r

Carbonate-Evaporite Sequences of the Late}urassic,

Southern and Southwestern Arabian Gulf1

A. S. Alsharhan and G. L. Whittle2

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION

The Upper Jurassic in the Arabian Gulf, known

The carbonate-evaporite sequences of the Upper
Jurassic Arab and overlying Hith formations in the as the Arab and Hith formations, comprises a thick
section of shallow-water carbonates interbedded
southern and southwestern
Arabian Gulf form
many supergiant and giant fie1ds that produce from with evaporites and capped by an anhydrite secwas formally
the Arab Formation and are exceIlent examp1es of a tion (Figure 1). This sequence
described by Steineke and Bramkamp (1952), who
c1assic reservoir/seal relationship. The present-day
sabkha depositional setting that extends along most defined the formation names for these rocks,
which were adopted by Aramco following the
of the southern and southwestern
coasts of the
work of Steineke (cited in Powers et al., 1966). The
Arabian Gulf provides an analog to these Upper
type sections for the Jurassic, in most cases, have
Jurassic sedimentary rocks. In fact, sabkha-related
diagenesis of original grain-supported sediments in been described from the outcrops in central Arabia
the Arab and Hith formations has resulted in five in the vicinity of the Riyadh area, with the excepdistinct lithofacies that characterize the reservoir/ .tion being the Arab Formation. The type section for
seal re1ationship: (1) oolitic/pe1oidal grainstone, (2) the Arab is the Dammam well 7 (located in
dolomitic grainstone, (3) dolomitic mudstone, (4) Dammam field in eastern Saudi Arabia), whereas
the type section for the Hith Formation is at Dahl
dolomitized grainstone, and (5) massive anhydrite.
Hith in central Saudi Arabia.
Interpartic1e porosity in grainstones and dolomitic
The Arab Formation itse1f was subdivided by
grainstones and intercrystalline porosity in dolomiSteineke et al. (1958) into four members, labeled
tized rocks provide the highest porosity in the
study area. These sediments accumulated in four A-D from top to bottom. These members exhibit a
cyc1ic pattern of rock types. From the base up,
types of depositional
settings: (1) supratidal
each member (except A) comprises a limestone
sabkhas, (2) intertidal mud flats and stromatolitic
flats, (3) shaIlow subtidallagoons, and (4) shallow and dolomitic limestone section and an overlying
anhydrite section. Member A is overlain by the
open-marine she1ves.
The diagenetic history of the Arab and Hith for- anhydrite of the Hith Formation (Powers, 1962,
mations in the southern and southwestern Arabian 1968). The limestone-anhydrite sections are c1early
Gulf suggests that the anhydrite and much of the distinguished and very little interdigitation occurs.
The sedimentology and diagenetic features of the
dolomitization are a result of penecontemporaneous sabkha diagenesis. The character and timing of Arab Formation in Saudi Arabian oil fie1ds were
studied in detail by Steineke et al. (1958), Powers
the paragenetic events are responsible for the
exceIlent porosity of the Arab Formation and the (1962), Wilson (1985), MitcheIl et al. (1988), and
lack of porosity in the massive anhydrites of the Meyer and Price (1993) and will not be repeated
Hith, which together result in the prolific hydrocar- here; however, these features are shown in the generalized section in Figure 2. We will concentrate
bon sequences of these formations.
our study on the southern and southwestern parts
of the Arabian Gulf. The Arab Formation is the
Copyright 1995. The American Association 01 Petroleum Geologists. AII
major
Mesozoic producing interval in the Arabian
rights reservad.
Gulf oil fields (Figure 3).
1Manuscript received July 7, 1994; revised manuscript received May 8,
1995; linal acceptance June 30, 1995.
In the onshore Qatar area, the Upper Jurassic
2Desert and Marine Environment Research Center, United Arab Emirates
(Arab-Hith)
is subdivided into the Fahahil, Qatar,
University, P.O. Box 17777, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
and Hith formations (Figure 4), which have been
The authors would like to thank the Desert and Marine Environment
Research Center and the United Arab Emirates University lor support 01 this
grouped informally into the Riyadh Group, a term
projecl. In addition, we extend our gratitude to Christopher G. SI. C. Kendall,
originally used in Saudi Arabia, but now discarded
Mark Longman, Kevin Biddle, Charlotte Schreiber, and Kinji Magara lor
critically reviewing the manuscript, and to J. A. Antar lor drafting the figures.
(Sugden and Standring, 1975). This grouping has
1608

MPG Bulletin, V. 79, No. 11 (November 1995), P.1608-1630.

Alsharhan and Whittle

CNL

..o ......'"

(q. Limes'on.un')

- - - F De - - - -

:z:

.....

( #b orUl/cc)

VI

.95

HIT H

t;;
I!i

Figure l--Stratigraphic column

for the Upper Jurassic Arab and
basal Hith formations showing
rock type, llthology, depositional
environment, compensated
neutron log (CNL),and
compensated formation density
(FDC) log responses for each
member. Note that only the base
of the Hith Formation is shown
because its character is similar
throughout. For lithology
symbols, see Figure 7.

ENYIRONHENT

2.95

1....

LITROL06Y

-e
Supr.tidal
Laga:on

algAI otertidal
Supratidal
Sho.t
algal intertid.1
Supti&tidal

lagoon
shoalt b.r
algal otertid.'

lagoon

.upr.tida.1

alga' "tetUdal
.haal
u r ti
Lagoon I ntetUdal
Supratidal

SubtiC.1

lo

occasional

oter.idal

with

ShOAl1 bar Ichann.'

deposits

Supratid

sediments

Tidal-flat

deposils

Subtid,1

interbedded

lagooo.l

with

lo Intertid,1

shaallbar/ chann.' deposUs

oce.sion.'
interbedded

with

lagoon&1

Normal
deposits

sedimenta

open -marine
with

shelf

oce.sionat

shaals

been considered useful for areas where the distinction between these formations is poorly defined.
In offshore Qatar, the Qatar and Fahahil formations are grouped informally as the Arab zone to
equate them with the Arab Formation defined in
Saudi Arabia. The four carbonate units of the Arab
zone are known as limestones 1, 11,111,and IV, or
Arab A-D, from top to bottom. The top limestone
I to top limestone IV sections (or top Arab A to
top Arab D) have been designated
the Qatar
Formation, and limestone IV (or Arab D) is formally designated the Fahahil Formation. The Fahahil

Formation was distinguished from the overlying

section because it marks the transition from deeper to shallower water conditions. Its type section
is described from the Qatar Petro1eum Company
(QPC) 66 Dukhan well. The Qatar Formation (that
is, the Arab I-III or A-C), the type locality of the
QPC 28 Dukhan well, comprises the three porous
carbonate units and the intervening dense anhydrite sections. The formation also inc1udes the
lowest significant anhydrite development within
the Arab zone, which immediately overlies the
Fahahil Formation.

..

Arabian GuJf, LateJurassic

1610

...

:1:
u
o

::z:

~z:

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

...'" a:o...
'"
<4:

<L

Peloidal- oolitic grainstones.

anc:l stromatoUtic
I me
mudstone

Nodular anhydrit.
with
int.rb.dd~
dolomi~

:I:
1-

:I:
U

IJ')

IJ')

:I:

a:
;:)

1-

.....

C>
....1 o

IIJ

ARABIAN
GULF

1-

o:

12

.i

~
l
._.-._.-._._._.!~

,J

"
SAUDI

i
i

ARABIA

,
.

i
300 Km

Oolitic - peloidal

Anhydri te and bioctastic

oolitic grainstone

Anhydrit.5
and oolitiemollU5k pilek5ton.,
oriliMton.

1-

grainstofWS

ilnd bound 5ton.5

ID

a:

IIJ

~
~
~

Anhydrit.s,
5tromatolilic

oolitic-~Ioidillpacksto~

dolomitized

grainstone- d

lime

mudstone

,1

a:
O
U.
X

:I:

Burrowed pae kSlon.

wKk.sto~.
Loeillly

and

dotomitized

....1
ID
;:)

.....

" OMAN

Figure 2--Location map for some oil flelds producing from the Arab Formation in Saudi Arabia with generallithology (for symbols, see Figure 7) description and gamma-ray and composite bulk density logs for the Late Jurassic in
Saudi Arabia (modifled after Wilson, 1985). 1 = Manifa, 2 = Marjan, 3 = Abu Hadriya, 4 = Khursaniyah, 5 = Fadhili, 6 =
Berri, 7 = Qatif, 8 = Abu Safah, 9 = Dammam, 10 = Abqaiq, 11 = Ghawar, 12 = Khurais, 13 = Harmaliyah.

