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Regional distribution of hydrocarbon fluid inclusions in carbonate fracture filling cements: geohistory analysis and timing of oil migration, Oman foredeep

Conference · · Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6183865

Fractured, reservoir limestones in Oman and the United Arab Emirates include the Shuaiba (lower Aptian) and Mauddud (upper Aptian-lower Cenomanian). Petrography and geohistory analysis reveals five stages of diagenesis, fracturing, and fluid migration. (1) Shelf emergence: early cementation associated with regional uncomformities overlying both limestones; (2) pre-orogenic shelf emergence, late Cenomanian to Turonian: fractures cutting Stage 1 cements are healed by very cloudy, cleaved, and twinned calcite containing microfractures with yellow-white fluorescent, hydrocarbon fluid inclusions; (3) initial foredeep downwarp of 0 to 800 m (0 to 2624 ft), Coniacian to early Campanian: fractures cross-cutting Stage 2 fratures are healed with cloudy, cleaved, and sometimes twinned calcite containing dull-blue fluorescent, hydrocarbon fluid inclusions; (4) rapid subsidence and deposition. Companian to Maestrichtian: burial and tectonic stylolites crosscut Stage 2 and 3 fractures; and (5) uplift of the Oman Mountains after 3900 + m (12,795 + ft) burial by early Tertiary: fractures crosscutting all diagenetic features are filled with clear untwinned and uncleaved calcite containing only nonfluorescent, aqueous fluid inclusions. If we can correlate earliest stylolite formation with a minimum burial load of -- 800 m (-- 2625 ft), then the hydrocarbon inclusions in Stage 2 fractures must predate all of Stage 4 and most of Stage 3. In the deepest portions of the foredeep, close to the Oman Mountain front, this limits the presence of oil in fracture porosity to late Turonian-early Campanian time. Farther to the west, in the shallower parts of the foredeep, this constraint relaxes, and oil migration occurred as late as early Tertiary.

Research Organization:
Gulf Science and Tech., Co., Pittsburgh, PA
OSTI ID:
6183865
Report Number(s):
CONF-8304200-
Journal Information:
Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States), Journal Name: Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States) Vol. 67:3; ISSN AAPGB
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English