Organic geochemistry and source rock characteristics of the Zagros Petroleum Province, southwest Iran

Journal Article · Tue Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1980 · J. Pet. Geol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1747-5457.1980.tb01004.x· OSTI ID:6994964

Ala, M A; Kinghorn, R R.F.; Rahman, M

The Zagros sector of SW Iran and its continuation into N Iraq forms the tectonized NE margin of the Middle East basin. Sedimentation in the Zagros began in the late Precambrian and continued with comparatively few interruptions until the Pliocene, when strong earth movements affected the area and gave rise to the present day large, elongated NW-SE trending structures. Some of the world's largest structurally-controlled oil fields are located in the Zagros. The most productive pay zone is the Oligo-Miocene Asmari Formation, although significant oil pools are present also in the Cenomanian-Turonian Sarvak limestone and in the Neocomian-Jurassic Khami Group carbonates. Recently, large gas deposits have been discovered in the Permo-Triassic carbonates assigned to the Deh Ram Group. Geochemical studies were carried out in five potential source beds of Eocene-Palaeocene (Pabdeh Formation), Maestrichtian-Campanian (Gurpi Formation), Albian (Kazhdumi Formation), Coniacian-Neocomian (Garau Formation) and Silurian (Gahkum Formation) age. The results showed that the organic matter in these formations is almost exclusively of marine algal origin, and that the Kazhdumi is the major source of the hydrocarbons in the Asmari and Sarvak reservoirs. The origin of the hydrocarbons in the Khami and Deh Ram reservoirs is at present speculative. 19 figures, 1 table.

• Research Organization: Imperial Coll. of Science and Tech., London, England
• OSTI ID: 6994964
• Journal Information: J. Pet. Geol.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Pet. Geol.; (United States) Vol. 3:1; ISSN JPEGD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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ASIA
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBONATE ROCKS
CARBONATES
CENOZOIC ERA
CHEMISTRY
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
GEOCHEMISTRY
GEOLOGIC AGES
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NATURAL GAS DEPOSITS
OIL FIELDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
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PLANTS
RESERVOIR ROCK
RESOURCES
ROCKS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SEDIMENTATION
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