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Analysis of Sequence Stratigraphic Models for the Jurassic Cretaceous Sedimentary Fill of the Intrashelf Basins of the
Eastern Margin the Arabian Plate*

Christopher G. Kendall1, Phil Moore1, Enrica Viiparelli2, Thomas L. De Keyser3, Abdulrahman Alsharhan4, and Cameron Kloot5

Search and Discovery Article #30326 (2014)**

Posted April 21, 2014

*Adapted from poster presentation given at AAPG Annual Convention and Exhibition, Houston, Texas, April 6-9, 2014
**AAPG©2014 Serial rights given by author. For all other rights contact author directly.

1
Earth Sciences and Resources Institute, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, US (kendall@[Link])
2
Earth and Ocean Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, US
3
Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, US (dekeyser@[Link])
4
Technically Write Consulting, LLC, Harrisburg, Oregon, US
5
Middle East Geological and Environmental Establishment LLC, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates

Abstract

Two critical conceptual sequence stratigraphic models for exploration and production were analyzed with sedimentary computer simulations of the
Jurassic and Cretaceous sedimentary fill of the Intrashelf Basins (ISB) of the Eastern margin the Arabian Plate. One tracked the Hanifa Basin fill from
Jurassic argillaceous carbonates to evaporites to the Cretaceous carbonates and the other the Aptian/Albian fill of the Bab ISB during a glacially induced
sea level low. The Hanifa ISB simulation demonstrated Lower to Middle Jurassic sediments onlapped the uplifted eastern plate margin of the UAE and
Oman as carbonates prograded and filled westward. Uplift ended Middle Jurassic accumulation with subaerial and progressive erosion of the Tuwaiq and
Dhruma Formations on the eastern plate margin. Margin collapse caused a drowning unconformity. Westward of the platform margin the intra-shelf basin
a base-level fall accompanied Arab and Hith evaporites accumulation. In the Early Cretaceous, the platform extended to North Oman with deposition of
argillaceous hemipelagic carbonates of the Habshan. The lack of evaporites supports a climatic change from the Jurassic arid climate to a Cretaceous
humid one. The simulation of the Mid Cretaceous carbonates supports division into Early Aptian and Late Aptian carbonate platform second order
supersequences that aggraded and prograded to fill the Bab ISB. An unconformity initiates the sequence with westward prograding lowstand clinoforms
onlapping eastward onto the Lower to early Upper Aptian carbonate platform of the SW margin of the Bab ISB. The simulation captures an initial sharp
sea-level drop of 35–40 m from the early Upper Aptian shelf break to the topset of the first lowstand clinoform, and the sea-level drop by another 10 m
during the progradation of following eight clinoforms. Each progradational pulse of the clinoforms is modeled over 405 k.y. Simulation illustrates the
initial sharp sea-level drop of some 40 m followed by continued slow sea-level fall producing lowstand clinoforms prograding towards the ISB. Sedpak,
developed at the University of South Carolina assumes clastic transport based on slopes and carbonate production based on water depth. Output
geometries display a sequence stratigraphic framework of erosional and depositional surfaces of the simulated section enabling the extension of
interpretation of depositional setting and predictions of lithofacies geometries away from well data.
 Simulation and analysis of sequence stratigraphic Cyclic Changes in Climate, Sea Level, Organic Controls on Carbonate Accumulation
Styles of Sedimentary Fill of Intrashelf Basins
models for the Jurassic Cretaceous sedimentary Productivity & Sequestration biological factors antecedent topography

(million years)
mineralogy karst terrigenous clastics humid lime eco-accomodation humid lime phys-accomodation arid carbonates-evaporites
fill of the Eastern margin the Arabian Plate evolution

Climate
Glacial

Period
Warm

Cool
controls on

Age

falling & lowstand

carbonate area

30%
Christopher G. Kendall 1, Phil Moore2, Enrica Viparelli 3,

15%
accommodation carbonate area exposed basinwide evaporites

0%
exposed exposed eroded exposed reduced

systems tract
1 incised reduced shelf shelf shelf & margin
Abdulrahman S. Alsharhan4, Tom De Keyser 5, and Cameron Kloot Ice sheets
0
sea level position shelf shelf karst karst
valley

q
q
L a te T e rtia ry 1 2 .5 % shelf wedge
shelf wedge aggradation

T
HMC LMC ARAG. rise fall forced regression SL
SL

Supercycle 3
[Link] Sciences & Resources Institute, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, United States.
SL
deep water fans

Greenhouse

submergence
U C re tac e o u s - L T e rtia ry 2 .8 % sequence boundary sequence boundary

emergence
2. Earth and Ocean Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, United States. climate belts sequence boundary
high sequence boundary
high deep water fans high brine level
3. Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, United States.
100 basin isolation

C
C
4. Middle East Geological and Environmental Establishment, 00000, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. A p tia n - T u ro n ia n 2 9 % change with temperature evaporation
[Link] Write Consulting, LLC, Harrisburg, OR, United States salinity siliciclastic influence relative relative relative time sediment fines mudflat
L C re tace o u s 2 .6 % plate tectonics time basin-floor fan time basin-floor sea-level low as it fills saltern
chloralgal sea-level low sea-level low prograding no sea-level signal

