rub al-khali and ras al-khaimah sub-basins; saudi arabia-uae
TRANSCRIPT
-181 Middle East Geology -Geol 501-142
RUB AL KHALI AND RAS AL KHAIMAH SUB-BASINS; SAUDI ARABIA-UAE
By:
Abdullah [email protected]
KFUPMEarth Science Department
Feb. 15, 2015
-182 Middle East Geology -Geol 501-142
Outline• Introduction.• Geological and Tectonic settings.• Stratigraphic Setting of UAE.• Petroleum System of UAE.• Conclusion.
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Introduction• The Rub’ Al-Khali is the largest basin in the Arabian Plate.
• The Rub’ Al-Khali and Ras Al-Khaimah sub-basins are located on
northeastern part of the largest basin.
• The largest basin extends from the Hadhramout Arch, in the south,
to the Strait of Hormuz and onshore coastal part of southeastern
Iran.
• The Ras Al-Khaimah Sub-basin, is known only in the subsurface,
and it probably was separated from the Rub Al-Khali sub-basin.
• These sub-basins covered most of the UAE.
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Location map of the Rub’ Al-Khali
(Pollastro et al., 1997)
-185 Middle East Geology -Geol 501-142 Ziegler, 2001
Rub’ Al-Khali and
Ras Al-Khaimah sub-basins
-186 Middle East Geology -Geol 501-142Alsharhan & Scott, 2000
Rub’ Al-Khali and Ras Al-Khaimah sub-basins
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Geological and Tectonic settings
Alsharhan & Nain, 1997
SW NE
-188 Middle East Geology -Geol 501-142 Alsharhan, 1989
Geological and Tectonic Settings
Late Permian:Passive margin
Late CretaceousActive margin
Two Tectonic events:
-189 Middle East Geology -Geol 501-142Watts & Searle, 2013
Geological and Tectonic Settings
-1810 Middle East Geology -Geol 501-142 Watts & Searle, 2013
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Summary of Stratigraphic Column
of the UAE
Watt
s &
Sea
rle, 2
013
Tectonic History
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Petroleum System of the UAE
Source Rocks
Compiled after (Watts & Searle, 2009; Alshahran, 1997)
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Petroleum System of the UAE
Seal
Reservoirs
Compiled after (Watts & Searle, 2009; Alshahran, 1997)
•Basal part of UER•Laffan shale beneath Figa.•Nahr Umer shale.•Dense limestone.•Hith Anhydrite.•Sudair.
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Oilfields distribution of the UAE
Alshahran, 1997
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Conclusion• The Ras Al-Khaimah Sub-basin is known only in the subsurface, and
it probably was separated from the Rub Al-Khali Sub-basin.• These sub-basins trend and plunge to the northeast, and they are
thought to be parts of the same basin; however, they are treated as independent basins.
• These sub-basins were developed in passive margins, late Permian, and in Late Cretaceous, the area was affected by an active tectonic event, the emplacement of Semail Ophiolite.
• The best reservoirs in the UAE are formed in shelf carbonates. Clastic reservoirs also occur, but in comparison exhibit poor reservoir characteristics.
• The Permian succession in Abu Dhabi is gas reservoirs while the Mesozoic succession of the UAE is oil reservoirs. No oil or gas in Tertiary is reported.
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References• Ali, M. Y., watts, A. B., & searle, M. P. (2013). Seismic stratigraphy and subsidence
history of the united arab emirates (UAE) rifted margin and overlying foreland basins. In lithosphere dynamics and sedimentary basins: the Arabian Plate and Analogues (pp. 127-143). Springer Berlin Heidelberg.
• Alsharhan, A. S. (1989). Petroleum geology of the United Arab Emirates. Journal of petroleum geology, 12(3), 253-288.
• Alsharhan, A. S., & Nairn, A. E. M. (1995). Tertiary of the Arabian Gulf: Sedimentology and hydrocarbon potential. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology,
Palaeoecology, 114(2), 369-384.• Alsharhan, A. S. & Nairn, A. E. M., (1997). Sedimentary basins and petroleum geology
of the Middle East. Elsevier.• Alsharhan, A. S., & Scott, R. W. (2010). Hydrocarbon potential of Mesozoic carbonate'
platform basin systems, UAE. Middle east models of Jurassic/Cretaceous carbonate system, 1(1), 335.
• Pollastro, R. M., karshbaum, A. S., & Viger, R. J. (2004). Maps showing geology, oil and gas fields and geological provinces of the Arabian Peninsula. US Geological Survey open-file report, 97, 470b.