scholarly journals Paleozoic (Pre-Khuff Hydrocarbon Geology of the Ghawar Area, Eastern Saudi Arabia

GeoArabia ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 273-302 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lawrence E. Wender ◽  
Jeffrey W. Bryant ◽  
Martin F. Dickens ◽  
Allen S. Neville ◽  
Abdulrahman M. Al-Moqbel

ABSTRACT Saudi Aramco is conducting an exploration program to discover additional non-associated gas reserves in the Ghawar Area. The program has successfully discovered significant sweet gas and condensate reserves in the pre-Khuff siliciclastics and has further increased our understanding of the Paleozoic petroleum system. The Lower Permian Unayzah Formation is the principal pre-Khuff hydrocarbon reservoir in the Southern Ghawar Area, where it contains both oil and gas. The Unayzah consists of fluvial to marginal marine sandstones. The Devonian Jauf Formation is the principal pre-Khuff reservoir in the Northern Ghawar Area, where it hosts the recently discovered giant Hawiyah gas-condensate field. The Jauf consists of shallow marine sandstones that exhibit unusually high porosities considering the burial depths. The primary source rock for pre-Khuff hydrocarbons is the basal “hot shale” of the Lower Silurian Qalibah Formation. Maturation modeling of these shales indicates hydrocarbon generation began in the Middle Triassic (oil) and continues to the present (dry gas). Pre-Khuff hydrocarbon traps are found in simple four-way closures as well as more complex structural-stratigraphic traps on the flanks of Hercynian structures. Trap formation and modification occurred in four main phases: (1) Carboniferous (Hercynian Orogeny); (2) Early Triassic (Zagros Rifting); (3) Late Cretaceous (First or Early Alpine Orogeny); and (4) Tertiary (Second or Late Alpine Orogeny). Structures in the Ghawar Area show differences in growth histories, which have impacted the amount and type of hydrocarbons contained.

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 41-48
Author(s):  
O.D. Naumenko

In this article the author carried out sedimentary and genetic modeling of facies parameters within heterogeneous geological bodies based on the analysis of geological and geophysical materials in the Southern Ukrainian oil and gas region. Special attention was paid to clastic facies and parameters demonstrating the degree of heterogeneity and a wide range of facial settings of the sedimentation basin. The data from lithological, geochemical, and geophysical field studies of wells was interpreted to predict hydrocarbon traps. This resulted in the facial diagnostic of the groups of geological bodies of clastic rocks coexisting with sediments of both tectonic and ridge morphological structure of the study area. Such diagnostics allowed us to build a prognostic lithologicfacial (sedimentation) section. Based on the modeling of the Vendian top (Vendian is a stratigraphic unit partially corresponding to Ediacaran) and the Jurassic base, a schematic map of the Paleozoic sediments was constructed for the first time, which made it possible to identify zones of the potential distribution of the former reef structures. The article presents the spatial forecast of hydrocarbon reservoir distribution in geological bodies of oil and gas bearing complexes within the PreDobruja Trough. The data allow forecasting a large number of traps, mainly small ones, formed by clusters of cavernous dolomites, limestones, and mixed rocks confined to certain cyclical elements and, in particular, associated with diastems. Most of such traps are caused by metasomatic dolomitization and paleokarst.


2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jamal A. Madi ◽  
Elhadi M. Belhadj

Abstract Oman's petroleum systems are related to four known source rocks: the Precambrian-Lower Cambrian Huqf, the Lower Silurian Sahmah, the Late Jurassic Shuaiba-Tuwaiq and the Cretaceous Natih. The Huqf and the Natih have sourced almost all the discovered fields in the country. This study examines the shale-gas and shale-oil potential of the Lower Silurian Sahmah in the Omani side of the Rub al Khali basin along the Saudi border. The prospective area exceeds 12,000 square miles (31,300 km2). The Silurian hot shale at the base of the Sahmah shale is equivalent to the known world-class source rock, widespread throughout North Africa (Tannezouft) and the Arabian Peninsula (Sahmah/Qusaiba). Both thickness and thermal maturities increase northward toward Saudi Arabia, with an apparent depocentre extending southward into Oman Block 36 where the hot shale is up to 55 m thick and reached 1.4% vitrinite reflectance (in Burkanah-1 and ATA-1 wells). The present-day measured TOC and estimated from log signatures range from 0.8 to 9%. 1D thermal modeling and burial history of the Sahmah source rock in some wells indicate that, depending on the used kinetics, hydrocarbon generation/expulsion began from the Early Jurassic (ca 160 M.a.b.p) to Cretaceous. Shale oil/gas resource density estimates, particularly in countries and plays outside North America remain highly uncertain, due to the lack of geochemical data, the lack of history of shale oil/gas production, and the valuation method undertaken. Based on available geological and geochemical data, we applied both Jarvie (2007) and Talukdar (2010) methods for the resource estimation of: (1) the amount of hydrocarbon generated and expelled into conventional reservoirs and (2) the amount of hydrocarbon retained within the Silurian hot shale. Preliminary results show that the hydrocarbon potential is distributed equally between wet natural gas and oil within an area of 11,000 square mile. The Silurian Sahmah shale has generated and expelled (and/or partly lost) about 116.8 billion of oil and 275.6 TCF of gas. Likewise, our estimates indicate that 56 billion of oil and 273.4 TCF of gas are potentially retained within the Sahmah source rock, making this interval a future unconventional resource play. The average calculated retained oil and gas yields are estimated to be 6 MMbbl/mi2 (or 117 bbl oil/ac-ft) and 25.3 bcf/mi2 (or 403 mcf gas/ac-ft) respectively. To better compare our estimates with Advanced Resources International (EIA/ARI) studies on several Silurian shale plays, we also carried out estimates based on the volumetric method. The total oil in-place is 50.2 billion barrels, while the total gas in-place is 107.6 TCF. The average oil and gas yield is respectively 7 MMbbl/mi2 and 15.5 bcf/mi2. Our findings, in term of oil and gas concentration, are in line or often smaller than all the shale oil/gas plays assessed by EIA/ARI and others.