J
no influx

J
U p p e r J u rass ic 25 % olistoliths fan deep basin
200

Phanerozoic
T

T
chlorozoan
salinity
P erm ia n to M J u rass ic 1 .2 % subsidence aggradation relative fall isolates

Icehouse
increase coastal plain aggradation
lowstand

P
bioclastic (catch up) platform evaporites

P
Ice sheets age reef & depressions

transgressive
(catch up)

systems tract
P e n n . - L P e rm ia n 8 % foramol/bryomol & nearshore wedge
After Edgell, 1992 Cool 300 influx estuarine tidal lagoon shoal tidal lagoon shoal mudflat saltern exposed barrier
ABSTRACT

depth
slope

C
Late Ordovician Glaciation
M - U M is s . 0 .4 % SL SL SL
SL
Critical conceptual sequence stratigraphic models for exploration and clastic water depth slope pelagic pelagic
U D e vo n ia n - L M is s . 8 %

D
sediment input turbidity

D
production can be analyzed with sedimentary computer simulations of high high high
Geological Cross Section of the Arabian Gulf Basin of sedimentary section overlying the Halokinetic L - M D e vo n ia n 0 .3 % 400 production light high
sedimentary fill of the intrashelf basins of the Eastern margin of the Arabian

Greenhouse

S
S

turbidity
Plate. Examples from the Jurassic and Cretaceous sedimentary fill of the Proterozoic Hormuz Series. The younger Paleozoic to Mesozoic to Teriary sediments sequester S ilu ria n 9 % relative time relative time

depth
photic accumulation platform morphology relative time relative time

age
sea-level low aggradation

Supercycle 2
Eastern margin were simulated: oil and gas fields whose reservoirs become younger from west to east. zone sea-level low

O
C a m b ro - O rd o vic ia n 1 % rate sea-level low sea-level low
500 isolated drowned
U P ro te ro zo ic 0 .2 %

depth
ramp bank bank

C
1) Evolution of the Toarcian fill of the Marrat Basin from Lower Jurassic

C
evaporites through a prograding carbonate margin with basinal argillaceous Source rock intervals alluvial plain coastal plain bioclastic & continental mudflat marine mudflats
carbonate capped by evaporites & % world'spetroleum water movement controls & continental lagoon reef & lagoon

systems tract
O il 600 & nearshore tidal tidal shoal in small depressions
reserves generated Cool evaporites shoal

Icehouse
Phanerozoic

highstand
wind open shelf rimmed shelf SL SL SL SL
2) Evolution of the Middle to Upper Jurassic fill of the Hanifa Basin from (after Klemme & G as eustatic curves Cool waves -sea level- slope
argillaceous carbonates to evaporites capped by Cretaceous carbonates, Ulmishek, 1991) (after Waite) 700 slope
tides
and: high high
wave high high
epeiric shelf

Proterozoic
storms base
3) Aptian/Albian fill of the Bab Basin during a glacially induced sea ocean relative time time relative time time
800
relative progradation progradation relative progradation
Ice sheets

Precambrian
level low. currents sea-level sea-level sea-level (keep up) sea-level
low low (keep up) low low (keep up)

Greenhouse
Results for the Marrat and Hanifa Basins simulations demonstrate the Lower C.G. St.C. Kendall, and M. Tucker, 2010 after Jones & Desrochers, 1992 Christopher Kendall, Thomas De Keyser & Sarah Arawi, 2010 (After Warren 2001)

Supercycle 1
to Middle Jurassic onlapping the uplifted Arabian plate margin in Kuwait, Middle Eastern Oil and Gas Fields. 900 Following a low ISB development begins with a rapid sea level rise, exceeding carbonate production across platform interior, followed
Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Oman as two phases of carbonate margin Note Oil field reservoirs become This phase diagram ties carbonate production to the controls that Gondwanaland's
progradation and basinward infilling. The Middle Jurassic ended with uplift tectonic evolution through extension, compression, and basin restriction and the by aggradation on margin with a starved basin center. ISB margin then progrades and infills the basin, commonly less than 100 m deep.
younger from West to East.
and subaerial exposure and progressive erosion of the Tuwaiq and Dhruma Map modified after Al Husseini (1997). arid tropical climate of the Arabian plate. It shows how biologic factors, water movement
Formations along the plate margin. The margin then collapsed with a 1,000
and pre-existing topography were controls too within the intrashelf basins (ISBs)

Icehouse
Cool
drowning unconformity. Away from the platform margin of the intra-shelf affected carbonate production and accumulation.
basin a base-level fall accompanied Arab and Hith evaporites accumulation. prograde new S.L.
World Climate accumulation
Change (after Craig)
Carbonate Response To Sea-level Rise
In Early Cretaceous times the platform of the Arabian Sheild extended to rate old S.L.
keep up new S.L. keep up
North Oman with deposition of argillaceous hemipelagic carbonates of the Christopher Kendall, 2009
Hierarchal Arrangement of Carbonate Geometries & Sequence Surfaces back step old S.L.

