Revue de Palobiologie, Genve (juin 2005) 24 (1) : 225-241

ISSN 1661-5468

Facies and palynofacies characteristics of the Upper Jurassic Arab D reservoir in Qatar
Hamad AL-SAAD1 & Mohamed I.A. IBRAHIM2
Abstract The oil producer Arab D unit in Qatar as well as in eastern Arabian Peninsula is composed of limestone and dolomitic limestone assigned to the Kimmeridgian age. In Qatar, this member reveals the presence of six rhythmic microfacies of mudstone (micrite), wackestone, dolomitic wackestone, packstone, grainstone and anhydrite. These sediments are believed to be deposited in numerous short-term transgressive-regressive cycles, but generally the Arab D member represents a regressive cycle. The grainstone facies in the middle part of the unit is rich in benthic foraminifera belonging to Kurnubia and Pfenderina. Palynological analysis yielded ecologically and biostratigraphically signicant dinoagellate cyst species such as Cribroperidinium globatum, C. longicorne, Dichadogonyaulax chondra, D. pannea, Epiploshaera bireticulata, Geochteodinia antennata, Systematophora areolata and S. penicillata, giving evidence for a late Kimmeridgian age of the Arab D member. Amorphous organic matter is the dominant element of the particulate organic matter. The Arab D member may have been deposited in shallow water of the middle shelf depth (30-50 m) under arid to semiarid climatic conditions as deduced from the presence of Classopollis pollen and the capping anhydrite. Key words Foraminifera, palynofacies, Jurassic, Qatar, Arab D.

1. INTRODUCTION The Upper Jurassic sediments in the Arabian Peninsula are typically composed of shallow-water limestones and dolomites interbedded with restricted facies anhydrites. This interval is considered the largest reservoirs in the Middle East and the most important sequence for the oil industry in the world since it contains about 50 % of the oil and gas reservoirs of the world. In Qatar, no surface Jurassic rocks are exposed. In this area, the distribution of the subsurface Upper Jurassic sediments is controlled by Qatar-Fars Arch, which is trending NNE-SSW (Fig. 1). This was a positive structure during the Paleozoic and gradually subsided during Jurassic times (Saint-Marc, 1987). The present work is based on core and cutting samples taken from three wells from onshore (Dukhan Field) and offshore (Idd El-Shargi and Bul Hanine elds), Qatar (Fig. 1). Fifty-seven samples were chosen from different lithofacies to represent the Arab D reservoir. Thin sections, crushed samples and SEM photographs were prepared and have been used for the microfacies, microfaunal and palynological analyse and the characterisation of the total organic carbon content. It aims to document the microfossil and palynofacies contents and delineate the

paleoenvironmental conditions that prevailed during the deposition of these rocks in Qatar. 2. REGIONAL STRATIGRAPHY The Upper Jurassic of the Arabian Peninsula is subdivided from older to younger into the Hanifa, Jubailah, Arab Formations and the Hith Anhydrite (Table 1). The Hanifa and Jubailah Formations are assigned to the Oxfordian/early Kimmeridgian stages. While, the Arab Formation and the Hith Anhydrite are assigned to the Kimmeridgian/Tithonian stages (POWERS, 1968). In this area, the Arab Formation comprises four reservoir units (members) : Arab D, Arab C, Arab B and Arab A in ascending stratigraphic order. These sediments have been described by many workers such as (STEINEKE et al., 1958 ; POWERS et al., 1966 ; POWERS, 1968 ; SUGDEN & STANDRING, 1975 ; ALSHARHAN & KENDALL, 1986 ; MOSHRIF, 1987 ; BEYDOUN, 1988 ; ALSHARHAN & NAIRN, 1994 ; AL-SILWADI et al., 1996 ; MEYER et al., 1996 ; ALHUSSEINI, 1997 ; AL-SAAD & SADOONI, 2001). The Arab Formation obtained its name from the type section in western Saudi Arabia. These units are mainly formed by cycles of shallow-water carbonates

Department of Chemistry and Earth Sciences, College of Science, University of Qatar, P.O. Box 2713 Doha, Qatar, hamadsaad@qu.edu.qa. Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Alexandria, Moharam Bey 21511, Alexandria, Egypt, mohamedibrahim59@hotmail.com.

