Impacts of Depositional Facies and Diagenesis on Reservoir Quality: A Case Study from the Rudist-bearing Sarvak Formation, Abadan Plain, SW Iran

An integrated geological-petrophysical analysis of the rudist-bearing sequence of the Cretaceous Sarvak Formation is given one giant oilfield, and provides an improved understanding of this main reservoir in the Abadan Plain, in the Zagros Basin, SW Iran. The main objective of this study is to evaluate reservoir potential of the Sarvak Formation, and then to utilize the calibrated well log signature to correlate reservoir potential in un-cored wells. Eight main facies are recognized and categori...     

Offneria arabicanov. sp. (rudiste, Caprinidae) de l''Aptien inférieur du Jebel Madar (Sultanat d''Oman)

Offneria arabicanov. sp. (rudiste, Caprinidae) est caractérisé par la simplicité de l'architecture de la valve supérieure, bien exprimée par la forme subrectangulaire des canaux où les planchers sont relativement rares, et le faible développement des tabulae. La valve inférieure est beacoup plus complexe, ce qui traduit un taux d'evolution différencié des deux valves. L'espèce a été) trouvée dans l'Aptien inférieur (Formation Shuaiba) du Jebel Madar, dans l'avant pays des nappes des Montagnes d'Oman. Son organisation la rattache au groupe des formes arabo-africaines. A côté de ses caractères évolutifs, elle est intéressante par son potentiel biostratigraphique et paléobiologéographique.

Abstract

Offneria arabicanov. sp. (rudist, Caprinidae) is characterized by the simplicity of the upper valve, well expressed by the subrectangular shape of the canals where horizontal partitions are relatively rare, and the weak development of the tabulae. The lower valve is far more complex, which means distinctive evolutionary rates for the two valves. The species was found in the Lower Aptian (Shuaiba Formation) of the Jebel Madar, in the foreland of the Oman Mountain nappes. By its overall organisation it belongs to the Arabo-African group of species. Besides its evolutionary characters this form is interesting because of its biostratigraphic and palaeobiogeographic potential.     

Facies architecture of a Lower Cretaceous coral-rudist patch reef, Arizona

The Lower Cretaceous Mural Limestone marks the maximum marine incursion into southeast Arizona during Aptian-Albian time and records the middle Cretaceous transition from coral-dominated to rudist-bivalve dominated reefs. Upper Mural Limestone facies are most often dominated by corals. However, rudists form significant frameworks at some localities, one of which is described in this paper. The paleoenvironmental distribution of three potential reef-builders (corals, rudists, and ‘oysters’) were studied at this patch reef locality. Corals built the framework of the inner reef core. The rudist Petalodontia initially gained a foothold in sheltered areas among corals and subsequently built a framework in the outer reef core. Caprinid rudists formed mounds in the outer reef to back reef areas. The rudists Toucasia and Monopleura and the oyster-like bivalve Chondrodonta formed beds or were scattered in the reef-flank and shelf lagoon sediments and did not contribute to the reef framework.Upper Mural Limestone reefs are important examples of the coexistence of corals and rudists during this middle Cretaceous faunal transition period. This study supports the idea that rudist-bivalves initially colonized protected back-reef areas early in the Cretaceous and only later in the Cretaceous did rudists dominate reef frameworks.     

Ecological succession, palaeoenvironmental change, and depositional sequences of Barremian–Aptian shallow-water carbonates in northern Oman

Abstract Barremian and Aptian shallow‐water carbonate facies (uppermost Lekhwair, Kharaib and Shuaiba Formations) are described from outcrops in northern Oman. Based on facies analysis and bedding pattern, three orders of depositional sequences are defined (third to fifth order) and correlated between sections. Over the course of three third‐order sequences, covering the Barremian to Lower Aptian, a third‐order depositional pattern is documented that consists of a succession of three distinct faunal assemblages: discoidal orbitolinids and calcareous algae were deposited during early transgression; microbialites and microencrusters dominate the late transgressive to early highstand facies; and a rudist‐ and miliolid‐dominated facies is typical of the highstand. This ecological succession was controlled largely by palaeoenvironmental changes, such as trophic level and clay influx, rather than sedimentological factors controlled by variations in accommodation space. Orbitolinid beds and carbonates formed by microbialites and microencrusters seem to be the shallow‐water carbonate response to global changes affecting Late Barremian to Aptian palaeoclimate and palaeoceanography.     

Sequence Stratigraphy and Rudist Facies Development of the Upper Barremian‐Lower Cenomanian Platform,Northern Sinai,Egypt

The Lower Cretaceous sections in northern Sinai are composed of the Risan Aneiza (upper Barremian-middle Albian) and the Halal (middle Albian-lower Cenomanian) formations. The facies reflect subtle paleobathymetry from inner to outer ramp facies. The inner ramp facies are peritidal, protected to open marine lagoons, shoals and rudist biostrome facies. The inner ramp facies grade northward into outer ramp deposits. The upper Barremian-lower Cenomanian succession is subdivided into nine depositional sequences correlated with those recognized in the neighbouring Tethyan areas. These sequences are subdivided into 19 medium-scale sequences based on the facies evolution, the recorded hardgrounds and flooding surfaces, interpreted as the result of eustatic sea level changes and local tectonic activities of the early Syrian Arc rifting stage. Each sequence contains a lower retrogradational parasequence set that constituted the transgressive systems tracts and an upper progradational parasequence set that formed the highstand systems tracts. Nine rudist levels are recorded in the upper Barremian through lower Cenomanian succession at Gabal Raghawi. At Gabal Yelleg two rudist levels are found in the Albian. The rudist levels are associated with the highstand systems tract deposits because of the suitability of the trophic conditions in the rudist-dominated ramp.     

Nouvelles Données sur le Crétacé Supérieur de la Sardaigne Orientale

The stratigraphic distribution of the principal Upper Cretaceous facies in Sardinia ispresented, with special reference to the eastern part of the Island. Included are remarks on the mid-Cretaceous tectonic activity, which marks the base of the Upper Cretaceous depositional cycle. The presence of Upper Santonian and Lower Maastrichtian (the latter represented by marls with sparse turbidite interbeds) in the Lanaitto syncline (Oliena) is documented. Both contain outer-shelf assemblages rich in planktic Foraminifera. Recognition of rare detrital glaucophane in the Maastrichtian sandstones suggests a source area affected by high-pressure metamorphism, possibly corresponding to the southward extension of alpine Corsica.The Tertiary conglomerates exposed near Oliena include pebbles of facies (Campanienand Upper Maastrichtian rudistid limestones with larger Foraminifera) unknown in outcrop. A preliminary study of the rudists suggests a faunal exchange between different palaeobio-geographical provinces belonging, respectively, to the West European and Adriatic Plates.A palaeontological appendix contains remarks on some representatives of the family Heterohelicidae and on one species of Gunnarites found in the Lower Maastrichtian.