IRAN, 2 detailed reports 

 

 

·        Petroleum Exploration Opportunities in the Zagros Domain of Iran as a Result of the Detailed Analysis of Petroleum Systems

 

This is an in-depth study offering a new interpretation and new concepts for the Iranian portion of the Zagros Foothills and NW Gulf region. The report includes detailed analysis of the Petroleum Systems, integrating various relevant aspects of geology and geochemistry. This report is intended to provide the geological parameters for a company to evaluate the potential interest in participating in oil and gas exploration in Iran, to permit the evaluation of the plays available, to enable the selection of specific areas, and the ranking of prospects among the nearly one thousand existing structures.

 

Two years were required to prepare this report which comprises 59 maps at a scale of 1:2,000,000 and 104 figures describing the Zagros-Persian Gulf geology, including the extent, thickness, organic richness and maturity of source rocks, the facies distribution and thickness of the main potential reservoirs and main evaporitic seals. Play maps for each Petroleum System summarize the exploration opportunities.

 

This analysis of the petroleum opportunities was made possible by the Author’s comprehensive involvement in the study of Iranian geology starting in the late 1960’s with extensive field work in the Zagros Mountains. This work, updated continuously since 1993, integrates most of the papers published between 1960 and 1999 on Iran and on neighboring areas, namely SE Iraq, Kuwait, NE Saudi Arabia, Qatar and offshore Abu Dhabi. The latest modeling techniques were applied to the analysis of the Petroleum Systems.

 

Author     Table of Contents     List of Enclosures

 

 

 

 

 

The Author

 

The Author of the above report is an Exploration Geologist, retired from Total (now TotalFinaElf), with 40 years experience in geology, geophysics and geochemistry. Amongst his various assignments, the Author worked as Head of Research projects for the Iranian Oil Exploration and Production Company (IOEPC), then Exploration Coordinator for Middle East region representing Total at OSCO, ADPC, ADMA, DPC and PDO, then Exploration Manager and local representative of Total Petroleum Inc. in Houston, then Exploration Coordinator for the Far East and Exploration Manager for Total Indonesia.

 

 

NB. A brief presentation of the above study appeared in Oil and Gas Journal of 8 May 2000.

        A descriptive leaflet is available, free, on request. The Author may also present his study,     either in Paris (no charges) or at the Client's office (at incurred travel costs). 

 

 

 

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Iran

Petroleum Exploration Opportunities in the Zagros Domain of Iran as a Result of the Detailed Analysis of Petroleum Systems

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Chapter 1            Introduction

                        - Geological Setting

                        - Plate Tectonics and Tectonic Phases

                        - Summary of Past Exploration

                        - Aim of the Report

 

Chapter 2            Sratigraphy and Tectonics

 

Chapter 3          Areal Extent, Facies Distribution and Isopachs of the Formations Considered as Potential Reservoirs

 

Chapter 4            Areal Extent and Isopachs of the Main Cap Rocks

 

Chapter 5            Paleozoic Petroleum System

 

Chapter 6            Two Jurassic Petroleum Systems

                        - Sargelu Petroleum System

                        - Influence of the Hanifa-Tuwaiq Mountain Petroleum System in Iran

 

Chapter 7            Early Cretaceous Petroleum System

 

Chapter 8            Middle Cretaceous to Early Miocene Petroleum System

                        - Distribution of Source Rock Facies

                        - Modeling and Timing of the Onset of Oil Expulsion

                        - Remaining Petroleum Prospects

                        - Composition and Origin of Iranian Oils

 

Chapter 9            Conclusions

                        - Exploration of the Kangan/Dalan Reservoirs - Gas and Oil Play

                        - Exploration of the Khami and the Surmeh Reservoirs

                        - Exploration of the Asmari and Bangestan Reservoirs.

 

 

 

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Iran

Petroleum Exploration Opportunities in the Zagros Domain of Iran as a Result of the Detailed Analysis of Petroleum Systems

 

LIST OF ENCLOSURES

 

Pl. 1-1      Location map of the Zagros Domain

Pl. 1-2      Zagros Domain, main structural units

Pl. 1-3      Exploration areas awarded before 1978

Pl. 1-4      Oil and gas development and exploration blocks on offer under buy back contracts (July 1998)

Pl. 1-5      Summary of wells, TDs, deepest formation reached, year of drilling, wells for which thin sections were studied for geochemical purposes

Pl. 2-1      Late Proterozoic Hormuz salt basin

Pl. 2-2      Isopach of the Permo-Triassic formations (Faraghan, Dalan, Kangan and Dashtak, or Khaneh Kat equivalent Fms.)

