OMAN SUBSURFACE STRATIGRAPHY

DANIAN

61.0
65.0

F68

MAASTRICHTIAN
71.3

596

CAMPANIAN

LATE
SANTONIAN
CONIACIAN

90

120

F61

99.0

F57

ALBIAN

EARLY

121.0

127.0

130

HAUTERIVIAN

648

F55

578

F54

850

F52

132.0

VALANGINIAN

140

137.0

BERRIASIAN

MESOZOIC

TITHONIAN

180

150.7

LATE

KIMMERIDGIAN

159.4

4009

BATHONIAN
169.2

4191

F45

BAJOCIAN
AALENIAN

176.
5
180.1

PLIENSBACHIAN

2262

SINEMURIAN

200

RHAETIAN

210

TRIASSIC

230

Salil
Condensed section?
Jubaila

OLENEKIAN
INDUAN

250

UFIMIAN-KAZANIAN
KUNGURIAN

PERMIAN

220

244.8

2351

1095

Upper Khuff

248.2

256.0
260.0

FZA

2252

Middle & Upper Gharif

SAKMARIAN

Al Khlata P1

CARBONIFEROUS

PALAEOZOIC

Khuff

Submarine volcanics in Saih Hatat area

Intra- Gharif
Shales

Al Khlata
Rahab Shale

Gharif shale

Al Khlata
Rahab Shale

Al Khlata
Al Khlata

300

2159

AP5

Al Khlata P9

AP4

310
320

NAMURIAN
327.
0

330

C10

TOURNAISIAN

Thermal doming and erosion in

northern and eastern Oman
preceding break-up of
Gondwana

Late Jurassic to
Late Cretaceous
AP8: 149 -92 Ma

360

FAMENNIAN

AP4
AP3

FRASNIAN

370

Misfar

DEVONIAN

391.0

2121

390

D20
Misfar Shale

400

400.0

D10

410

LOCKHOVIAN

SILURIAN

420

PRIDOLIAN
LUDLOVIAN

S20

417.0
419.0

420

423.0

WENLOCKIAN
428.0

Early to Late Jurassic

AP7: 149 -92 Ma

430

Sahmah

1003

LLANDOVERIAN

S10

440
L

450

ASHGILLIAN
449.
0

ORDOVICIAN

464.0

AP2

1005

Hasirah

Gondwana glaciation

O40

460

1098

Mafic intrusions Huqf area

O30

Saih Nihayda

LLANVIRNIAN
470.0

Safiq Shale

470

Safiq

480

Ghudun

Mahwis

CM20*

Miqrat

ATDABANIAN
521.0

540

TERMINAL
NEO PROTEROZOIC

CM10*

Ara

Karim Shale

Buah

PC20*

Shuram

Ara
Athel

Ara

Ara Salt

Formation NE-SW trending Salt

Basins in an orogenic retro-arc
setting

Ara Silicilyte,
Shale
Carb stringers

Birba

550

Buah

Buah/
Shuram

560

'VENDIAN'

Khufai

580
Masirah Bay

PC10*
Abu Mahara

590
600

600.0

610

610

620

620

630

630

640

640

Oil + conden- Non Ass. Gas Seals to

sate Exp IP as Exp IP as per booked
per Feb 2001 Feb 2001
reserves as per
Feb 2001

Source rock
data from
RKTR84.099
and Terken et
al. 1999

Good
2000 x106m3

670

500 x109m3

200 accumul.
< 20 accumul.

1000 x106m3

250 x109m3

< 400 x106m3

< 100 x109m3

Thin/Marginal

Oil generation histories for the different source rocks in Oman

(scale oil generation rate 70 - 0 kg/m2/Ma)

680

Ghaba and South Oman Salt Basins (Huqf SR)

690

Rim basin (West margin of GSB, Dhahaban SR)

Fahud Salt Basin (Dhahaban SR)

700

Mirbat Sst.

Foreland Basin (Diyab/Hanifa SR)

710

710

Ghadir Manqil

Extension of composite
basement terrain

Foreland Basin (Shuaiba and Natih SR)

Volcanics
Sturtian Glacial Epoch

720
'RIPHEAN'

720

Gas generation histories for the different source rocks in Oman

(scale dry gas generation rate 1.5 - 0 kg/m2/Ma)

730

Ghaba and South Oman Salt Basins (Huqf SR)

740

Rim basin (West margin of GSB, Dhahaban SR)

Fahud Salt Basin (Dhahaban SR)

750

STURTIAN

Foreland Basin (Diyab/Hanifa SR)

760

760

770

770

780

780

790

790

800

800

AMIN FM.

