Comparison between VES and 2D imaging techniques for delineating subsurface plume of hydrocarbon contaminated water southeast of Karbala City,Iraq

Shallow vertical electrical sounding (VES) technique with Schlumberger electrode array (maximum distance between current electrodes was 50 m) through 25 VES points distributed on five traverses. Two 2D imaging lines with Wenner electrode array 30 m each corresponding to two VES traverses were conducted near well water contaminated with hydrocarbon materials at Karbala Governorate, Iraq. It is found that these techniques can give good results in delineating contaminated and clear zones but the 2D imaging technique was better in delineating the boundaries of the contaminated water plume and gave clear image of the subsurface distribution of the contaminated water vertically and horizontally.     

Geophysical mapping of buried faults in parts of Bida Basin,North Central Nigeria

High‐resolution aeromagnetic data over the Bida Basin, North Central Nigeria has been analysed to investigate the possible continuity of Ifewara fault zone, through the Bida Basin, to Zungeru fault zone. Analytic signal magnitude, horizontal gradient magnitude, and Euler deconvolution methods were applied to the aeromagnetic data to delineate the subsurface structures. The results showed that a prominent NNE–SSW trending fault associated with the Ifewara fault zone extends through the study area. Other faults trending in the ENE–WSW, NE–SW, NW–SE, E–W, and WNW–ESE directions were also mapped. Interpreted models revealed the presence of intrusives and a possible mineralised zone within the study area. We therefore concluded that the inferred fault zones within the basin have affinity with the trend of the Ifewara fault zone, which is an indication of possible extension and linkage with Zungeru fault zone through the Bida Basin.     

Sub-surface geometry of Ar Rika and Ruwah faults from gravity and magnetic surveys

Ten global positioning system (GPS)–gravity profiles were conducted to provide sub-surface geometry of two sections of the Najd Fault System (NFS) Ruwah and Ar Rika faults, six in the Afif and four in the Al Muwayh area about 500 and 650 km west of Riyadh, respectively. GPS surveys were collected in differential GPS (DGPS) mode, allowing a large area to be covered in limited time. DGPS is utilized for the advantages of accuracy, economy, and speed. Output DGPS location coordinates were used in free-air and Bouguer reductions; terrain corrections were applied using a 3-arcsecond digital elevation model; finally, isostatic and decompensative corrections were applied. Integration of the resulting decompensative isostatic residual anomalies and aeromagnetic map has mapped the NFS very accurately. Modeling the gravity field crossing the Ruwah fault zone revealed that it is associated with low gravity anomalies probably due to a complex of lower density crushed rocks and modeled the geometry of the subsurface structure of Ar Rika fault as an inclined fault with reverse movement that would imply a compression component (post-dated the shearing) parallel to the plane of the cross-section.     

Resistivity imaging survey to delineate subsurface seepage of hydrocarbon contaminated water at Karbala Governorate,Iraq

This research is an attempt to accomplish a 3-D resistivity imaging survey, which was carried out near a water well contaminated with hydrocarbon materials in Karbala governorate. Two-dimensional resistivity imaging measurements were collected along four parallel profiles, using a Wenner array with electrode spacing of 1 m. The RES3DINV program was used to invert the apparent resistivity data. The results displayed a resistivity distribution of the subsurface in a three-dimensional volume. Thus, both the horizontal and vertical extents of the contaminated zone were displayed. This technique revealed a low resistivity zone at depth ranges from 3 to 6 m in the investigation area, but the seepage starts at depth ranges between 2 and 3 m and continues down depth (may be to the groundwater level). This low resistivity zone is the most likely location for a subsurface seepage of contaminated water. It is clear that the sufficient measurement points along 2-D lines in a small area can increase the 3-D imaging resolution, and nearly real 3-D imaging can be achieved, when the size of subsurface anomaly compared with the electrode spacing (a) of the Wenner array is taken into consideration.     

