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==Paleozoic petroleum systems==
==Paleozoic petroleum systems==
During the Paleozoic, the Tethyan margin faced the Proto- and Paleo-Tethys Oceans and the paleogeography was primarily nonequitorial.<ref name=Berraandangiolini_2014>Berra, Fabrizio, and Lucia Angiolini, 2014, The evolution of the Tethys region throughout the Phanerozoic: A brief tectonic reconstruction, ''in'' L. Marlow, C. Kendall, and L. Yose, eds., Petroleum systems of the Tethyan region: AAPG Memoir 106, p. 1-27.</ref> Paleozoic sedimentation across the margin was dominantly siliciclastic with interbedded continental, fluvial-deltaic, transitional marine deposits and intermittent carbonates.<ref name=Kendalletal_2014>Kendall, Christopher G. C., Abdulrahman S. Alsharhan, and Lisa Marlow, 2014, Stratigraphy and depositional systems of the southern Tethyan region, ''in'' L. Marlow, C. Kendall, and L. Yose, eds., Petroleum systems of the Tethyan region: AAPG Memoir 106, p. 29-57.</ref> Numerous proven and potential source-reservoir-seal rocks of Paleozoic age exist across the margin.<ref name=Kendalletal_2014 /> <ref name=Ahlbrandt_2014>Ahlbrandt, Thomas S., 2014, Petroleum systems and their endowments in the Middle East and North Africa portion of the Tethys, ''in'' L. Marlow, C. Kendall, and L. Yose, eds., Petroleum systems of the Tethyan region: AAPG Memoir 106, p. 59-100.</ref>
During the Paleozoic, the Tethyan margin faced the Proto- and Paleo-Tethys Oceans and the paleogeography was primarily nonequitorial.<ref name=Berraandangiolini_2014>Berra, Fabrizio, and Lucia Angiolini, 2014, [http://archives.datapages.com/data/specpubs/memoir106/data/1_aapg-sp1960001.htm The evolution of the Tethys region throughout the Phanerozoic: A brief tectonic reconstruction], ''in'' L. Marlow, C. Kendall, and L. Yose, eds., Petroleum systems of the Tethyan region: AAPG Memoir 106, p. 1-27.</ref> Paleozoic sedimentation across the margin was dominantly siliciclastic with interbedded continental, fluvial-deltaic, transitional marine deposits and intermittent carbonates.<ref name=Kendalletal_2014>Kendall, Christopher G. C., Abdulrahman S. Alsharhan, and Lisa Marlow, 2014, [http://archives.datapages.com/data/specpubs/memoir106/data/29_aapg-sp1960029.htm Stratigraphy and depositional systems of the southern Tethyan region], ''in'' L. Marlow, C. Kendall, and L. Yose, eds., Petroleum systems of the Tethyan region: AAPG Memoir 106, p. 29-57.</ref> Numerous proven and potential source-reservoir-seal rocks of Paleozoic age exist across the margin.<ref name=Kendalletal_2014 /> <ref name=Ahlbrandt_2014>Ahlbrandt, Thomas S., 2014, [http://archives.datapages.com/data/specpubs/memoir106/data/59_aapg-sp1960059.htm Petroleum systems and their endowments in the Middle East and North Africa portion of the Tethys], ''in'' L. Marlow, C. Kendall, and L. Yose, eds., Petroleum systems of the Tethyan region: AAPG Memoir 106, p. 59-100.</ref>
The most prolific and regionally extensive Paleozoic source rock, is of Silurian age. At a sub-regional scale, source rocks are reported in nearly all of the other Paleozoic intervals (in places even Precambrian).<ref name=Kendalletal_2014 /> <ref name=Ahlbrandt_2014 /> These regional and sub-regional proven source rocks are likely present in underexplored or undrilled areas across the entire Tethyan Margin. For example, there are proven Devonian-Carboniferous source rocks in Iraq and Turkey. The equivalent of this source rock may exist in other countries along the margin, but it is yet undocumented. Similarly, Precambrian source rocks that are responsible for most of the hydrocarbon accumulations in Oman<ref name=Droste_2014>Droste, Henk, 2014, Petroleum geology of the Sultanate of Oman, ''in'' L. Marlow, C. Kendall, and L. Yose, eds., Petroleum systems of the Tethyan region: AAPG Memoir 106, p. 713-755.</ref> may provide new play concepts in other areas. Cambrian reservoirs are documented in Jordan<ref name=Lüningandkuss_2014>Lüning, Sebastian, and Jochen Kuss, 2014, Petroleum geology of Jordan, ''in'' L. Marlow, C. Kendall, and L. Yose, eds., Petroleum systems of the Tethyan region: AAPG Memoir 106, p. 217-239.