وثيقة

Geological attributes of neoproterozoic glacial deposits : an example from Fiq and Hadash formations, Oman.

الناشر
Sultan Qaboos University.
ميلادي
2023
اللغة
الأنجليزية
الملخص الإنجليزي
Glacial deposits are important hydrocarbon reservoirs globally. Thus, understanding their geological attributes are crucial in hydrocarbon exploration, appraisal, and production as well as during enhanced oil recovery. The Neoproterozoic glacial deposits of the Huqf Supergroup are well-exposed across Oman from the north to the south; Jabal Akhdar and Saih Hatat Window, the Huqf Area, and the Mirbat Area, respectively. They are represented by the Ghubrah and Fiq formations of the Abu Mahara Group. Moreover, the Neoproterozoic glacial deposits have been penetrated by numerous subsurface wells, especially in Central Oman, being an important hydrocarbon target. Accordingly, this study focuses on examining the geological attributes of the Abu Mahara and the overlying Hadash Formation that are poorly documented in literatures. This study aims to gain a better understanding of the sedimentology and stratigraphy of the two stratigraphic units (i.e., Fiq and Hadash formations), and their regional facies distribution to eventually correlate their distribution from north to south, based on surface and subsurface data. Moreover, this study aims to examine the diagenetic alterations and their impact on reservoir quality with a sequence stratigraphy. About 400 m of the outcropped and 33 m of the cored Ghubrah, Fiq and Hadash formations were used for the sedimentological and stratigraphic examination including facies analysis, sequence stratigraphic interpretation, boundary relationship and the nature of the bounding surface between the Fiq and Hadash formations. In total, 34 selected samples were collected (26 samples from outcrop and 8 samples from core for petrographic and geochemical analyses including thin section microscopic analysis, point counting, diagenesis, X-ray florescence, scanning electron microscope analyses for mineralogical and authigenic phases identification. Sedimentological examination showed the Fiq Formation is represented by proximal to distal glaciomarine and proglacial facies associations. The proximal glaciomarine diamictites are clast-rich, unlike the distal glaciomarine diamictites, which have typical clast-poor nature. Local glacier features (i.e., ice-rafted granitic dropstones) display clear evidence of active glaciation during deposition of the Fiq Formation. The distal glaciomarine facies make up most of the logged section suggesting that most the stratigraphic succession of the Fiq Formation has been deposited during glacial retreat cycles. Proglacial facies are also further subdivided into gravity-flow, and braided fluvial deposits. The Fiq Formation represents cycles of sea level rise and fall events formed during local and multiple glaciation and deglaciation events. Fiq Formation is overlain by microbial-based planar stromatolites intercalated with siltstone deposits. These deposits represent an intertidal environment. The abrupt change in facies from proximal glaciomarine diamicitites to intertidal based stromatolitic dolostones support the transition in the climatic condition from cold to hot 'tropical' marking the definite end of the glaciation during Fiq Formation deposition and earliest development of multicellular organisms within the Hadash Formation. Subsurface diamictites of the Ghubrah Formation are characterized by flat-iron shaped clasts providing further evidence of glaciation. The subsurface Fiq Formation revealed comparable lithofacies to those observed in outcrop, represented mainly by the proglacial, gravity flow facies along association. Additional facies association have been recognized within the subsurface Fiq Formation, which is represented by peloidal packstones which are intercalated with laminated and crenulated mudstones suggesting interglacial deposition within deep-water setting with occasional influx of calciturbidites, implying formation of cool-water carbonates in an interglacial system. The surface proglacial sandstones of the Fiq Formation are mainly sublitharenite and subarkose in composition which are characterized by post depositional burial diagenetic cementation and early mechanical and chemical compaction implying poor reservoir quality. Comparable post depositional diagenetic alterations were found in the surface and subsurface facies of the Hadash Formation represented mainly by saddle dolomite and silica that drastically reduces reservoir quality. Authigenic evaporitic minerals have been recognized within both surface and subsurface dolomitic samples of the Hadash Formation, supporting the proposed suggestion of transition from cold to hot climatic condition. The integrated sedimentological, stratigraphic and diagenetic outcomes of this study can be used as analogue to test the development of these stratigraphic units as potential hydrocarbon plays in further studies.
قالب العنصر
الرسائل والأطروحات الجامعية

مواد أخرى لنفس الموضوع

مقالات الدوريات
3
0
Al-Hosni, Talal.
College of Science, Sultan Qaboos University.
2022-05-09
مقالات الدوريات
4
0
Burg, Jean-Pierre.
Elsevier B. V.
2018-10-01
مقالات الدوريات
3
0
Abu, Mahamuda.
Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH.
2020-01-01
مقالات الدوريات
5
0
Al-Kindi, Mohammed H. N.
MDPI AG.
2020-03-01
مقالات الدوريات
3
0
Giampouras, Manolis.
Elsevier B.V.
2020-02-05