Changes

==Paleogeography and petroleum plays==

==Paleogeography and petroleum plays==

The paleogeographic and tectonic evolution of the southern Tethys area during the Phanerozoic plays an important role in determining the distribution of the source rocks and reservoirs as well as the origin of stratigraphic and tectonic traps, both strictly related to the geodynamic evolution of the area. This recognition of these controls on hydrocarbon resources and accumulation of oil and gas along the Tethyn margin has been the major thrust of the publications of many geologists, including Murris,<ref name=Murris_1980>Murris, R. J., 1980, Middle East: Stratigraphic evolution and oil habitat: AAPG Bulletin, v. 64, no. 5, p. 597–618.</ref> Beydoun,<ref name=Beydoun_1986>Beydoun, Z. R., 1986, The petroleum resources of the Middle East: A review: Journal of Petroleum Geology, v. 9, p. 5–29.</ref> <ref name=Beydoun_1988>Beydoun, Z. R., 1988, The Middle East: Regional geology and petroleum resources: Scientific Press, Beaconsfield, U.K., 292 p.</ref> <ref name=Beydoun_1991>Beydoun, Z. R., 1991, Arabian plate hydrocarbon geology and potential — a plate tectonic approach: AAPG v. 33, p. 77.</ref> May,<ref name=May_1991>May, P. R., 1991, The Eastern Mediterranean Mesozoic Basin: Evolution and oil habitat: AAPG Bulletin, v. 75, no. 7, p. 1215–1232.</ref> and Sharland et al.<ref name=Sharlandetal_2001>Sharland, P. R., Archer, R., Casey, D. M., Davies, R. B., Hall, S. H., Heward, A. P., Horbury, A. D., and Simmons, M. D., 2001, Arabian plate sequence stratigraphy: GeoArabia, Special Publication 2, 371 pp.</ref>

The paleogeographic and tectonic evolution of the southern Tethys area during the Phanerozoic plays an important role in determining the distribution of the source rocks and reservoirs as well as the origin of stratigraphic and tectonic traps, both strictly related to the geodynamic evolution of the area. This recognition of these controls on hydrocarbon resources and accumulation of oil and gas along the Tethyn margin has been the major thrust of the publications of many geologists, including Murris,<ref name=Murris_1980>Murris, R. J., 1980, Middle East: [http://archives.datapages.com/data/bulletns/1980-81/data/pg/0064/0005/0550/0597.htm Stratigraphic evolution and oil habitat]: AAPG Bulletin, v. 64, no. 5, p. 597–618.</ref> Beydoun,<ref name=Beydoun_1986>Beydoun, Z. R., 1986, The petroleum resources of the Middle East: A review: Journal of Petroleum Geology, v. 9, p. 5–29.</ref> <ref name=Beydoun_1988>Beydoun, Z. R., 1988, The Middle East: Regional geology and petroleum resources: Scientific Press, Beaconsfield, U.K., 292 p.</ref> <ref name=Beydoun_1991>Beydoun, Z. R., 1991, Arabian plate hydrocarbon geology and potential — a plate tectonic approach: AAPG Studies in Geology 33, p. 77.</ref> May,<ref name=May_1991>May, P. R., 1991, [http://archives.datapages.com/data/bulletns/1990-91/data/pg/0075/0007/0000/1215.htm The Eastern Mediterranean Mesozoic Basin: Evolution and oil habitat]: AAPG Bulletin, v. 75, no. 7, p. 1215–1232.</ref> and Sharland et al.<ref name=Sharlandetal_2001>Sharland, P. R., Archer, R., Casey, D. M., Davies, R. B., Hall, S. H., Heward, A. P., Horbury, A. D., and Simmons, M. D., 2001, Arabian plate sequence stratigraphy: GeoArabia, Special Publication 2, 371 pp.</ref>

The giant fields of North Africa, Arabia, and the Middle East reflect episodes of enhanced primary productivity with high export production and storage of this organic matter in the sedimentary successions of different types of sedimentary basins.

The giant fields of North Africa, Arabia, and the Middle East reflect episodes of enhanced primary productivity with high export production and storage of this organic matter in the sedimentary successions of different types of sedimentary basins.