</ref> and Libya<ref name=Hassanandkendall_2014>Hassan, Hassan S., and Christopher C. G. Kendall, 2014, Hydrocarbon provinces of Libya: A petroleum system study, ''in'' L. Marlow, C. Kendall, and L. Yose, eds., Petroleum systems of the Tethyan region: AAPG Memoir 106, p. 101-141.</ref> indicating additional potential for Cambrian or older source rocks. The presence and distribution of Paleozoic reservoirs may be used to help identify other working Paleozoic petroleum systems. The Cambrian reservoir Salib in Jordon can be attributed to what possible deeper source? Likewise the Permian reservoirs in the UAE were charged from what source? Were the Permian Triassic carbonates in Southern Fars and its contiguous offshore charged by much older source rocks? Tracking reservoirs and source rocks across the margin may lead to discovery of hydrocarbons in the underexplored rocks of the Alamein Basin<ref name=Dolsonetal_2014>Dolson, John C., Mahmoud Atta, David Blanchard, Adel Sehim, Jennifer Villinski, Tom Loutit, and Karen Romine, 2014, Egypt's future petroleum resources: A revised look into the 21st Century, ''in'' L. Marlow, C. Kendall, and L. Yose, eds., Petroleum systems of the Tethyan region: AAPG Memoir 106, p. 143-178.</ref> and the Paleozoic section in northern Iraq-Kurdistan.<ref name=Grabowski_2014>Grabowski Jr., George J., 2014, Iraq, ''in'' L. Marlow, C. Kendall, and L. Yose, eds., Petroleum systems of the Tethyan region: AAPG Memoir 106, p. 379-467.</ref>
The most prolific and regionally extensive Paleozoic source rock, is of Silurian age. At a sub-regional scale, source rocks are reported in nearly all of the other Paleozoic intervals (in places even Precambrian).<ref name=Kendalletal_2014 /> <ref name=Ahlbrandt_2014 /> These regional and sub-regional proven source rocks are likely present in underexplored or undrilled areas across the entire Tethyan Margin. For example, there are proven Devonian-Carboniferous source rocks in Iraq and Turkey. The equivalent of this source rock may exist in other countries along the margin, but it is yet undocumented. Similarly, Precambrian source rocks that are responsible for most of the hydrocarbon accumulations in Oman<ref name=Droste_2014>Droste, Henk, 2014, [http://archives.datapages.com/data/specpubs/memoir106/data/713_aapg-sp1960713.htm Petroleum geology of the Sultanate of Oman], ''in'' L. Marlow, C. Kendall, and L. Yose, eds., Petroleum systems of the Tethyan region: AAPG Memoir 106, p. 713-755.</ref> may provide new play concepts in other areas. Cambrian reservoirs are documented in Jordan<ref name=Lüningandkuss_2014>Lüning, Sebastian, and Jochen Kuss, 2014, [http://archives.datapages.com/data/specpubs/memoir106/data/217_aapg-sp1960217.htm Petroleum geology of Jordan], ''in'' L. Marlow, C. Kendall, and L. Yose, eds., Petroleum systems of the Tethyan region: AAPG Memoir 106, p. 217-239.</ref> and Libya<ref name=Hassanandkendall_2014>Hassan, Hassan S., and Christopher C. G. Kendall, 2014, [http://archives.datapages.com/data/specpubs/memoir106/data/101_aapg-sp1960101.htm Hydrocarbon provinces of Libya: A petroleum system study], ''in'' L. Marlow, C. Kendall, and L. Yose, eds., Petroleum systems of the Tethyan region: AAPG Memoir 106, p. 101-141.</ref> indicating additional potential for Cambrian or older source rocks. The presence and distribution of Paleozoic reservoirs may be used to help identify other working Paleozoic petroleum systems. The Cambrian reservoir Salib in Jordon can be attributed to what possible deeper source? Likewise the Permian reservoirs in the UAE were charged from what source? Were the Permian Triassic carbonates in Southern Fars and its contiguous offshore charged by much older source rocks? Tracking reservoirs and source rocks across the margin may lead to discovery of hydrocarbons in the underexplored rocks of the Alamein Basin<ref name=Dolsonetal_2014>Dolson, John C., Mahmoud Atta, David Blanchard, Adel Sehim, Jennifer Villinski, Tom Loutit, and Karen Romine, 2014, [http://archives.datapages.com/data/specpubs/memoir106/data/143_aapg-sp1960143.htm Egypt's future petroleum resources: A revised look into the 21st Century], ''in'' L. Marlow, C. Kendall, and L. Yose, eds., Petroleum systems of the Tethyan region: AAPG Memoir 106, p. 143-178.