The Maturation History of the Paleozoic Hydrocarbon System
of the Arabian Platform
Richard S. Bishop
This poster defines the Paleozoic hydrocarbon system
of the Arabian Platform,
presents an interpretation of its thermal and burial history and uses those
results to describe the maturation history of the Lower Silurian source rock.
Geohistory analyses were used to delineate source rock kitchens and to guide
searches for previously unrecognized sources.
The Paleozoic hydrocarbon system
is one of the areally largest hydrocarbon
systems in the world and one of the least drilled. It contains one of the
world's largest gas fields, is one of the largest potential gas resources on
earth, and contains one of the largest emerging oil plays. It is present in both
the Zagros Foldbelt and the Arabian Platform. The Lower Silurian Qusaiba source
and the Triassic Sudair regional seal define the boundaries of the
system
.
The Paleozoic hc system
evolved in basically five stages: (1) simultaneous
sediment accumulation and
structural
formation during the Paleozoic; (2) major
tectonism and erosion in Late Paleozoic (Hercynian); (3) Triassic deposition of
a regional seal; (4) Mesozoic charging primarily from the Lower Silurian
sources; and (5) re-initiation of maturation of Paleozoic sources and charging
of the Zagros compressional traps during Neogene collision with Eurasia.
We have also interpreted the filling history of North Dome to explain why it
contains gas rather than oil. A combination of late trap
growth and late gas
generation apparently displaced the previously resident oils and left a
trap
with a gas rich in condensate. The Silurian may have been exhausted by this
time, thus indicating that other sources may have contributed significantly to
North Dome.
AAPG Search and Discovery Article #91020©1995 AAPG Annual Convention, Houston, Texas, May 5-8, 1995