depth
Habshan. The lack of evaporites supports a climatic change from the arid
MFS
{ catch up give up
climate of the Jurassic to a humid climate of the Cretaceous.
While Gondwanaland evolved through extension, compression, and basin restriction tidal flat and
tidal flat
new S.L.
The simulation of Mid Cretaceous carbonates supports their division into this also had impact on source rocks. Concurrently climate of the Arabian plate was turbidite bed
and turbidite give up
prograde
prograde old S.L.s
grains bedset
the second order supersequences of Early Aptian and Late Aptian affected by latitude rain shadow and as illustrated above green house and ice house
new S.L.

time
down step
carbonate platforms aggrading and prograding while filling the Bab climatic events and effects of transgressions and super-plumes that helped nutrients SB give up
intrashelf basin. An unconformity initiates the sequence with westward to flourish. The diagram tracks the resultent significant source rocks through time on back step
prograding lowstand clinoforms also onlapping onto the south-western SB catch up high low back step old S.L. fill up and spill out
the Arabian plate and this explains why the intrashelf basins or ISBs were so rich in shoaling
margin of the Bab intrashelf basin and its Lower to early Upper Aptian shoaling keep up

sea level
cycle relative
carbonate platform. The simulation captures the initial sharp sea-level drop
organic material sequestered during rapid marine transgressions. bed cycle
Middle East Source Rocks, Reservoir and Seals ( After Kendall and Alsharhan 2013) bedsets prograde sea level new S.L.
of 35–40 m from the early Upper Aptian shelf break to the topset of the first down step
lowstand clinoform, and the sea-level drop by another 10 m during the overbank & spill out catch up old S.L.s
progradation of following eight clinoforms. Each pulse of progradation of tidal channel – fill crevasse splays buildups
MFS
time down step
old S.L. new S.L.
patch
the clinoforms is modeled over 405 k.y. Cross-sections illustrate the initial
TS TS reef reef
C Kendall, & M. Tucker, 2010
sharp sea-level drop of some 40 m followed by continued slow sea-level flank inter-reef
fall producing lowstand clinoforms prograding towards the basin. Plate Tectonic Evolution of Southern Tethys Organic Matter and Plate Tectonic SB SB
MFS
MFS

incised tidal channel - perpendicular to margin In diagrams to upper left and upper right
The Sedpak sedimentary simulation, developed at the University of South
Carolina, recreated the sedimentary fill of the Marrat and Hanifa Basins, and
Evolution of Arabian Gulf SB SB
TS
reef flat and margin
TS
carbonate geometries change their
The region outlined by the red oval traces the evolution of the Southern Tethys basin seaway SB SB
the Bab Basin. It assumed carbonate production based on water depth and that has existed since the Precambrian This body of water flanked what is now the Arabian character in response to changes in Age
clastic transport based on slopes. Output geometries display a sequence
Plate and includes the proto Tethys, paleoTethys, and neoTethys Oceans. The evolving
TS TS MFS reef core
MFS
accomodation and tend to quickly fill
AGE Chronostratigraphy SB/MFS (Ma) ISBs
stratigraphic framework of erosional and depositional surfaces of the shingled, top-truncated grain carbonates - ribbons parallel to margin
lagoon/platform reef core
simulated section enabling the extension of interpretation of depositional geographic location of this ocean and the geology that underlies it is responsible for the In the diagrams above and the maps of the evolving continents below the red oval traces SB SB reef any space generated by changes in 84
offset submarine flank Santonian Saudi Arabia Kuwait Zagros 84
setting and predictions of lithofacies geometries away from well data. This accumulation of thick stratigraphic packages. These extend across the Arabian Plate through that region that was an organic sweet spot through Geologic History. There appear to be SB base level (either a response to 88
channels and levees SB Halul
aids prediction of facies likely to contain both hydrocarbon and water the Zagros and Taurus Mountains, Levant-Cyprus and North Africa. Sediments accumulated strong ties between plate setting and climate that can be used to understand the occurence BSFR BSFR changes in eustasy or in tectonic Coniacian K 150
resources and their characteristic fabrics. MFS 88
both in the Tethyan basin and on the adjacent Precambrian metamorphic and igneous of organic matter and evaporites and rain shadow and their proximity to the continental amalgamated submarine SB 89 Laffan

Late
basement rock of Pangea, Gondwanaland, and Southern Eurasia. The shared geologic history margins and narrow marine bodies match those of seen the break up and then collisions channels and levees
SB MFS subsidence). Sedimentary simulations Turonian Burgan Arch
BSFR BSFR climbing
The advantage of these simulations is that it provides a template to the varying accomodation and rates of S K 140 92
complexities of sediment stratigraphy; enabling identification, testing, and
of the Southern Tethys region means similar tectonic and depositional settings and a associated with the history of Gondawanaland. Arid climates and organic matter in the sigmoids 93.5
Mishrif Sarvak

Mishrif
modeling of sedimentary systems and the sharing of data with others; stratigraphy that can be correlated across the region from the Precambrian through Cenozoic. marine settings in the zones associated with rain shadow appear common to the Middle SB sediment accumualtion form carbonate Cenomanian S 95
East and the southern margin of the Tethys Ocean. stacking patterns and prograding Ahmadi Rumaila K 120
enhancing the understanding of biostratigraphy and providing age These stratigraphic packages contain many source, seal, and reservoir rocks that make up 98
MFS> 99.6 S
constraints for stratal geometries and sequence stratigraphic both the proven and underexplored petroleum systems of the region. carbonate TS> geometries that keep up, catch up and Wara Maudud
interpretations. They reduce time for understanding interpretations of platform
SB give up with respect to sea level position. K 110 101
complex
seismic and well data by identifying and constraining key factors that
system Burgan 3rd sand
control sequence stratigraphic geometries and architectures, including set Albian S K 100
rates of sedimentation, eustatic sea level, and tectonics. 106
Christopher Kendall and Maurice Tucker, 2010

