Lithostratigraphic Correlation of the Dalan and Kangan Formations in the Western Qatar–Fars Arc with Their Equivalents in Adjacent Countries
Authors
1
PhD Candidate in Stratigraphy and Paleontology, Department of Geology, Faculty of Earth Sciences, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran
2
Associate Professor, Department of Geology, Faculty of Earth Sciences, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran
3
Associate Professor, Earth Science Research Institute, Research Institute of Petroleum Industry, Tehran, Iran
4
Professor, Faculty of Geology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
The Dalan and Kangan formations and their equivalents, as the main hosts of the world's largest natural gas reserves, are distributed across major fields in Bahrain, Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. The outcrops of these formations in central Saudi Arabia represent one of the most complete and representative sections of this economically significant reservoir. Based on lithostratigraphic data, this study presents an integrated framework for the distribution of these formations from the lower boundary of the Dalan Formation to the upper boundary of the Kangan Formation in Iran, and from below the Pre-Khuff Unconformity to the lower boundary of the Sudair Formation in Saudi Arabia. The results indicate that, moving from Saudi Arabia towards the Persian Gulf, the thickness of the deposits increases, shallow sabkha and tidal facies gradually evolve into shallow-marine facies, and the lithology becomes more diverse and laterally extensive.
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