Iraqi Kurdistan All in the Timing

Exploration
Ruweis Formation. Onlap of younger strata can be
observed on the flanks of the features. Given the
facies setting and lithologies, together with the
form of the features, a carbonate build-up (reef or
bank) is the most feasible explanation. Based on
the well-ties and horizon picks, these carbonate
build-ups appear to have been established on the
Mukheiris Formation platform or on the basal unit
of the over-lying Iraq Al-Amir, and at their thickest
(135–150m) extend up to a level equivalent to the
top of the Um Tina Formation or into the basal
beds of the Abu Ruweis Formation. It is interesting
to note that this is the stratigraphic level at which
oil was observed during drilling up-dip at the
RH-11 well, which is about 15 km to the east. The
build-ups were presumably upstanding during
their growth, although the surrounding areas
were probably incrementally filled, but at slower
rates. The upstanding feature appears to have been
contiguous throughout its extent, rather than
forming a series of independent pinnacles.
Further Work Needed
The recent Upper Triassic oil discoveries in central
Israel and the Golan Heights and the Triassic
section in northern Jordan all contain intervals of
reservoir quality beneath the evaporite-salt horizons
of the Abu Ruweis Formation and its equivalents
in Israel, the latter providing a regional seal and
some protection against reservoir breaching. Unfortunately, the current seismic
interpretation maps in northern Jordan do not show well-defined undrilled structural
closure at Triassic levels and further work is needed in this area.
Exploration stratigraphic leads such as the carbonate build-up anomalies should
be seriously considered as exploration targets as they are expected to occur in
carbonate basin margins such as that of the Triassic Margin in the Levant.
Possible hydrocarbon migration routes. After Naylor, et al., 2015.
Courtesy Petrel Resources plc
Courtesy Petrel Resources plc
West–east seismic line showing the Triassic anomaly. After Naylor, et al., 2015.
References:
Beydoun, Z.R. and Habib, J.G., 1995.
Lebanon revisited: new insights into
Triassic hydrocarbon prospects. Journal of
Petroleum Geology, v. 18, no. 1, p. 75-90.
Energypedia Exploration, 2015. Israel:
Afek Oil & Gas announces significant oil
discovery on the Golan Heights. 07 Oct
2015. www.energy-pedia.com/israel/new-
165230
Nader, F. H., 2014. The Geology of
Lebanon. Scientific Press, UK. Use for
Figure 1.
Natural Resources Authority (NRA),
2001 and 2004. Petroleum Exploration
Opportunities in Jordan. Amman, Jordan.
Naylor, D., Al-Rawi, M., and Sha’th, T.,
(MS, 2015). Possible Carbonate Build-ups
within the Triassic section of north-east
Jordan.
Oil and Gas Journal, 2002. Search
for Gas in Triassic Reefs progresses in
northern Israel. February 2002. PennWell
Corporation.
Ziegler, M. A., 2001. Late Permian to
Holocene Paleofacies Evolution of the
Arabian Plate and its Hydrocarbon
Occurrences. GeoArabia, Vol. 6, No. 3,
2001, p445-504.
58 GEOExPro November 2015