CRETACEOUS
Kazhdumi
Balabo K 90 111
112 Burgan 4th sand
K 80 117
Aptian

Bab
Asian-Alaskan
Hawer
Marrat, Hanifa, and Bab Intrashelf Basins Early Jurassic 195 Ma Late Jurassic 152 Ma Late Cretaceous 94 Ma land bridge Shuaiba Dariyan
Plate Tectonic Evolution of Arabian Gulf K 70

Early
Siberia Amurian Alaska ARCTIC 122.5
Siberia Amurian Seaway OCEAN 125
Seaway Ural Zubair K 60
36 40 44 48 52 56 60 Ural Alaska
Mts. North Eurasia Barremian Gadvan 126
Mts. North LAURASIA Rocky North
AP11 LAURASIA China
China North
K 50
TURKEY Europe Europe South Mts.
America China
130
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Late
Ancient Landmass Ancient Landmass
Ancient Landmass
Marls Gotnia J70
28 Modern Landm ass Modern Landmass
Kimmeridgian 154
32
Modern Landmass
Arab Najmah J60 155

Hanifa
Subduction Zone (triangles point in the
AP 5-6 Subduction Zone (triangles point in the
direction of subduction)
Subduction Zone (triangles point in the 155.7
Jubaila J50
direction of subduction) 158
([WHQVLRQDOPDUJLQ
direction of subduction)
Oxfordian Hanifa
Shales Diyab Naokelekan
Sea Floor Spreading Ridge
Sea Floor Spreading Ridge Sea Floor Spreading Ridge S
161.2
QATAR Tuwaiq Mts J40
AP 1-4 Callovian 163

JURASSIC
24
Tropic of Cancer

,QWHULRU6DJ
24
UAE 164.7
SAUDI OMAN Araej
Bathonian
KEY - ISBs J30 167

Middle
ARABIA
167.7 S
UP CRET $IWHU.LQJVWRQHWDO  Sargelu
AP 7 - TETHYIAN SPREADING - JURASSIC
20
THRUST
AP 8 - TETHYIAN OCEAN - LWR CRETACEOUS Chronostratigraphic Chart for Arabian Plate ISBs Bajocian
20

 E   Dhruma J20 170
APTIAN AFRICA-ARABIA S
-ALBIAN 
 E   As indiacted in the chronostratigraphic chart to upper right Jurassic 171.6

Gondwana-Land Arabian Plate ISBs include the Marrat, Hanifa, Najmah, and Gotnia Aalenian

Marrat
The stratigraphic framework of the Arabian Plate (AP) margin is subdivided by eleven major unconformity surfaces bounding tectono- Gondwana-Land Izhara
CALLOVIAN N stratigraphic mega-sequences (AP 1-11 of Sharland et al 2001). These were created during low-frequency tectonic events associated with
basins often filled by shallow marine arid-climate limestones and 175.6 Mulussa H
-TITHONIAN Alan 176.5
16
cycles of tectonic plate motion (Wilson, 1966). It is further subdivided sixty-three higher frequency events related to eustatic changes in dolomites with common evaporites and interbedded minor transitional v v v v v
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v

J10

Early
v v v v
16

marine shales and basin margin grain carbonates. Cretaceous ISBs

Toarcian 180
sea level and varying rates of sediment accumulation (Sharland et al, 2001). These events are tied to periods maximum flooding (MFS) Mus/Marrat A/Mulussa G
limits 0 KM 250 The Mesozoic sedimentary sections overlying the Arabian Plate are a mix of carbonate, evaporites organic rich carbonates that collected behind barriers formed by the movement of what was an original Hercynian horst and block terrain
TOARCIAN uncertain associated with maximum regional transgressions, non-deposition, and/or unconformities, and sediment accumulation. Together these include: Garau of Iraq, Kazhdumi of Iran and Bab of the UAE, and the
YEMEN adjacent to the southern shore of the Tethys Ocean. These barriers accumulated sediment over them and limited access to the sea. This lead to the punctuation of the geological record with evaporites, carbonates and source rocks
tectonically and eustatically produced surfaces provide chronostratigraphic order to the sedimentary fill tied to radiometric and biologic Mishrif and Najaf ISBs of the UAE and Iraq, respectively. Fill is 183
C.G. St.C. Kendall, P. Van Laer, V. Vahrenkamp & T. De Keyser, 2013 associated with an adjacent arid climates. These bodies of the seawater occurred as isolated linear belts of interior drainage with restricted entrance to the open Tethys Ocean. Regional drainage probably tended to flow into this basin,
52 markers (Sharland et al, 2001). dominantly humotropic carbonates with dolomites and shales.
36 40 44 48 56 60
and the air system was that of the arid tropics. There was a wide envelope formed by the surroundin subcontinents of Arabia and Africa. (Modified after Sharland & Others (2001) and Haq & Al-Qahtani (2005))
 t x x x x
0,0 0,n 0,n+1 0,f
Left Sediment Supply Right Sediment Supply 0