Pl. 2-3      lsopach of the Jurassic Fms. (Neyriz, Surmeh and basinal time-equivalent, and Hith)

Pl. 2-4      lsopach of the Early to Middle Cretaceous (Fahilyan, Gadvan, Dariyan, Kazhdumi and Sarvak Fms.)

Pl. 2-5      Isopach of the Late Cretaceous (Surgah, Ilam, Gurpi Fms. and local equivalent, Tarbur Fm. and Amiran Flysch)

Pl. 2-6      lsopach of the Cretaceous Fms.

Pl. 2-7      lsopach of the Pabdeh Fm. (Paleocene to Early Oligocene)

Pl. 2-8      Isopach of the Mishan Fm. (Middle Miocene)

Pl. 2-9      Geological SW-NE cross sections through the Lurestan, Khuzestan and the northern part of the Persian Gulf (adapted by H. Huber)

Pl. 2-10      Geological SW-NE cross section through the Fars (Ibid)

Pl. 2-11      Geological cross sections in the northern part of the Persian Gulf (Mina et al., 1967)

Pl. 3-1      lsopach and facies distribution of the Dalan Fm. (Permian)

Pl. 3-2      lsopach and facies distribution of the Kangan Fm. (Early Triassic)

Pl. 3-3      lsopach and facies distribution of the Surmeh Fm. (Middle to Late Jurassic)

Pl. 3-4      lsopach and facies distribution of the Khami Fm. (Early Cretaceous)

Pl. 3-5      lsopach and facies distribution of the Sarvak Fm. (Cenomanian and Early Turonian)

Pl. 3-6      Isopach and facies distribution of the Ilam Fm. (Santonian)

Pl. 3-7      lsopach and facies distribution of the Asmari Fm. (Early Miocene)

Pl. 4-1      lsopach and facies distribution of the Dashtak Fm. (Triassic)

Pl. 4-2      lsopach and facies distribution of the Hith and Gotnia Fms. (Late Jurassic)

Pl. 4-3      Isopach of the Sachun Fm. (Maestrichtian to Early Eocene) in the Fars Province

Pl. 4-4      lsopach and facies distribution of the Gachsaran Fm. (Early Miocene) and of its local equivalent, the Razak marls

Pl. 5-1      Assumed distribution of the Silurian source rocks

Pl. 5-2      Importance of the "Hercynian" phase: Pre-Permian subcrop

Pl. 5-3      Cumulative isopach base Permian to top Jurassic and maturation of the pre-Permian layers

Pl. 5-4      Cumulative isopach base Permian to top Middle Cretaceous, maturation of the pre-Permian layers, and location of the main “Hercynian" faults reactivated at the end of the Middle Cretaceous

Pl. 5-5      Cumulative isopach base Permian to top Cretaceous

Pl. 5-6      Cumulative isopach base Permian to top Asmari Fm. (Early Miocene)

Pl. 5-7      Cumulative Isopach base Permian to top Gachsaran (Early Miocene)

Pl. 5-8      Cumulative isopach base Permian to top Mishan (Middle Miocene) before the beginning of Zagros folding

Pl. 5-9      Distribution through the Zagros Domain of surface oil, gas and bitumen seeps, and hydrocarbon-related indications ("gash-e Turush" and sulfur springs), and extent of post-Triassic mature source rocks

Pl. 5-10      Main Dalan/Kangan prospects

Pl. 5-11      Paleozoic Petroleum System play map

Pl. 6-1      Isopach of the Sargelu Fm.