PLAYA

AEOLIAN SANDS

Foreland Basin (Shuaiba and Natih SR)

ALLUVIAL FAN

STRUCTURAL HIGHS
DEFORMED HUQF
AND NIMR GROUPS

BRAID DELTA PLATFORM

BRAID PLAIN

AMIN CGL SST MBR

BRAID DELTA FRONT

SHELF

AL BASHAIR MBR
MABROUK MBR

BARIK SST MBR

Al Noor Fm. (QANO)

mid-Permian
to Early Jurassic
AP6: 255 -182 Ma

Late Carboniferous
to mid-Permian
AP5: 295 -255 Ma

Ara Group (Precambrian-Cambrian) Depositional Model.

Athel Fm. (QAAT) /'U' Fm.

(QAUU)

AP1

660

700.0

MIQRAT FM.

Dhahaban Fm. (QADB)

Gaskiers Glacial Epoch

650

POST STURTIAN

CRYOGENIAN

NEOPROTEROZOIC

Haima (Cambrium to Ordovician) Depositional Model.

Karim Fm. (HNKA)

Regional subsidence related to

depression of lithosphere associated with subduction of oceanic crust under northeast margin of Arabian plate

Khufai

750

Barik Mbr. (HMAAB)

Haradh Fm. (HNHA)

Najd strike slip fault tectonics

(570 - 530 Ma)

570

590

740

Andam Fm.
(HMAA)

Buah

MARINOAN

730

Modified from : Reading, H.G. (1986) Sedimentary Environments and Facies, Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford. pp.615.

Volcanics

565.
0

700

Varved lacustrine
muds

Haradh Siltst.

Karim

Karim

EDIACARAN

Grounding line /
sequence boundary

Sublacustrine
outwash

'Angudan unconformity'

Haradh

543.0

600

Delta foreset

Amin Fm. (HMAN)

AP1

530

NEMAKITDALDYNIAN

Supra glacial

Mabrouk Mbr. (HMAAM)

Miqrat siltst.

Amin

AP2

Haradh
530.0

Floating Ice
tongue

Mahwis
Amin

520

TOMMOTIAN

Local grounded
icesheet

Instable slopes,
turbidites

Miqrat

510

512.0

Ice pushed
ridges

Fluvial /alluvial sand

and gravel

Mahwis Fm. (HMMA)

/Miqrat Fm. (HMMQ)

NIMR*

Amin

509.0

517.0

540

Glaciofluvial
outwash plain

Barakat Mbr. (HMAAK)

Mabrouk
Shale
Barik

500

Miqrat

CM30*

Barik

BOTOMIAN

Glacial-related deposits in and around lakes.

Lodgement / melt
out till

ARA (QA)

CAMBRIAN

TOYONIAN

Al Khlata (Permo-Carboniferous) Depositional Model

Ghudun Fm. (HMGD)

Harweel
Platfor
m
(HP)

Birba Fm. (QABB)

Eastern
Flank

Birba
Platform
(BP)

Athel
Trough
Base Level

HST

A5
Buah Fm. (QNBH)
LST

Shuram Fm.(QNSH)

NAFUN (QN)

Al Bashair

498.0

506.0

530

690

P9 Mbr. (HSAL9)

Rain out till

O10*

490

Barik

AMGAN

680

P5 Mbr. (HSAL5)

Basement

HUQF SUPERGROUP (Q)

1108

MAYAN

670

Middle Mbr. (HSGHM)

Lower Mbr. (HSGHL)

Sub glacial

O20

Mabrouk

Base Level

HST

Khufai Fm. (QNKI)

A4
Masirah Bay Fm.**
(QNMB)

Late Devonian to
Late Carboniferous
AP4: 364 -295 Ma

200m

500

AKSAYAN
SAKSIAN
AYUSOKKANIA

490.0

Ghudun

Barakat

Panafrican orogeny: accretion of island arcs and microcontinents

660

Gharif (Permian) Depositional Model (Robertson)

Al Bashair Mbr. (HMAAA)

TREMADOCIAN

490

650

L
BERRIASIAN RAYDA

P1 Mbr. (HSAL1)

ARENIGIAN

E
485.0

580

450

1012

458.0

LLANDEILIAN

Sahmah
Shale

AP3

CARADOCIAN

570

LEKHWAIR

HABSHA
SALI N

144
(HAQ ET AL 1998)

PELAGIC CARBONATES AND CHERTS

Saih Nihayda Fm.(HFSN)