Introduction to SEDPAK Sand

Shale
Sand

Shale SEDPAK Time Step Operations STEP 3 t Fault

1
Time
The computer simulation sedimentary SEDPAK was developed at the Alluvial Plain Sealevel Offshore Block Alluvial Plane
Alluvial erosion and deposition
Tectonic uplift exposes sediment t
landward of bayline.
University of South Carolina as a simulation tool that models the Bayline
Location where sea level Bayline
2

geometry of the generalized lithofacies of a basin, resulting from the intersects land.
BEGIN
interaction between the major geological processes including:
Accomodation TIME STEP Sea Level Sediment Supply
Submarine deposition Depth
and erosion.
Eustatic Sea Level
END Sea Level
Tectonic Movement
TIME STEP 1. Determine Clastic Suppply Surface -z Distance STEP 5 Surface After Erosion

Sediment Accumulation
2. Set Sea Level Bayline
Column 0 Equally-spaced columns Column N Graphical
SEDPAK constructs empirical models of sedimentary geometry. These Display
Vertical Fault Displacement. A vertical fault begins at time t .
sedimentary geometries are created by the infilling of a two 3. Apply Tectonic Adjustment The vertical arrows show displacement occurring between
dimensional basin from both sides with a combination of in situ Basin Setting. The basin is divided into equally-spaced columns. 15. Plot Geometries and Facies two adjacent columns over time. Landward Seaward

carbonate growth and clastic sediment in the 15 steps outlined to After the bayline is located, alluvial sediment is eroded landward C n-4 C n-3 C n-2 C n-1 Cn

the right. then submarine sediment is deposited or eroded. Offshore blocks Simulation Loop Baylin e
Sea Level
created by sea level change or tectonic adjustments may be Sea Level Schematic representation of Erosion. Sediment above
eroded to the initial basin surface. the erosional line at columns Cn-2 and Cn-4 is removed.
Intuitive model input parameters are based on physical processes,
STEPS 1 through 6 1. Determine Clastic Supply No sediment is eroded from Cn-1 or Cn-3. Eroded
including clastic transport based on depositional distance, quantity Surface
sediment is returned to the sediment supply for later deposition.
and slopes and carbonate production based on water depth. Data Surface 2. Determine Sea Level 4. Determine Bayline
entry is accomplished by using a graphical user interface. Values 14. Perform Thermal Maturation
are entered for the initial basin configuration and, as a function of 3. Apply Tectonic Adjustment Eroded Sediment
Sea Level
time, the following variables may be specified: local tectonic behavior, 4. Determine Bayline
Sea Level
sea level behavior, amount and direction of clastic deposition, Carbonate Accumulation Rate (m/Ka)
Sediment Added Sea Level
accumulation rates of carbonates both as a function of water depth Sealevel 5. Erode Alluvium Sealevel
n=1 n=2 n=3 Surface
and pelagic accumulation. The model traces the evolving geometries w c

Execute for Each Time Step

n1 n1 Sea Level
w
n2
6. Deposit/Erode Clastic Sediment 5. Erode Alluvium YBP)
of clastic and carbonate sediments through time, responding to the c
n2 Rates Bayline Surface Time
(M
Sea Level
w
depositional processes previously itemized. Sediment geometries are cn3
Depth

n3
13. Add Out of Plane Sediment 7. Deposit Benthic Carbonate Sediment
w Wave Base
Water Sea Level
plotted as they are computed, so the results are viewed immediately. c
n4 Depth Sea Level
n4 Wave Damping Rates (wnr ) Depth (m) Sea Level
Based upon these observations, parameters can be changed 8. Deposit Pelagic Carbonate Sediment Clastics

Water Depth (m)

Carbonate Rates (cnr ) Depth-Rate Function
interactively and the program rerun until the resultant geometries w c Waves Touch Surface Sea Level Surface is User-Defined
15 15 Bottom
are satisfactory. Final Carbonate Rates
Sediment To Be 9. Compact All Sediment
D1 (c - w ) Removed 6. Deposit/Erode Clastic Sediment
nr nr

D2 10. Perform Isostatic Adjustment

Rates of both carbonate and clastic sediment accumulation and Surface
transport distance down slope are modeled in two dimensional 11. Winnow Shales
12. Deus Ex Machina
simulation space, and offer valuable insight into a more quantitative Given Carbonate Accumulation Rates (m/ka)
Winnowing of shale by waves. Waves touch 12. Perform Deus Ex Machina Sea Level Interpolated Carbonate Accumulation Rates (m/ka)
modeling approach. Further information on the fabrics of the
bottom at left (n=1). The winnowing curves Carbonates
deposits can be obtained by means of coupling computer models of Sea Level 13. Add Out Of Plane Sediment
specify the percentage of shale to remove Varying Carbonate Rates. Rates are interpolated between
sedimentary geometries with physically based submodels that
from the sediment column to the right of 14. Perform Maturation Calculations Surface STEP 7 depth-rate curves given at specified times in model parameters
describe the spatial and temporal evolution of relatively small
wave base.
portions of the entire system. STEP 11 Surface 15. Plot Geometries and Facies 7. Deposit Benthic Carbonate Sediment