Inner shelf cycles characterize

the Arab
subtidal to intertidal setting with occasional
Formation of Qatar, with basal mudstones grading shoal/bar/channe1
deposits and was capped by
upward into dolomitic wackestones and grain- supratidal sabkha deposits that represent the end
stones (Bouroullec and Meyer, 1995). The Fahahil of Arab C (111)deposition (AIsharhan and Nairn,
(or Arab IV or D) consists of bioclastic, oolitic, and 1994). The Arab C (III) cyc1e is overlain by algal
peloidal packstones and grainstones with intercala- boundstones, oolitic grainstones (commonly heavitions of lime mudstones and sucrosic dolomite, and ly dolomitized), and pe10idal wackestones capped
is capped by extensive anhydrite layers. These sedi- by the widespread formation of nodular chickenments were deposited in a high-energy oolitic shoal wire and bedded anhydrite, representing Arab B
to lagoonal sabkha setting. Munn and Jubralla
and A (11 and 1) cycles. These sediments were
(1987) divided the Arab D in the Bul Hanine field deposited in a shallow subtidal to intertidal setting
(offshore Qatar) into 52layers based on petrophysi- with evidence of small-sca1e channeling, and the
cal characteristics. The Qatar Formation, or Arab sequence ended with deposition of lagoonal/
C-A (111-1), comprises
basal anhydrite with
supratidal sediments.
dolomite intercalation, dolomitic limestone, stroIn the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Upper
matolitic laminated wackestone, packstone and Jurassic was subdivided as described into formaboundstone, dolomitized oolitic grainstone, and tions and members in Qatar and Saudi Arabia
anhydrite. The Qatar Formation was laid down in a (Figure 4). In central offshore/onshore
UAE, the

Alsharhan and WhittIe

1611

1,
GULF

ARABIAN

/.-)

\,

....

(-.,
\

\,

\\

SAUDI
ARABI A

UNITED
ARAB
EMIRATES

BuHua

\
Oil F ld

()

Jurassic

Gas Field

O Other

Oil and Gas Fields

30
-

Jurassic

./

A 29:.::':'
.
O~
O

~wais

._._.)

()~

f
"\

,.__
.

Huwailah

-'--_._._

/JShah
tf

QMAN

Figure 3-Fields producing oll

or gas from the Jurassic in the
southern and southwestern Arabian
Gulf. 1 = UmmShaif, 2 = Nasr,
3 = Bu Dana, 4 = ADNOC 1-B,
5 = ADNOC 1-C, 6 = Belbazem,
7 = Umm Al Dholou, 8 = Umm Al
Salsal, 9 = Saath Al Raaz 8001,
10 = Albateel, 11 = UmmAl Anbar,
12=Hail,13=BuT~14=Ghas~
15 = Hair Dalma, 16 = Dalma,
17 = Arzanah, 18 = BuJufair,
19 =Jarnain, 20 = Satah,
21 = El Bunduq, 22 = Abu Al
Bukhoosh, 23 = BuI Hanine,
24 = Idd El Shargi, 25 = Maydan
Mahzam, 26 = Dukhan,
27 = Mubarraz, 28 = West
Mubarraz, 29 = Bab.

Ij

.'
I
Mender',

'--------.-.E

60Km
I

facies changes at the top of the Upper ]urassic,

with the disappearance of the anhydrite to the east,
cause problems in its correlation, and in the westcentral areas, the distinction and corre1ation is
quite clear (Figure 5). However, a Hith equivalent
(Asab Oolite) is commonly
recognized
in a
dolomitic facies even though the distinction
between this facies equiva1ent and the underlying
Arab Formation is unclear and cannot be satisfactorily traced westward to the Hith anhydrite proper
(Alsharhan, 1989; de Matos, 1994).
In onshore Abu Dhabi, the Fahahil Formation,
about 140 m (470 ft) thick, consists of crystalline
aphanitic lime mudstone that grades upward to
wackestones and packstones containing dolomite
and nodular anhydrite. The depositional setting is
thought to have been shallow marine to supratidal.
The Qatar Formation, about 120 m (400 ft) thick, is
composed mainly of dense, dolomitic lime mudstones interbedded with anhydrite and dolomite.
Dolomite layers are common and are believed to
have been deposited under extreme1y shallow to
intertidal conditions. Dolomites are either fine
grained and tight or medium to coarse grained,
sucrosic, and porous. The relationship between
these two types is probably related to subsequent
diagenetic changes. Laminated or brecciated lime
mudstones are sometimes associated with dolomites
and correspond to variants of the same tidal-flat setting. Fossiliferous wackestones containing common
ostracods are also found (Alsharhan, 1989).
In offshore Abu Dhabi, the Arab Formation is
divided into four zones, A-D fram top to bottom,

based on lithology (Figure 1). The Arab A-C are

composed mainly of alternating anhydrite and carbonates (predominantly dolomite and partIy limestones). The Arab D comprises mainly carbonates
that are predominantly limestones, partly dolomite
and, locally, anhydrite.
This study was compiled from the literature and
a series of cores and thin sections from wells located in the southern offshore Arabian Gulf. The Arab
and the Hith formations are the prime subjects of
this paper and their occurrence in the southern
and southwestern Arabian Gulf and their important
reservoir/seal relationship are described in detail.
ARAB FORMATION (MEMBERS D-A)
(KIMMERIDGIAN-EARLY
TITHONIAN)
Steineke et al. (1958) described a trend of the
Afab D Member from the fmer grained (calcarenitic)
limestones at the Dukhan field (Qatar) passing laterally to coarser sediments at the Ghawar fie1d (Saudi
Arabia). These latter grain-supported sediments of a
shallow, high-energy
setting grade into finer
grained lagoonal sediments toward Riyadh in central Saudi Arabia and, stratigraphically, they grade
downward into a thick anhydrite. The porous limestone intervals are quite distinct from the intervening massive anhydrite that separates each member
of the Arab Formation. Virtually no interfmgering. of
the limestone and anhydrite facies occurs and the
transition from one depositional
setting to the
other is very abrupto :rhese limestone/anhydrite

!
I

1612

ArabianGulf,LateJurassic

LATE

JURAS

SIC

EPOCH
ST AGE

OXFORDIAN - KIMMERIDGIAN - TITHONIAN

HANIFA!
DIYAB/
JUBAILAH
D/IV

DIYAB

IV

SOURCE
Figure 4-Nomenclature

e/m

B/II

AII

QATAR

FAHAHIL

LIMESTONE

DUKHAN

HITH

ARAB

LIM);S('()NE

" m

FAHAHIL

MANIFA

HITH

FORMATION

MEMBER

SAUDIARABIA
BAHRAIN
OFFSHOREQATAR
OFFSHOREABUDHABI

FORMATION
ONSHOREQATAR

LlMESTONE~

LlMESTONE

II

QATAR

RESERVOIR

MEMBER

HI'IH

SEAL

I MENDER
~

FORMATION

ONSHOREABUDHABI

HYDROCARBON
HABITAT

for the LateJurassic in the Arabian GuH.

eyc1es are re1ated to the transgressive (shoal) and

regressive (supratidal) phases of eaeh depositional
cyc1e. The total thickness of the Arab Formation in
the study area ranges from 151 m (500 ft) in the offshore Qatar-Abu Dhabi area to over 257 m (850 ft)
in onshore Abu Dhabi (Figure 6).
In these areas (southern
and southwestern
Arabian Gult) the Arab A Member ranges from 30 to
34 m (100 to 11O ft) thick and is primarily composed of alternating anhydrite and carbonates.
Because of this anhydrite, it is difficult to differentiate the Arab A from the overlying Hith Formation,
which changes its depositional character eastward;
carbonate facies pinch-outs become common (de
Matos, 1994). The Arab A anhydrite is fme1y crystalline, generally exhibiting a chickenwire texture
with no porosity. The carbonate facies are mainly
dolo mi tic grainstone and dolomitized grainstone.
Pe10ids are highly glauconitized and the associated
dolomite is fine1y rhombic (subhedral to euhedral).
Allochems show poor sorting with many botryoidal
and intrac1astic grains in association with oolites
and pe1oids, suggesting a variable-energy depositional setting. Rare chertification
occurs in the
dolomitic grainstones, as well as evidence of glauconitization, suggesting chertification is preglauconite. Dolomitic grainstones give way to complete1y dolomitized grainstones at the top of the
section. The dolomite fabric is anhedral sucrosic or
aphanocrystalline, with occasional streaks of subhedral rhombs. Porosity is very low due primarily
to original mudstone textures, anhydrite formation,
and late cementation by coarse calcite spar and
mosaic dolomite.
The Arab B Member ranges from 20 to 21 m (65
to 70 ft) in thickness and is also composed of

dolomitic grainstone and dolomitized grainstone.

Anhydrite is less common than in the Arab A,
occurring as a chickenwire texture. This reduction in anhydrite cement has left excellent secondary porosity. Calcite spar is very limited and
this absence, combined with later dissolution, has
resulted in some very good secondary porosity.
Dolomitized
grainstone
occurs as euhedral
rhombs that become anhedral upward in the section. These completely dolomitized samples follow original oolitic grainstone/packstone
textures
that are rounded to subrounded, well sorted, and
with some sparry to microgranular
matrix.
Allochems are commonly leached, providing moderate moldic porosity. Those that are cemented
have been filled by euhedral dolomite rhombs or,
more rare1y, by chickenwire
anhydrite. Those
allochems that are not leached retain a micritized
calcitic texture with some evidence of glauconitization. The dolomite is grayish brown, moderate1y
hard, locally argillaceous, and contains anhydrite
in places. Fractures are uncommon, but remain
unfilled where occurring, enhancing permeability
slightly.
The Arab C Member ranges from 38 to 41 m
(125 to 135 ft) in thickness and, similar to the Arab
A and B, is composed of carbonates alternating
with anhydrite. The anhydrite occurs more commonly in association with dolomite as opposed to
dolomitic limestone. The anhydrite is crystalline
with a chickenwire texture, containing streaks of
dolomite and limestone. The carbonate facies
inc1ude dolomitized grainstone with subordinate
dolomitic mudstone and dolomitic grainstone. The
dolomitic mudstones
are moderate1y hard to
dense, commonly in association with crystalline

Alsharhanand Whittle

WELL A

WELL

WELL

WELL

1613

o
NEUTRDH

GAHKA AAY

(41-")

(APIIJtIq.)

