Upper Cretaceous Oceanic Red Beds (CORBs) are pelagic sediment
deposits that deposited in the Upper Cretaceous basin, with widespread in
part of the world as well as in Iraq. This research investigates the deposition
of cyclic marl and marly limestone CORBs of six selected sections at the
active southern margin of the Tethys during the Late Campanian -
Maastrichtian with petrography, microfacies, and depositional environment.
As this study was not a consideration in the past, so decided to visit and
identify all exposure areas of the Upper Cretaceous period rocks are visited.
This study involved two fields touring reconnaissance extended from
Darbandikhan city in the east south to Shiranish Village in the west north.
Six lithological sections covering the studied area, four sections represent
Cretaceous Oceanic Red Beds (CORBs) and two sections without (CORBs)
for the purpose of comparison between them. The sections are described in
detail and 250 samples were collected from all studied sections.
For the petrography and microfacies analysis 149 thin sections were
studied. The microfacies analysis showing two major successions with Red
Bed and Non-Red Bed marl and marly limestone, occasionally interbedded
with thinly beds of shale, sandstone and siltstone. These comprised of five
microfacies are Oligostegina Marly Limestone, Globotruncana Marly
Limestone, Marlstone with Microfossils, Red Marlstone, and Red to
Variegated Calcareous Sandstone with Radiolarian (Debrise Flow) Making
20 thin sections from Gendilly section(GS) (the typical section of this study)
for microscopic study of minute fossils (nannofossils) examination, for this
study proved that the Cretaceous Oceanic Red Beds (CORBs) dating is
Mastrichtian age. The Microfossils and nannofossils tests proved the
presence of Danian Age in studied area.
This study has proved that the carbonate content in red limestone beds
ranged between 53.5-100.0 %, while this percentage ranged in red marly
rocks between 20.5-50.0 %, But in the rocks that do not contain red beds,
Carbonate content in limestone rocks ranged between 52.0-100.0 %, and in
marl rocks this ratio ranged between 27.5-49.5 %.
Carbonate-clastic succession which includes the Shu'aiba, Nahr Umr and Mauddud formations are representing a part of the Barremian-Aptian Sequence (Wasi'a Group). The present study includes three boreholes (Ba-1, 4 and 8) within the Balad Oil Field. The study area is located in central Iraq. This field represents a subsurface anticline with a northwest to southeast direction axis within the Mesopotamian Zone. Eight types of microfacies were recognized in the succession of the Mauddud and Shu’aiba formations. These microfacies represent shallow open marine, restricted and semi-restricted, reef - back reef, deep open marine and basinal depositional environments. While Nahr Umr Formation includes two successions, the first is the upp
... Show MoreShiranish formation has been divided into two microfacies units: 1-Marly biowacke stone facies 2-Biogenic pack stone facies These microfacies reflected marine deep shelf margin in the upper part of the formation, the lower part was deeper. 238 slides were investigated depending on Mineralogical, compositional and Biological processes, which reflect deep shelf margin at upper part of the formation, but at the lower part open sea environment. The age of the formation is estimated depending on the recognized biostratigraphic zone using the index fossils to be Upper- Middle Maestrichtian.
The Sarmord Formation is one of the overlooked formations that require more investigations than that achieved before. There are many problems in its definition, age, stratigraphy and aerial distribution. Previously in most parts of the Sulaymaniyah, it is not mapped and its outcrops combined with Balambo Formation while in the present study it is differentiated, mapped in the field on the Qaywan anticline and its problems discussed in details with a suggestion of solutions. For laboratory studies, 31 samples are taken on the Qywan Mountain (anticline) at 23 km north of the Sulaimani city for nannofossils biozonation. This study identified 19 species of the recorded calcareous nannofossils, the studied section reveals three biozones
... Show MoreThis study focuses on determining the heterogeneity of Yamama Formation and its spatial distribution in south of Iraq using three indices namely, Coefficient of Variation, Lorenz Coefficient, and Dykstra – Parsons Coefficient. The porosity and permeability values from eleven wells in south of Iraq (Basra and Maysan oil fields) are used for computing heterogeneity indices. Ordinary kriging technique is used to interpolate the computed indices and to show the spatial distribution of these indices over the study area. Results indicated that the average values of Lorenz and Dykstra – Parsons Indices are 0.73 and 0.86, respectively which refer to the extremely heterogeneity nature of Yamama Formation in the study area.The spatial distribu
... Show MoreThe Hartha Formation reservoir was evaluated to be produced in the near future in Y oil and J fields, West of the Tigris River in northern Iraq. Due to geological data analysis of the Hartha facies and diagenesis could enhance oil production with minimized risks, this research tried to deal with data to support the oil production. The Hartha reservoir is subdivided into five-rock units, Har-1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. It is of Heterogenic facies limestone, dolomite, dolomitic limestone and argillaceous dolomite. The Hartha Formation is a clean carbonate; it has an effective porosity. It consists of lime mudstone-packstone skeletal grain. This conclusion is based on the lithology, core microfacies, cutting, thin section and log interpret
... Show MoreThe early Carboniferous Harur Formation from the Ora outcrop section of northern Iraq consists of black shale, calcareous shale and carbonate. The mineralogical and geochemical investigations (major and trace elements) of the black shale and calcareous shale units have been conducted to evaluate paleoenvironmental conditions including paleoclimate, paleoredox conditions, paleoproductivity, sedimentary rate, and to evaluate their effects on organic matter accumulation. The geochemical proxies such as the Chemical Index of Alteration (CIA), A-CN-K plot, Sr/Cu ratio, and the relation between the ratio of Ga/Rb and Sr/Cu suggest moderate to intense chemical weathering under humid conditions. The Rb/K and Sr/Ba ratios indicate a freshw
... Show MoreThe Hartha Formation is a major carbonate succession deposited during the Late Campanian period. The current study depends on four selected wells (EB 1, 2, 4 and 30) within the East Baghdad oil field to study electrofacies and petrophysical properties related to the reservoir characterization.
The Hartha Formation is divided into three electro-facies units using GR and SP logs in Petrel software. The upper unit of the Hartha Formation is composed mainly of limestone. The middle unit is composing of thick layers of shale. The lower unit is composed mainly of limestone with few shale layers. The three units are divided into three types of rocks in relation to the total porosity: 1. High-moderate active porosity rocks (type I)
... Show MoreMishrif Formation is the most important succession in the southern part of Iraq and has extensive distribution in the Arabian Plate. The present study focuses upon the sequence stratigraphy and development of Mishrif Formation basin in four oil fields within the eastern part of the Mesopotamian Zone are:- Halfaya (Hf-1), Noor (No-1) and Abu Ghirab (AG-3) and Fauqi oil fields (Fq-1).
There are several types of microfacies were distinguished in the succession of the Mishrif Formation. Their characteristic of the grain types and carbonate texture enabled to interpret of five facies associations (depositional environments) were observed in this formation, they are: deep ma
... Show MoreFormation evaluation is a critical process in the petroleum industry that involves assessing the petrophysical properties and hydrocarbon potential of subsurface rock formations. This study focuses on evaluating the Mauddad Formation in the Bai Hassan oil field by analyzing data obtained from well logs and core samples. Four wells were specifically chosen for this study (BH-102, BH-16, BH-86, and BH-93). The main objectives of this study were to identify the lithology of the Mauddud Formation and estimate key petrophysical properties such as shale volume, porosity, water saturation, and permeability. The Mauddud Formation primarily consists of limestone and dolomite, with some anhydrites present. It is classified as a clean for
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