11. Winnow Shales

Output geometries display a sequence stratigraphic framework of
Sea Level
erosional and depositional surfaces of the simulated section. n=1
w c n=2 n=3
n1 n1
Sea Level Sea Level w
n2
The origins of sediment geometries and facies are interpreted by tn
Sea Level c
n2 Rates Bayline
Wave damping of carbonate accumulation. From wave base
Pelagi c w
comparison with observations of similar features in modern cn3

Depth
w
n3
Wave Base in a landward direction to the right, wave damping rates (Wnr)
sedimentary systems and their processes andthen the interpretations c
n4 Depth
are subtracted from the carbonate rates (Cnr) where n is the
n4 Wave Damping Rates (wnr )
are tested with the SEDPAK simulation. The question is: do input Surface Surface Surface
distance from wave base and r is the rate at that distance
Carbonate Rates (cnr )
parameters match those inferred from current field observations 10. Perform Isostatic Adjustment 9. Compact All Sediment 8. Deposit Pelagic Carbonate Sediment w c Waves Touch Surface
P) 15 15 Bottom
parameters set to create basic sequences stratigraphic systems YB Final Carbonate Rates
(M
tracts, including prograding low-stand and highstand systems tracts, eT
D1 (c - w )
nr nr STEP 7
Tim D2
and retrogradational transgressive systems tracts? The same applies Within each time step, a fixed sequence of operations creates or modifies the sedimentary
to in-situ carbonate accumulation. Are the depth-production rates Given Pelagic Accumulation Rates (m/ka) geometries. First, tectonic adjustments change the accommodation at points defined by the
reasonable? user across the basin. Next, the intersection of the sea level position with the basin surface
t0 defines a bayline location (Posamentier and Vail, 1988) marking the base of the alluvial plain.
Interpolated Pelagic Accumulation Rates (m/ka) Transport Toward Lagoon Transport Toward Sea
Computer modeling of sedimentary geometries that match Rate P r(cm/ka) Sediment eroded landward from the bayline location is added to the sediment supply. Lagoon
interpreted sections is a repetitive exercise in parameter estimation, Seaward of the bayline, sediment erodes or is deposited according to geometrical rules. After Excess carbonate production is bypassed in the
Talus Sea
viewing of resulting geometries and adjusting of parameters to clastic deposition is completed, carbonates accumulate in-situ to form reefs. From the reef Turbidite Talus
Turbidite lagoon and basin. A proportion of the excess is

Excess Carbonates
converge on a best match. positions, excess carbonate is transported downslope as talus or turbidite, or backslope as transported either into the lagoon or basin as a
Pelagic deposition of Carbonates. lagoonal sediment. Next, a pelagic drape, specified as a rate, blankets the submarine setting. percentage. For each proportion, another
SEDPAK extends interpretation of depositional setting and Pelagic rates in meters/Ka can vary over time Sediment loading and compaction adjustments, followed by winnowing of shales, and percentage can be specified as talus or turbidites
predictions of lithofacies geometries away from the studied areas. and are linearly interpolated between user out-of-plane erosion and deposition complete the operations for the time step. These with specified distance of penetration.
It aids prediction of facies likely to contain both defined rates at specific times. operations are summarized by the 15 steps are represented above diagramatically.
REEF
hydrocarbon and water resources and their characteristic fabrics.
STEP 8 STEP 7
 Approximate Location of middle Marrat ISBs
36 40 44 48 52 56 60 Hanifa Formation ISBs Approximate Location of Aptian/Albian ISBs
36 40 44 48 52 56 60
36 40 44 48 52 56 60
TURKEY
KEY TURKEY
TURKEY
36 Up Cret KEY
SYRIA Thrust
36
36
36 Up Cret SYRIA KEY 36
Marrat SYRIA Thrust
36

IRAN Basin Up Cret

ON

IRAN
? IRAN
Jurassic Thrust
AN

ON
Basin

ON
Sea Aptian
LEB

AN
AN
N. MARRAT IRAQ Sea -Albian

LEB
LEB
32
BASIN Basins
32
GOTNIA 32
L

Sea
IRAQ 32
AE

36
BASIN 32
JORDAN

L
PL
IRAQ

L
ISR

AE
AT
JORDAN

AE
E M

ISR
AR

ISR
GI
N
JORDAN SH
EL
KUWAIT FE
DG
E KUWAIT
28
KUWAIT
? S. MARRAT ? 28

28
28
32
BASIN 28

QATAR

24
SH
EL HANIFA QATAR
Tropic of Cancer FE
DG 24 BASIN QATAR

SAUDI UAE E
24
SH
EL
FE
24
Tropic of Cancer
24
Tropic of Cancer
DG
ARABIA OMAN UAE E
24
SAUDI UAE
SAUDI OMAN
EGYPT ARABIA OMAN ARABIA
EGYPT
EGYPT
20
20
20
20
20
20

Simulated sedimentary fill of the Marrat basin used the sea level curve proposed
N by Haq et al 2012 for the lower Jurassic. There was sea level high from -182 to
16
16
-177 MYBP. Prior to the eustatic rise contemporaneous platform carbonates N
N
SUDAN 16