'"
Z

~
u

iii

Z
O

...

:x:
:

'...a:"

:J

......

......
... a:
...::!!
O

::!!

..
-.
..
~
z

... ~"
Z

a:
O
IL

><

C>

Figure 5--Well-log correlation of four offshore Abu Dhabi wells showing the generallithology and the gamma-ray
and neutron logs for the Diyab (Dukhan), Arab, and Hith fonnations in the studyarea. Note that the Hith Fonnation
thins eastward and eventualIy disappears farther eastward ofwell D. For lithology symbols, see Figure 7.

anhydrite. Porosity in these mudstones is poor and

limited to small vugs, a few of which are oil stained.
Porosity in the dolomitic grainstones is very
good as a result of a decrease in anhydrite cementation. Early ca1cite spar has been dissolved to a large
extent in the Arab B, and coarse dolomite rhombs,
late diagenetic coarse ca1cite spar, and rare chert
nodu1es occ1ude porosity only to a very small
degree. Intrapartic1e porosity is present inmany
foraminifer tests within the grainstones. Dolomitic
limestone is micritic, commonly with anhydrite
and local packstone/grainstone.
Allochems of the
latter are primarily oolites and peloids, which are
glauconitized. Those oolites and peloids that have
been leached are filled by anhydrite cemento
Crystals in the dolomitized grainstones, which
dominate the Arab C, are anhedral to subhedral
lower in the section, commonly sucrosic or
aphanocrystalline, changing to rhombs, which are
coarser and more euhedral, and grade upward into
dolomitic limestones before finally becoming
anhedral and sucrosic again at the top of the section.

Intercrystalline porosity within the dolomitized

grainstone is moderate and moldic porosity, which
suggests original grain-supported lithologies, is commonly occ1uded by anhydrite. Subordinate packstone/
grainstone is fme to medium grained and coarse in
places, rare1y oolitic, and cornmonly anhydritic. The
dolomite rhombs show some glauconitization, probably incorporated into the crystal structure as a
result of the replacement
of the glauconitized
peloids of the originallimestone. Dedolomitization
occurred in rare instances as indicated by coarse calcite crystals in which the extinction pattern shows
engulfed rhombs identical to the surrounding
dolomite rhombs.
The Arab D Member ranges from 91 to 168 m
(300 to 550 ft) in thickness and differs from Arab
A-C by an increasing bioc1astic dolomitic grainstone and dolomitized grainstone exhibiting extensive glauconitization. Mudstones and wackestones
in the lower Arab D grade to moderately hard,
dense, microgranular packstone-grainstone facies
that are sub~ngular, well sorted, and locally oolitic

1614

ArabianGulf,LateJurassic

IRAN

GULF

Figure 6-Isopach map for the

Upper Jurassic Arab Formation
in the southern aud southwestern .
Arabiau GuIf. on fields that
produce from the Arab are shown
in bIack spots.

,Fateh
fSWFateh

Haradh

SAUDI

'" I Km

C.I

= 50Ft

or crystalline, with thin dolomite beds and some

anhydrite. The uppermost part of the Arab D is
composed
of dark brown to brownish-gray
dolomite and dolomitic limestone with a micritic to
macrogranular matrix that is commonly sparry and
slightly argillaceous. The glauconite has primarily
affected pe10ids and oolites; however, dolomite
rhombs sometimes contain glauconite inc1usions,
suggesting that glauconite occurred prior to the
dolomitization process. Early cementation in a mixing zone environment by sparry calcite prohibited
compaction of grains, and later dissolution of this
early cement resulted in well-deve1oped intergranular and intercrystalline porosity. Late diagenetic
poikilotopic coarse calcite spar reduces porosity
only locally in some of the deeper Arab D samples
and also ftlls some fractures.
Kawaguchi (1991) divided the Arab D in Satah
field (western offshore Abu Dhabi) into eight lithologic layers and fifteen reservoir layers based on
petrophysical characteristics. He found the Arab D
to be bottom sealed by a "bitumen mat," which
filled pores created through leaching. Although
Kawaguchi (1991) defmed eight lithofacies in Satah
fie1d, each fits into the depositional framework of
the present study.
Higher permeability in the aphanocrystalline
dolomite is due to its idiotopic and sucrosic textures, as well as the development
of good
enhanced intercrystalline porosity. The dolomitized lime mudstones and wackestones, which are

often argillaceous and bioturbated, generally have

moderate to good porosity. The peloidal packstones and grainstones have good porosity, which
is expressed by the occurrence of interpartic1e,
vuggy, and moldic pores. In Qatar, Wilson (1991)
defined two facies of the Arab D that are suitab1e
reservoirs in low-relief structural traps: a porous
grainstone facies and a massive, highly permeable
dolomite. These two facies correspond
to the
oolitic/pe1oidal grainstone and dolomitized grainstone facies recorded in this study; these facies also
show the best reservoir quality.
HITH FORMATION (TITHONIAN)
The upper porous zone of the Arab Formation is
succeeded by the thick anhydrite section of the
Hith Formation, which represents the final regressive supratidal stage of the major depositional
cyc1e. Some thin porous carbonate sections in the
base of the Hith Formation in the offshore Abu
Dhabi area, however, do indicate local developments of minor lagoonal and intertidal transgressive phases, which thin and disappear toward
the west.
The type section for the Hith Formation at Dahl
Hith near Riyadh in Saudi Arabia has a measured
thickness of approximate1y 91 m (300 ft). The section was thought at one time to be niuch thicker. In
this section, the anhydrite has afine chickenwire

1615

Alsharhan and Whittle

(A)OFFSHORE
QATAR

"

HITH

o:

ARAB

o:
:>

1\
A

WESTERN

I\-r:z::
'"

1\

:>

....

~
I
I

~'"

1\
ti.

1\ I\;:Z=,.,

1\ A

L /

I
I

1
1

QATAR

DHABI

I
1--

I
/

/
7

/
/

BShaUow.water

limestone

r=T1 ArOlllaceous and deep-

water limetane
Dolomitized

Oolomitic

timestone

WESTERN

ABU

t~ 7'J Glauconitic

limestone

Anhydr-ite

limestone

CENTRAL

DHABI

EASTERN

ABU

SOUTHEASTERN ABU DHABI

DHABI

---- ...

NENDER

;:>z

-re z"
c

1-

1/'

L
I

T
I

o:

>-

AREAS

. ..
.

.....

01

Oolitc timestone

~iL

/
7

LEGEND :

HITH

FAH-

:<:

~/

.'-

DUBAI

ASAB

I--

-.,:
... /
_ I

(B) ONSHORE

ABU

I
I

1\ I\~AI\

1\

EASTERN

CENTRAL ABU DHABI

DHABI

1\

ABU

A" "

A
A

"""A"''''''''''

1\

'"

AREAS

:<:2:
=>
=>d

001

:<:

:>

=>

.1

Figure 7-Schematic lithostratigraphic section and stratigraphic column of the Upper Jurassic Arab Formation in
the southern Arabian Gulf for (A) offshore areas (Qatar, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai) and (B) onshore areas (Qatar and
Abu Dhabi). Not to scale.

structure with some associated dolomite in its basal

part and grades upward into a finer but similar
nodular texture. Toward the top of the section it
becomes finely laminated (on the order of millimeters) and appears to contain some fine-grained carbonate material (Alsharhan and Kendall, 1994).
In Qatar and Abu Dhabi, the anhydrite gradually
thins toward the east. The edge of the Hith marks
the eastern limit of massive anhydrite development and, hence, the final transition from supratidal to lagoonal and intertidal dolomites. This
facies change is clearly recognized from west to
east across central Abu Dhabi, where the anhydrite progressively gives way to dolomite from the
base up.
. In Qatar and western Abu Dhabi, the Hith ranges
from 140 to 183 m (462 to 600 ft) thick, which
includes massive anhydrite, anhydritic dolomite,
and dolomite. The anhydrite is of the chickenwire

.1

variety, and the interbedded dolomites are light to

dark brown and sucrosic. In the lower beds, light
to dark brown pellety lime packstones and wackestones replace the dolomite. The dolomite in the
Hith is finely rhombic, anhedral, and contains abundant poikilotopic, nodular, and blocky anhydrite.
Late diagenetic poikilotopic calcite spar occurs
rarely, occluding intercrystalline pores in a few
dolomite samples. Fractures within the dolomite
are partially to completely filled by laths of anhydrite. Porosity is very poor as a result of the tightly
interlocking fine rhombs and the extensive anhydrite cementation and fracture fill.
In eastern Abu Dhabi and toward Dubai, the Hith
is known locally as the Asab and Fateh members
(Figure 7A). The Fateh consists of 107 m (350 ft) of
gray to dark brown sucrosic dolomite and is medium to coarse grained with minor oolitic grainstones. Anhydrite occurs throughout the section in

