JAMAL AL-MAQBALI 🇴🇲’s Post

Let's explore the Taqa Formation in Oman. While the Taqa Formation is not as widely discussed as some other formations, I can provide insights based on available information. 1. Formation Overview: - The Taqa Formation is part of the Oligocene strata across the Arabian Plate. - It represents sediments deposited during the Oligocene epoch, characterized by global climatic changes from a warm "greenhouse" to a cooler "icehouse" climate. - Within north Oman, mixed carbonate and clastic sediments were deposited within the Taqa Formation, while deep-water carbonates were encountered in the Dhofar region to the south. - Widespread erosion or non-deposition also occurred during this period in many parts of the Arabian Plate. 2. Lithology: - The Taqa Formation consists of various lithologies: - Carbonates: These include limestone and dolomite layers. - Clastics: Clastic sediments are also present. - Deep-Water Carbonates: In the Dhofar region, deep-water carbonates contribute to the formation. - The specific lithological details may vary across different locations within the Taqa Formation. 3. Hydrocarbon Potential: - While the Taqa Formation may not be a major hydrocarbon reservoir, it plays a role in the overall petroleum systems in Oman. - Exploration efforts should focus on identifying subsurface coral buildups or clastic strata equivalent to the Asmari Formation in Iran, which has been associated with commercial hydrocarbons production. Remember that geological formations like the Taqa Formation provide valuable clues about the region's history and potential resources. If you have further questions or need additional details, feel free to ask! 😊🌍🔍

Combination of geology, history and culture. GTK welcomed a delegation from Oman to jointly analyse the way forward in developing Oman's mining sector. The delegation of the Ministry for Energy and Minerals (MEM) got insights into GTK's excellence and experience, and visited the Ministry for Economy and Employment (TEM) and the Finnish Minerals Group (FinMin). We used the current splendid spring weather to continue talks while exploring one of the world's largest sea fortresses, the UNESCO listed Suomenlinna in Helsinki's archipelago. Oman's economy is currently depending on oil and gas. The aim is to diversify the mineral sector. In fact the name "Oman" is linked to "Magan" in Sumerian tablets. This refers to the ancient importance of the country's copper production. Finnish Minerals Group - Suomen Malmijalostus Oy Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland Geological Survey of Finland (GTK) / Geologian tutkimuskeskus (GTK) Mohammed Al Kindi Cyrus Rahimtoola Sean Spratley Hannu Lahtinen Minerals Development Oman SAOC "MDO" #gtkpeople #mineralprocessing #exploration #mining #coreshed #geodata #prospectivity #geophysics

A continuation on the petroleum systems and the exisiting reservoir types in Oman with a detailed cross section.

Let's explore common types of reservoirs, particularly in the context of oil and gas exploration: 1. Siliciclastic Reservoirs: - These are the most abundant and include sedimentary rocks formed from detritus (weathered material) from other rocks. - Types within siliciclastic reservoirs: - Shallow and Deep Marine Reservoirs: Formed in marine environments, such as ocean floors. - Lacustrine Reservoirs: Associated with ancient lakes. - Eolian Reservoirs: Result from wind-blown sand deposits (like sand dunes). - Fluvial Reservoirs: Associated with river systems. - Deltaic Reservoirs: Formed in delta regions where rivers meet the sea. 2. Carbonate Reservoirs: - These are primarily composed of carbonate minerals (like limestone and dolomite). - Types within carbonate reservoirs: - Reef Reservoirs: Formed in coral reefs or similar structures. - Clastic Limestone: Contains both carbonate and siliciclastic components. - Dolomite Reservoirs: Contain significant dolomite content. - Afanitic Limestone: Fine-grained limestone. 3. Other Types of Reservoirs: - Reservoirs can also be found in igneous and metamorphic rocks if they have secondary porosity (e.g., due to fracturing). - Collaboration between geologists, engineers, and geophysicists is crucial for reservoir characterization and optimization. Remember, each type has unique characteristics, extraction challenges, and economic implications. If you'd like more details or have additional questions, feel free to ask! 😊🔍

