The Evidences of Neotectonics Activations by using geomorphological Characteristics and Remote Sensing, and use that in Exploration of Oil and Gas: A Case Study in Al-Amghr Valley – Southern Desert of Iraq
Abstract
The study area is located in the extreme south-west of Iraq, and it forms part of the southern desert of Iraq. The region shows important evidence that confirms the occurrence of Neotectonics activations. The most significant evidence is the change of the large valleys towards its major streams as seen in the river course of Wadi Al-Amghr, which mainstream is ranked 7 according to the mathematical analysis of the ArcGIS program. In the current study, geological, geomorphological, topographic, and hydrological data are used in addition to the remote sensing data and fieldwork. The study results show that the original course of Wadi Al-Amghr is like the course of the rest of the desert valleys in the region (SW - NE) before recent tectonic activities. It is observed that the recent tectonic activation affected Al-Amghr Valley, which changes its stream direction (to the east and west) as its mainstream is divided into two streams when entering Iraq by over 10 kilometers.
It is expected that the area is subject to recent tectonic ground uplifting to form a gigantic trap (anticline fold) for oil and gas. Exploration and investigation of various natural resources using remote sensing techniques are an important topic in our time, especially if it leads to the exploration of oil and natural gas, which in turn develops these areas.
References
2- Alatabi, A. N. Biomarker Indicators of Source Rocks and Depositional Environment for the Crude and Extract Oil from Fatha (Lower Fars) and Ghar formation of Selected Oil Fields of South IRAQ and Middle Euphrates. Ph.D. thesis Submitted to the Council of the College of Science, University of Baghdad, 2014, p. 286.
3- Al-Dousari, A. M., Al-Elaj, M., Al-Enezi, E., & Al-Shareeda, A. (2009). Origin and characteristics of yardangs in the Um Al-Rimam depressions (N Kuwait). Geomorphology, 104(3-4), 93-104.[Google Scholar]
4- Al-Gurairy Ahmad S., Al - Abdan Rahim Abed and Naravas A.K., (2018). Newest Morphotectonic processes in the Southern Iraqi Desert. Natural and technical sciences, M., 2018 (No. 8), pp. 79 - 84. (in Russian); Аль-Гурейри Ахмад, Аль - Абдан Рахим Абед и Наравас А.К., 2018. Новейшие морфотектонические процессы в Южной Иракской пустыни. Естественные и технические науки, М., 2018 (№ 8), С. 79 – 84.[Google Scholar]
5- Al-Gurairy, A.Y., Naravas, A.K., & Usova, V.M. (2018). Morphoneotectonics and prospects of oil and gas presence in deserts of Iraq. Bulletin of the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia. RUDN Journal Engineering Researches, 19 (3), 378-390. (In Russian); Аль-Гурейри, А. Я., Наравас, А. К., & Усова, В. М. (2018). Морфонеотектоника и перспективы нефтегазоносности пустынь Ирака. Вестник Российского университета дружбы народов. Серия: Инженерные исследования, 19(3), 378-390. [Google Scholar]
6- Al-Gurairy Ahmad, S. Y. (2000). The Geomorphological Characteristics of the Stream of Euphrates River and its Branches of Al-Atshan and Al-Sebil Between Al-Shannafia and Al-Samawa. MA. Thesis has been submitted to College of Arts—University of Baghdad. Baghdad. Iraq. p:174. (In Arabic).[Google Scholar]
7- Al-Gurairy, A. S. Y., & Al-Omary, J. A. H. (2021, June). Geomorphological-environmental potentials and their importance in establishing natural reserves in western Iraq using GIS. In IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science (Vol. 790, No. 1, p. 012016). IOP Publishing.[ Google Scholar]
8- Al-Jubory Mohamed S. Salih and Al-Gurairy Ahmad S. Yasien, (2017). The Relationship between Neotectonics and the Rejuvenation of Euphrates River - IRAQ. Indian Journal of Geomorphology, Volume 22 No.2 (July - Dec), p. 75-85. 10.5281/zenodo.7434546 [Google Scholar].
9- Al-Kadhimi, J.A., Sissakian, V.K., Fattah, A.S. and Deikran, D.B., (1996). Tectonic Map of Iraq, scale 1: 1000 000. 2nd edit. GEOSURV, Baghdad, Iraq.[Google Scholar]
10- Al-Mutawqi, K. G., Ewaid, S. H., Abed, S. A., Al-Ansari, N., Salim, M. A., & Kadhim, A. J. (2021). Hydrogeochemical processes and evaluation of groundwater in Al-Salman area–Iraqi Southern Desert. Journal of Water and Land Development, 220-228.[ Google Scholar]
11- Al-Qaiem Basim A., (2011). The Geomorphological Evidence of Recent Tectonic Activation in Al-Jazira area, Journal college of Arts, University of Baghdad, No. 95, p. 299-320. (In Arabic)
12- Al-Sakini, J. (1975). The usage of drainage characteristics in interpretation of subsurface structures in plains around Kirkuk. Journal of Geological Society of Iraq, v. 6, pp 45-53.