1616

ArabianGuIf,Late]urassic

very minor quantities, but comprises clear, transparent crystals forming cement within the
dolomite. This facies reflects a supratidal setting
with intervals of shallow-water shoaling.
The Asab Oolite (Figure 7A, B), about 91 m (300
ft) thick, comprises dolomitic lime mudstone grading upward to fine to medium, well-sorted oolitic
grainstone and peloidal-bioclastic
wackestone/
packstone with cha1cedony replacing some grains.
The fossil content consists of common to abundant
foraminifers, dasycladacean algae, echinoids, and
shell fragments. Gastropods, stromatoporoids,
corals, and be1emnites are uncommon and restricted to a few levels (de Matos, 1994). The Asab was'
deposited at the open-marine edge of a very shallow platform as an oolitic bar deposit (shoallime
sand). Occasional coated grains indicate lower
energy, protected conditions (AIsharhan, 1989).
Due to environmental and facies changes in southeastern Abu Dhabi (Mender region) toward Oman,
AIsharhan (1989) introduced the term "Mender
Glauconite Limestone Member" (Figure 7B). It has
a maximum thickness of 59 m (192 ft) and consists
of light-gray to buff-brown stylolitic, pelletal mudstone and wackestone that is well cemented with
traces of shale lamination, glauconite, skeletal
debris, and chert. Anhydrite and, to a lesser extent,
gypsum are common. A few dolomitic grainstones
occur at the top of the section, but porosity is very
poor due to glauconitization and little dissolution
of early ca1cite spar cemento The original depositional setting is thought to have been a deeper, offshore low-energy setting that graded upward to a
shallow shoal or channe1levee, and fmally to intertidal/supratidal conditions through a slow regression of sea level, causing dolomitization followed
by glauconitization.

ARAB/HITH

LITIlOFACIES AND ASSOCIATED

POROSITY
Based on our study of thin section and core data,
the carbonate-evaporite sequences of the Arab and
Hith formations contain five general rock types: (1)
oolitic/peloidal grainstone, (2) dolomitic grainstone, (3) dolomitic mudstone, (4) dolomitized
grainstone, and (5) massive anhydrite. Variations
within lithofacies include faunal associations
(Figure 8), as well as glauconitization and chertification.
Oolitic/Peloidal

Grainstone

This subordinate lithofacies is found throughout

the Arab Formation. The highIy micritized grains in
this facies commonly make identification of original

grain type impossib1e (Figure 9A); however, relict

concentric laminae were observed and grain shape .
indicates that these grains were primarily ooids or
pe1oids. These grainstones are well sorted, but intraclasts and composite botryoidal grains do occur,
some of which appear to have originally been
grapestones (Figure 9B).
The grainstones may contain a few dolomite
rhombs, but what distinguishes them from the
dolomitic grainstone lithofacies is the relative
paucity of dolomite and the presence of some early
marine cement (Figure 9B, C). Allochems are
encrusted by bladed calcite cement, probably originally high-Mg calcite in mineralogy. Although some
late diagenetic coarse poikilotopic ca1cite spar
occurs (Figure 9A, D), porosity is very good
because of extensive dissolution. Also, the encrusting bladed cement does not extensively occlude
pore throats (Figure 9E). Red algae, brachiopods,
foraminifers, and oyster shells were ole"rved in a
few samp1es and create some intraparticle porosity.
Grainstones that are interbedded with the Hith
anhydrite are more poorly sorted, containing abundant coated grains and intraclasts in addition to
ooids and pe1oids. Porosity is reduced by extensive
anhydrite cementation, which occludes moldic
porosity. Allochems are commonly glauconitized to
some extent.
In the southeastern part of the study area, grain_
stones occur in the facies-equivalent
Mender
Glauconite. These grainstones are dominated by
lO-15-J.lm olive-green glauconite pellets. In mudstones, some of these smaller pellets nucleate into
25-50-J.lm pellets (Figure 9F). Together with
cementation by anhydrite, these pellets have the
effect of occluding most porosity.

Dolomitic Grainstone
Dolomitic grainstones were observed primarily
in the Arab B, C, and D members. Anhedral to subhedral rhombs selectively replace the matrix in this
facies, leaving highIy micritized allochems as evidence ofthe precursor (Figure lOA). Relict marine
fibers were noted partially encrusting ooids and
peloids on several occasions, but most of the
marine cement in this facies has be en removed by
dissolution. These samples have escaped extensive
freshwater diagenesis and have retained excellent
primary porosity. Early ca1cite spar that cemented
the matrix of many grainstones has been virtually
comp1etely dolomitized. Dolomite occurs as fine,
medium, and coarse rhombs and may indicate separate dolomitization events. The fme rhombs (those
ranging from 30 to 50 J.lm) and medium rhombs
(those ranging from 60 to 90 J.lm)are much more
common and could be associated with a sabkha

Alsharhan and Whittle

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miliolids; valvulinlds.

stromatoporoids;
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echinoderms; gastropods, brachiopods;
sponge spicules and corals.

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echinodenns;

Amnromculiles cf. edgel/i; Nauloloculina

oolilhiea; Trocholina e/ongala; Trocholina
alpina; Trocholina palasliniensis; Clypeina
jurassiea; dypeina inopinala; Kurnubia
wellingsi; Kurnubia jurassial;
Sa/pinopore/Ia annulala; Plenderina
sa/ermtana; Everticyclanrnrina virguliana;
Amnromculiles cf. elenae;
Pseud'!'Yclarr,nrina sp.; Kurnubia
palastimensis; Lenlicu/ina sp.; Alveosepla
jaccardi; va/vulina sp.; textulariids;

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Anrnromculiles cf. edgelli; Nauloloculina oolilhica; T.

e/ongala; T. alpina; T. pa/astiniensis; Clypeina jurassiea
c. in~t,,,:,a; Favreina sa/evensis; Prelhocoprolilhus
cenlTi a/us; textularlids; ostracods; "astroDods.
Favrdna salevensis; Prelhocoprolilhus
cenlripeta/us; Kurnubia weUingsi; K. jurassiea;
SIllpingopore/1a annu/ala; Cylindroparella sp.;
ThaumJjtoparella parvovesiculifera; Clypeina
mirabi/is; Lenliculilla sp.; ostracods; gastropods;

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jurassial; C/ypeina inopinala; textu ariids.

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LIT HOLOGY

1617

..ti

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Figure 8-Stratigraphic column for the Arab Formation showing fauna! associations by member. FDC = compensated formation density log.

setting (Figure lOA); coarser rhombs (those rangit}gfrom 100 to 125 lffi) are anhedral to subhedral
and probably formed at depth (Figure 10B, C).
Both types show glauconite indusions,
which
probably were incorporated into the crystallattice

by diagenesis of allochems with earlier glauconite

coats (Figure lOC).
Some late coarse calcite spar occludes interpartide pores, as does poikilotopic anhydrite. Despite
these cements, overall porosity is very good.

1618

ArabianGulf,LateJurassic

Chertification is local; only a few grainstones show Micritized and dolomitized remnant ooids and
evidence of chertification and even then it is limit- . pe10ids are visible as ghosts within the replacement
ed to one or two allochems (Figure lOD).
dolomite fabrico This lithofacies is the completdy
Samples from the Mender Glauconite show glau- dolomitized
end member as opposed to the
conites that appear to folIow original dolomitic
oolitic/peloidal grainstone as the opposite (comgrainstone textures. These dolomitic grainstones
pletely undolomitized)
end member, with the
are commonly highly fractured and stylolitized and dolomitic grainstone lithofacies being partialIy
filled by glauconite, anhydrite, or a bituminous
dolomitized and intermediate.
Intercrystalline
residue. Aphanocrystalline dolomite cemented the porosity in the Arab C and D is very good (Figure
matrix prior to glauconitization and occ1udes inter- 12A) and is enhanced by postdolomitization dissopartic1e porosity. Laths of anhydrite and patches of lution. Rhombohedra are the most common form
chickenwire anhydrite are uncommon. Likewise,
of dolomite (Figure 12B), but an aphanocrystalline
chertification is uncommon.
texture was also observed (Figure 12C). Poikilotopie and blocky anhydrite occurs much more comDolomitic Mudstone
monly in the Arab A and B members, as does late
diagenetie coarse calcite spar, reducing the interA thick sequence of dolomitic mudstone was crystalline porosity (Figure 12D). Glauconitie inclufound at the base of each of the Arab B- D mem- sions are common in the dolomite, probably rembers. The thickest of the mudstones by far was in nants of the glauconitization
of the original
the Arab D and exhibits various stages of dolomiti- allochems.
zation. The dolomite is primarily finely rhombic
Dolomitized
grainstone
witmn
the Hith
and euhedral (Figure 11A) with subordinate
Formation shows very poor intercrystalline porosiaphanocrystalline textures. Poikilotopic anhydrite
ty and anhedral rhombs. The sabkha-related anhyand late diagenetic coarse calcite spar rarely engulf drite formation is the reason for the low porosity.
rhombs in the dolomitized areas. Rare leached and
Dolomitization is extensively higher in the secrecrystallized sponge spicules occur. Chertification
tion and generally decreases with depth. This sugis locally deve10ped because microquartz se1ective- gests dolomitization may be related to sabkha dialy replaces allochems. Porosity is very poorIy deve1- genesis as Mg-charged flood waters dolomitize the
oped except in a seam of extensive vuggy porosity. limestones from the surface downward, although
Pyrite crystals appear to be a late diagenetic addi- infiltration by meteoric groundwaters also may
tion to the samples.
have assisted in the process (Magaritz and Peryt,
Dolomitic mudstones of the Mender Glauconite
1994).
show heavy glauconitization by olive-green pellets.
Although it is characteristicalIy
similar to the
Massive Anhydrlte
dolomitic mudstones of the Arab, the dolomite is
more commonly aphanocrystalline than rhombic,
In the southern and southwestern Arabian Gulf,
and anhydrite (and rarely gypsum) cements are massive anhydrite occurs almost exc1usive1yin the
more abundant (Figure 11B).
Hith Formation and between Arab members with a
chickenwire
fabric, the associated porosity of
Dolomitized Grainstone
whieh is virtually ni! (Figure 13A); however, patches of rhombic dolomite within the anhydrite beds
Completely dolomitized samples in the Arab are common and these exhibit some intercrysFormation follow original grainstone rock types.
talline porosity (Figure 13B). Poikilotopie anhydrite

