Bacterial Shrimp Disease in Iraqi Marine Waters

A sample of 116 shrimps Metapenaeus affinis (H. Milne-Edwards, 1837) were collected from local fish markets in Basrah Province, Southern Iraq. Height, weight, and pathological signs of the shrimps were recorded. Both morphological and biochemical examination by VITEK identification system were undertaken. Pathological infections were seen on the cuticle of abdominal segments in addition to a severe infection in uropod (tail segment), rostrum and pleopods (walking legs). Results of biochemical identification showed the presence of Aeromonas sobria and A. salmonicida from the infected organs and this study is considered as the first record of this bacterial infection in shrimps in Iraq.

Regularized ridge regression models to estimate static elastic moduli from wireline measurements: case study from Southern Iraq

Elastic moduli such as Young’s modulus (E), Poisson’s ratio (v), and bulk modulus (K) are vital to creating geomechanical models for wellbore stability, hydraulic fracturing, sand production, etc. Due to the difficulty of obtaining core samples and performing rock testing, alternatively, wireline measurements can be used to estimate dynamic moduli. However, dynamic moduli are significantly different from elastic moduli due to many factors. In this paper, correlations for three zones (Nahr Umr shale, Zubair shale, and Zubair sandstone) located in southern Iraq were created to estimate static E, K, and ν from dynamic data. Core plugs from the aforementioned three zones alongside wireline measurements for the same sections were acquired. Single-stage triaxial (SST) tests with CT scans were executed for the core plugs. The data were separated into two parts; training (70%), and testing (30%) to ensure the models can be generalized to new data. Regularized ridge regression models were created to estimate static E, K, and ν from dynamic data (wireline measurements). The shrinkage parameter (α) was selected for each model based on an iterative process, where the goal is to ensure having the smallest error. The results showed that all models had testing R2 ranging between 0.92 and 0.997 and consistent with the training results. All models of E, K, and ν were linear besides ν for the Zubair sandstone and shale which were second-degree polynomial. Furthermore, root means squared error (RMSE) and mean absolute error (MAE) were utilized to assess the error of the models. Both RMSE and MAE were consistently low in training and testing without a large discrepancy. Thus, with the regularization of ridge regression and consistent low error during the training and testing, it can be concluded that the proposed models can be generalized to new data and no overfitting can be observed. The proposed models for Nahr Umr shale, Zubair shale, and Zubair sandstone can be utilized to estimate E, K, and ν based on readily available dynamic data which can contribute to creating robust geomechanical models for hydraulic fracturing, sand production, wellbore stability, etc.

Structural Study of Faihaa Oil Field in Basra South of Iraq

This study used structural contour maps to carry out the geometrical analysis for Faihaa structure in Basra southern Iraq. The study used row data of well logs and structural maps while Softwares were Didger 4, Stereonet v.11 and Petrel 2017 Faihaa Oil Field is located at an eastern part of the Mesopotamian Zone within the Zubair Subzone, characterized by subsurface geological structures covered by Quaternary sediments. These structures are oriented in the NW-SE direction in the eastern part of the band and the N-S direction in the southern region, and some in the direction NE-SW. The Faihaa Oil Field shows that is an Anticline structure. The average dip value of an axial surface is 89.7° while the plunge of hinge line between 4–4.2 in North-West direction referred to that Faihaa Structure is upright and gentle fold. Based on the Thickness ratio and axial angle, the Faihaa Structure is thickened Fold. The eastern limb of the fold is longer than the western limb, so Faihaa Oil Field is an asymmetrical structure. The difference in dimensions (5<Length / Width < 2) confirmed the brachy fold of the Faihaa structure.