Pl. 6-2      Cumulative isopach base Hith to top Mishan

Pl. 6-3      Play map of the Sargelu Petroleum System

Pl. 7-1      Isopach of the organic-rich lower part of the Garau Fm. and source rock characteristics

Pl. 7-2      Cumulative isopach base Kazdhumi to top Mishan

Pl. 7-3      Tentative isopach of the Gadvan marginal source rocks (TOC ³ 1%)

Pl. 7-4      Play map of the Jurassic and Early Cretaceous Petroleum Systems

Pl. 8-1      Isopach and facies distribution of the Kazhdumi Fm. (Albian)

Pl. 8-2      lsopach of the Kazhdumi source rocks (TOC ³ 1%)

Pl. 8-3      Kazhdumi Fm.: iso-organic content (h TOC %)

Pl. 8-4      Isopach and facies distribution of the Ahmadi/Shilaif Fm. (Cenomanian)

Pl. 8-5      Isopachs of the marginal Senonian source rocks (TOC ³1%)

Pl. 8-6      Senonian iso-organic content

Pl. 8-7      Isopach of the Pabdeh source rock (TOC ³1%)

Pl. 8-8a      Pabdeh iso-organic content

Pl. 8-8b      Isopach top Bangestan to top Asmari

Pl. 8-9      Carbon isotopic composition (d¹³C) of Iranian crude oils and oil seeps

Pl. 8-10      Sulfur isotopic composition (d³⁴C) of Iranian oils

Pl. 8-11      API gravity and sulfur content of Iranian oils

Pl. 8-12      Sulfur/nitrogen ratio of Iranian oils

Pl. 8-13      Corrected sulfur content (SC 30⁰ API) of Iranian oils

Pl. 8-14      Origin of the oil and gas accumulations in the Zagros Domain

Pl. 8-15      Middle Cretaceous to Early Miocene Petroleum System play map

Pl.. 9-1      Summary of the prospects mentioned in the report

 

 

 

 

 

  

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·        Oil and Gas Perspectives in Iran’s Zagros and the Persian Gulf areas 

 

A comprehensive report on South-West Iran, allowing strategic decisions to be taken based on in-depth knowledge of the various aspects relating to oil and gas exploration and production. The report contains a large number of detailed factual data, so far unpublished, namely exploration costs, the nature of technical risks that you will encounter, what you can expect to find and where. Over 225 pages of text, plus figures and enclosures.

 

Author     Table of Contents     Illustrations

 

 

 

 

 

The Author

 

The Author of the above report is an Exploration Geologist, retired from Elf (now TotalFinaElf), with 40 years experience in both geology and geophysics. The Author had an international career with Elf, during which he led the exploration of the first three years of EGOCO in Iran; this resulted in the discoveries of the giant gas and condensate fields of Kangan and Aghar. He was then Deputy District Manager for the Middle East and can account for five years of activity in Iran in the 1970s, the last years during which international oil companies were involved in the country. He spent the 1980s in staff positions at Elf headquarters, as Manager of the department of world wide strategic studies, then Coordinator for world wide programs, studies and asset evaluation, then Counsel to the General Manager for Eastern Countries, and  reported directly to the President of the group. He is now an independent consultant and provides studies based on his long experience in asset evaluation and exploration investments.

 

 

 

NB. On request and by appointment, the Author may present his study in Paris (no charges) or at the Client's office (at incurred travel costs). 

 

 

 

 

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Iran

Oil and Gas Perspectives in Iran’s Zagros and the Persian Gulf areas

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS (Condensed)

 

1. INTRODUCTION

2. GENERAL INFORMATION

2.1 Areas of Current Activities

2.2 Available Facilities and Utilities

2.3 Geographic and Climatic Conditions

3. EXPLORATION HISTORY

4. GENERAL GEOLOGY

4.1 Paleogeographic Evolution (Summary)

4.2 Stratigraphy and Sedimentology

4.3 Structures

5. PETROLEUM GEOLOGY

5.1 General Comments on the Petroleum Geology of the Zagros-Gulf Area

5.2 Lurestan

5.3 Khuzestan

5.4 Western Fars

5.5 Eastern Fars

5.6 Eastern Gulf

5.7 Central Gulf

5.8 Western Gulf

6. PLAYS

6.1 Lurestan Plays

6.2 Khuzestan Plays

6.3 Plays of the Western Fars

6.4 Plays of the Eastern Fars

6.5 Eastern Gulf Plays

6.6 Plays of the Central Gulf

6.7 Plays of the Western Gulf

7. POTENTIAL OF THE AREAS OF INTEREST

7.1 Possible Types of Investments in the Zagros and Gulf Areas

7.2 Gas Exploration Areas

7.3 Oil Exploration Areas

8. OVERVIEW OF EXPLORATION AND APPRAISAL INVESTMENTS

8.1 Today’s Operation Costs in the Zagros and the Gulf Areas (from our correspondent)

8.2 Technical Implementation

 