Continuing the last post.. Secondly, if we are looking at the stratigraphic column of Oman hydrocarbons, we can two types of reservoirs, carbonate and clastic. The oldest carbonate reservoirs deposited during Ediacaran, which called Nafun Group. And another two carbonate reservoirs can be found during Edicaran-Cambrian, and Permian-Paleogene. If we are looking for clastic reservoirs, they can be found during Permian-Cambrian. Understanding the deposition environments of every period, is very important to identify the best reservoirs quality. So, the completion between deposition environments and traps formations history are super useful in exploration processes. When we look at most of the explorations in the far north of Oman, they are more targeted on carbonate reservoirs in the period between the Permian-Paleogene, and clastic reservoirs during the Permian-Cmabrian, and this is largely due to better deposition environments in the north and center of Oman, and high opportunities to find traps formations (Salt movement and Alpine events). There are such a real opportunities to explore for oil and gas in north Oman, but what attracts my attention are the recent gas discoveries in northern and central Oman, which could give Oman priority in exporting gas in huge quantities to several countries. This idea became Oman containing significant reservoirs such as Amin, Barik and Miqrat, which are considered one of the most important formations for gas exploration and production. Another point to be considered, is the source rocks and the migration paths. It’s really important to identify where is the source rocks (kitchen areas) and its type, to trace the oil migration, and identify the possibility to find hydrocarbons (gas or oil, or both), where could migrate. For example, the hydrocarbons are highly migrating through faults, or the faults can cut the hydrocarbons migration. And if we see the latest studies, show that there are different kitchen areas in different parts of north Oman. In overall, Huqf oil families (source rocks: Ara & Nafun Groups) are the most distributed hydrocarbons in different parts of Oman. For the other types, they have limited distribution to the north Oman part. There are a lot of geological interpretations to be considered and a lot to say, but this is an overview to understand the northern Oman petroleum system. When I read and understand, I always learn something new about the geology of Oman, as the details never end and are always interesting.

Significance of geological structures in localization of hydrothermal alteration zones in western part of Rwanda: implications to mineral Exploration. Hydrothermal alteration zones are highly important and have always attracted the attention of exploration geologists due to their high potential of containing economic minerals and ore deposits that are critical for various industries. They are often related to causative major geologic structures that act as the passage for the hydrothermal solutions which are the main player in the origination of the hydrothermal alteration zones.Consequently, the geologic structures are very important to be considered while investigating the hydrothermal alteration zones. For instance The western part of Rwanda is known for containing a lot of mineral resources; alot of which are related to hydrothermal alteration. In western part of Rwanda, it is known to be mineralized area through the application adopted by remote sensing and geophysical data providing maps for investigating hydrothermal alteration zones in relationship to geological structures. In mineral exploration, hydrothermal alteration zones often correlate with geological structures such as faults, fractures, and intrusions. in western part of Rwanda,these structures act as pathways for hydrothermal fluids, facilitating the alteration of surrounding rocks. Generally As fluids move through these structures, they alter the mineralogy and chemistry of the host rocks, creating distinctive alteration zones that can signal the presence of valuable mineral deposits. Understanding the relationship between these alteration zones and geological structures in western part of Rwanda,helps geologists target exploration efforts more effectively, as the altered areas often coincide with ore bodies. Thus, geological structures significantly in that area influence the distribution and localization of mineral resources. #geologist

Attended the International Geological Survey Meeting at Future Minerals Forum and heard some of the biggest challenges in the field from Geological Survey Authorities. They spoke of the digitization of historical geological data and undertaking a country-wide geological survey. However, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that the Ministry of Mining Republic of South Sudan is already ahead of the game. They have already addressed these challenges and are in the implementation phase. South Sudan's historical data has been digitized and is currently in the second quarter of implementation. More than 35 maps have been transformed into GIS shape files, and the team is finalizing the online system to enable access to data from anywhere in the world with internet access. This is a huge leap in the right direction for South Sudan's mining industry. We must explore every corner of the country to identify where, what, and how much value of minerals the country owns.

Let's delve into the Shuaiba Formation in Oman and explore its lithology in more detail: 1. Lithology: - The Shuaiba Formation primarily consists of very fine crystalline massive limestone. - As we move upward within the formation, it gradually transitions to chalky limestone. - Notably, there is a significant proportion of dolomites, especially in the middle part of the Shuaiba Formation. 2. Depositional Environment: - The Shuaiba Formation (Aptian) is a thick, porous shelf carbonate found in the subsurface across much of the Arabian Gulf. - It serves as the uppermost formation within the Thamama Group (Lower Cretaceous). - The Shuaiba Formation is overlain by the Nahr Umr Formation (Albian) and underlies the Kharaib Formation (Barremian). ......... The Shuaiba Formation in Oman exhibits several important reservoir properties: 1. Porosity and Permeability: - The Shuaiba Formation is a complex carbonate reservoir characterized by small-scale geological heterogeneity. - Rudist macrofauna significantly influence the textural heterogeneity, leading to extreme permeability variation. - Permeability is a controlling factor** in reservoir production. 2. Heterogeneity and Enhancement: - The Shuaiba reservoir is heterogeneous due to diagenesis. - Secondary macroporosity, matrix microporosity, and fracture porosity contribute to production. 3. Composition: - All facies within the Shuaiba Formation have relatively constant porosity in the range of ~23-26 p.u. - The formation is composed of almost 100% calcite. Feel free to ask if you'd like more information! 😊