0 KM 250
filled the carbonate platform but post -182 carbonates formed clinoforms whose 16
16
16

trajectory changed from horizontal to vertical while carbonates accumulated SUDAN

YEMEN 0 KM 250
SUDAN 0 KM 250

C.G. St.C. Kendall, & T. De Keyser, 2014

down slope from sea level to the deepest portions of the basin at around 150 YEMEN YEMEN C.G. St.C. Kendall & T. De Keyser, 2013
36 40 44 48 52 56 60
meters. This sedimentary fill was a mix of carbonate and shale. Around
-177 MYBP rates of eustatic sea level rise slowed while carbonate accumulation 36 40 44 48
C.G. St.C. Kendall, P. Van Laer, V. Vahrenkamp & T. De Keyser, 2013

52 56 60
36 40 44 48 52 56 60 Simulation output tracking fill of the Aptian/Albian ISBs
filled the basin and prograded out from the basin margin.

West
East West Cross Section of the Bab Basin for the Aptian to Early Albian East

Eastward progradation of the Th.1C Clinoforms > Zakum < Westward progradation of the Th.1C Clinoforms
NW -- SE
NW SESequence
SequenceSection to Static
Section ModelModel
to Static - Flattened on Top of
- Flattened onmiddle
Top ofMarrat
middle Marrat ]~40 m Sea Level drop
Nahr Umr Albian
West East
NWRA-0003

Alb1/2 1CY
Sedimentary fill of Hanifa basin was simulated by modeling the accommodation by varying Apt3
Apt 4
1CT
1CW
Apt 5 Apt 4
Apt3
BH-0032

BH-0029
RA-0263

RA-0276

RA-0292

SA-0236

SA-0234

SA-0235
RA-0230

Aptian Apt 6
eustasy with the Haq et al 2012 curve for the Middle and Jurassic conjunctly modulated by
mfs K80
varying tectonic subsidence during accumulation of the Jubaila Formation. Eustasy Apt2 mfs K80 Apt2

progressively rose from -161 to -144 MYBP as the prograding Tuwaiq Moutain Group filled
Apt1 Apt1
tabular sheets of aggrading
carbonate & evaporitic
the basin. At -143.76 tectonic accommodation was reduced and sea level fell below the Christopher G. Kendall, Sarah Arawi & Thomas De Keyser, 2013 (Adapted from Maurer, 2009, and Van Buchem et al, 2010)
upper Marrat Early Upper

50 m
upper Marrat lagoons & sabkha facies basin margin followed by a rise in relative sea level and the Jubaila Formation onlappping Aptian Platform
Margin
10 km
SB8 the margin. This was followed by a drop in sea level the exposed the shelf and eroded this
top SB8 top
middle> SB7 SB7 <middle and then by further eustatic rise when contemporaneous platform carbonates filled the
Marrat mfs7 mfs7 Marrat carbonate platform crest with a horizontal trajectory. Carbonates accumulated to sea level
shelf
SB6 and prograded both east and westward from the basin margin crest. To the east the Hanifa
mfs6 lagoon
grain shoal shelf
basin then filled with evaporites.
SB5 grain grain-shoal SB6
sabkha grain-shoal
shoals
SB4
sabkha
sabkha Original basin surface of Hanifa ISB, and the
mfs4 lagoon unconformity above the Jubaila Formation.
SB3 mfs4 barrier
Hanifa ISB middle to upper Jurassic facies & depositional settings
barrier barrier mfs6
NORTH WEST SOUTH EAST
argillaceous

carbonate fill sabkha and tidal flats windward grain shoals

mfs 3 (J10) open ocean
SB5 salina
SB2 LST/TST bac
kstepping she SB4
mfs2 lf to ramp carbonate mfs4
top debries
lower> SB1 LST/TST backstepping shelf to ramp SB3
Marrat
V
VV V
V V

V
V
V VV V
V V V
V V V
V V V
V V V
Depth to carbonate accumulation rates of Bab ISB Pelagic carbonate accumulation rates of Bab ISB Shale accumulation rates of Bab ISB
VV V V V V
V
V VVV

mfs3 (J10)
V V
V V V V
VVV V V V V
VV V V V
V V V V
V VV
V V V V V
VV
VV V V V
VV VV V
V V VV V V V V V V
V V V V V
VV V

SB2 VVV VV V V V V V
V V V V
VV V V V V V
V V V VV V
V V V V V VV
V V V V V

1st> SB0 V V V V V V V
V V V V V V V
VV
VV
V V V V V V

mfs2
V VV V V V V
V V V V V V V
V V V V V V
V
V V V V VV V VV V
V V V V VV
V
VV
V V VV V V V V
V V V V V V
V V

anhydrite
V V V V V V

tabular sheets V V V V V V
V V V V V V V
V V V V V V V
V V V V V V
V V V V V V V

of aggrading SB1 <top lower

V V V V V V
V V V V V V
V V

Simulation results of the fill of the Aptian/Albian ISBs

V V V V V V V
V V V V V V V
V V V V V V VV

carbonate & V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
VV V

V
V V VV VV
V V
V V VV VV
V V V V V V V V
V V V V V V V V V V
V V
V V V V V V V V V V

evaporitic V V V V V V V V
V V V
V V V
V V V
V V V V V V V V V V V V V V
V V V V V V V V V V V V V V
V

Marrat
V
VV
VV VV V V V V VV V V V V V V V V
V V V V V V V V
V V
V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V