</ref> and the Paleozoic section in northern Iraq-Kurdistan.<ref name=Grabowski_2014>Grabowski Jr., George J., 2014, [http://archives.datapages.com/data/specpubs/memoir106/data/379_aapg-sp1960379.htm Iraq], ''in'' L. Marlow, C. Kendall, and L. Yose, eds., Petroleum systems of the Tethyan region: AAPG Memoir 106, p. 379-467.</ref>
==Mesozoic/Cenozoic petroleum systems==
==Mesozoic/Cenozoic petroleum systems==
During the Mesozoic and Cenozoic, the Tethyan Margin faced the Neo-Tethys Sea whose paleogeography was primarily equatorial.<ref name=Berraandangiolini_2014 /> At this time, sedimentation across the Tethyan Margin included dominantly shallow-marine carbonate-evaporite settings, some fluvial-deltaic systems and the advent of shallow (generally <200 meters) intra-shelf basins. Intra-shelf basins were commonly bordered by shallow-water carbonates and filled by carbonates and siliciclastics, including deposition of widespread organic rich sediments (source rocks).<ref name=Kendalletal_2014 /> Collectively these systems resulted in the development of world class petroleum systems that are widespread across the Tethyan Margin.<ref name=Kendalletal_2014 /> <ref name=Ahlbrandt_2014 />
Jurassic and Cretaceous source rocks are important across the Tethyan Margin and account for the majority of the petroleum generated in Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, Iran, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Libya and Turkey. Nearly all of the more than 137 Bbo and 106 Tcfg that occur in over 100 fields in Iraq have been generated from extremely organic-rich Jurassic and Cretaceous source rocks.<ref name=Grabowski_2014 /> The organic-rich Jurassic and Cretaceous source rocks extend into Syria.<ref name=Barrieretal_2014>Barrier, Eric, Louai Machhour, and Marc Blaizot, 2014, [http://archives.datapages.com/data/specpubs/memoir106/data/335_aapg-sp1960335.htm Petroleum systems of Syria], ''in'' L. Marlow, C. Kendall, and L. Yose, eds., Petroleum systems of the Tethyan region: AAPG Memoir 106, p. 335-378.</ref> Jurassic source and reservoir are equally important in Saudi Arabia, where they have resulted in the world’s largest conventional oil field, Ghawar.<ref name=Cantrelletal_2014>Cantrell, D. L., P. G. Nicholson, G. W. Hughes, M. A. Miller, A. G. Bhullar, S. T. Abdelbagi, and A. K. Norton, 2014, [http://archives.datapages.com/data/specpubs/memoir106/data/613_aapg-sp1960613.htm Tethyan petroleum systems of Saudi Arabia], ''in'' L. Marlow, C. Kendall, and L. Yose, eds., Petroleum systems of the Tethyan region: AAPG Memoir 106, p. 613-639.</ref> Yemen, which remains an overall frontier area, has established basins (Sab’atayn and Say’un-Masilah) with proven Jurassic and Cretaceous source rocks where recent oil discoveries were made in the Upper Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous carbonates and clastics.<ref name=Assaruriandsorkhabi_2014>As-Saruri, Mustafa, and Rasoul Sorkhabi, 2014, [http://archives.datapages.com/data/specpubs/memoir106/data/757_aapg-sp1960757.htm Petroleum systems and basins of Yemen], ''in'' L. Marlow, C. Kendall, and L. Yose, eds., Petroleum systems of the Tethyan region: AAPG Memoir 106, p. 757-780.</ref> Aptian/Albian source rocks in Iran have charged the oil in dominantly carbonate Cenomanian and Lower Miocene reservoirs in the Zagros Mountain anticlines; with these reservoirs accounting for an estimated 8% of global oil reserves.<ref name=Bordenave_2014>Bordenave, M. L., 2014, [http://archives.datapages.com/data/specpubs/memoir106/data/505_aapg-sp1960505.htm Petroleum systems and distribution of the oil and gas fields in the Iranian part of the Tethyan region], ''in'' L. Marlow, C. Kendall, and L. Yose, eds., Petroleum systems of the Tethyan region: AAPG Memoir 106, p. 505-540.