Depositional environment, reservoir units evolution, and hydrocarbon habitat of Shuaiba formation, Lower Cretaceous, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Journal Article · Sat Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1985 · Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5172674

Alsharham, A S

The Shuaiba Formation (Aptian) is a thick, porous shelf carbonate, present in the subsurface over much of the Arabian Gulf. It is the uppermost formation of the Thamama Group (Lower Cretaceous), and is overlain by the Nahr Umr Formation (Albian) and overlies the Kharaib Formation (Barremian). The formation is divided into nine reservoir units. The major reefal Shuaiba buildup in Abu Dhabi trends northwest-southeast. It is in this trend that the major oil fields (Shah, Bu Hasa, and Zurarah-Shaybah) were discovered and from which some wells produce in western Abu Dhabi (e.g., Ruwais-2). Hydrocarbons also occur outside of the rudist trend in the Shuaiba Formation in the Asab, Jarn Yaphour, and Sahil onshore oil fields, and the Zakum and Mandous offshore oil fields. Geochemical studies reveal that the main source for the Thamama oils are the Upper Jurassic Dukhan Formation (onshore Abu Dhabi) or Diyab Formation (offshore Abu Dhabi), however, some Shuaiba source rocks may have existed in intrashelf basinal areas in the upper Thamama zone. The Nahr Umr Shale acts as a seal for the Shuaiba reservoir in this area.

• Research Organization: Department of Geology, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina
• OSTI ID: 5172674
• Journal Information: Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States), Vol. 69:6
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
03 NATURAL GAS
NATURAL GAS DEPOSITS
PETROLEUM GEOLOGY
SEDIMENTATION
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
CRETACEOUS PERIOD
OFFSHORE SITES
ONSHORE SITES
PERSIAN GULF
ARABIAN SEA
ASIA
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGY
INDIAN OCEAN
MESOZOIC ERA
MINERAL RESOURCES
RESOURCES
SEAS
SURFACE WATERS
020200* - Petroleum- Reserves
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& Exploration
030200 - Natural Gas- Reserves
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& Exploration