Rub Al-Khali and Ras Al-Khaimah sub-basins; Saudi Arabia-UAE

-181 Middle East Geology -Geol 501-142

RUB AL KHALI AND RAS AL KHAIMAH SUB-BASINS; SAUDI ARABIA-UAE

By:

Abdullah [email protected]

KFUPMEarth Science Department

Feb. 15, 2015


Outline• Introduction.• Geological and Tectonic settings.• Stratigraphic Setting of UAE.• Petroleum System of UAE.• Conclusion.


Introduction• The Rub’ Al-Khali is the largest basin in the Arabian Plate.

• The Rub’ Al-Khali and Ras Al-Khaimah sub-basins are located on

northeastern part of the largest basin.

• The largest basin extends from the Hadhramout Arch, in the south,

to the Strait of Hormuz and onshore coastal part of southeastern

Iran.

• The Ras Al-Khaimah Sub-basin, is known only in the subsurface,

and it probably was separated from the Rub Al-Khali sub-basin.

• These sub-basins covered most of the UAE.


Location map of the Rub’ Al-Khali

(Pollastro et al., 1997)

-185 Middle East Geology -Geol 501-142 Ziegler, 2001

Rub’ Al-Khali and

Ras Al-Khaimah sub-basins

-186 Middle East Geology -Geol 501-142Alsharhan & Scott, 2000

Rub’ Al-Khali and Ras Al-Khaimah sub-basins


Geological and Tectonic settings

Alsharhan & Nain, 1997

SW NE

-188 Middle East Geology -Geol 501-142 Alsharhan, 1989

Geological and Tectonic Settings

Late Permian:Passive margin

Late CretaceousActive margin

Two Tectonic events:

-189 Middle East Geology -Geol 501-142Watts & Searle, 2013

Geological and Tectonic Settings

-1810 Middle East Geology -Geol 501-142 Watts & Searle, 2013


Summary of Stratigraphic Column

of the UAE

Watt

s &

Sea

rle, 2

013

Tectonic History


Petroleum System of the UAE

Source Rocks

Compiled after (Watts & Searle, 2009; Alshahran, 1997)


Petroleum System of the UAE

Seal

Reservoirs

Compiled after (Watts & Searle, 2009; Alshahran, 1997)

•Basal part of UER•Laffan shale beneath Figa.•Nahr Umer shale.•Dense limestone.•Hith Anhydrite.•Sudair.


Oilfields distribution of the UAE

Alshahran, 1997


Conclusion• The Ras Al-Khaimah Sub-basin is known only in the subsurface, and

it probably was separated from the Rub Al-Khali Sub-basin.• These sub-basins trend and plunge to the northeast, and they are

thought to be parts of the same basin; however, they are treated as independent basins.

• These sub-basins were developed in passive margins, late Permian, and in Late Cretaceous, the area was affected by an active tectonic event, the emplacement of Semail Ophiolite.

• The best reservoirs in the UAE are formed in shelf carbonates. Clastic reservoirs also occur, but in comparison exhibit poor reservoir characteristics.

• The Permian succession in Abu Dhabi is gas reservoirs while the Mesozoic succession of the UAE is oil reservoirs. No oil or gas in Tertiary is reported.


References• Ali, M. Y., watts, A. B., & searle, M. P. (2013). Seismic stratigraphy and subsidence

history of the united arab emirates (UAE) rifted margin and overlying foreland basins. In lithosphere dynamics and sedimentary basins: the Arabian Plate and Analogues (pp. 127-143). Springer Berlin Heidelberg.

• Alsharhan, A. S. (1989). Petroleum geology of the United Arab Emirates. Journal of petroleum geology, 12(3), 253-288.

• Alsharhan, A. S., & Nairn, A. E. M. (1995). Tertiary of the Arabian Gulf: Sedimentology and hydrocarbon potential. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology,

Palaeoecology, 114(2), 369-384.• Alsharhan, A. S. & Nairn, A. E. M., (1997). Sedimentary basins and petroleum geology

of the Middle East. Elsevier.• Alsharhan, A. S., & Scott, R. W. (2010). Hydrocarbon potential of Mesozoic carbonate'

platform basin systems, UAE. Middle east models of Jurassic/Cretaceous carbonate system, 1(1), 335.

• Pollastro, R. M., karshbaum, A. S., & Viger, R. J. (2004). Maps showing geology, oil and gas fields and geological provinces of the Arabian Peninsula. US Geological Survey open-file report, 97, 470b.

Rub Al-Khali and Ras Al-Khaimah sub-basins; Saudi Arabia-UAE

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