</ref> In Turkey, Middle Cretaceous source rocks are probably responsible for charging the majority of the reservoirs in this country.<ref name=Derman_2014>Derman, Ahmet Sami (A. S.), 2014, [http://archives.datapages.com/data/specpubs/memoir106/data/469_aapg-sp1960469.htm Petroleum systems of Turkish basins], ''in'' L. Marlow, C. Kendall, and L. Yose, eds., Petroleum systems of the Tethyan region: AAPG Memoir 106, p. 469-504.</ref> In Libya, the Campanian sedimentary section forms world class source rocks with great generative potential.<ref name=Hassanandkendall_2014 /> Upper Cretaceous source rocks have sourced 85% of Libya’s 45 Bboe reserves.<ref name=Hassanandkendall_2014 /> Egypt has multiple proven source rocks in the Mesozoic and Cenozoic sections.<ref name=Dolsonetal_2014 /> In Lebanon, numerous shows/seeps are likely generated from Mesozoic sources,<ref name=Nader_2014>Nader, F. H., 2014, [http://archives.datapages.com/data/specpubs/memoir106/data/241_aapg-sp1960241.htm Insights into the petroleum prospectivity of Lebanon], ''in'' L. Marlow, C. Kendall, and L. Yose, eds., Petroleum systems of the Tethyan region: AAPG Memoir 106, p. 241-278.</ref> while in Israel 16 oil and gas fields exist that have been sourced by dominantly Mesozoic source rocks.<ref name=Gardoshandtannenbaum_2014>Gardosh, Michael A., and Eli Tannenbaum, 2014, [http://archives.datapages.com/data/specpubs/memoir106/data/179_aapg-sp1960179.htm The petroleum systems of Israel], ''in'' L. Marlow, C. Kendall, and L. Yose, eds., Petroleum systems of the Tethyan region: AAPG Memoir 106, p. 179-216.</ref> Triassic-Jurassic-Cretaceous source rocks that exists onshore of the Eastern Mediterranean<ref name=Dolsonetal_2014 /> <ref name=Hassanandkendall_2014 /> <ref name=Nader_2014 /> <ref name=Gardoshandtannenbaum_2014 /> <ref name=Montadertetal_2014>Montadert, Lucien, Stelios Nicolaides, Per Helge Semb, and Øystein Lie, 2014, [http://archives.datapages.com/data/specpubs/memoir106/data/301_aapg-sp1960301.htm Petroleum systems offshore Cyprus], ''in'' L. Marlow, C. Kendall, and L. Yose, eds., Petroleum systems of the Tethyan region: AAPG Memoir 106, p. 301-334.</ref> <ref name=Barrieretal_2014 /> likely extend into the East Mediterranean-Levantine Basin.<ref name=Montadertetal_2014 /> <ref name=Marlow_2014>Marlow, Lisa, 2014, [http://archives.datapages.com/data/specpubs/memoir106/data/279_aapg-sp1960279.htm Tectonostratigraphic history and petroleum potential of the Levantine basin, eastern Mediterranean], ''in'' L. Marlow, C. Kendall, and L. Yose, eds., Petroleum systems of the Tethyan region: AAPG Memoir 106, p. 279-299.</ref> In the southeastern part of the Levantine Basin, the Mango well tested Lower Cretaceous sands (10,000 bo/d); these sands are likely charged from Jurassic source rocks.<ref name=Dolsonetal_2014 /> <ref name=Marlow_2014 />
Although Jurassic and Cretaceous source rocks are very important for the Tethyan region, there are other regionally correlative proven or potential source rocks of Triassic age.<ref name=Grabowski_2014 /> <ref name=Barrieretal_2014 /> <ref name=Dolsonetal_2014 /> <ref name=Hassanandkendall_2014 /> <ref name=Nader_2014 /> <ref name=Lüningandkuss_2014 /> <ref name=Cantrelletal_2014 /> <ref name=Alsharhanetal_2014>Alsharhan, Abdulrahman S., Christian J. Strohmenger, and Abdulla Al-Mansorri, 2014, [http://archives.datapages.com/data/specpubs/memoir106/data/679_aapg-sp1960679.htm Mesozoic petroleum systems of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates], '' L. Marlow, C. Kendall, and L. Yose, eds., Petroleum systems of the Tethyan region: AAPG Memoir 106, p. 679-711.</ref> Cenozoic source rock potential also exists in some deeper basins where the source rocks may be mature.<ref name=Marlow_2014 /> Though there are many proven plays in the Mesozoic and Cenozoic across the Tethyan Margin, there are significant areas that remain undrilled. Correlating stratigraphy and hydrocarbon systems across the margin will undoubtedly facilitate the growth of new exploration ideas and new production.
==Future potential and new approaches==