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and evaporite facies. The Arab D reservoir is a wellknown unit throughout the eastern Arabian Peninsula and has almost the same lithological features. Due to the extensive dissolution of the anhydrite beds at the outcrop, the type section (58.5 m) was dened in the well Dammam-7 in eastern Saudi (POWERS et al., 1966). It is composed of dolomitic limestones in the lower part, limestones in the middle part and limestones with a thick layer of anhydrite in the upper part. The main microfossil content in this unit are of Clypeina jurassica, C. cf. hanabatensis, Cylindroporella arabica, Kurnubia spp. and Nautiloculina spp. Based on these fossils, the Arab D was assigned an Early Kimmeridgian age (POWERS, 1968). 3. STRATIGRAPHIC NOMENCLATURE OF THE ARAB D RESERVOIR IN QATAR Scarce stratigraphic and biostratigraphic investigations have been done on the Arab Formation of Qatar when compared with the extensive work that was carried out in

Fig. 1 : Location map showing the studied sections.

Table 1 : Terminology and nomenclature of the Arab D member in Qatar.

Age

Sudgen & Standring 1975

Focke et al. 1986

Fm.

Al-Saad & Sadooni (2001) & Present Study

Fm.

Fm.

Member

Member

Member

Hith Limestone 1 Limestone 2 Limestone 3 Fahahil

Hith Arab A Arab B Arab C

Hith

Arab A

Arab B Arab C
Arab D Upper

Arab D

Arab D

Lower Jubailah Lower

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Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Oman. In Qatar, the stratigraphic nomenclature of the Arab Formation is confused due to different lithostratigraphic schemes that have been established by oil companies (Table 1). SUGDEN (cited in SUGDEN & STANDRING) (1975) proposed the name Fahahil Formation to encompass Arab D sediments in Qatar. In the type locality at well Dukhan-66, the Fahahil Formation (57 m) consists of dolomitic limestones in the lower part, clean limestones in the middle, and dolomitic limestone interbedded with thin horizons of anhydrite above (Fig. 2). Because the sections studied here do not represent a complete successive section at one locality, the reference section designed by SUGDEN is used to show the different lithofacies of the Arab D Member in Qatar. In the present study, the Fahahil Formation is considered as a synonym for the Arab D member because there are no major lithologic or age differences that support the introduction of a new terminology. Further, FOCKE et al. (1985) applied the term Arab D reservoir to encompass the upper part of the Jubailah Formation and the overlying Arab D Member (the lowest member of the Arab Formation). As a rock unit, the Arab D reservoir of FOCKE et al. (1985) should be divided into two reservoir units : the Arab D reservoir (member) and upper Jubailah reservoir (Table 1). The contacts of the Arab D Member with the underlying and overlying units are conformable. The transition from the compact mudstones of the Jubailah Formation to the overlying dolomitic wackestone/packstone of the Arab D Member seems to be gradual. While, the anhydritic limestone of the Arab D Member is separated from the overlaying dolomitic limestone of the Arab C Member by a layer of anhydrite at the top of the Arab D Member. In Qatar, the Arab D Member ranges in thickness from 190 feet in onshore to about 800 feet in offshore sections. 4. LITHOFACIES ANALYSIS Petrographic analysis of the Arab D Member reveals the presence of six major microfacies of which mudstone and wackestone/packstone facies represents the thickest one. The main microfacies are mudstones, wackestone, packstone, dolomitic mudstone/wackestone, grainstone and anhydrite. The typical sequences of associated microfacies begin with mudstone at the base which gradually change upwards into foraminiferal wackestone/ packstones with thin horizons of grainstones and end with foraminiferal grainstones/packstones. Then, followed by dolomitic wackestone and, they are nally capped by anhydrite or anhydritic limestones. The classication of the different microfacies is after DUNHAM (1962). The identication of the foraminifera follows that of (LOEBLICH & TAPPAN, 1988 ; BANNER et al., 1991).