The Niger Delta is divided into three dichronous division which is based on biostratography, lithostratography, rock unit distribution, age dating method. Discuss the three division. How do you know you are transiting from one to the other The Niger Delta is indeed divided into three main divisions based on various geological criteria: 1. Akata Formation: This division is characterized by its predominantly clay-rich sediments. It represents the oldest part of the Niger Delta and is often dated to the Oligocene to early Miocene period. The Akata Formation is known for its significant hydrocarbon reserves and serves as an important reservoir in the region. 2. Agbada Formation: This division is primarily composed of sandstones interbedded with shale and minor amounts of siltstone. It is younger than the Akata Formation and is dated to the early to late Miocene period. The Agbada Formation is also highly prospective for hydrocarbon exploration and production, with extensive oil and gas fields located within its sedimentary sequences. 3. Benin Formation: This division represents the youngest part of the Niger Delta and is characterized by its predominantly sandstone lithology. It is dated to the late Miocene to Pliocene period. The Benin Formation contains reservoir rocks that have contributed to significant hydrocarbon discoveries in the region. These divisions are crucial for understanding the stratigraphy, depositional environments, and hydrocarbon potential of the Niger Delta, making them essential for exploration and exploitation activities in the area. Transitioning from one division to another in the Niger Delta can be identified through various geological indicators, including changes in lithology, sedimentary structures, fossil content, and stratigraphic relationships.

I always wanted to understand the petroleum systems in Oman, and I decided to start with the northern part of Oman. Before I started, I found that the geology of Oman is very complex and it has many details. This is most likely caused by the geological history of Oman, due to its exposure to several deposition environments in different periods, and to several tectonic events. - North Oman Subsurface, Firstly, when we see the northern part of Oman, passing by Huqf High in the east, Ghaba Salt Basin, Makarem High, Fahud Slat Basin, and Lekhwair High in the west, we see that there are chains of anticlines and synclines, accompanied by a number of domes, faults and different geological structures that can be observed on the surface and through seismic surveys. So what is the geological history behind this?? This story can be summarized in three stages, pre-salt extension, Salt Halokinesis, 1 & 2 Alpine Events. I will start with the Salt Halokinesis. The story begins after the end of the Edicarian and the beginning of the Cambrian, where the Ara Salt was deposited. After the ara salt was deposited, Haima deposits were subsequently deposited, where the accumulation of sediments caused pressure on the ara salt (Haima downbuilding), creating low areas and others rising as we see in the post. With the continuous accumulation of Haima deposits and other deposits in the following eras, it led to the presence of basins, domes, faults, tilting, diapers and other effects. The movement of Ara salt is called halokinesis, as it is believed that it went through three stages: activate, calm, and re-activate. So, if we can see the northern part of Oman, there are two main basins, which are Ghaba and Fahud Salt Basins. And most of the significant hydrocarbons accumulations were found as a result of these two Salt Basins. In explorations, I think determining the directions and movement of domes, basins and faults with other geological structures is very important, as it is useful in understanding the Halokinesis of the Ara salt, and thus better explorations. If we move to the first and the second Alpine events, we see that they are related to the formation of North Oman Mountains, which is back to cretaceous and Tertiary periods. The north Oman Mountains formed by a convergence between Eurasian plate and Arabian plate. So, we can describe the first Alpine event as obduction and deformation, which resulted many faults types, fractures and anticlines. And the second Alpine events, can be described as reactivate and inversion of faults. It’s important note that, these events are affected by Salt Halokinesis. The effects associated with these two events are clearly visible in northern Oman and their impact on petroleum systems such as Natih and Shuaiba. There are too many details behind these tectonic and stratigraphic structures, and understanding them plays very significant role in petroleum exploration to find different types of traps formations. Continued…