Evaluation of Mishrif Reservoir in Abu Amood Oil Field, Southern Iraq

The main goal of this study is to evaluate Mishrif Reservoir in Abu Amood oil field, southern Iraq, using the available well logs. The sets of logs were acquired for wells AAm-1, AAm-2, AAm-3, AAm-4, and AAm-5. The evaluation included the identification of the reservoir units and the calculation of their petrophysical properties using the Techlog software. Total porosity was calculated using the neutron-density method and the values were corrected from the volume of shale in order to calculate the effective porosity. Computer processed interpretation (CPI) was accomplished for the five wells. The results show that Mishrif Formation in Abu Amood field consists of three reservoir units with various percentages of hydrocarbons that were concentrated in all of the three units, but in different wells. All of the units have high porosity, especially unit two, although it is saturated with water.

How the Uruk Potters Used the Wheel. New Data on Modalities and Conditions of Emergence of the Potter’s Wheel in the Uruk World

The phase and the ceramic materials that, in Southern Mesopotamia, go under the label of “Uruk” (after the toponym of the site in southern Iraq) have traditionally been considered the origin for the development of the potter’s wheel in the Near East, according to a perspective that associated the emergence of the potter’s wheel, the “mass” production of the so-called bevelled-rim bowls and first urbanization. According to recent excavations and ceramic studies it is now clear that this was a narrative based on a priori convictions. However, even if under very different socio-technical conditions, it is true that the potter’s wheel made an early appearance in Southern Mesopotamia within the Uruk cultural sphere, and then developed in a widespread and discontinuous way in the Uruk network. Based on recent ongoing fieldwork data from Syria (Tell Feres) and Iraqi Kurdistan (Logardan and Girdi Qala), ceramic analyses have taken into account new criteria to identify the use of the potter’s wheel. This paper outlines the chronological and socio-technical scenario behind the adoption of the potter’s wheel in the Uruk world, picturing the peculiarities of this cultural environment, as well as the parallels with the emergence conditions of the potter’s wheel in northern Mesopotamia and other areas of the Near East.

The Seismic Interpretation for (X) Oil Field Depending on 3D Seismic Data of Nearby Oil Field, Southern Iraq

This research focused on using seismic data to review the structure of the (X) Oil Field, located 40 km SW of Basrah, Southern Iraq. The study utilises a 3D seismic survey conducted during 2011-2012, covering the (Y) Oil Field 2 km to the west, and with partial coverage across (X), to map the Top Zubair reflector. Seismic rock properties analysis was conducted on key (X) Oil Field wells and used to tie the Top Zubair reflector on (X) Oil Field. The reflector was mapped within the time domain using DecisionSpace Software, and then converted to depth using a velocity model. The depth structure map was then compared to the original oil water contact (OOWC) across the fields to understand the potential structural closure of the Top Zubair reservoir in both fields.

Pollution threatens water quality in the Central Marshes of Southern Iraq

Water pollution is an issue that can be exacerbated by drought as increased concentrations of unwanted substances are a consequence of lower water levels. Polluted water that flows into natural marshlands leads to the deposition of pollutants in the interior of the marsh. Here we present evidence that the interior of the Central Marsh (CM) in southern Iraq suffers from higher levels of pollution than areas closer to the source of water entering the marsh (the Euphrates River). A 1.7m embankment that halts the flow of the Euphrates is only infrequently breached and so the CM is effectively the terminal destination of the waters (and their associated pollutants and agricultural waste) flowing from the West of Iraq. A range of water quality metrics were measured where the Euphrates enters the CM and at increasing distances into the interior of the CM. The following measures were taken: NO2, NO3, PO4 , Salinity, Major ions, and Heavy Metals (Cu, Ni, Pb, Cd, Zn). The area of study was divided into four horizontal zones (the river and three zones inside the marsh) and eight field surveys were carried out from November 2013 to June 2014 to collect water samples by using a transect line methodology. Salinity and major ions (Na, K, Cl, Ca, and Mg) were significantly higher inside the marsh compared with levels in the river water immediately before it entered the CM. These findings indicate the increased risk of these pollutants to humans and wildlife living in and using the CM. This issue requires urgent attention, especially to the status of the CM as a World Heritage site (for the ecosystem services provided to local people) as an Important Biodiversity Area. The reported declines in water quantity in the Euphrates over recent decades will likely further exacerbate the problems we report.