Wyniki wyszukiwania - BazTech

1

Oxfordian biofacies and palaeoenvironments of Saudi Arabia

Hughes G., Al-Khaled M., Varol O.

Volumina Jurassica

|

2008

|

Vol. 6, no. 1

47-60

EN

The Hanifa Formation in Saudi Arabia consists of a succession of carbonates, over 100 m thick, that were deposited during the Late Jurassic. It consists of two depositional sequences represented by the lower Hawtah Member and an upper Ulayyah Member, respectively. The Hawtah Member is assigned an Early (?) to Middle Oxfordian age, based on brachiopod, nautiloid and coccolith evidence. The Ulayyah Member is assigned a Late Oxfordian age based on ammonite, nautiloid, coccolith and foraminiferal evidence. Detailed study of the microbiofacies and lithology of the late highstand succession of the Ulayyah sequence in 41 cored wells distributed across the Kingdom was aimed at determining the most suitable locations for porous and permeable grainstone accumulation as lithofacies hosts the Hanifa Reservoir elsewhere in the region. A range of palaeoenvironments has been determined, based on integrated biofacies and lithofacies, that include shallow lagoon packstones and foraminiferal dominated grainstones and deep lagoon wackestones and packstones with Clypeina/Pseudoclypeina dasyclad algae. In addition, a series of basin-margin, shoal-associated biofacies are present that include stromatoporoid back-bank packstones and grainstones with the branched stromatoporoid Cladocoropsis mirabilis, bank-crest grainstones with encrusting and domed stromatoporoids. A few wells also proved the presence of intrashelf basin-flank mudstones and wackestones containing sponge spicules, deep marine foraminifera and coccoliths. This study provided control to delimit an intrashelf basin with an irregular margin situated in the east-central part of the Saudi Arabian portion of the Arabian Plate carbonate platform during Late Oxfordian. The basin is flanked by a belt of stromatoporoid banks that pass laterally into a back-bank facies before developing into a lagoon facies. There is no evidence for the shoreline of this basin, although the presence of rare charophytes in the northwest testifies to possible proximity of fluviatile input. The grainstone dominated basin margin facies presents good hydrocarbon reservoir facies and its juxtaposition to intrashelf basinal sediments with potential source rock character provides exciting new prospects in areas hitherto uninvestigated for hydrocarbon reservoirs.

2

Post-evaporitic carbonates of the Saudi Arabian Late Jurassic

Hughes G., Naji N., Al-Khaled M., Harland T., Bacchus D.

Volumina Jurassica

|

2006

|

Vol. 4, no. 1

91-91

EN

The Hith Formation forms the latest lithostratigraphic unit of the Jurassic Shaqra Group, and was deposited during the Tithonian. The Formation outcrops in central Saudi Arabia, but has been studied in detail in subsurface eastern Saudi Arabia where the upper carbonate member hosts an important hydrocarbon reservoir called the Manifa reservoir. Chronostratigraphic control is absent, and the Tithonian age is based on stratigraphic position between the underlying Kimmeridgian Arab Formation, and the overlying Sulaiy Formation, of Berriasian age. The lower anhydrite-dominated member is un-named, and considered to represent subaqueous deposition representing the transgressive systems tract of the Manifa sequence. A transitional unit, consisting of interbedded anhydrites and carbonates, approximates with the maximum flooding zone, and the overlying carbonates are considered to represent the results of a prograding shallow marine succession related to the highstand systems tract. The carbonates of the Manifa reservoir consist of five parasequences, each of which represents a shoaling-upwards cycle that commences with a stromatolitic, microfaunally-barren unit that is followed by fine-grained grainstones with a monospecific but abundant ostracod biofacies. A succession of coarse pelloidal grainstones with rare Foraminifera, including Redmondoides lugeoni, Trocholina alpina and miliolids, then follows, that passes vertically into coarse ooid grainstones that form the uppermost part of each parasequence. The Hith Formation represents the culmination of a succession of hypersaline and euryhaline cycles that characterise the Late Jurassic of Saudi Arabia, and provides an insight to the palaeoenvironmental conditions that existed across the Arabian Plate at the end of the Jurassic.

3

Oxfordian palaeoenvironments of Saudi Arabia

Hughes G., Al-Khaled M., Varol O.

Volumina Jurassica

|

2006

|

Vol. 4, no. 1

90-91

EN

The Hanifa Formation in Saudi Arabia consists of a succession of carbonates, over 90 m thick that were deposited during the Late Jurassic, Oxfordian. It consists of a lower Hawtah Member and an upper Ulayyah Member. A Late Oxfordian age is based on the first appearance of the benthonic foraminifera Alveosepta jaccardi and, within the upper part of the underlying Hawtah Member, the local extinctions of the calcareous nannofossil species Watznaueria manivitiae and Stephanolithion bigotii together with an influx of Ellipsagelosphaera britannica. A detailed study of the micropalaeontology, nannopalaeontology, biofacies, sedimentology and wireline log character of the uppermost parts of 35 cored wells distributed across the Kingdom has revealed a variety of depositional environments. The late highstand succession of the Formation displays a variety of biofacies and lithotextures, of which the grainiest host the Hanifa Reservoir. These are associated with stromatoporoid banks that developed on the flanks of intrashelf basins, although grain-dominated shoals within the lagoons also present reservoir potential. A range of palaeoenvironments has been determined, based on integrated biofacies and lithofacies that include shallow lagoon packstones and foramininiferal dominated grainstones, deep lagoon wackestones and packstones with Clypeina/Pseudoclypeina dasyclad algae, stromatoporoid back bank packstones and grainstones with the branched stromatoporoid Cladocoropsis mirabilis, bank crest grainstones with encrusting and domed stromatoporoids and intrashelf basin flank mudstones and wackestones containing sponge spicules, deep marine foraminifera and coccoliths. This study has assisted delimitation of an intrashelf basin with an irregular margin situated in the East Central part of the Saudi Arabian portion of the Arabian Plate palaeoenvironments during the Late Oxfordian. The basin is flanked by a belt of stromatoporoid banks that pass laterally into a back-bank facies before developing into a lagoon facies. There is no evidence for the shoreline of this basin, although the presence of rare charophytes in the northwest testifies to possible proximity of fluviatile input. The grainstone margin presents good hydrocarbon reservoir facies and its juxtaposition to intrashelf basinal sediments with potential source rock character provides exciting new prospects in areas hitherto uninvestigated for hydrocarbon reservoirs.