PETROLEUM SYSTEMS ANALYSIS OF THE EASTERN ARABIAN PLATE: CHEMOMETRICS BASED ON A REVIEW OF THE GEOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF OILS IN JURASSIC – CENOZOIC RESERVOIRS

Abstract

This paper presents the results of an integrated geochemical study of oils in Jurassic – Cenozoic reservoirs in the eastern region of the Arabian Plate. The main objective was to analyze the active petroleum systems at a regional scale across the study area which extends from NE Iraq to SE Oman and includes the entire Persian Gulf. The dataset for the study consisted of more than 500 crude oil samples from 112 oil fields and 11 different reservoir units. This dataset was compiled from both the literature and re-evaluated geochemical and stable isotope analyses, augmented by new analytical studies.

The study documents regional variations and trends in the bulk and molecular properties and stable isotope ratios of the oil samples. Two overall clans and twelve genetic oil families and sub-families were distinguished using multivariate statistical analysis (chemometrics) based on biomarker parameters. The age, lithology, depositional setting and organic matter type of the respective source rocks for each family/sub-family was inferred from oil geochemical fingerprints.

The results provide insights into the key geological factors that control the number, size and geochemical character of oil fields in the eastern Arabian Plate. The geographical extent of the various oil families was assessed and used to evaluate charge access and to predict migration directions and migration pathways in the study area.

The results indicate the value of implementing multivariate statistical analysis on “big data” along with state-of-the-art geological petroleum systems analysis and interpretation of biomarker and oil composition data to investigate complex and extended petroleum systems.