13- Al-Sakini, J. Ahmad., (1993). A New Window on the History of the Euphratians in the Light of Geological Evidence and Archaeological Discoveries, Baghdad - Iraq, p.45. (In Arabic)
14- Bakirov A.A., (1982), Geology and geochemistry of oil and gas, M., "NEDRA", 287 p. (In Russian); Бакиров А.А. Геология и геохимия нефти и газа, М., «НЕДРА », 1982, 287 с.[Google Scholar]
15- Beven KJ, Kirkby MJ. (1979). A physically based variable contributing area model of basin hydrology. Hydrol Sci Bull. 24:43–69. https://doi:10.1080/02626667909491834.
16- Buday, T. and Jassim, S.Z., (1987). The Regional Geology of Iraq. Tectonism and Metamorphism, Vol.ІІ, GEOSURV, Baghdad, Iraq.[Goolge Scholar]
17- Burbank, Douglas W. (2012). Tectonic Geomorphology: Second Edition. Anderson, Robert S. Chichester, West Sussex: J. Wiley & Sons. https:// doi:10.1002/9781444345063. ISBN 9781444345032.
18- Chymyrov, A., & Ismailov, N. (2021). Remote Sensing and GIS for Thematic Mapping of the Ak-Suu and Isfana River Basins in Kyrgyzstan. International Journal of Geoinformatics, 17(1), 57-64.[Google Scholar]
19- Deikran D.B, (1995). The Geology of Suq Al-Shyukh Quadrangle, Sheet NH-38-7, Scale 1: 250 000. Geosurv, Baghdad, Iraq.[Google Scholar]
20- Deikran Duraid B. and Sissakian Varoujan kh, (2008). The Neotectonic map of Iraq, Journal of Kirkuk University –Scientific Studies, vol.3, No.1.[Google Scholar]
21- Doornkamp, J. C. (1986). "Geomorphological approaches to the study of neotectonics". Journal of the Geological Society. 143 (2): 335 -342. Bibcode:1986JGSoc.143..335D. doi:10.1144/gsjgs.143.2.0335. ISSN 0016-7649.
22- Fouad, Saffa F.A., (2007). TECTONIC AND STRUCTURAL EVOLUTION, Iraqi Bull. Geol. Min. Special Issue. p. 29-50.[Google Scholar]
23- Grecu, F., Benabbas, C., Teodor, M., Yakhlefoune, M., Săndulache, I., Manchar, N., Kharchi, T. & Vișan, G. (2021, June). Risk of Dynamics of the River Stream in Tectonic Areas. Case studies: Curvature Carpathian-Romania and Maghrebian Chain-Algeria. In Forum Geografic (Vol. 20, No. 1). [Google Scholar]
24- Hancock, P. L. (1988). Neotectonics. Geology today, 4(2), 57-61 [Google Scholar].
25- Henson, F.B.S., (1951). Observations on geology and petroleum occurrences of the Middle East. Proc. 3rd World Pet. Cong. The Hague, I, p. 113-140.
26- Jassim R.Z, Al-Jiburi B.M., (2009). Geology of Iraqi Southern Desert. Iraqi Bull Geol Min p. 53-76.
27- Jassim, S.Z., Goff, Jeremy. C., (2006). Geology of Iraq. DOLIN, Prague, 439 p.[Google Scholar]
28- Lees, G. and Falcon, N. (1952). The Geographic history of the Mespotamian plains. Geographical Journal. V. 118, pp. 176-188.[Google Scholar]
29- Ma'ala, Khaldoun. A. (a), (2009). Tectonic and Structural evolution of the Iraqi Southern Desert. Iraqi Bull. Geol. and Min., Special Issue, p. 35 – 52.[Google Scholar]
30- Ma'ala, Khaldoun. A. (b), (2009). Geomorphology of Iraqi Southern Desert, Iraqi Bull. Geol. Min. Special Issue, p. 7-33.[Google Scholar]
31- Markovsky N.I., (1973). PALEOGEOGRAPHIC BASIS OF OIL AND GAS SEARCH. M., "NEDRA", 302 p. (In Russian); Марковский Н.И. ПАЛЕОГЕОГРАФИЧЕСКИЕ ОСНОВЫ ПОИСКОВ НЕФТИ И ГАЗА. М., «НЕДРА », 1973, 302 с.