Temporal analysis of air pollution and its relationship with meteorological parameters in Bahrain, 2006–2012

The objective of this paper is to analyze temporal and seasonal trends of air pollution in Bahrain between 2006 and 2012 by utilizing datasets from five air quality monitoring stations. The non-parametric and robust Theil-Sen approach is employed to study quantitatively temporal variations of particulate matter (PM₁₀ and PM_2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), and ozone (O₃). The calculated annual concentrations for PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 in Bahrain were substantially higher than recommended World Health Organization (WHO) guideline standards. Results showed increasing trends for PM₁₀, PM_2.5, and SO₂ whereas O₃ and its precursor NO₂ showed decreasing behavior. The general increase in air pollution trends is in agreement with prediction of air pollution models for Middle East region due to economic growth, industrialization, and urbanization. The significances of long-term trends were examined. Additional to actual (unadjusted) trends, meteorological adjusted (deseasonalized) trends and seasonal trends were quantified. The box-plot analysis visually illustrated monthly variations of key air pollutants. It showed that only PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 exhibited seasonal pattern, and their concentrations increased during summer and decreased during winter. The effects of ambient air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and rainfall on particulate matter (PM) concentrations were further investigated. The Spearman correlation coefficient results demonstrated significant negative correlation between relative humidity and PM concentrations (??0.595 for PM₁₀ and ??0.526 for PM_2.5) while significant positive correlation was observed between temperature and PM concentrations (0.420 for PM₁₀ and 0.482 for PM_2.5).     

Facies, depositional environment and diagenetic processes of the early Mid-Miocene Jeribe Formation, Central and Southern Iraq

The Jeribe Formation (Early Middle Miocene) in the central and southern Iraq consists mainly of shallow marine carbonates. Many microfacies have been identified: mudstone, wackestone, packstone, and grainstone with seven submicrofacies. Four major depositional cycles were determined. Microfacies developments and their distribution are controlled by cyclicity and relative sea level fluctuations. The Allochems in the Jeribe Limestone Formation are dominated by bioclasts. Peloids, ooids, and intraclasts are less abundant. The fossils are represented by benthonic forams and very rare planktonic forams. Calcite and dolomite are the predominant mineral components of Jeribe Formation. The carbonates of Jeribe have been affected by a variety of diagenetic processes such as compaction, dissolution, cementation, neomorphism, dolomitization, anhydritization, and silicification. By using the lithofacies association concepts, the depositional model of the Jeribe Formation environment was built. The Jeribe was deposited in open to restricted platforms which indicated lagoonal environment with warm and restricted-open circulation and the lower part (in well Hemrin-2) was deposited in foreslope environment.     

Palynofacies, palaeoenvironment, and source rocks evaluation of Ratawi Formation, Southern Iraq

Palynological analysis were done on 12 rock samples for Ratawi Formation from Rumailah well 131 and eight samples for the same formation from Zubair well 47, South Iraq, to extract sedimentary organic matters. Microscopic examination led to diagnose large numbers of spores, pollen, dinoflagellates (proximat, cavate, and chorate), foraminifera, melanogen, hylogen, and amorphogen. Three palynological facies were determined on the bases of percentages of sedimentary organic matter and palynomorphs from two sections. Analysis of these palynofacies clarified Ratawi Formation as deposited from environments ranging from delta and lagoon (suboxic–dysoxic) to shelf facies (anoxic near the shore–suboxic) with the presence of some layers deposited from semideep open marine environment (bathyal). Organic geochemical analysis of total organic carbon and Rock Eval pyrolysis were done to determine quantity, quality, and degree of maturation of the kerogen. Poor to medium proportion of total organic carbon of kerogen types II and III within a catagenesis stage are recorded in these rocks, and hence, poor hydrocarbon generation could be suggested for these strata.     

