Abstract
Sixteen rock samples of outcrop of Chia Gara Formations from the type locality area, south of Amadia, North Iraq showed evidences for hydrocarbon generation potential by palynological studies. These analyses include age assessment of Upper Jurassic (Tithonian) to Lower Cretaceous (Berriasian) age based on assemblages of mainly dinoflagellate cyst constituents. Qualitative studies are done in this study by textural microscopy used in assessing amorphous organic matter for palynofacies type belong to kerogen type A of Thompson and Dembiki (Int J Coal Geol 6:229–249, 1986) which contain brazinophyte algae, Tasmanites, and foraminifera test linings, as well as the dinoflagellate cysts and spores, deposited in dysoxic–anoxic environment. The palynomorphs are of dark orange and light brown, on the spore species Cyathidites australis, that indicate mature organic matters with thermal alteration index of 2.7–3.0 by Staplin’s scale. These characters and total organic carbon of 0.5–8.5 wt% have rated the succession as a source rock for high efficiency for generation and expulsion of oil with ordinate gas that charged mainly oil fields of Tawqi. Some oil is released from the Chia Gara Formation to charge the Cretaceous–Tertiary total petroleum system.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Al-Ameri TK, Al-Obaydi RY (2001) Cretaceous petroleum system of the Khasib and Tannuma oil reservoir, East Baghdad oil field, Iraq. Arab J Geosci, Springer 4:915–932
Al-Ameri TK, Oisho K (1992) Maturation study of palynomorphs from Lower Tertiary Formations, Northern Iraq. Iraqi J Sci 36(2):672–687
Al-Ameri TK, Al-Musawi FS, Batten DJ (1999) Palynofacies indications of depositional environments and source potential for hydrocarbon upper Jurassic-basal Cretaceous, Sulaiy Formation, Southern Iraq. Cretac Res 20:359–363
Al-Ameri TK, Al-Khfaji AJ, Zumbergh J (2009) Petroleum system analysis of the Mishrif reservoir in the Ratawi, Zubair, North and South Rumaila oilfields, southern Iraq. GeoArab 14(4):91–108
Aqrawi AAM, Goff JC, Horbori AD, Al-Sadooni FN (2010) The petroleum geology of Iraq. Scientific Press Ltd., Beaconsfield, p 440
Bars MS, Williams GL (1973) Palynology and nanofossil processing techniques. Geological Survey of Canada publication, paper 73–26, p 25 and two plates
Batten DJ (1996a) Palynofacies and palaeoenvironmental interpretations. In: Jansonius J, McGregor DC (eds) Palynology: principles and application, vol 3. American Association of Stratigraphic Palynologists Foundation, Dallas, pp 1011–1064
Batten DJ (1996b) Palynofacies and petroleum potential. In: Jansonius J, McGregor DC (eds) Palynology: principles and applications, vol 3. American Association of Stratigraphic Palynologists Formation, Dallas, pp 1065–1084
Bordenave ML (ed) (1993) Applied petroleum geochemistry. Edition Technip, Paris, p 524
Davey RJ (1979) The stratigraphic distribution of dinocyst in Portlandian (Latest Jurassic) to Barremian (Early Cretaceous) of Northwest Europe. American Association of Stratigraphic Palynologist, Contribution Series number 5B, pp 49–82
Davey RJ (1982) Dinocyst stratigraphy of the latest Jurassic to Early Cretaceous of the Haldager No. 1 borehole, vol B6. Danmarks Geological Survey, Denmark, p 57
Helby R, Morgan R, Partridge AD (1987) Apalynological zonation of the Australian Mesozoic. In Jell PA (ed) Studies in Australian Mesozoic palynology, No. 4. Memoir of the Association of Australian Palaeontologists, pp 1–94
Hunt JM (1997) Petroleum geochemistry and geology. Freeman, New York, p 743
Millioud ME, Williams GL, Lentin JK (1975) Stratigraphic range chart of selected Cretaceous dinoflagellates. American Association of Stratigraphic Palynologists, Contribution Series number 4, pp 65–71 and 12 plates
Pollastro RM, Karshbaum AS, Viger RG (1999) Map showing geology, oil and gas fields, and geologic provinces of the Arabian Peninsula. U.S. Geological Survey, Open File Report 97-470B, Version 2
Rahman M, Kinghorn RRF (1995) A practical classification of kerogen related to hydrocarbon generations. J Pet Geol 18:91–102
Staplin FL (1969) Sedimentary organic matter, organic metamorphism, and oil and gas occurrences. Bull Canad Petrol Geol 17:47–66
Thompson CL, Dembiki HJ (1986) Optical characteristic of amorphous kerogen and the hydrocarbon generation potential of source rocks. Int J Coal Geol 6:229–249
Thusu B, Van Dereem JGLA (1985) Early Cretaceous (Neocomian-Cenomanian) palynomorphs. In: Thusu B and Owen B (eds) Palynostratigraphy of Northeast Libya, Journal of Micropalaeontology, vol. 10, pp 131–149
Thusu B, Vigran JO (1995) Middle to Late Jurassic (Late Bathonian–Tithonian) palynomorphs of Northeast Libya. Thusu B and Owen B (eds). Journal of Micropalaeontology, vol. 4(1), pp 113–129
Tissot BP, Welte DH (1984) Petroleum formation and occurrences, 2nd edn. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, p XXI + 699
Tyson RV (1993) Palynofacies analysis. In: Jenkins DG (ed) Applied micropalaeontology. Kluwer Academic Press, Dordrecht, pp 153–191
Tyson RV (1995) Sedimentary organic matters, organic facies and palynofacies. Chapman & Hall, London, p Xviii + 615
Van Bellen RC, Dunnigton HV, Wetzel R, Morton DM (1959) Lexique stratigraphquie international, vol. III , Asie, Fasicule 10a Iraq, p 333 (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)
Acknowledgments
I acknowledge with many thanks Prof. Dr. Thamer K Al-Ameri for his comments on the manuscript, Dr. Amer S Al-Khafaji for drafting the figures and Mr. Suhaib Nadher for macerating some of the samples.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Jasim, S.Y. The potential of hydrocarbons generation in the Chia Gara Formation at Amadia area, north of Iraq. Arab J Geosci 6, 3313–3318 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-012-0619-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-012-0619-1