9. CONCLUSION

BIBLIOGRAPHY

 

 

 

 

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Iran

Oil and Gas Perspectives in Iran’s Zagros and the Persian Gulf areas

 

 

ILLUSTRATIONS and ENCLOSURES

 

 

ILLUSTRATIONS

 

01                 Stratigraphic equivalents of the folded Zagros SW Iran – S Iran

02                 Megatecctonic frame of Middle East

03                 Schematic East-West section across the greater Arabian basin

04                 Generalized isopach map of the Carboniferous of the greater Arabian basin

05                 Diagrammatic facies distribution of the Permian, Zagros basin

06                 Jurassic Paleogeographiv map

07                 Paleogeography of Middle Cretaceous

08                 Simplified isopach map of Cretaceous strata line in the Gulf area

09                 Northern Gulf and Dezful embayment stratigraphic cross section

10                 Tertiary Paleogeographic maps

11                 Oriental Gulf – Miocene facies evolution

12                 Eocene – Paleocene facies map

13                 Middle-East mesozoique lithostratigraphic chart

14                 Formations correlation chart

15                 Iran and Persian Gulf: Permian to Triassic rocks, stratigraphic nomenclature

16                 Khaneh Kat lithological column

17                 Occidental Fars stratigraphic cross-section

18                 Occidental Fars stratigraphic chart

19                 Qeshm island embayment cross-section

20                 Qeshm island embayment facies evolution

21                 Oman edge: Well stratigraphic column

22                 Sirr A-1 simplified stratigraphic column

23                 Approximative trend of rudist buildup in southern Gulf

24                 Eastern Gulf: Cenomanian to Santonian palaeoghraphic map

25                 Deep structural data

26                 Dezful embayment – interpreted structural cross section

27                 Dorood structure: composite contour map

28                 Asmari formation (Khuzestan) Example of Giant field

29                 Dezful Embayment source rocks

30                 Dezful Embayment: carbon and sulphur isotope crossplot

31                 Crude oil and kerogen pyrolysate profile

32                 Burial history for Dezful Embayment

33                 Sarvak facies example

34                 West Khuzestan Field

35                 Kuh-E Asmari Map

36                 Asmari Reservoir

37                 Asmari Facies in Kirkuk

38                 Khuzestan: Ahwaz Field Asmari Reservoir

39                 N-S Structural trend

40                 North Dezful Embayment

41                 Permo Triassic of Kuhe Siah

42                 Dalan Formation Lithological colomns

43                 Central Fars: Permo-triassic reservoir porosity

44                 Oriental Fars

45                 Stratigraphic Cross-section through the Gulf Medium line

46                 Jurassic source rock of Qatar area

47                 Cenomanian Facies in the Fateh area

48                 Gulf: Hydrodynamics maps

49                 Iminico-Rakhsh velocity anomaly

50                 Henjam Area to Qeshm island

51                 Central Gulf Activity in 1970

52                 Pars Structure on top of Kangan

53                 Sargelu (Hanifa) source rocks

54                 Sulaiy source rocks: Tithonian to Berriasian

55                 West Gulf pattern migrations

56                 Soroosh field: Burgan A, B structural and net sand isopacheous contour map

57                 Soroosh field: structural contour map of Burgan "B" sand

58                 Hendjian and Bahrgansar fields

59                 Balal field: structural contour map

60                 Balal field: SW-NE cross section

 

 

MAPS-ENCLOSURES

 

01                 Main geological provinces

02                 Zagros source rocks

03                 Gulf source rocks

04                 Zagros deep reservoirs and cap rocks

05                 Zagros deep reservoirs and cap rocks from Middle Cretaceous to Tertiary

06                 Main Gas areas

07                 Tertiary and Cretaceous plays at medium depth

08                 Deep Oil plays

09                 Gas plays

10                 Oil: Areas of interest

11                 Gas: Areas of interest