Sedimentological and depositional environment studies of the Mauddud Formation, central and southern Iraq

Nineteen subsurface sections and a large number of thin sections of the Mauddud limestone (age Albian?CEarly Cenomanian) were studied to unravel the depositional facies and environments. The allochems in the Mauddud Formation are dominated by bioclasts (reach 23%) and peloids (reach 60%), whereas intraclasts are less abundant (reach 2.3%). The sedimentary microfacies of the Mauddud Formation includes lime mudstone, wackestone, wackestone?Cpackstone, packstone, packstone?Cgrainstone, in addition to dolostone lithofacies and green shale lithofacies. These microfacies have been deposited in shallow warm marine environment of varying salinities and energy levels. Cementation, neomorphism, dolomitization, compaction, and dissolution are observed affecting variably both ground mass and particles. The formation displays various extents of dolomitization and is cemented by calcite and dolomite. Dolomitization increases toward the north of the study area and exhibits different textures. Similarly cementation shows a variety of textures. In addition, authigenic minerals, such as glauconite and pyrite, are scattered within the groundmass and along solution surfaces. The formation has gradational contact with the underlying Nahr Umr Formation but is unconformably overlain by the Ahmadi Formation, despite local conformity. Thus, the vertical bioclast analysis indicates that the Mauddud Formation is characterized by four major depositional cycles, which control the distribution of reservoir quality as well as the patterns of calcite and dolomite, cement distribution. Petrographical study shows that the fossil represents the main Allchem, Peloids, whereas intraclasts come second in abundance. Calcite (more than 50%) and dolomite (as diagenetic products, range between 20% and 50%) are the predominant mineral components of Mauddud Formation. Fossils were studied as an environmental, age, and facial boundary indicators. Five major depositional microfacies are recognized. These depositional microfacies have been subdivided according to their primary and diagenetic constituents into ten submicrofacies. The determined four major depositional cycles were representing normal sequential regression from base upward. The lateral analysis shows the same regressive cycle and by using the lithofacies association concepts to build the depositional model of the Mauddud Formation environment.     

RETRACTED ARTICLE: Depositional environments and porosity distribution in regressive limestone reservoirs of the Mishrif Formation,Southern Iraq

Eight subsurface sections and a large number of thin sections of the Mishrif Limestone were studied to unravel the depositional facies and environments. The allochems in the Mishrif Formation are dominated by bioclasts, whereas peloids, ooids, and intraclasts are less abundant. The sedimentary microfacies of the Mishrif Formation includes mudstone, wackestone, packstone, grainstone, floatstone, and rudstone, which have been deposited in basinal, outer shelf, slop followed by shoal reef and lagoonal environments. The formation displays various extents of dolomitization and is cemented by calcite and dolomite. The formation has gradational contact with the underlying Rumaila Formation but is unconformably overlain by the Khasib Formation. The unconformity is recognized because the skeletal grains are dominated by Chaophyta (algae), which denotes the change of environment from fully marine to lacustrine environment. Thus, the vertical bioclast analysis indicates that the Mishrif Formation is characterized by two regressive cycles, which control the distribution of reservoir quality as well as the patterns of calcite and dolomite cement distribution. Mishrif Formation gradationally overlies Rumaila Formation. This was indicated by the presence of the green parts of Chaophyta (algae) as main skeletal grains at the uppermost part of well Zb-47, which refer to lacustrine or fresh water environment. Petrographical study shows that the fossils, peloids, oolitis, and intraclasts represent the main allochem. Calcite and dolomite (as diagenetic products) are the predominant mineral components of Mishrif Formation. Fossils were studied as an environmental age and facial boundaries indicators, which are located in a chart using personal computer programs depending on their distributions on the first appearance of species. Fifteen principal sedimentary microfacies have been identified in the Mishrif Formation, which includes lime mudstone, mudstone–wackestone, wackestone, wackestone–packstone, packstone, packstone–grainstone, grainstone–floatstone, packstone–floatstone, packstone–rudstone, and wackestone–floatstone. Markov chain analysis has been used to study the transitional pattern of different microfacies types vertically in each well and laterally in all wells as a composite section. The vertical analysis indicates that the Mishrif Formation characterized by two regressive cycles, the main one started with basinal or outer shelf environment, slop environment followed by shoal or reefal environment, and ended with a lagoonal environment. The lateral analysis shows the same regressive cycle, and by using the lithofacies association concepts, we built the depositional model of the Mishrif Formation environment.