Quantitative structural analysis using remote sensing data: Kurdistan, northeast Iraq

Reif, Daniel; Grasemann, Bernhard; Faber, Robert

doi:10.1306/11151010112

Cited by 23 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…(A) Petroleum systems event chart (format modified from Magoon and Dow, 1994) for the Middle-Upper Jurassic (Sargelu-Naokelekan) sourced petroleum system in northern Iraq. The main phase of trap formation in the frontal part of the Zagros fold belt in Iraq occurred during the Late Miocene and Pliocene (e.g., Garland et al, 2010;Bretis et al, 2011;Reif et al, 2011;Csontos et al, 2012), although it is possible that older structural and stratigraphic traps were formed before this. (B) Thermal history curves and oil and kerogen-gas transformation-ratio curves illustrating the timing and extent of petroleum generation at (i) Kirkuk (Baba Dome) field, and (ii) Khashm al-Ahmar field (reproduced from Pitman et al, 2004, by permission of GeoArabia).…”

Section: Regional Trends In Source Rock Maturity and Reservoired Hydrmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geologic evolution of the Iraqi Zagros, and its influence on the distribution of hydrocarbons in the Kurdistan region

English¹,

Lunn²,

Ferreira³

et al. 2015

Bulletin

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A B S T R A C TWhereas the vast majority of discovered hydrocarbon reserves in Iraq reside in Cretaceous and Cenozoic reservoirs, numerous oil and gas fields have been discovered recently in deeper Jurassic and Triassic reservoirs in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. This study presents a Middle-Upper Jurassic thermal maturity map for the Kurdistan region of Iraq and demonstrates that regional first-order trends in Jurassic source rock maturity show a close correlation to the spatial distribution of oil gravities within the overlying Jurassic (and Cretaceous) reservoirs. This distribution is consistent with compartmentalization of the active source rock kitchens due to Zagros folding, resulting in relatively short-distance migration and charge of the anticlinal structures from the adjacent synclinal lows. The thermal maturity map confirms relatively low maturity over the Mosul high, where the Cretaceous and Cenozoic section overlying the source rock interval is relatively thin, and increasing maturity to the southeast as the thickness of the Cenozoic foredeep sediments increases toward the depocenter located in the southeastern Iraqi Zagros and the adjacent Iranian Zagros. The correlative trend in oil gravities is exemplified by the recent Jurassic discoveries: low to medium gravity oils (14-27°API) in Shaikan and Atrush to the northwest, light oil (39-47°API) in Mirawa and Bina Bawi, and gas condensate (55°API) in Miran West to the southeast. Understanding thermal maturity patterns and hydrocarbon fluid-type distributions will help to guide risk assessment for remaining prospectivity and future exploration drilling within the Kurdistan region of Iraq. is an exploration geologist with over 6 years' experience in the Kurdistan region with Hess Corporation and Perenco. He received a B.Sc. degree (2006) in geology and an M.Sc. degree (2007) in petroleum geology from Royal Holloway, University of London. He currently works for OMV Exploration and Production.

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Section: Regional Trends In Source Rock Maturity and Reservoired Hydrmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geologic evolution of the Iraqi Zagros, and its influence on the distribution of hydrocarbons in the Kurdistan region

English¹,

Lunn²,

Ferreira³

et al. 2015

Bulletin

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“…These are facilitated by the development of numerous either new and/or automated analytical methods (e.g. Davis et al ., 2003, 2005; Burberry et al ., 2008; Hilley & Arrowsmith, 2008; Ramsey et al ., 2008; Reif et al ., 2011). Interpretations can be further supported by numerical modelling of the mechanics of fold and thrust belts (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lateral fold growth and linkage in the Zagros fold and thrust belt (Kurdistan, NE Iraq)

