The petroleum geology of and recent E&P activity in Kurdistan, Northern Iraq

 

Van Odell* – Dynamic Global Advisors

 

Dr. Jim Granath – Dynamic Global Advisors

 

Dr. Tim Wawrzyniec – The Lidar Guys

 

Kurdistan lies at the northwestern end of the Zagros Foldbelt, which is an active tectonic domain that is also a highly prospective and productive oil and gas province. The Kurdistan section of the fold belt is the site of recent major discoveries, including Shaikan, Akri Bijeel, Sheikh Adi, Atrush, Swara Tika, Miran West, Taq Taq, and Tawke.

 

The Zagros Foldbelt borders the northern and northwestern Arabian Plate. Conditions suitable for hydrocarbon accumulation occurred on the Arabian plate to the southwest of the Zagros. Subsequent deformation along this plate margin modified and enhanced the occurrence of hydrocarbons along the deformed Zagros Foldbelt.

 

The early Paleozoic history of this province was dominated by clastic deposition, which was followed by deposition of several source-seal-reservoir triplets during the Mesozoic including potential source rock intervals inn the Triassic, Middle Jurassic, Upper Jurassic, Lower Cretaceous, and Middle Cretaceous. Source rocks are intraformational shale or organic rich carbonates. Seals are shales or extremely thick anhydrite beds.

 

Carbonates dominate the reservoirs of the Mesozoic stable platform of the Zagros Foldbelt. Eight hydrocarbon-bearing formations (reservoirs) are present in most discoveries. All are of Mesozoic age, from the Cretaceous to Triassic. They are the Sarmord, Barsarin, Sargelu, Alan, Mus, Butmah, Baluti, Kurra Chine Formations.

 

Recent exploration activity has been very successful for small and medium-sized companies that ventured early into Kurdistan. Numerous structures have been tested with results of resources of several to tens of billion barrels each. Wells have been tested at rates of tens of thousands of barrels per day. The recent entry of US independents and a supermajor will further accelerate activity.

 

The conventional wisdom is that “the area has simple and well understood geology and is largely unexplored with uncomplicated structures most which are expressed at the surface.” With more data and continued study of the surface and subsurface we find this statement not to be accurate. The true structural and stratigraphic aspects of the area are more complicated than first thought.

 

Kurdistan has significant potential and is experiencing some of the most active exploration efforts in the world. This presentation will build on work for a number of clients during the last few years involving integrated subsurface and surface interpretation.