Structural Geology Study of Tuba Oilfield, Southern Iraq

Abstract

Tuba oilfield is one of the Iraqi oilfields located in southern Iraq within the Mesopotamian Plain. The main purpose of this study is to carry out a structural geology analysis of the Tuba oilfield. The structural analysis included geometric and genetic analyses of the study area. According to geometric and genetic analysis results, some formations folds are classified as Thickened folds and others as Supratenuous folds. Two folding mechanisms (bending and buckle) are characterized as responsible for folding the Tuba structure. The bending mechanism forms a Supratenuous fold, perhaps due to the vertical force of salt structure and/or basement faults, while the buckle produces Thickened fold because of the horizontal force of the collision between the Arabian Plate and Eurasian Plate. The correlation sections and contour maps show that the structural development of the Tuba oilfield may be less than adjacent oilfields (Zubair and Rumaila oilfields). The fold axis of the Tuba oilfield is NW-SE, and this is perhaps attributed to the anticlockwise motion of the Arabian Plate. The results of geometric and genetic analyses may be revealed that the Tuba oilfield was formed by tectonic activities (Hormuz salt, basement faults, and collision between Arabian and Eurasian Plates) with intensity less than surrounding oilfields.