2011

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The Zagros fold and thrust belt is a seismically active orogen that has accommodated the N^S shortening between the Arabian and Eurasian plates since the Miocene.Whereas the southeast parts of the belt have been studied in detail, the northwest extent has received considerably less attention, being part of the Republic of Iraq. In this study, we investigate fold growth in the area NE of Erbil (Kurdistan, Iraq). In particular, we focus on the interaction of the transient development of drainage patterns along growing antiforms, as this directly re£ects the kinematics of progressive fold growth. Detailed geomorphological studies of the Bana Bawi-, Permam-and Safeen-fold trains show that these anticlines did not develop from a single embryonic fold but by lateral linkage of several di¡erent fold segments.These segments, with length between 5 and 25 km, have been detected by mapping ancient and modern river courses; these initially cut the nose of growing folds until eventually defeated, leaving curved wind gaps behind. Depending on the alignment of the initial embryonic folds, the segments can either record a linear-or an en-echelon linkage. Comparison of natural examples from the Zagros fold and thrust belt in Iraq with published numerically modelled fold growth suggests that both linear-linkage and en-echelon linkage are mechanically feasible and are common processes during progressive shortening and fold growth.

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“…More than 2000 measurements of bedding orientations and fracture systems were taken in the Zagros High Folded Zone during field studies [ Bretis et al , 2011; Reif et al , 2011], mostly from road cuts. Although security in this part of the Zagros Mountains is much better than elsewhere in Iraq, off‐road access was severely restricted due to contamination of the area with landmines and unexploded ordnance.…”

Section: Balanced Cross Sectionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although security in this part of the Zagros Mountains is much better than elsewhere in Iraq, off‐road access was severely restricted due to contamination of the area with landmines and unexploded ordnance. Thus only a few short cross sections, mostly along main roads oriented perpendicular to the trend of the fold axes, could be measured (Figure 3) [ Bretis et al , 2011; Reif et al , 2011].…”

Section: Balanced Cross Sectionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Except for the symmetric and upright Permam Anticline, the measured folds show a clear asymmetric SW vergence, with steeper SW dipping forelimbs and shallower NE dipping backlimbs (Figure 5). To complement structural measurements from the field campaign and to fill measurement gaps in inaccessible areas, remote sensing techniques were developed for extracting the sedimentary bedding orientation from the 15 m horizontal and 8 m vertical resolution ASTER (Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer) digital elevation model [ Reif et al , 2011]. Due to differences in erosion resistance, the more resistant lithologies form sharp ridges with steeply sloping sides along the eroded flanks of the anticlines [ Bretis et al , 2011].…”

Section: Balanced Cross Sectionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Mechanical versus kinematical shortening reconstructions of the Zagros High Folded Zone (Kurdistan region of Iraq)

2012

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[1] This paper compares kinematical and mechanical techniques for the palinspastic reconstruction of folded cross sections in collision orogens. The studied area and the reconstructed NE-SW trending, 55.5 km long cross section is located in the High Folded Zone of the Zagros fold-and-thrust belt in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. The present-day geometry of the cross section has been constructed from field as well as remote sensing data. In a first step, the structures and the stratigraphy are simplified and summarized in eight units trying to identify the main geometric and mechanical parameters. In a second step, the shortening is kinematically estimated using the dip domain method to 11%-15%. Then the same cross section is used in a numerical finite element model to perform dynamical unfolding simulations taking various rheological parameters into account. The main factor allowing for an efficient dynamic unfolding is the presence of interfacial slip conditions between the mechanically strong units. Other factors, such as Newtonian versus power law viscous rheology or the presence of a basement, affect the numerical simulations much less strongly. If interfacial slip is accounted for, fold amplitudes are reduced efficiently during the dynamical unfolding simulations, while welded layer interfaces lead to unrealistic shortening estimates. It is suggested that interfacial slip and decoupling of the deformation along detachment horizons is an important mechanical parameter that controlled the folding processes in the Zagros High Folded Zone.

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Quantitative structural analysis using remote sensing data: Kurdistan, northeast Iraq

Cited by 23 publications

References 24 publications

Geologic evolution of the Iraqi Zagros, and its influence on the distribution of hydrocarbons in the Kurdistan region

Geologic evolution of the Iraqi Zagros, and its influence on the distribution of hydrocarbons in the Kurdistan region

Lateral fold growth and linkage in the Zagros fold and thrust belt (Kurdistan, NE Iraq)

Mechanical versus kinematical shortening reconstructions of the Zagros High Folded Zone (Kurdistan region of Iraq)

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