MAHATTA HUMAID

443.0

560

HAUTERIVIA
N
VALANGINIAN

132
135

ARGILLACEOUS CARBONATE SLOPE DEPOSITS

Hasirah
Fm.(HFHR)

EIFELIAN

550

KHARAIB

Upper Mbr. (HSGHU)

Al Khlata Fm.
(HSAK)

380

380.0

412.0

520

126.5

SHUAIBA

APTIA
N
BARREMIAN

HD & MVS 2000

Gharif Fm.
(HSGH)

GIVETIAN

410

510

121

LAGOONAL (OCC. ARGILLACEOUS) CARBONATES

Sahmah
Fm.(HFSM)

PRAGHIAN

480

PLATFORM CARBONATES

NAHR UMR

Lower Mbr. (PTKFL)

Late Cretaceous to
Early Cenozoic
AP9: 92 -63 Ma

D30

364.0

400

470

KEROGENOUS CHALKS

112

Khuff Fm.(PTK)

350

354.0

460

ALBIAN

MARGINAL MARINE TO CONTINENTAL SANDS

Lower Mbr. (DMASL)

NATIH

99

SHALES

'Hercynian Orogeny'?
NW-SE compression

340

342.0

EMSIAN

440

TURONIAN
CENOMANIAN

VISEAN

370.0

430

M
A
89
93.5

Middle Mbr. (PTKFM)

Break-up of Gondwana and

opening Neotethys development of passive margin in North
Oman

Basal Khuff
Shale

315.0

(DZ)

FARS
Intra Khuff
Shales

Gharif

P10

Base Cretaceous Unconformity

Jilh Fm.(PTJL)

Sudair Shale

290

Al Khlata P5

WESTPHALIAN

390

Khuff

Khuff

280

Al Khlata Rahab

2165
304.0

Sudair

Gharif

270

B
A

STEPHANIAN

Sudair

260

Lower Gharif

200m

HABSHA
N
Fm

SALIL Fm

Upper Mbr. (DMASU)

Jilh

TR30
TR20
P40TR10
P20P30
AP6
AP5

100K
m

Upper Mbr. (PTKFU)

Haushi lmst

2190

2141

Lower Khuff

SHUAIBA Fm

KHARAIB
Fm
LEKHWAIR Fm

PLATFORM EDGE / SLOPE CARBONATES

TR50

250

Middle Khuff

2103

NAHR Umr Fm

Sudair Fm.(PTSD)

240

Sudair

Central
Oman

Base Aruma Unconformity

NATIH Fm

Dhruma Fm.(DMDR)

Uplift related to failed attempt to

open Indian Ocean?

TR40

2370

S
Oman Mountains

Tuwaiq Fm.(DMTW)

TR70

230

Jilh

300
310

Mafraq Shale

TR80

Prograding muddy delta

RAYDA Fm

Mafraq Fm.
(DMAS)

'Minjur'

Flexural bulge
Uplift of former shelf edge,
erosion down to at least
Permian (Wasia-Aruma break)

Habshan Fm. (THHB)

TR60

269.0

Mafraq

Rayda Fm. (THRA)

Jubaila Fm. (DMJU)
Hanifa Fm. (DMHF)

Early Cenozoic to latest Eocene

AP10: 63 -34 Ma

210

290.0

380

Mafraq

ar

Lower to Middle Cretaceous Carbonate Platform

Salil Fm. (THSL)

AP7
J10 AP6

190

2241

ASSELIAN

370

180

Sc

ar

Lekhwair Fm. (THLE)

200

ARTINSKIAN

290

340

Dhruma

Permian-Mid Cretaceous
stable platform succession

a Mbr. (WANAA)
b Mbr. (WANAB)
c Mbr. (WANAC)
d Mbr. (WANAD)
e Mbr. (WANAE)
f Mbr. (WANAF)
g Mbr. (WANAG)

Natih Fm.
(WANA)

Uplift related to break-away

of India followed by development passive margin along
eastern Oman and collapse
of North Oman margin

? Hanifa
chalk

Fiqa Fm. (ARFQ)

Shuaiba Fm. (THSU)

Kharaib Fm. (THKH)

J20

Upper Mafraq

Arada Mbr. (ARFQA)

Shuaiba
chalk

Rayda Lmst

J40

Fault reactivated
Pre-Permian basement

Nahr Umr Fm. (WANU)

Salil Arg. Lmst

Rayda

170

Dhruma

282.0

330

Rayda

Sc

50 to 100km

Basal
Nahr Umr

J30

227.
4

252.1

280

360

160

Tuwaiq

2255

TATARIAN

320

Mes.Clast.