2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 142-147
Author(s):  
S.R. Kildibaeva ◽  
E.T. Dalinskij ◽  
G.R. Kildibaeva

The paper deals with the case of damage to the underwater pipeline through which oil and associated gas are transported. The process of oil and gas migration is described by the flow of a multiphase submerged jet. At the initial moment, the temperature of the incoming hydrocarbons, their initial velocity, the temperature of the surrounding water, the depth of the pipeline is known. The paper considers two cases of different initial parameters of hydrocarbon outflow from the pipeline. In the first case, the thermobaric environmental conditions correspond to the conditions of hydrate formation and stable existence. Such a case corresponds to the conditions of the hydrocarbons flow in the Gulf of Mexico. In the second case, hydrate is not formed. Such flows correspond to the cases of oil transportation through pipelines in the Baltic sea (for example, Nord stream–2). The process of hydrate formation will be characterized by the following dynamics of the bubble: first, it will be completely gas, then a hydrate shell (composite bubble) will begin to form on its surface, then the bubble will become completely hydrate, which will be the final stage. The integral Lagrangian control volume method will be considered for modeling the dynamics of hydrocarbon jet propagation. According to this method, the jet is considered as a sequence of elementary volumes. When modeling the jet flow, the laws of conservation of mass, momentum and energy for the components included in the control volume are taken into account. The equations are used taking into account the possible formation of hydrate. Thermophysical characteristics of hydrocarbons coming from the damaged pipeline for cases of deep-water and shallow-water pipeline laying are obtained. The trajectories of hydrocarbon migration, the dependence of the jet temperature and density on the vertical coordinate are analyzed.


Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (11) ◽  
pp. 3102
Author(s):  
Anna Chmielowska ◽  
Anna Sowiżdżał ◽  
Barbara Tomaszewska

There are many oil and gas fields around the world where the vast number of wells have been abandoned or suspended, mainly due to the depletion of reserves. Those abandoned oil and gas wells (AOGWs) are often located in areas with a prospective geothermal potential and might be retrofitted to a geothermal system without high-cost drilling. In Poland, there are thousands of wells, either operating, abandoned or negative, that might be used for different geothermal applications. Thus, the aim of this paper is not only to review geothermal and petroleum facts about the Eastern Carpathian Foredeep, but also to find out the areas, geological structures or just AOGWs, which are the most prospective in case of geothermal utilization. Due to the inseparability of geological settings with both oil and gas, as well as geothermal conditionings, firstly, the geological background of the analyzed region was performed, considering mainly the autochthonous Miocene formation. Then, geothermal and petroleum detailed characteristics were made. In the case of geothermal parameters, such as formation’s thickness, temperatures, water-bearing horizons, wells’ capacities, mineralization and others were extensively examined. Considering oil and gas settings, insights into reservoir rocks, hydrocarbon traps and migration paths issues were created. Then, for evaluating geothermal parameters for specific hydrocarbon reservoirs, their depths were established based on publicly available wells data. Thereafter, the average temperatures for selected reservoirs were set. As the effect, it turned out that most of the deposits have average temperatures of 40/50 °C, nonetheless, there are a few characterized by higher (even around 80 °C) temperatures at reasonable depths.


Minerals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 453
Author(s):  
Wenhuan Li ◽  
Tailiang Fan ◽  
Zhiqian Gao ◽  
Zhixiong Wu ◽  
Ya’nan Li ◽  
...  

