The Study of the Regional Seismic Line of the Western Desert (Iraq)

Abstract

AbstractA seismic reflection regional line (Reg124) was built in the Western Desert of Iraq using local seismic lines of several seismic reflection surveys. Nine reflectors (named H1–H9) were picked on the regional seismic line which represents the top of Jurassic, Triassic, Permian, Carbo/Devonian, Silurian, Ordovician, top of Cambrian, Middle Cambrian, and Basement formations, respectively. The reflectors show dipping and deepening toward the east. Two sequences of reflectors can be recognized on the regional seismic line. The first sequence consists of Jurassic, Triassic, Permian, Carbo/Devonian, and Silurian reflectors which are sub-parallel and dip toward the east. The second sequence is composed of Ordovician to Basement reflectors. The Ordovician reflector makes angular unconformity surface with Silurian reflector. The reflectors of this group are thicker at the western part and thinner toward the eastern part. A Paleohigh (Anbar uplift) is found on the regional line which might have been formed during the Caledonian orogeny.KeywordsSeismic reflectionWestern DesertIraqRegional line Anbar uplift