4.1. Microfacies 1 : Mudstone This microfacies represents the basal part of the Arab D reservoir and consists of micritic limestones with rare small benthic foraminifera (Textulariina) and shell fragments (Pl. I, g. 1). This sequence is gradually upward change to wackestone facies. In the lower part of the Arab D Member, the mudstone facies is interbedded with thin layers of packstone and dolomitic mudstone/ wackestone facies. Some of this mudstone is barren from microfauna and may indicate deposition in a saline, shallow tidal at, whereas others may indicate a lowstand, probably starved conditions. The total thickness of this unit is around 3 m at offshore Qatar, increasing to around 6 m at Dukhan Oil Field. 4.2. Microfacies 2 : Redmondoides wackestone It is fossiliferous in parts with pelecypod fragments, echinoderm debris, foraminifera and dasycladacean algae. The foraminiferal content includes species of Redmondoides and Pseudomarssonella while the main algae are of Clypeina jurassica (Pl. III, g. 1). This microfacies is well developed in the middle part of the member than the lower part. Very ne rhombic dolomite and some argillaceous components were recognized within this microfacies in offshore Qatar. This unit is believed to be deposited in a quiet shallow lagoon setting. It reaches a maximum thickness of around 7 m offshore Qatar and 6.5 m at the Dukhan Oil Field. 4.3. Microfacies 3 : Pfenderina packstone Microfacies 3 is observed in different stratigraphic levels in the Arab D Member. This microfacies consists of micritized medium to coarse-grained oolitic packstone. It is very fossiliferous and includes representatives of Pseudomarssonella maxima REDMOND, Nautiloculina oolithica MOHLER, N. circularis (SAID & BARAKAT), Pfenderina salernitana SARTONI & CRESCENTI, P. butterlini BRUN, Redmondoides rotundatus (REDMOND) and fragments of echinoderms and molluscs (Pl. III, gs 2 & 4). This unit is believed to be deposited in a vast shallow lagoon environment deeper than the microfacies 2 setting. Its thickness is about 2 m at offshore Qatar and 1.5 m at the Dukhan Oil Field. 4.4. Microfacies 4 : Stromatolic dolomitic mudstone/ wackestone It is mainly composed of thin beds of bioturbated, stromatolitic, ne-medium grained rhombic dolomite oating in a lime mud/wackestone matrix. This microfacies scattered mainly at the middle and upper

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Fig. 2 : Gereralized composite stratigraphic section of the Kimmeridgian Arab D member in Qatar.

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parts of the member. Most of these dolomites probably occurred as replacement of the original texture (Pl. II, g. 3). This unit is believed to be deposited in a restricted lagoon setting. It reaches a maximum thickness of around 3 m offshore Qatar and 2 m at the Dukhan Oil Field. 4.5. Microfacies grainstone 5: Kurnubia oolitic-peloidal

Pseudomarssonella bipartite REDMOND, P. maxima REDMOND, P. plicata REDMOND, Redmondoides medius (REDMOND), R. rotundatus (REDMOND), Trocholina conica SCHUMBERGER, T. palestiniensis HENSON, and Verneuilinoides maurittii TERQUEM. 6. PALYNOLOGY Palynological investigation has yielded many signicant dinoagellate cyst species within the Arab D Member. Unfortunately, many samples from this member are found palynologically barren. However, residues of barren samples may contain other palynofacies types such as amorphous organic matter (AOM), structured organic matter (SOM), and opaque phytoclasts (Table 2, Fig. 3). Table 2 : Percentage of palynofacies component in the Arab D Member, well D-290 in Dukhan Oil Field. AOM = amorphous organic matter, SOM = structured organic matter, = absent, = poor (<5 %), = frequent (10-30 %), p = rich (>30 %).

