A Review of the Cretaceous Formations in the Arabian Peninsula and Gulf: Part I. Lower Cretaceous (Thamama Group) Stratigraphy and Paleogeography

Abstract

This paper is a review of the standard stratigraphic column accepted by many workers for the Lower Cretaceous (Berriasian‐Aptian) of the Arabian Gulf. Type sections, synonymy and summary paleontological details are included. A historical introduction provides an explanation of the profusion of formational and member names. The observed fades variation in the region, both vertical and lateral, can best be understood in terms of the migration of predominantly shallow water carbonate facies‐belts across a shelf. Two, predominantly carbonate, cycles can be recognised, with the maximum development of the marginal clastic fades occurring within the upper cycle.

Development and Evaluation of a Multi-Year Fractional Surface Water Data Set Derived from Active/Passive Microwave Remote Sensing Data

“…The average annual maximum FW (Figure 4b) compares favorably with the global distribution of static FW from MOD44W (Figure 4a), except for large portions of the Sahara Desert, the Arabian Peninsula and the Levant where SWAMPS' FW is likely too high. High FW in these regions corresponds with cretaceous outcrops of limestone deposits, e.g., in the Tuwayq Mountains south of the city of Riyadh, Saudi-Arabia [97], whose surface emissivity is much lower than for the majority of desert areas composed of more common minerals (e.g., quartz sand) [98]. Large differences are also evident over parts of Southeast Asia, Eastern China and India for which SWAMPS shows much more FW.…”

New tools and approaches in carbonate reservoir quality prediction: a case history from the Shu'aiba Formation, Saudi Arabia

“…Wireline averages were calculated by averaging porosity log values over the reservoir indicated, while model-predicted averages were calculated by averaging the porosity values of a stack of cells extracted from the model at the locations of the corresponding wells. (Alsharhan & Kendall 1991), although the Bab Mudstones are also considered (Alsharhan & Nairn 1986;Scott 1990) to overlie the Shu'aiba Formation and to be of a younger, 'middle' Aptian age. The Shu'aiba Formation in the UAE is dated as either of Early Aptian age (Hoogkamer 1979;Simmons & Hart 1987;Hughes Clarke 1988;Scott 1990) or as Early-early Middle Aptian age (Harris et al 1984;Alsharhan & Nairn 1986;Alsharhan & Kendall 1991).…”

“…(Alsharhan & Kendall 1991), although the Bab Mudstones are also considered (Alsharhan & Nairn 1986;Scott 1990) to overlie the Shu'aiba Formation and to be of a younger, 'middle' Aptian age. The Shu'aiba Formation in the UAE is dated as either of Early Aptian age (Hoogkamer 1979;Simmons & Hart 1987;Hughes Clarke 1988;Scott 1990) or as Early-early Middle Aptian age (Harris et al 1984;Alsharhan & Nairn 1986;Alsharhan & Kendall 1991). Scott (1990) has concluded an Early Aptian age for the Shu'aiba Formation and a Late Aptian age for the Bab Member of Abu Dhabi, based on the ammonite fauna.…”

Morphometry of micrite particles in cretaceous microporous limestones of the Middle East: Influence on reservoir properties

“…The Habshan Formation is of Berriasian to Valanginian age (Hassan et al, 1975;Connally and Scott, 1985;Alsharhan and Nairn, 1986). It includes numerous oil fields in the Arabian Gulf and particularly in the United Arab Emirates (Ehrenberg et al, 2008).…”

“…They alternate with non-microporous muddominated limestones forming tight intervals, and poorly cemented grain-supported facies (packstones, grainstones and floatstones) forming the main drain levels. The sediments of the Habshan Formation were deposited on a low-energy carbonate ramp (Murris, 1980;Alsharhan and Nairn, 1986;Alsharhan, 1989;Ziegler, 2001;Dickson et al, 2008 e Fig. 1).…”