Figure 9--Photomicrographs ofthe oolitic/peloidal grainstone facies. (A) Highly micritized peloid encased in poikilotopic calcite. Despite late calcite cementation, excellent interparticle porosity has been retained (crossed nicols;
scale bar = 300 pm). (B) Bladed to flbrous low-Mgcalcite cement encrusting intraclasts, ooids, and peloids. These
were originally marine cements of probable aragonite or high-Mg calcite mineralogy (crossed nicols; scale bar =
300 pm). (e) Former marine cements in an oolitic/peloidal grainstone ofthe Arab D Member. Despite early cementation, most ofthe primary porosity has been retained (crossed nicols; scale bar = 120 pm). (D) poikilotopic calcite
cement in an oolitic/peloidal grainstone of the Arab D Member. This late diagenetic feature has not signiflcantly
reduced porosity, which shows enhancement by dissolution, possibly after poikilotopic cement (crossed nicols;
scale bar = 300 pm). (E) Dolomitized grainstone with excellent interparticle porosity due to dissolution of early
marine cements and limited dolomitization (crossed nicols; scale bar = 300 pm). (F) Glauconitized pellets (dark-colored aggregates) in a highly micritized mud matrix in the Arab equivalent known as the Mender Glauconite (in the
southeastern part ofthe studyarea). Smaller pellets (40-15 pm) were observed in Mender Glauconite grainstones;
the presence of scattered small pellets in this photomicrograph suggests the larger peUets (""25-50 pm) are aggregates ofthese small pellets (crossed nicols; scale bar = 300 pm).

Alsharhan and Whittle

E.

1619

1620

Arabian Gulf, Late Jurassic

Figure 10--Photomicrographs
of the dolomitic grainstone facies. (A) Selective dolomitization of the matrix of an
Arab C grainstone. Allochems remain undolomitized and intercrystalline
porosity has been enhanced by dissolution (crossed nicols; scale bar = 300 pm). (B) Coarse rhombs in a dolomitic grainstone
of the Arab D. These
anhedral to subhedral rhombs have low intercrystalline
porosity as opposed to the finer euhedral rhombs. Note
glauconite inclusions within rhombs (crossed nicols; scale bar = 120 pm). (C) Dolomite rhomb showing glauconite
inclusions. Glauconitization probably occurred prior to dolomitization and this glauconite was subsequendy incorporated in the dolomite crystallattice (crossed nicols; scale bar = 120 pm). (D) Partial chertification of an intraclast
in a dolomitic grainstone. The source of silica was probably from leached sponge spicules; however, the source is
difficult to determine because chertification was not well developed within the study area (crossed nicolsj scale bar
= 300 pm).

crystals within the dolomite patches can make this

intercrystalline porosity very low. The texture of
the anhydrite is occasionally felty, but this is a subordinate fabrico Some of the anhydrite follows the
emplacement of dolomite in the form of anhydritic
rhombs, which are evident locally. Microfracturing
is common, but this does not appreciably increase
permeability. Oil staining and glauconitization are
rare and relict peloid ghosts are uncommon.

DEPOSITIONALSETTING
The Arab Formation is the major oil-producing
interval in the Arabian Gulf (Murris, 1980; Ayres et
al., 1982; Alsharhan and Kendall, 1986). The formation shows considerable regional variation in facies
and reservoir characteristics and represents the
transition from deep-water shelf conditions at the
base, through shoal, lagoonal and intertidal to

Alsharhan and Whittle

1621

Figure l1-Photomicrographs
of the dolomitic mudstone facies. (A) Dolomitic mudstone showing characteristic
selective dolomitization
of the matrix by scattered euhedral rhombs (crossed nicols; scale bar = 300 }1m). (B)
Dolomitic mudstone of the Mender Glauconite showing aphanocrystalline
texture and abundant anhydrite nodules.
The anhydrite has occluded most ofthe secondary moldic porosity (crossed nicols; scale bar = 300 }1m).

supratidal conditions at the top (Figure 14). The

depositional features present vary considerably,
although certain major distinctions are apparent.
The area from Saudi Arabia to eastern offshore
Qatar and western offshore Abu Dhabi is large1y
deve10ped as a shallow deposit (Figure 15) composed mainly of a grainstone fabrico Transition from
deeper she1f sediments at the base to lagoonal and
supratidal sediments at the top is rapid, and there
appears to be very little interdigitation of depositional facies. At Dukhan, a thin interval of anhydrite
associated with dolomite is present just be10w
the main anhydrite, which overlies the Fahahil
Formation. In offshore Qatar fie1ds, grainstone sediments become more prominent and probably form
an extension to the high-energy shoal deposits
(AIsharhan and Nairn, 1994). Shoal deposits do not
form the total Arab D section here because they are
underlain by finer grained, muddier she1f deposits
and are overlain by similarly fine-grained lagoonal
dolo mi te s and limestones similar to Umm Shaif
fie1dof Abu Dhabi.
Based on previous studies by Murris (1980),
Wilson (1985), and Alsharhan and Nairn (1994), in
addition to the present study, the deposition of the
Arab and Hith formations is believed to have
occurred in four types of settings (Figures 1, 14,
15): (1) supratidal sabkhas, (2) intertidal mud flats
and stromatolitic mats, (3) shalIow subtidallagoons,
and (4) shallow open-marine shelves.
. During deposition of the Arab Formation, the
supratidal environment was dominated by sabkhas
deposited in an essentialIy arid climate. Storm activity and exceptionally high tides resulted in flooding

of the sabkha surface and deposition of storm sediments as described from the present-day Arabian
Gulf sabkha by Kendall and Skipwith (1968, 1969),
Kendall (1969), Butler et al. (1982), Warren (1990),
and Alsharhan and Kendall (1994). Because.of the
very flat surface of the sabkha, such sediments
could be deposited over extensive areas, and these
areas are characterized
by the early diagenetic
growth of nodular anhydrite and dolomite, such
that the depositional fabrics of the supratidal sediments are often destroyed. Sabkha-re1ated anhydrite growth may also take place in intertidal and
lagoonal sediments, wherever the sabkha progrades over such underlying strata.
In Abu Dhabi, the Arab A-C and Hith formations
are the best examples of sabkha cycles; these are
wide1y recognized in most offshore reservoirs in
western Abu Dhabi. Porosity varies depending
upon depositional grainstone preservation and
dolomite texture. This porosity occurs in shallow
subtidal grainstones and dolomites, although permeability is commonly restricted by anhydrite
cemento Wood and Wolfe (1969) described nine
sabkha cycles from Umm Shaif throughout the
Arab, and similar cycles occur across the eastern
Abu Dhabi region, but deteriorate to the west. In
eastern Abu Dhabi and Dubai the sequence is
reduced to a Hith equivalent that lacks the bedded
anhydrite, with the sequence consisting of anhydritic dolomite and dolomitized
grainstone.
LaPointe (1991) suggested a mode1 that attributes
the evaporite formation in this area to submarine
deposition within a basin. Among other things, a
lack of a classic sabkha sequence and poor lateral

1622

Arabian Gulf, Late Jurassic

Figure 12--Photomicrographs
of the dolomitized grainstone facies. (A) Dolomite of the Arab D showing well-developed intercrystalline porosity (crossed nicols; scale bar = 300 pm). (B) Rhombohedral dolomite of the Arab e showing partial cementation by anhydrite (center). This late diagenetic cementation has not significantly reduced the
intercrystalline porosity (crossed nicols; scale bar = 300 pm). (e) Aphanocrystalline
dolomite texture of the Arab B.
Note anhydrite completely occludes fracture. Anhydrite cementation was more pronounced
in the Arab A and B
members, reducing much of the secondary porosity. The increase in anhydrite suggests the evaporite formation
was probably surface related (crossed nicols; scale bar = 120 pm). (D) Poikilotopic anhydrite in an Arab A dolomite.
Anhydrite in these upper Arab members is both displacive and replacive and significantly
reduces porosity
(crossed nicols; scale bar = 120 pm).

