Palynology,palynofacies analysis,depositional environments and source rock potential of Lower Cretaceous successions in southern Iraq

A diverse and well-preserved non-marine and marine palynomorph assemblage was recovered from the Lower Cretaceous Yamama, Ratawi and Zubair formations in southern Iraq.A distinctive monospecific assemblage of the dinocyst Subtilisphaera in the Ru-19 Well, in addition to its frequent occurrence in other wells in the Zubair Formation, reflects an ecologically stressed, marginal-marine environment. This assemblage constitutes the first record of the Subtilisphaera ecozone in Iraq and Arabian realm and indeed only the second one east of Morocco.The palynofacies composition of the studied rock units has been related to previous organic geochemical analyses. Each rock unit has its own palynofacies characteristics and in general, samples dominated by amorphous kerogen have the highest total organic carbon (TOC) and hydrogen index (HI), as is the case for some samples from the studied Yamama Formation and samples belonging to palynofacies PF2 from the Zubair Formation. Samples that are mostly retrieved from the Zubair Formation, containing abundant phyoclasts, have the lowest TOC and HI values.     

Origin of crude oils from oilfields in the Zagros Fold Belt,southern Iraq: Relation to organic matter input and paleoenvironmental conditions

Crude oil samples from Cretaceous and Tertiary reservoir sections in the Zagros Fold Belt oil fields, southern Iraq were investigated using non-biomarker and biomarker parameters. The results of this study have been used to assess source of organic matter, and the genetic link between oils and their potential source rocks in the basin. The oils are characterized by high sulphur and trace metal (Ni, V) contents and relatively low API gravity values (17.4–22.7° API). This indicates that these oils are heavy and generated from a marine source rock containing Type II-S kerogen. This is supported by their biomarker distributions of normal alkanes, regular isoprenoids, terpanes and steranes and the bulk carbon isotope compositions of their saturated and aromatic hydrocarbons. The oils are characterized by low Pr/Ph ratios (<1), high values of the C₃₅ homohopane index and C₃₁-22R/C₃₀ hopane ratios, relatively high C₂₇ sterane concentrations, and the predominance of C₂₉-norhopane. These biomarkers suggest that the oils were generated predominantly from a marine carbonate source rock, deposited under reducing conditions and containing plankton/algal and microorganisms source input. The presence of gammacerane also suggests water column stratification during source rock deposition.The biomarker characteristics of the oils are consistent with those of the Middle Jurassic Sargelu carbonate as the effective source rock in the basin. Biomarker maturity data indicate that the oils were generated from early maturity source rocks.     

Palynomorph and palynofacies indications of age, depositional environments and source potential for hydrocarbons: Lower Cretaceous Zubair Formation, southern Iraq

Assemblages of miospores and dinoflagellate cysts encounterd in core samples three boreholes drilled in southern Iraq an Aptian-mid Albian age-range for the Zubair Formation, the largest oil reservoir in southern Iraq and neighbouring Kuwait. Four types of palynofacies have been identified, and are interpreted to indicate delta top swamp and marsh, delta front, prodelta and marine platform environments respectively. Amorphous matter comprises more than 50% of the organic component of some of the palynofacies in the upper part of the Zubair Formation. The rocks with which they are associated are highly rated as a potential source of liquid hydrocarbons. Those deposits yielding less than this (down to 12%) are considered to have moderate potential.     

Evaluation of Sand Dunes Stabilization Techniques in Baiji District, Iraq

INTRODUCTIONAsandduneisanyaccumulationofsand grainsshapedintoamoundorridgebythewindunderthein fluenceofgravity .Sanddunesarecomparabletootherformsthatappearwhenafluidmovesoveraloosebed .Dunesarefoundwhereverloosesandiswindblown(Bagnold ,196 0 ) .MostofIraqianlandsareaffectedbywinderosion ,theformationandmovementofsanddunes ,particularlyinthemiddleandsouthofIraq .Thetotalareacoveredbysanddunesisapproximately 2mil lionshectares ,andthreatensmanyothermillionshectares (DougramejiandKaul,197…     

Tel Hajar: A new Cenomanian-lower Turonian stratigraphic unit from north-west Iraq

A new stratigraphic unit is defined from north-west Iraq called the Tel Hajar Formation. This unit is represented by about 110 m of conglomeratic beds alternating with thin beds of sandy-detrital limestone. This new stratigraphic unit is overlain by the Kometan Formation (Late Turonian-Early Campanian) and underlain by the Qamchuqa Formation (Albian-Aptian).The Tel Hajar Formation is devoid of characteristic fossils but contains reworked foraminifers of Albian age.This new formation has been recorded from other parts of Iraq [Ain Zahal Well No. 16, Kaddouri (1979)]; a similar unit has been reported from the north-eastern part of Syria Ponikarov, 1966 and from the Sheik Sollak well No. 1 Kaddouri (1979).     