32- Mitchell, R. C. (1957). Recent tectonic movements in the Mesopotamian Plains. Geographical Journal, 123(4), 569-571 [Google Scholar].
33- Obruchev VA, (1948). Main features of kinetics and plastics of neotectonics // Izv. Academy of Sciences of the USSR. 1948. No. 5. Ser. geol. pp. 13-24. (in Russian). Обручев В.А., 1948. Основные черты кинетики и пластики неотектоники // Изв. АН СССР. 1948. № 5. Сер. геол. с. 13–24.[Google Scholar]
34- Pánya, I. (2021). A forgotten tributary of the Danube–The Vajas River. Geographica Pannonica, 25(3). [Google Scholar]
35- Petukhov A.V., Starobinets I.S. (1993). Fundamentals of the theory of geochemical fields of hydrocarbon accumulations, M., "NEDRA", 328 p. (In Russian); Петухов А.В., Старобинец И.С. 1993, Основы теории геохимических полей углеводородных скоплений, М., «НЕДРА », 328 с.[Google Scholar]
36- Riley, S. J., DeGloria, S. D. & Elliot, R. (1999): A terrain ruggedness index that quantifies topographic heterogeneity. – Intermountain Journal of Sciences 5: 23–27.[Google Scholar]
37- Różycka, M., Migoń, P., & Michniewicz, A. (2017). Topographic Wetness Index and Terrain Ruggedness Index in geomorphic characterisation of landslide terrains, on examples from the Sudetes, SW Poland. Zeitschrift für geomorphologie, Supplementary issues, 61, 61-80. [Google Scholar]
38- Schuster V.L., & Punanova S.A. (2021). Oil and gas potential of the deep-lying Jurassic and pre‑Jurassic deposits of the North of Western Siberia in unconventional traps. Georesources journal, 23 (1), p: 30-41. (In Russian). Шустер, В. Л., & Пунанова, С. А. (2021). Перспективы нефтегазоносности глубокозалегающих юрских и доюрских отложений севера Западной Сибири в нетрадиционных ловушках. Георесурсы, 23(1), 30-41.[Google Scholar]
39- Sissakian V.K., (2000). Geological Map of Iraq, scale 1: 1000 000, 3rd edit., GEOSURV, Baghdad, Iraq.
40- Sissakian Varoujan K. and Mohammed Buthaina S., (2007). STRATIGRAPHY of Iraqi Western Desert, Iraqi Bull. Geol. Min. Special Issue, p. 51-124.[Google Scholar]
41- Vita- Finzi, C., (1986). Recent Earth Movements: An introduction to neotectonics. Academic Press, London, p. 226.[Google Scholar]
42- Voute, C. (1957). Prehistoric finds near Razzaza- Karbala Liwa. Summer, V. 14, pp. 98-109.
43- morpho- | Origin and meaning of prefix morpho- by Online Etymology Dictionary". www.etymonline.com. Retrieved 2019-09-24 [Site].
44- tectonic | Origin and meaning of tectonic by Online Etymology Dictionary". www.etymonline.com. Retrieved 2019-09-24.[Site].
Copyright (c) 2023 Al-Qadisiyah Journal For Humanities Sciences
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
1. The Authors submitting a manuscript do so on the understanding that if accepted for publication, copyright of the article shall be assigned to Al-Qadisiyah Journal For Humanities scinces (QJHS), University of Al-Qadisiyah as publisher of the journal.
2. Copyright encompasses exclusive rights to reproduce and deliver the article in all form and media, including reprints, photographs, microfilms and any other similar reproductions, as well as translations. The reproduction of any part of this journal, its storage in databases and its transmission by any form or media, such as electronic, electrostatic and mechanical copies, photocopies, recordings, magnetic media, etc. , will be allowed only with a written permission from Al-Qadisiyah Journal of Humanities scinces (QJHS), University of Al-Qadisiyah.
3. Al-Qadisiyah Journal of Humanities scinces (QJHS) , University of Al-Qadisiyah, the Editors and the Advisory International Editorial Board make every effort to ensure that no wrong or misleading data, opinions or statements be published in the journal. In any way, the contents of the articles and advertisements published in the journal Al-Qadisiyah Journal of Humanities scinces (QJHS), University of Al-Qadisiyah are sole and exclusive responsibility of their respective authors and advertisers.