Hith V V V V V V V V
V V
V V VV V V V V V V V V V V

lagoons & sab V V V V V V V V V V V V V V

V V V
V
V V
V
V V V VVV V V V V V V V
V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V
V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V

Arab D-Asab
V V V V V
V V V V V
V
V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V
V V V VV V
V V
V V VV V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V
V V V V V
V

kha facies V V V V V V V V V V V V
V
V V V V V V V
V V V V V V V VV V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V
V V V VV V V V V V V V V V V V V V VV V
V V V V V V V V V VV V V V V V V V
V V V VV
V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V
V V V V V V V V V V V
V V V V
V V V VV V V V V
V V V VV V V V V V
V V V

Arab A-C V V
V V V V V V V V
V VV V V V V VV V V V V V V V

Rates of tectonic movement in the Hanifa ISB

V
V V V V V V V
V V
VV V V V V
V V V V V V
V
V
V V V V V V V V V V
V V V

Jubaila
VV

Simulated sedimentary fill of the Bab basin used the sea level curve proposed by Maurer et al 2012 for the Aptian Albian. These authors proposed a glacially induced sea level low from
V V V V VV
V VV V V

SB0 <1st
V
V V V V V
V V
V
V V
V V V V V V
VV V V V V
V V V V V V

lower Marrat VV V V V V VV

anhydrite Hanifa
-117 to -113 MYBP. Prior to the eustatic fall contemporaneous rudist rich carbonates formed clinoforms that accumulated down slope from sea level to the deepest portions of the basin
tabular sheets of aggrading
carbonate & evaporitic
Twq. Mt key at around 200 meters. This sedimentary fill was close 100% carbonate but following the sea level low at -117 alternations of shale and carbonate filled the basin margin. Around -113 MYBP
lagoons & sabkha facies
scale 20 m shoreface in the mid Albian eustatic sea level rose while carbonate accumulation fell and the Wasia calcareous shale filled and onlapped the basin margin.
lower Marrat
C. G. St.C. Kendall,
C. Perrin, T. De Key barrier
ser, & N. Neog, 201
0 5km location back shore
Christopher Kendall and Tom DeKeyser 2013
salina evaporites V V
V V V V V V V VV

evaporitic
barrier lagoon
deep to shallow argillaceous deep to shoal up deep up core SB Sequence mfs maximum
facies carbonate carbonate shallow shelf Boundary flooding surface
1 aggrading peritidal shelf
Conclusions
1 aggrading peritidal shelf backstepping

high low upstepping truncation The simulations suggest that the driving mechanisms behind accommodation,
link of eustatic cycles to 4 downstepp
toplapping though model dependent, are the product of both a varying eustatic driver and
regional tectonic subsidence 3 ing
an equally important varying tectonic driver. Both eustasy and tectonic
onlap subsidence appear to have moved in and out of phase with each other. In the
Major Conclusion 1 time
ping
simulation portions of the cyclic sedimentary section are produced when
Depth to carbonate accumulation rates of Hanifa ISB
sediments onlap
shelf & prograde
2 datio
n
eustatic accommodation lies above the depositional surface, but when the
3 r progra
ing o rates of tectonic accommodation are slow, then eustatic sea level drops below
tepp
fores the carbonate depositional surface and long periods of often unrecognized
Simulations support mix 3 downlappi
Exposure of 1 aggrading pe ng and do
wnsteppin onlapping
exposure ensue.
of tectonic subsidence shelf & erosion ritidal shelf g An argument against such a model might be the lack of diagenetic evidence
and eustasy as source 3 & lowstand 1 aggrading pe
ritidal shelf
of long exposure but one finds sections of sedimentary rock that from
progradation radiometric dating suggest long periods of time are involved in the creation
of accomodation. of carbonate sections which show only evidence of short lived exposure. Our
2 constant slow base level rise accelerating base level rise conclusion from running the simulations is that both eustatic and tectonic
tectonic
signal aggrading platform 1 rates of aggradation constant with time
widespread peritidal shelf carbonates
3 rates of progradation increase with time accommodation may be both rapid or may be slow.
eustatic rates of aggradation increase with time Often the easy out, when looking at sedimentary sections, is to assume that
signal prograding cycles cyclic base level rise the rate of tectonic movement was slow. However the simulations argue
1 2 rates of progradation constant with time 4
decelerating base level rise
rates of progradation increase with time, against this. Never the less it has to be accepted that this is an unprovable
episodic high frequency rates of aggradation constant with time rates of aggradation decrease with time hypothesis, though from our point of view this is an elegant proposal even
eustatic signal often below
emergent coastal margin sequence clinoform though conceptual models are the building blocks of the simulations.
margin trajectory
Depth to carbonate accumulation rates of Marrat ISB Pelagic carbonate accumulation rates of Marrat ISB Christopher Kendall, and Thomas De Keyser, 2014 boundary surface
Pelagic carbonate accumulation rates of Hanifa ISB