Implications of Lineaments Trends from Ghawar Field and Adjacent Areas

Mustafa M. Hariri*
King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Saudi Arabia
*[email protected]

Lineaments traced from satellite images (scale 1:250,000, band 7) over the giant Ghawar field and adjacent areas indicated major trends of N55°W and N35°E, and minor and lesser trends of N15°E, N5°W, and N35°W. The total number of traced lineaments was 413 with variable lengths of 2 to 5 km. The major N55oW and minor N35°W, N25°W and N45°W trends are generally coincident with the NW-trending high-angle wrench faults that cut the older Paleozoic and basement rocks (Najd Fault System). The major and minor NW and major NE (N35°E) trends may also be related to structures formed by the Zagros stress regime, which acted in the NE-SW direction during Early Tertiary and continues at present. The Zagros stress regime may also have partially caused and/or enhanced structures trending N15°W and N5°W. Those northerly trends are also parallel to the major faults system present within the Precambrian Shield. The general trend of the Ghawar field also follows this general northerly trend. Minor N65°–75°E and N65°W trends may be related to structural features formed by the Oman stress regime (acted in E-W direction during Paleozoic and Mesozoic times).

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90077©2008 GEO 2008 Middle East Conference and Exhibition, Manama, Bahrain