corre1ation are cited as evidence for this mode1

(LaPointe, 1991); however, stromatolitic mats generally show poor preservation. The Holocene stromatolitic mats of the Abu Dhabi coast, buried to a
depth of only a few tens of centimeters,
are
extreme1y thin and commonly pinch out laterally
altogether. Evidence of their presence is sometimes
established by a dark-green to black, highly organic
gypsum mush layer above or be10w their former
positions. A typical sabkha sequence may show

great lateral variation not only in facies changes

perpendicular
to shore, but paralle1 to shore,
where lensoid geometries cause pinch-out (Peebles
et al., 1995). Thus, the lack of lateral correlation is
not uncommon in a sabkha setting.
The intertidal environment occurs in an area
between low and high mean tides, and thus is an
area subjected to both marine flooding and subaerial exposure. Background sedimentation
in this
environment is characterized by the formation of

Alsharhan and WWttIe

1623

Figure 13--Photomicrographs
of the massive anhydrite facies. (A) Vein of chickenwire anhydrite within a dolomite
of the Hith Formation. Much of the dolomite is aphanocrystalline
with low intercrystalline porosity. The chickenwire anhydrite texture is a result of compaction and is extremely nonporous and impermeable (crossed nicols;
scale bar = 300 pm). (B) Although some intercrystalline
porosity occurs in the Hith Formation dolomites, massive
chickenwire anhydrite is much more common and creates an excellent seal above the Arab reservoir (crossed
nicols; scale bar = 300 pm) ..

above wave base may create intralagoonal bars with

mud flats and algal mats, with periodic flooding
associated coarse-grained sediments from spillovers.
that produces influxes of shallow subtidal inner
Further coarse-grained sediments may occur pro xilagoon sediments. Beach bars may develop toward
the seaward margins and shoals may form at the mal to offshore bars in the outer lagoon. Channels
running into the lagoon from the intertidal zone
landward limit by high storm tides. Minor channels
are also developed in this zone, but are of local may also produce an influx of coarse-grained sediextent and deposits tend to be very thin. However, ments (Le., channel outwash sands).
High-energy shoal environments comprise mainly
large-scale tidal channels commonly migrate
through and across the normal background sedi- grainstone bodies (shoals or bars) and channels, and
organic banks comprise grainstone and algal-stroments, within which significant sand bodies were
matoporoid boundstones. The shoals are dependent
deposited. Primarily, however, intertidal sediments
comprise mudstones and boundstones. Variability on wave energy for their formation and thus occur
as beach bars dividing lagoons from intertidal zones
occurs if there are frequent incursions of coarser
grained lagoonal sediments or if the mud flat com- or as offshore bars built up above wave base both
prises peloidal sediments. The proximity of this within and at the seaward margin of lagoons. These
shoal deposits are in contrast to channel sands,
depositional setting to the supratidal environment
means that the intertidal facies are susceptible to which are dependent on tidal energy and thus tend
_to be restricted to lagoons and intertidal settings.
sabkha diagenesis.
The shelf environment extends seaward from the
The lagoonal, shallow, subtidal environment
extends from the low mean tide line seaward to outer reaches of the lagoon, with the inner boundshoal bodies that define the outer lagoon limito ary generally delineated by offshore bars. In some
Depth may be only a few meters or up to tens of instances the shelf may pass directly into a lagoon
meters, with sedimentation dominated by tidal cur- without delineation by offshore bars, but such
instances are rare. The characteristic feature of the
rents. This environment is thus defined as being
shelf environment is open-marine normal-salinity
continually covered by seawater. Lagoons within
waters
with sedimentation taking place at or below
the Arab Formation can be divided into two types:
wave base. Shelf environments can be broadly divid(1) an inner (nearshore) lagoon with hypersaline
biota and background sediments becoming progres- ed into inner and outer shelf zones on the basis of
water depth (Le., photic zone is inner shelf and
sively coarser grained landward, and (2) an outer
below photic zone is outer shelt) or energy index
(seaward) lagoon with predominantly
normal
(at or marginally above wave base is inner shelf and
marine salinity biota and fine-grained background
sediments. Within this broad environment, shoaling below wave base is outer shelt).

1624

Arabian Gulf,LateJurassic

Figure 14-Depositional
model
for the Arab and Hith formations
in the southern and southwestern
Arabian Gulf. Deposition of the
Arab and Hith formations is
interpreted to have occurred in
four distinct settings: supratidal
sabkha, intertidal mud/algal flat,
shallow subtidallagoonal,
and
open-marine shelf.

DIAGENETIC FEATURES
Calcium Carbonate Cementation

and meteoric phreatic and vadose diagenetic settings, commonly followed by subsequent moldic
pore cementation by calcite.
Grain leaching within the Arab Formation takes
two forms: (1) leaching of sponge spicules during
marine phreatic diagenesis, and (2) leaching of
aragonitic grains and ca1cite matrix. The former
provides a possible silica source for the chertification observed in the Arab C and D. Preferential
leaching of allochems was observed locally in the
Arab and some completely dolomitized samples
have moldic porosity (commonly filled by anhydrite), which is interpreted as the result of leaching
of allochems prior to dolomitization of the matrix.

Cementation occludes pores throughout the

Arab carbonates and the cements formed in several
diagenetic settings. Primary pores are partially
occluded by ca1cite spar precipitated in a mixing
zone or meteoric setting (Harris et al., 1985).
Despite micritization and dolomitization, ghosts of
allochemical grains may still be distinguished in
some cases; however, most lithologies have undergone dolomitization to some extent, obliterating
earlier cement fabrics. Relict mar in e blades
encrusting ooids and pe10ids in grainstones do not
significantly occlude pore throats, suggesting that
primary porosity may have been rather high. Due Neomorphic Overgrowth Cementation
to dissolution, relict marine cements are uncommono The generallack of marine cements suggests
Neomorphic ca1cite cements fill primary and
that secondary porasity was high toward the end of moldic pores, the result of recrystallization of origimarine phreatic diagenesis (cf. Loucks and Budd, nal marine cement fabrics. Lime mud fabrics show
1981) prior to ca1cite spar precipitation. Ca1cite overgrowth
cementation
and neomorphism
spar was common in the study area (composing as increasing in occurrence with depth. Recrystalmuch as 50% of the rack in some cases), but a sig- lization of oolitic and micritic grains creates matrixnificant amount has been removed by dissolution.
size pores within grains that are then subject to
The result is excellent interparticle porosity in occlusion by overgrowth cementation. Poikilotopic
oolitic/pe1oidal and dolomitic grainstones.
and coarse sparry calcite cement appear to be
Meniscus cements are uncommon
in the
genetically re1ated, the sparry texture precipitating
oolitic/pe1oidal grainstone facies, indicating some in open pores and the poikilotopic texture engulfvadose diagenesis. However, the paucity of this ing grains. They probably formed as burial
cement texture suggests dissolution was more
cements, as suggested by their large crystal size and
dominant than precipitation and that perhaps these their common association with anhydrite (also
sediments had a very limited residence time above occasionally poikilotopic) and dolomite textures.
the water table.
Whereas most neomorphosed
allochems and
dolomite rhombs contain glauconitic inclusions,
the sparry and poikilotopic ca1cite cements lack
Leaching
glauconite, suggesting this calcite is a late diagenetic feature. The large crystal size is also commonly
While leaching of the secondary calcite matrix is associated with burial diagenesis (Meyers, 1974;
minor in the Arab Formation, leaching of original
Choquette and ]ames, 1990). These fabrics comaragonitic grains is important in reservoir deve1op- monly appear throughout the Arab Formation, but
mento This process takes place in the mixing zone rare1yin great abundance.

----

-,
Alsharhan and Whittle

..
..

IRAa

K UWAIT

.. .

...... "

UlZZJ

lurlAn

OPEN-MARINE

IRA

EE DOLDMITE
[:-----1
- -

rr:::n

SHELF

LAGOONAlISHALLOW-SHELF
DOLOMITIC LIMESTONES

lIGHT-COLORED
MUDSTONE

LIME

APPROXIMATE EASTERN
EXTENT OF ARAS D

100 km

Figure 15-Paleogeographic
facies map of the Upper
Jurassic Arab D Formation. Locations of selected oil
fields (black) are also shown.

