include illite, chlorite, kaolinite, in addition to mixed-layer illite-smectite and rare smectite. In Silurian shale, high content of organic matter i
... Show MoreLate Paleocene –Early Eocene algae and benthic foraminifera were identified
from the Sinjar Formation that crop out in three selected section from northern
Iraq. The selected sections: (Derbandikhan ,Qara dagh, Wara Mali has been
measured in the field and closely sampled to undertake details. A number of (131)
samples were collected illustrating all the lithological changes along the sections,
The limestone in the studied section is rich in algae and large benthic foraminifera,
The investigation of the thin sections allowed us to identify the (47 ) species of
foraminifera and (34) species of algae , Five biozones were distinguished for algae
which are :a- Amphiroa iraquensis range zone ,b- Trinocladus perplexus
Calciturbidites are similar to siliciclastic turbidites in structure, texture, basin physiography and processes of deposition; nevertheless, their clasts (grains) are carbonate minerals. Turbidity currents transport carbonate grains from carbonate source areas and coastal areas to the deep basins after passing the shelf (peri-platform). These currents are triggered by short-lived catastrophic events, such as tsunamis, earthquakes, marine slides, and typhoons. The Late Cretaceous Zagros Foreland and Hinterland in NE-Iraq (Kurdistan Region) was an active source for the shedding of voluminous sediments to the deep basin of Zagros Foreland Basin. During late Campanian, Shiranish Formation was deposited in the foreland basin; it occurs in the
... Show MoreThe Hartha Formation has been investigated from a biostratigraphic view in three subsurface sections in the Nasiriyah Oil field, wells Ns1, Ns3, and Ns4, South of Iraq. Hartha Formation is composed of limestone and has various areas of intense dolomitization alternating with marly limestone. The formation ranges in thickness from 126 to 182 meters. Thirteen large and small benthic foraminifer species and genera are identified from Hartha Formation. Based on the large benthic foraminifer's assemblage, one distinct biozone was recognized after an examination of the paleontological datum in the investigated area showed that the studied wells contained a diversity of foraminiferal species, the larger foraminifers biozone was propose
... Show MoreAn infant incubator in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is a medical instrument of care that provides oxygen, warmth and moisture to a newborn baby. Due to environmental conditions affecting the infants foster babies may experience discomfort and pain at some point. Thus, this study aimed to assess ambient air quality in neonatal incubators to improve the environmental quality of neonatal intensive care units and safety. Air pollutants concentrations consisting of particulate matter (pm2.5, pm10), hydrocarbons (HOCH), volatile organic compounds (VOC), air quality index (AQI), humidity and temperature, were measured at four selected Baghdad hospitals (Al-Karkh and Rusafa) . The results showed that the
... Show MoreShiranish Formation (Late Campanian- Maastrichtian) that cropping out north east Iraq, is studied by microfacies analysis of 52 thin section collected from Hijran Section, about 10 km west Shaqlawa Town, Governorate of Erbil. According to petrography, mineralogy and organic contents, rocks are subdivided to crystalline carbonate and microfacies units (biowackstone, packstone, and mudstone facies). Biowackstone facies have high ratio of the rock components, while the other facies have low ratio. Microfacies analysis led to relatively quiet deep marine environment.
The biostratigraphy of the Early Cretaceous Mauddud Formation was studied in the Ratawi Oilfield, Basra Governorate, southern Iraq, using integrated borehole data set (core and cutting samples and well logs) in two drilled wells to analyze the biostratigraphy of the formation. One hundred eighty-three slides for both selected wells were investigated. The formation is composed of light grey dolomitized limestone and pseudo-oolitic creamy limestone with green to bluish shale. Three biozones were discriminated, these are: Orbitolina qatarica range zone; Orbitolina sefini range zone and Orbitolina concava range zone. The age of these biozones extends to include the Late Albian (Orbitolina qatarica<
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