Depositional Facies, Sequence Stratigraphy, and Diagenesis of Lower Cretaceous Carbonate Reservoir, Southern Iraq: Implications for Petroleum Exploration

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F61989592%3A15310%2F25%3A73633919" target="_blank" >RIV/61989592:15310/25:73633919 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jpg.70025" target="_blank" >https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jpg.70025</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jpg.70025" target="_blank" >10.1111/jpg.70025</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Depositional Facies, Sequence Stratigraphy, and Diagenesis of Lower Cretaceous Carbonate Reservoir, Southern Iraq: Implications for Petroleum Exploration

Original language description

The Lower Cretaceous Yamama Formation of southern Iraq represents a key carbonate reservoir within Iraq and the Middle East, yet its complex depositional facies architecture and diagenetic alterations present challenges for predicting reservoir quality. This study integrates well-log interpretation, detailed description of about 400 m of core intervals, petrographic analysis, fluid-inclusion microthermometry, and stable-isotope (delta 13C, delta 18O) geochemistry from several oilfields to determine the controls on reservoir heterogeneity. Fourteen depositional facies are recognized across a W-E-trending, slightly steepening homoclinal ramp. These vary into four reservoir (YRA-YRD) and four nonreservoir (B0-B3) units. Reservoir intervals consist mainly of shoal grain-supported peloids and ooids and Lithocodium-Bacinella reefal facies, whereas mud-supported lagoonal and middle-ramp facies form permeability barriers. Diagenetic processes exerted strong control on reservoir quality evolution. Early marine rim and scattered calcite cements preserved interparticle pores in the grain-supported limestone facies, whereas burial equant calcite sourced by stylolitization of the host limestones reduced porosity. The precipitation of pore-filling kaolin and saponite in the mud-supported limestone facies limited porosity. Saponite is suggested to have been formed from alkaline brines developed under restricted, evaporative conditions. The formation of kaolin is attributed to the migration of Al3(+)-bearing brines charged with organic acids along stylolites, during tectonic compression of the basin. The presence of framboidal and euhedral pyrite indicates a diagenetic shift from microbial to thermochemical sulfate reduction. TSR suggests that brines were thermally evolved and migrated upward from the underlying, hotter evaporitic formation, such as the Upper Jurassic Gotnia. Fluid-inclusion microthermometry in blocky calcite in moldic/vuggy pores indicates homogenization temperatures of 85 degrees C-140 degrees C (exceeding the maximum burial temperature, similar to 116 degrees C) from brines composed of NaCl-KCl-H2O, with total salinity of 10 wt.% NaCl eq. and delta 18O_VSMOW values of +4 parts per thousand to +8 parts per thousand. These values, along with depleted delta 18O_VPDB (-6.9 parts per thousand to -5.6 parts per thousand), suggest precipitation from evolved basinal fluids related to stylolitization. The occurrence of saddle dolomite in close association with euhedral pyrite suggests precipitation from brines that were affected by TSR. Four third-order depositional sequences bounded by Type 2 sequence boundaries are recognized; regressive shoal and reefal facies formed the reservoir units, whereas transgressive, mud-dominated facies are impervious. The integration of depositional facies, diagenesis, and sequence stratigraphy indicates that depositional facies architecture and fluid migration allow better understanding of the reservoir heterogeneity in the Yamama Formation.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

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OECD FORD branch

10505 - Geology

Project

—

Continuities

I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace

Publication year

2025

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Journal of Petroleum Geology

ISSN

0141-6421

e-ISSN

1747-5457

Volume of the periodical

49

Issue of the periodical within the volume

2

Country of publishing house

GB - UNITED KINGDOM

Number of pages

34

Pages from-to

312-345

UT code for WoS article

001617474200001

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-105022175859