234.3

EARLY

270

Lekhwair

AP8
J100 AP7
J90J80 J70
J60
J50

Hanifa

241.7

260

Kharaib

K10

150

Arab?

2247

209.6

ANISIAN

240

Hawar
Arg. Lmst
Lekhwair
Arg. Lmst
Mes.Clast.

Shammar Mbr. (JRRHM)

Shargi Mbr. (ARFQS)

Collision of oceanic subduction

complex with Arabian plate

J110

220.7

MIDDLE

350

140

Habshan

Intr. Shuaiba
Shale

Shuaiba

K30
K20

CARNIAN
LADINIAN

Natih

K70
K60
K50
K40

Fiqa Shale

205.7

NORIAN

LATE

220

Intra-Natih
Shale
Nahr
Umr
Shale

Shuaiba

130

Lower Mafraq

F30

2242

Natih

K90

120

Kharaib

201.9

HETTANGIAN

'Mesozoic clastics'

189.
6
195.3

Shuaiba

Rayda

late Eocene to Present

AP11: 34 -0 Ma

Emplacement of nappes, NE-SW extension

related to downbending crust
Development of foreland basin
Regional uplift and erosion related to
flexural bulge

Natih b&e
chalk

K80

TOARCIAN

EARLY

110

Lekhwair

AP9
K140
K130 AP8
K120
K110

100

Nahr Umr

7
3
7
3

7
3

Fiqa Shale

K100

3
7

164.4

MIDDLE

F47

Natih

4214

CALLOVIAN

190

9
7-5

F51

154.1

OXFORDIAN

JURASSIC

170

90

F53

144.2

160

Fiqa Shargi

F56

571

APTIAN

K160
K150

Slu

Simsima Fm. (ARSM)

K170

80

112.2

BARREMIAN

150

Fiqa Arada

F66
F65

F62

93.5

Shammar
Shale

70

F67

89.0

AP9

K180

F687
F685
F683

F64

85.8

AP10

Middle Mbr. (JRRHM)

(HF)

110

CENOMANIAN

802

83.5

60

Simsima

Shammar
Shale

Slu

SAFIQ

CRETACEOUS

TURONIAN

522

Shammar

'Laramide' orogenic phase,

NW-SE shortening: oblique
obduction in East related to
northward movement of India .

PG10

Oman mountain
front

Rapidly eroding
tropical landmass

Upper Mbr. (JRRHU)

UER Fm
(JRRH)

Ponded turbidites
in foreland basin

Coastal and shoal shell banks,

?tidal currents hardgrounds

UPPER

SELANDIAN

UER

Ferruginous crusts
and nodules

CRETACEOUS

PALEOCENE

57.9

PG20

50

RUS

F73-F74
F72
F71 1
2

YPRESIAN
THANETIAN

70

100

Damman

49.0

Unstable muddy
shelf floor

LOWER

LUTETIAN

40

Damman

NE
Coastal
Siliciclastics

(JR)

F76
F75

41.3

SW

Damman Fm. (JRDM)

Rus Fm. (JRRU)

HADRAMAUT

37.0

'Clastics, Evaporites'
(DZFC)/'Taqa Fm. (DZTA)

(AR)

AP10

WASIA

BARTONIAN

Uplift and folding of Oman

Mountains NE-SW compression
related to Zagros continentcontinent collison

PG30 AP11

33.7

KAHMAH

RUPELIAN
PRIABONIAN

Taqa
Shale

30

(Modified After Robertson, 1987)

Volcanic Intrusions north

edge Oman Mountains

NG23

ARUMA

F77

20

NG40
NG30
NG20

(WA)

23.8
28.5

Note: Fars lithologies schematic!

Formation/Member
(Regeo code)

(Super)Group

(TH)

Fars 'clastics & evaporites

20.5

CHATTIAN

Fars Taqa

Gas Gen.

SAHTAN

F78

Oil Gen.

(DM)

10

14.8
16.4

Hydrocarbons Seals Source

Oil
Gas
Rocks

(PT)

BURDIGALIAN

(* = time shifted

AKHDAR

LANGHIAN

Sharland et
al. 2001

PDO

(HS)

SERRAVALLIAN

AGE
(Ma)

54.8

80

11.2
M

60

HAUSHI

OLIGOCENE

Micropal.

(HM)

50

Palyn.