Dolomitization
Dolomitization is closely associated with the
growth of nodular anhydrite in the sabkha capillary
zone (Kinsman, 1966) due to an increase in the
Mg:Ca ratio caused by the precipitation of calcium
sulfates. The dolomitizing fluids may also migrate
to much greater depths, particularly where highly
permeable strata provide suitable conduits, thus
creating dolomitized layers within predominantly
limestone sequences. Such dolomites may be developed at some distance late rally and vertically from
tl1e sabkha.
Dolomitization produces a wide variety of fabrics that may enhance or reduce reservoir quality.
Such fabrics depend for their formation on original

1625

sediment characteristics, pore-water enrichment in

Mg2+,and mobility of such fluids. Totally dolomitized rack types tend to vary in petrophysical characteristics. Dolomitization was initially controlled
by facies (Le., scattered rhombs in mudstones,
pseudomorphing of grainstones), but development
of purely crystalline textures was controlled by
pore water composition during sabkha phreatic
diagenesis similar to that described by Magaritz and
Peryt (1994), where evaporative and meteoric
waters combine to dolomitize evaporite-related carbonates.
The dolomitization process occurred in two separate stages (early and late) in the Arab. A sabkha
setting is indicated for the early dolomite by its
presence in association with anhydrite and gypsumo Marine water was supplied to the sediments
beneath the sabkha by flood recharge (Butler,
1965; Butler et al., 1982). The waters became Mgcharged through precipitation of gypsum and filtered down thraugh the sediment, causing dolomitization. Isolation of the sabkha from tidal waters
occurred behind manmade causeways that parallel
the coastline in Abu Dhabi, resulting in the presence of anhydrite in the upper sabkha. However,
gypsum is present in front of the causeways, where
tidal flow is unhindered. This evidence is contrary
to the idea of evaporative
pumping (Hsu and
Siegenthaler,
1969; Hsu and Schneider, 1973;
McKenzie et al., 1980), suggesting that it is surticial
waters that are driving evaporite formation.
Dewatering of gypsum results in anhydrite formation.
Although most of the dolomite observed in the
Arab sediments can be attributed to sabkha-associated diagenesis, dolomitization could have taken
place whenever the Mg concentration was sufficiently high. This is the case for a second generation (late diagenetic)
dolomite that occurs as
coarse crystalline (rhombic and mosaic) void fill.
On rare occasions the mosaic crystals have slightly
curved crystal faces giving them an appearance
similar to saddle dolomite. Radke and Mathis
(1980) found saddle dolomite to form at elevated
teinperatures, generally in association with sulfates
(Le., anhydrite and gypsum). The coarse crystal
size suggests significant depth of formation and a
slower growth rateo These void-fill fabrics show no
evidence of glauconitization and so probably postdated glauconite formation.
Anhydrite Growth
The initiation of anhydrite precipitation is widely recognized (Kinsman, 1966; McKenzie et al.,
1980; Warren, 1990) to take place in the sabkha
capillary zone just below the sabkha surface.

1626

ArabianGulf,LateJurassic

Where anhydrite nodules are sufficientIy numerous, they coalesce to form a dense impermeable
layer of chickenwire anhydrite upon compaction.
Scattered anhydrite, however, causes a more local
reduction in porosity and permeability. Nodular
anhydrite is blocky or consists of laths, whereas
poikilotopic crystals commonly cement dolomites
and, less frequentIy, dolomitic limestones throughout the Arab Formation. Mitchell et al. (1988) similady interpreted the nodular anhydrite as deposited
in a sabkha setting in the Arab D in Saudi Arabia.
Most of the original gypsum that precipitated has
dewatered to anhydrite through compaction.
Remnant gypsum fabrics are blocky or in the form
of euhedrallaths.
Stylolitization
Compaction of sediments occurs to some degree
throughout
all diagenetic environments,
with
increasing compaction directIy proportional
to
overburden pressure. Numerous examples show
compaction and pressure solution reducing porosity and permeability (Dunnington, 1967; Coogan,
1970; Mossop, 1972; and many others). Compaction is, in part, inhibited by cementation, but
increasing overburden pressure leads to the deve1opment of stylolites.
In c1ose1y spaced swarms, stylolites will affect
vertical permeability due to matrix cementation
and insoluble residue formation in the seams.
Individually, they only locally reduce this quality.
Frequency of pressure solution phenomena has littIe effect on the upper Arab reservoirs and only a
minor effect in reducing vertical permeability at
certain zones in the lower Arab reservoir. Stylolites
are all filled with insoluble residues that inc1ude
residual bitumens, as well as some anhydrite and
coarse1y crystalline calcite cements. Stylolites are
deve10ped during deep-burial diagenesis.
DIAGENETIC HISTORY
The earliest events to affect the sediments were
micritization, recrystallization, and cementation
(Figure 16). During algal micritization the outer layers of grains on the sea floor are riddled by a system of tubes, 6-15 Jlm in diameter in Holocene
examples (Bathurst, 1975), thus producing a rind
of damaged material. Upon the death of the algae
the bores are vacated and later become inf1lled by
microcrystalline calcite or aragonite. The effect on
the grains is threefold: (1) the structure of the
grains is destroyed centripetally, (2) the grains
become more susceptible to abrasion, and (3) they
are more easily rounded.

AIso assigned to the early diagenetic period is

the process of neomorphic recrystallization of lime
mudo The micritized grains (formed by mitrobial
action) now consist of this fme microspar, and the
eady micritic calcite filling the microbial bores is
thought to have recrystallized at this time.
Early cementation has led to the lining or filling
of intragranular pores, especially foraminifer chambers, by micrite or drusy cemento These drusy rims
of radially oriented crystals on grains were recorded in certain grainstones. This cement was probably originally aragonite or high-Mg calcite, but has
since inverted to low-Mg calcite. The rims now
appear to be locally distributed at or about grain
contacts, suggestive of meniscus cements; however, they lack the dassic curved outline of the water
meniscus noted by Dunham (1971). If these were
meniscus cements, then the original composition
was low-Mg calcite.
Following the deposition of drusy calcite cement
(Figure 16), epitaxial cement rims deve10ped on
echinoderm
fragments (Evamy and Shearman,
1965), locally engulfmg the earlier druse cement of
adjacent grains. Microcrystalline calcite cement
may also have been precipitated in intergranular
pores just after the formation of drusy calcite. This
cement is so fme grained that examination is complicated by the thickness of the thin sections (30
Jlffi). Epitaxial cement rims about echinoderm fragments poikilotopically endose the microcrystalline
cement and, therefore, postdate it.
All of the cementation processes described took
place at a re1ative1yearly stage in the diagenetic history of the sediments, and their timing overlaps with
leaching of aragonitic biodasts (Figure 16). Some of
the molds produced by this leaching have themse1ves been partially cemented, and the calciumcarbonate-saturated
solutions derived by leaching
must be the source of some of the calcite or aragonite cemento The current opinion is that leaching
of aragonite takes place in both the vadose and
phreatic zones due to percolation
of meteoric
waters (Bathurst, 1975). This suggests that dissolution of aragonite is probably re1ated to the emergence of the sediments. Note, however, that this
1eaching is not intense in the studied cores and
long periods of subaerial exposure may not have
occurred. Meteoric water may have migrated seaward for long distances through the sediments, displacing former marine phreatic waters. The entry
point for these meteoric solutions, therefore, may
have been at some distance from the strata they
affected.
In the normal marine facies, the presence of
molds and calcite-cemented
molds after sponge
spicu1es is commonly recorded. These sponge
spicules were probably originally siliceous because
calcareous spicules would not have dissolved. If

~---------------t

Alsharhanand Whittle

MARINE

RE

MIXED
MARINFJSABKHA

DEEP SABKHA

BRIAL

MICRITIZATION
RECRYSTALLIZATION
MARINECEMENTATlON
DRUSYCALCITE
EPIT AXIAL CEMENT
LEACHlNG
DOLOMITIZATION
EV APORITES
SPARRYCALCITE
MOSAIC DOLOMITE
STYLOLITES
FRACTURES
MINOR MINERAL REPLACEMENT
EMPLACEMENT
OF BITUMEN

------ ---

they were siliceous, the spicules would be convenient for explaining the silica source for chertification in the deeper Arab C and D.
Minor 1eaching of lime mud has also taken place
locally. Most of the vugs so produced are small and
tend to form in intergranular areas of packstones.
Large solution vugs are rare, and those that are
present are probably solution-enlarged molds.
Many of the originallimestones have been affected to some extent by dolomitization.
Most commonly, only small amounts of secondary dolomite
are present (as scattered rhombohedra) and these
have little effect on original fabrics and porosity
and permeability characteristics.
The zones of dolomite probably relate to periods
when supratidal conditions prevailed in surface
sediments. In such conditions,
Mg-rich brines
could percolate down into the underlying or more
seaward sediments, resulting in dolomitization
(Kinsman, 1966; Patterson and Kinsman, 1982).
The precipitation of anhydrite and dolomite is
commonly associated, but in these instances the
replacement or local cementation by various forms
of anhydrite probably occurred at depth rather
than at the sabkha surface (Figure 16). The amount
of anhydrite, however, is small compared to that
developed in the Holocene sabkha of the UAE.
Conditions conducive to the growth of anhydrite at
depth were probably also responsib1e for the
cement filling the fractures in the upper part of the
section.
Just below the sediment surface in the capillary
zone, anhydrite developed as nodules of very fine
grained laths with a complex parallel, radiating, or
decussate growth (Shearman, 1966). These nodules
displace the host sediment and, where they are
abundant, chickenwire nodular anhydrite is produced. The formation of anhydrite is mainly secondary, forming through the dewatering of gypsum
crystals. During gypsum precipitation the Mg:Ca
(atio is increased by the removal of Ca2+ from the
pore water. As this ratio increases, dolomite crystallizes in preference to aragonite or magnesium calcite (Kinsman, 1966; Bathurst, 1975). Dolomite

1627

Figure 16--Diagenetic sequence

for the Upper Jurassic Arab
Formation in the southern and
southwestern Arabian Gulf.