The Lower Jurassic reservoir in the Niudong area of the northern margin of Qaidam Basin is a typical low permeability sandstone reservoir and an important target for oil and gas exploration in the northern margin of the Qaidam Basin. In this paper, casting thin section analysis, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and stable isotope analysis among other methods were used to identify the diagenetic characteristics and evolution as well as the main factors influencing reservoir quality in the study area. The predominant types of sandstone in the study area are mainly feldspathic lithic sandstone and lithic arkose, followed by feldspathic sandstone and lithic sandstone. Reservoir porosity ranges from 0.01% to 19.5% (average of 9.9%), and permeability ranges from 0.01 to 32.4 mD (average of 3.8 mD). The reservoir exhibits robust heterogeneity and its quality is mainly influenced by diagenesis. The Lower Jurassic reservoir in the study area has undergone complex diagenesis and reached the middle diagenesis stage (A–B). The quantitative analysis of pore evolution showed that the porosity loss rate caused by compaction and cementation was 69.0% and 25.7% on average, and the porosity increase via dissolution was 4.8% on average. Compaction was the main cause of the reduction in the physical property of the reservoir in the study area, while cementation and dissolution were the main causes of reservoir heterogeneity. Cementation can reduce reservoir space by filling primary intergranular pores and secondary dissolved pores via cementation such as a calcite and illite/smectite mixed layer, whereas high cement content increased the compaction resistance of particles to preserve certain primary pores. δ13C and δ18O isotopes showed that the carbonate cement in the study area was the product of hydrocarbon generation by organic matter. The study area has conditions that are conductive to strong dissolution and mainly occur in feldspar dissolution, which produces a large number of secondary pores. It is important to improve the physical properties of the reservoir. Structurally, the Niudong area is a large nose uplift structure with developed fractures, which can be used as an effective oil and gas reservoir space and migration channel. In addition, the existence of fractures provides favorable conditions for the uninterrupted entry of acid fluid into the reservoir, promoting the occurrence of dissolution, and ultimately improves the physical properties of reservoirs, which is mainly manifested in improving the reservoir permeability.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florence Letitia Bebb ◽  
Kate Clare Serena Evans ◽  
Jagannath Mukherjee ◽  
Bilal Saeed ◽  
Geovani Christopher

Abstract There are several significant differences between the behavior of injected CO2 and reservoired hydrocarbons in the subsurface. These fundamental differences greatly influence the modeling of CO2 plumes. Carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) is growing in importance in the exploration and production (E&P) regulatory environment with the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative (OGCI) making CCUS a priority. Companies need to prospect for storage sites and evaluate both the short-term risks and long-term fate of stored carbon dioxide (CO2). Understanding the physics governing fluid flow is important to both CO2 storage and hydrocarbon exploration and production. In the last decade, there has been much research into the movement and migration of CO2 in the subsurface. A better understanding of the flow dynamics of CO2 plumes in the subsurface has highlighted a number of significant differences in modeling CO2 storage sites compared with hydrocarbon reservoir simulations. These differences can greatly influence reliability when modeling CO2 storage sites.


Author(s):  
С.К. Курбаниязов

В начале барремского времени море отступило и до начала позднего альба территория представляла собой низменную аккумулятивную равнину, в пределах которой происходило накопление аллювиальных и озерно-аллювиальных отложений: красно-коричневых глин, алевролитов с прослоями коричневых песчаников и песков и линзами темно-серого лигнита. В основании толщи отмечаются гравелиты и конгломераты. В раннемальбе произошла кратковременная трансгрессия моря, однако территория современного Восточного Приаралья не была затоплена и представляла собой прибрежно-морскую равнину, где накапливались глины, алевролиты и песчаники. К концу позднего альба море регрессировало, и территория вновь стала представлять собой низменную аллювиально-озерную равнину. По всей территории происходило накопление пестроцветных глин, зеленовато-серых алевролитов, песков и песчаников, а также углей. При проведении иследовательских работ были обоснованы наиболее перспективные типы ловушек углеводородного сырья по стратиграфическим уровням и выявлена зональность их распространения. Дана оценка перспектив района на выявление залежей нефти и газа. Выделены информативные и качественные признаки (критерии) нефтегазоносности. Обоснованы площади и конкретные структуры для постановки детальных поисковых работ на выявление залежей нефти и газа. Рассчитана оценка потенциальных ресурсов углеводородного сырья. At the beginning of the Barremian time, the sea receded and until the beginning of the late Alb, the territory was a low-lying accumulative plain, within which the accumulation of alluvial and lacustrine-alluvial deposits occurred: red-brown clays, siltstones with layers of brown sandstones and sands and lenses of dark gray lignite. Gravelites and conglomerates are noted at the base of the strata.In the Rannemalba, there was a short-term transgression of the sea, but the territory of the modern Eastern Aral Sea region was not flooded and was a coastal-sea plain, where clays, siltstones and sandstones accumulated. By the end of the Late Alb, the sea regressed and the area again became a low-lying alluvial-lacustrine plain. There was an accumulation of variegated clays, greenish-gray siltstones, sands and sandstones, as well as coals throughout the territory. During the research work, the most promising types of hydrocarbon traps were justified by stratigraphic levels and the zoning of their distribution was revealed. The assessment of the prospects of the area for the identification of oil and gas deposits is given. Informative and qualitative signs (criteria) of oil and gas potential are identified. The areas and specific structures for setting up detailed search operations to identify oil and gas deposits are justified. The estimation of potential resources of hydrocarbon raw materials is calculated.


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