0.01
1.8
3.6
5.3
7.1

TORTONIAN

AQUITANIAN

EOCENE

40

TERTIARY
PALEOGENE

30

PIACENZIAN
ZANCLEAN

MESSINIAN
L

CENOZOIC

20

L
E

CALABRIAN

PICK
(Ma)

(HN)

10

MIOCENE

NEOGENE

PLIOCENE

AGE

Palaeogeography of the Continental Margin in Oman

Early Campanian (Fiqa) times

(MF)

HOLOCENE
PLEISTOCENE

MISFAR

EPOCH

Composite Stratigraphic Column

LST
Base Level

ABU MAHARA (QB)

PERIOD
QUATERNARY

Palaeogeographic Maps
(Sharland et al. 2001)

Geological
Events

HAIMA SUPERGROUP (H)

ERA

Petroleum
Geology

Gondwana glaciation

AGE
(Ma)

Sequence
Stratigraphy

Time Stratigraphy

Biozonation

Undifferentiated!

Geological Timescale

Mirbat Sandstone
HST

Ghadir Manqil Fm.

(QBGM)

A3

Base Level

LST
Base Level

HST

A2

Base Level

LST

Basement (BM)

Sea Level

HST

A1

* Nimr Gp. previously in Haima Supergroup

** Masirah Bay Fm. previously in Abu Mahara Gp.

B-1 Marker

Top Buah

By Henk Droste, July 2001 with contributions from Pieter. Spaak, Peter Osterloff, Joachim Amthor, Juma Al Belushi, Hisham Al Siyabi, John
Grotzinger and Mohammed Al Tonbary.
Time scale adapted from: The Geological Society of America 1999 timescale compiled by Palmer, A.R. and Geissman, J.. Sources for nomenclature and ages: primarily from Gradstein, F., and Ogg, J., 1996, Episodes, v. 19, nos, 1&2; Gradstein, F., et al., 1995, SEPM Special Pub. 54, p. 95128;Berggren, W.A., et al., 1995 SEPM Special Pub. 54, p. 129-212; Basal Ordovician ages adapted from Landing, E., 1998, Canadian Journal of
Earth Sciences, v. 35, p. 329-338; and Davidek, K., et al., 1998 Geological Magazine, v. 135, p 305-309. Cambrian age picks and nomenclature
and Neo Proterozoic nomenclature from Braiser 1999 (Internal PDO report)

ARA GROUP CYCLES

Massive
Anhydrite

Shallow
Ponds

Cross-lam.
and lam.
Mudstones to

Shallow
subtidal

A6
Late Ordovician
(c. 445 Ma)

Salt

Diamictite

Limestone deep water

Shale

Silicilyte

Dolomite

Sandstone

Tuff

Marl

Siltstone

Igneous/Metamorphic Basement

Conglomerate

A5
A4

A3

Source rock potential

Deep

Grainstones

10s to 150 m

Limestone shallow water

Setting
Shallow

LEGEND:

Anhydrite

Lithology

Deeper
subtidal
(below
wavebase)

Sapropelic
Laminites ; occ .
Thrombolites

A2
Dissolution Residue

Early Cambrian to Late Ordovician

AP2: 520-445 Ma)

Huqf Supergroup Regional and Reservoir Stratigraphy

Massive
Anhydrite

A1
A
1

Halite

Oman Petroleum Systems

57o

55o

LEGEND

**

Cambrian Tectonostratigraphic Evolution

of the South Oman Salt Basin

MZ & TT kitchen areas

22o

Shuaiba/Hanifa SR
?
* Tuwaiq
Natih SR

(Schematic from seismic )

Huqf and/or Q SR
* Huqf
/ Q mix
* Huqf
* BQ
*

Shallow
Ponds

Ghudun - Khasfah - High

South Oman Salt Basin

Angudan missing overburden

*
**

Natih

late Precambrian to Early Cambrian

AP1: 610-520 Ma)

?
+

20

Athel, Buah,
U, Shuram

Migration paths

Fields / Shows
Gas Fields

PZ kitchen areas
Huqf SR
o

Eastern Flank

* **
*

*
**

3) Base Ordovician (490 million years)

+
+

++
+

+
+

18o

late Precambrian
c. 715- c.610 Ma)

Mahwis/Amin

Ara Clastics

Nimr Clastics

Ara Salt

2) Base Cambrian (543 million years)

Athel

Nafun
+

Ghadir Manqil

Basement

+
+

+
+

+
+

+
+
+

Masirah Bay

Ara Carbonate

100 km

+
+

1) Top Nafun (~550 Ma)

PDO Drawing No.: 104126 PC