Abstract
An overview on the tectono-stratigraphic framework of the Arabian plate indicates obvious differences between two distinct areas: the hydrocarbon-prolific sector and non-hydrocarbon-prolific sector. These differences resulted from the interplay of a variety of factors; some of which are related to the paleo-geographic configuration (eustatic sea level fluctuations, climatic conditions, and salt Basins), others to differential subsidence (burial) and structural inversions. During the Paleozoic, the regional compression was caused by far field effects of the Hercynian orogeny. This led to major folded structures in central and eastern Saudi Arabia (e.g. Ghawar anticline). During the Mesozoic, the most important tectonic factor was the stretching of the crust (extension), accompanied with the increase in temperature, resulting in an increase of the accommodation space, and thicker sedimentary successions. Regional unconformities are mostly found where folded structures are dominant, and they acted as a carrier systems for the accumulation of hydrocarbon and groundwater. A good understanding of the stratigraphy and tectonic evolution is, thus, required to develop carbon capture and storage (CCS) and to design efficiently enhanced oil recovery (EOR) in both sectors. Oil and gas reservoirs offer geologic storage potential as well as the economic opportunity of better production through CO2-EOR. The world greatest hydrocarbon reservoirs mainly consist of Jurassic carbonate rocks, and are located around the Arabian Basin (including the eastern KSA and the Arabian Gulf). The Cretaceous reservoirs, which mainly consist of calcarenite and dolomite, are located around the Gotnia salt Basin (northeast of KSA). Depleted oil and gas fields, which generally have proven as geologic traps, reservoirs and seals, are ideal sites for storage of injected CO2. Each potential site for CO2-EOR or CCS should be evaluated for its potential storage with respect to the containment properties, and to ensure that conditions for safe and effective long term storage are present. The secured deep underground storage of CO2 implies appropriate geologic rock formations with suitable reservoir rocks, traps, and impermeable caprocks. Proposed targets for CCS, in the non-hydrocarbon-prolific sector, are Kharij super-aquifer (Triassic), Az-Zulfi aquifer (Middle Jurassic), Layla aquifer (Late Jurassic), and Wasia aquifer (Middle Cretaceous). Proposed targets for EOR are Safaniya oil field (Middle Cretaceous) (Safaniya, Wara and Khafji reservoirs), Manifa oil field (Las, Safaniya and Khafji reservoirs) (Late Jurassic), and Khuff reservoir (Late Permian-Early Triassic) in central to eastern KSA.
Highlights
The Arabian plate extends from the eastern Mediterranean region to the western Zagros thrust zone, and comprises the whole Arabian Peninsula
The study area covers the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), which constitutes most of the Arabian plate (Fig. 1)
A comprehensive literature review of previous work and the general geology of the KSA were first conducted. It covered issues related on the geodynamics, tectonics, stratigraphy, paleoclimate, sea-level variations, hydrogeology, hydrostratigraphy, petroleum systems, and petro-physical properties of the rock formations, [i.e., Powers et al, 1966; Beydoun, 1991; Cole et al, 1994; Stump and Van Der Eem, 1995; Al-Sharhan and Narin, 1997; Al-Aswad and Al-Bassam, 1997; AlBassam et al, 2000; Sharland et al, 2001; Zeigler, 2001; Le-Nindre et al, 2003; Pollastro, 2003; Haq and
Summary
The Arabian plate extends from the eastern Mediterranean region to the western Zagros thrust zone, and comprises the whole Arabian Peninsula. During an early Paleozoic cycle (Cambrian–Ordovician– Silurian), the Arabian plate was first located near the equatorial line in the Cambrian time, resulting in a relatively warmer climate, and an increase in the accommodation space due to induced sea level variation This coincided with rifting, extension, at the northern Gondwana margin [Konert et al, 2001] (Fig. 3). The thicknesses of the sediments may reflect the related tectonic events, which increase toward the eastern part of Saudi Arabia, and that could be due to the continuing subsidence and deposition, mostly without breaks and evidenced by a decrease of the number of unconformities, whereas in the western part, most of the geological rock formations are thinner, with relatively high amount of unconformities Whether CO2 sequestration is applied through CCS projects into aquifers or as CO2-EOR procedures in old producing fields, the net results are a decrease in anthropogenic greenhouse gases and a globally more economic and cleaner energy production
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