--

also forms by replacement of aragonite (Illing et al.,

1965). As the dolomitization process continues, the
Mg:Ca ratio is pushed in the other direction (supersaturated with respect to Ca2+) and favors evaporite precipitation.
Thus, anhydrite
and earIy
dolomite both form at almost the same time in the
supratidal environment, although dolo mi ti zatio n
continues even after the formation of nodular anhydrite. Initially, idiotopic textures resulted, but with
continued dolomitization overgrowth rims were
precipitated
on the rhombs, 1eading to hypidiotopic and xenotopic textures.
Aggregate grains are occasionally present in the
limestones studied. The most common type is the
grapestone of Illing (1954); this grapestone was
formed by interpartic1e cementation at points of
contact by cryptocrystalline
aragonite or ca1cite,
followed by further reworking
and abrasion.
Intrac1asts are sometimes involved, and these represent torn up substrates that have been partIy lithified prior to erosion and redeposition.
In both
instances, the lithification and cementation processes were very early, indeed syndepositional.
As the ca1cium-carbonate-saturated
waters filtered through the sediments, they caused local
cementation
in the form of sparry calcite and,
where Mg ions were present in high concentrations, mosaic dolomite (Figure 16).
Minor diagenetic effects recognized inc1ude
replacement by celestite, chert, quartz, fluorite,
ahd pyrite. Working out the timing of these events
is often impossible because they cannot be related
to other diagenetic events. Celestite probably
formed fairly early, but after early dissolution and
ca1cite/aragonite cemento Chert, quartz, and fluorite are generally found replacing calcitic grains,
and in rare instances chert nodules have formed.
Fluorite has an affinity for echinoderm
grains,
whereas chert and quartz more commonly replace
fibrous pelecypods. Pyrite is rare and its relationship to other diagenetic events is not c1ear.
Stylolites of varying size and geometry have been
found throughout the studied section, but tend to
be more common in the mud-bearing limestones

I~

1628

ArabianGulf,lateJurassic

than in the grain-supported sediments. To some

extent they are less common in dolomites and
dolomitic limestones, although this is not always
the case. The stylolites formed by dissolution of
rock under the directional control of pressure,
most commonly overburden, such that insoluble
material was concentrated at the interface of the
two interpenetrating
rock masses. This process
operates on lithifted rock during deep burial.
Emplacement of residual tar is seen to be a late
diagenetic process because the tar coats all diagenetic minerals, although the presence of thick
residues of tar along some stylolite seams shows
that tar emplacement postdated stylolite formation
(Dunnington, 1967). Dunnington (1967) also commented on the preferential development of stylolites in porous, fine-grained, low-permeability limestones where residual water saturation remained
high, but in the more coarsely porous and highly
permeable units pressure solution was large1y ineffective because of the oil ftlling.
HYDROCARBON

OCCURRENCE

The anhydrite units between each zone (A-D) in

the Arab Formation act as intraformational seals in
the same field. The anhydrite of the Hith has
proved to be a regional seal for the oil and gas accumulation in Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Bahrain, and Saudi
Arabia (Murris, 1980; Ayres et al., 1982; Alsharhan
and Kendall, 1994). When the facies in the Hith are
breached through faulting (as at Abu Al Bukhoosh
and Idd El Shargi South dome) or facies change
from anhydrite to dolomite or dolomitic limestone
(as in eastern Abu Dhabi), the Arab oil can escape
upward (Murris, 1980; Alsharhan, 1989; Alsharhan
and Kendall, 1994).
The Hanifa in offshore Qatar was deposited in an
intrashelf basin setting. It consists of fine1y laminated, dark-gray, argillaceous lime mudstone and calcareous shales; the lower part contains more carbonaceous, laminated, argillaceous limestone
(AIsharhan,
1989; Droste, 1990). The facies
changes gradually in eastern offshore UAEtoward
Dubai, becoming shallower, and is composed of
dolomitic limestone and c1ean, suero sic dolomite.
The Diyab/Hanifa (in Abu Dhabi), in addition to
being the major source rock for the ]urassic and
Lower Cretaceous reservoirs, forms a good reservoir unit in the oolitic-pe1oidal packstone and grainstone of the porous section (Alsharhan, 1989). Oil
has been produced
in this zone at Bu Dana,
ADNOC 1-B and ADNOC 1-C fields (Lutfi and
Elbishlawy, 1986; Alsharhan, 1989).
In the lower part of the Arab Formation at Hair
Dalma and Umm Shaif, there is an organic enrichment corresponding to an increase in argillaceous

contento In this basal unit, minor oil-source potential may be deve10ping in the Arab D.
The Arab Formation forms the principal oil reservoir (Figure 3). Oil accumulations occur in Qatar at
Dukhan, Idd El Shargi (North dome), Bul Hanine,
and Maydan Mahzam (Alsharhan and Nairn, 1994).
In Abu Dhabi, oil has be en found at Umm Shaif
(with a well-deve1oped gas cap) Ghasha, Nasr, Bu
Tini, Satah Al Raaz Boot, Abu Al Bukhoosh, Satah,
]arnain, Dalma, El Bunduq, Arzana, Hair Dalma,
Hail, Umm Al Dholou, Belbazem, ADNOC 1-B,
ADNOC 1-C, and Umm Al Salsal. Mubarraz, west
Mubarraz, and Bab fields have proved to be gas
bearing (Figure 3).
CONCLUSIONS
The Upper ]urassic Arab and Hith formations of
the southern and southwestern Arabian Gulf may
be divided into five lithofacies: (1) oolitic/pe1oidal
grainstone, (2) dolomitic grainstone, (3) dolomitic
mudstone, (4) dolomitized grainstone, and (5) massive anhydrite. The best reservoirs occur in association with interpartic1e porosity in grainstones and
dolomitic grainstones and intercrystalline porosity
in dolomites and dolomitic limestones.
The Arab Formation comprises four members,
Arab A-D (or I-IV) that were cyc1ically deposited
as transgressive and regressive carbonate-evaporite
units. The Arab D is the most prolific hydrocarbon
reservoir in the Arab Formation and is characterized by mudstones and wackestones in the basal
part of the section that grade upward into bioc1astic dolomitic packstone/grainstone
and sucrosic
dolomite.
The best porosity in the Arab C was found in
dolomitic grainstones due to a decrease in anhydrite cementation. Mud-supported lithologies within this member have low porosity,
and the
dolomites at the base and top of the section have
poor intercrystalline
porosity due to anhydrite
cementation.
The Arab B consists of dolomitic and dolomitized grainstone. Anhydrite cementation is greater
than in the Arab C or D members, but dissolution
of the calcite spar matrix has created some excellent secondary porosity.
The Arab A contains primarily dolomitized grainstone and poorly sorted dolomitic grainstone, suggesting variable-energy depositional conditions.
Porosity is genera1ly low due to anhydrite cementation and original mudstone textures.
The Arab A is succeeded by the massive anhydrite
of the Hith Formation, the final regressive stage of
this sequence that forms the seal over the underlying
Arab reservoirs. The anhydrite has a chickenwire
texture with some dolomite in the lower part of the

a.-----------...
Alsharhan and Whittle

in M. W. AI-Husseini,

1629

ed., The Middle East Petroleum

section, grading upward to a similar nodular texture

Geosciences, v. 1: Bahrain, GulfPetrolink, p. 236-246.
Butler, G. P., 1965, Early diagenesis in the Recent sediments of the
and becoming laminated at the topo
Trucial Coast of the Persian Gulf: Master's thesis, University of
The Arab and Hith formations in the southern
London, U.K., 162 p.
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Arabian Gulf represent four
Butler, G. P., P. M. Harris, and C. G. StoC. Kendall, 1982, Recent
types of depositional
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sabkha, (2) intertidal mud flat, (3) shallow subtidal
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Studies in Geology 19, p. 297-300.
The diagenetic sequence of events that affected
H. V., 1967, Aspects of diagenesis and shape change
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ABOUT THE AU1HORS

A. S. Alsharhan

Gregory L Whittle

A. S. Alsharhan received his M.S.

degree (1983) and Ph.D. (985)
from the University
of South
Carolina. PresentIy, he is the assistant deputy vice chancellor for academic affairs at the United Arab
Emirates University. His current
research
interests
include the
Holocene coastal sabkha of the
United Arab Emirates and geology
and hydrocarbon
habitat in the
Arabian Gulf and adjacent areas. He is currently
authoring his first book with A. E. M. Naim.

Gregory WhittIe completed his

graduate work at the University of
South Carolina, where he studied
Holocene carbonate sedimentation
and cementation in the Exumas,
Bahamas, for his M.S. degree (1991),
and helped develop a graphical
computer simulation to model carbonate and clastic depositional
systems for his Ph.D. (1993).
CurrentIy, he is on a postdoctoral
fellowship at the United Arab Emirates University working on the carbonate diagenesis of ancient sequences
and the Holocene coastal sabkhas of the United Arab
Emirates.

co-