Petrological and geochemical interpretation of Triassic–Jurassic boundary sections from northern Iraq

Triassic–Jurassic sedimentary successions (Baluti and Sarki formations) in northern Iraq record a variety of environmental changes that may be related to global Triassic–Jurassic (Tr/J) boundary events. The diversity of some benthic fauna decreases through the transitional boundary beds. The coastal marine environment of the lower part of the Baluti Formation is followed by shallower tidal flat and supratidal marginal marine environments at the transitional boundary with the Jurassic‐age Sarki Formation. The alternating calcareous mudrocks and dolomitic limestones of the transitional succession are overlain by a succession of calcareous mudrocks and dolomicrites that form a dolocrete bed in the latest Triassic. The early Jurassic carbonates (lower part of Sarki Formation) were deposited in a shallow‐marine to lagoonal environment. Geochemical evidence supports this interpretation. TOC% increases towards the Tr/J boundary and the lower part of the Sarki Formation. This increase can be interpreted as resulting from the primary precipitation of dolocrete as palaeosol horizons. The variations in the oxygen isotope ratios mainly reflect the facies and diagenetic effects. Th/K ratio is generally constant and shows an increase in the calcareous mudrock beds of the upper part of the Baluti Formation, possibly related to the degradation of K‐bearing clay minerals. Low Th/U ratios are due to the depletion in thorium, typical of many marine carbonates rather than to an increase in authigenic uranium. This explanation is also corroborated by the presence of abundant fossils in some of the studied carbonates. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Environmental Isotopic Characterization of Groundwater and Surface Water in Northeast Missan Province,South Iraq

The present work studies the environmental isotopes assess groundwater characteristics of the different parts of the main aquifer in the northeast Missan Province in south of Iraq.Water samples of groundwater and surface water were collected for two dry and wet seasons during the water year of 2011–2012.The study shows that most of the groundwater in the aquifer falls above the global meteoric water line,and all the samples fall below the Mediterranean meteoric water line,indicating that these samples are a mixture of two water types.The tritium content of these samples supports this conclusion.The overall conclusion of this study indicates that there are two sources of groundwater recharge in the studied area:the ephemeral streams(Teeb and Dewerge) and major precipitation sources.According to the tritium levels at or below one tritium unit(TU) obtained from the water,supply wells are highly confined or "not vulnerable".Overall,the 3H results imply that recent recharge has taken place during the last four to five decades.In the recharge area,the high tritium content in the southern part of the Teeb area suggests that the recharge originates from rapid infiltration of surface runoff.Therefore,the groundwater resources in the study area should be protected from contamination,because it will influence the aquifer in a relatively short period of time if any contamination enters the recharge areas of the aquifer.     

伊拉克中部上白垩统Khasib组岩溶储层演化及异常高渗层成因

针对伊拉克艾哈代布(Ahdeb)油田Khasib组早期的注水突破难题, 本文以地球化学资料及取心薄片分析为基础, 结合区域沉积-构造演化背景, 对储层演化及异常高渗层的成因进行了研究, 并将储层演化划分为3个阶段: 沉积同生期、低沉降速率浅-中埋藏期和快速沉降深埋藏期。沉积同生期具两层高孔段: 即受同生岩溶改造形成的以砂屑粒间孔为主的Kh2-2-1砂屑颗粒灰岩和以藻屑铸模孔为主的Kh2-3-2藻屑泥粒灰岩。在此基础上, 浅-中埋藏期产生以走滑断裂为流体的运移通道, 以深部源岩降解形成的有机酸为溶蚀介质, 以同生期后形成的高孔层段为溶蚀的载体, 以非组构选择溶蚀作用为特征的埋藏有机酸岩溶, 它与同生期岩溶作用在时间上具有连续性, 形成的孔隙分布在空间上具有继承性。晚期地层快速沉降深埋藏期, 发生大规模烃类充注成藏, 阻止孔隙内水岩反应, 减弱储层内压实胶结破坏性成岩作用, 最终使得这两段具异常高渗透率特征。Kh2-2-1砂屑颗粒灰岩段以砂屑粒间孔、粒间溶孔、针状溶洞为主要孔隙类型, 以孔隙缩小型为主要喉道类型, 孔喉连通性好, 岩相区域分布稳定, 是造成早期注水突破的层段。总体而言, 本区异常高渗层的成因主要是: 优质储层的沉积基础及同生岩溶改造, 长期浅-中埋藏期有机酸溶蚀对储层的叠加和改造优化, 以及快速深埋藏期与烃类充注极好的耦合关系使其得以保存。