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Book Chapter

Tethyan Petroleum Systems of Saudi Arabia

Author(s)

D. L. Cantrell

Saudi Arabian Oil Company Current address: Applied Microfacies Limited Tan Y Gaer, Tan Y Ffordd, Llanbedr Dyffryn Clwyd, Sir Ddinbych, LL15 1UT, North Wales, UK (e-mail: dave.cantrell@aramco.com)

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P. G. Nicholson

P. G. Nicholson

Saudi Arabian Oil Company Current address: Applied Microfacies Limited Tan Y Gaer, Tan Y Ffordd, Llanbedr Dyffryn Clwyd, Sir Ddinbych, LL15 1UT, North Wales, UK (e-mail: dave.cantrell@aramco.com)

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G. W. Hughes

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M. A. Miller

Current: 2753 East 23rd St., Tulsa, Oklahoma, 74114, U.S.A. (e-mail: merrelmiller@aol.com)

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A. G. Buhllar

Current: 3169 NW Colonial Dr., Bend, Oregon 97701, U.S.A. (e-mails: abid.bhullar@aramco.com, sami.abdelbagi@aramco.com, and aknorton@hotmail.com)

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S. T. Abdelbagi

S. T. Abdelbagi

Current: 3169 NW Colonial Dr., Bend, Oregon 97701, U.S.A. (e-mails: abid.bhullar@aramco.com, sami.abdelbagi@aramco.com, and aknorton@hotmail.com)

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A. K. Norton

Current: 3169 NW Colonial Dr., Bend, Oregon 97701, U.S.A. (e-mails: abid.bhullar@aramco.com, sami.abdelbagi@aramco.com, and aknorton@hotmail.com)

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Doi:

https://doi.org/10.1036/13431867M1063615

Published:

January 01, 2014

Abstract

The Phanerozoic succession of Saudi Arabia holds the world’s largest liquid hydrocarbon reserves, and the world’s fourth largest gas reserves. This sedimentary succession was deposited on the southwestern margin of the Tethys Ocean, where favorable conditions existed for the optimal juxtaposition of multiple source, reservoir, and seal rocks and the creation of large structural traps. Two major petroleum systems occur in eastern and central Saudi Arabia: a mixed siliciclastic/carbonate Paleozoic petroleum system associated with Proto-Tethyan and Paleo-Tethyan settings, and a carbonate-dominated Mesozoic petroleum system associated with the Neo-Tethys. The Paleozoic petroleum system hosts one carbonate and eight siliciclastic oil...

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Figures & Tables

Petroleum Systems of the Tethyan Region

AAPG Memoir

Petroleum Systems of the Tethyan Region

Author(s)

American Association of Petroleum Geologists

Volume

106

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1306/M1061343

Copyright:

American Association of Petroleum Geologists

© American Association of Petroleum Geologists 2014, ISBN 978-1-62981-266-3$24

ISBN electronic:

9781629812663

Publication date:

January 01, 2014

This volume is intended to generate ideas for the future exploration of immature and mature basins across the Tethyan Region. From the Paleozoic to the Cenozoic, the Arabian Plate, North Africa and parts of Southern Eurasia, were on the margin of a series of Tethys seaways, Proto-Tethys, Paleo-Tethys, and Neo-Tethys. These areas evolved together and as a result they have numerous similarities in their tectono-stratigraphic history and petroleum systems. These similarities could be used to extrapolate proven petroleum systems to underexplored areas and lead to hydrocarbon discoveries. The back cover illustrates the countries that evolved along the Tethyan Region in their present day location. Countries covered in this volume are outlined.