The grainstone microfacies are well-sorted and best developed in the middle part of the Arab D Member. Most grains in this unit are micritized and of different sizes and shapes (oolitic and pellets). This microfacies is very fossiliferous and includes abundant algae (Dasicladacean), Kurnubia jurassica (HENSON), K. palastiniensis HENSON, Pfenderina salernitana SARTONI & CRESCENTI, Nautiloculina oolithica MOHLER, N. circularis (SAID & BARAKAT), molluscan debris and solitary corals (Pl. II, g. 2). This unit is believed to be deposited in quiet shallow lagoon setting. The thickness is about 3.5 m offshore Qatar and 2.5 m at the Dukhan Oil Field. 4.6. Microfacies 6 : Anhydrite It occurs in the upper part of the reservoir and consists of ne crystalline anhydrite and anhydritic limestones (0.1 to 0.3 m). This unit is believed to be deposited in a restricted lagoon setting. The greatest sea-level fall occurred in the upper Arab D Member, with an abrupt transition from an offshore to lagoonal backshore environment (ALSHARHAN & NAIRN, 1997). 5. FORAMINIFERA The Arab D Member is moderately fossiliferous in foraminifera. Some of the identied species are shown in Plate IV. The identied elements are restricted to some intervals and mainly, rare except in the wackestone, packstone/grainstones facies in the lower and middle parts of the member. In general, the dolomitic limestone and anhydritic dolomitic limestone facies were found barren from microfauna. Most of the identied species such as Kurnubia and Pfenderina are well documented in the Upper Jurassic sediments in the Middle East (POWERS et al., 1966 ; POWERS, 1968 ; SUGDEN & STANDRING, 1975 ; TOLAND et al., 1995 ; AL-SILWADI et al., 1996 ; HUGHES, 1996 ; SHARLAND et al., 2001). The foraminiferal assemblage consists of fteen benthic species, in alphabetic order these are : Kurnubia bramkampi REDMOND, K. jurassica (HENSON), K. palestiniensis (HENSON), Nautiloculina circularis (SAID & BARAKAT), N. oolithica MOHLER, Pfenderina butterlini BRUN, P. salernitana SARTONI & CRESCENTI,

The most abundant palynomorph element is the chitineous microforaminiferal test linings, which constitutes about 30-55 % of the total palynomorphs. On the other hand terrestrial miospores are rare and represented by species of the spores Cyathidites spp., Deltoidospora spp., and Dictyophyllidites harrisii whereas gymnosperm pollen are represented by Araucariacites, Inaperturopollenites and Classopollis pollen. Seventeen dinoagellate cyst species have been identied and recognized from the studied samples of the Arab D Member. Generally, most cysts are not well preserved and show biodegradation. These recognized cysts belong to proximate species such as Cribroperidinium globatum, Cribroperidinium granuligerum, Cribroperidinium ? longicorne, Ctenidodinium ?schizoblatum, Dichadogonyau-

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Percentage of Palynofacies Components

100 80 60

Table 3 : Results of the total organic carbon analysis (wt. %) of selected samples from Dukhan and Bul Hanine oil elds.

%
40 20 0

Palynomorph SOM Opaques AOM

Sample

9 10 11 12 13 14

Fig. 3 : Percentage of particulate organic matter in well D-290, Dukhan Oil Field.

lax chondra, Dichadogonyaulax ? pannea, Gochteodinia antennata, and Leptodinium spp., and chorate cysts such as Epiplosphaera bireticulata, Hystrichosphaerina sarjeantii, Systematophora areolata, Systematophora orbifera, Systematophora penicillata, and Tenua hystrix.
9

Total organic carbon wt.%

Bull Hanine

Dukhan

7. PALYNOFACIES, TOTAL ORGANIC CARBON AND HYDROCARBON HABITAT The Jurassic reservoirs in Qatar contain 98 % and 4.8 % of the ultimate recoverable oil and gas reserves, respectively. The most prolic reservoirs of Qatar in all the elds lie within the Arab Formation. These reservoirs hold the largest oil accumulations in the world (ALSHARHAN & NAIRN, 1997). Anhydrite layers between the Arab members act as intraformational seals for oil discovered in the Dukhan, Idd El-Shargi and Bul Hanine elds. Previous studies demonstrate that the Upper Jurassic oil of Qatar elds originated from the underlying Hanifa and Jubailah source rocks. A comparison of the gas chromatograms of the saturated hydrocarbons from a typical Arab D oil, and extracts from the Hanifa and lower Jubailah source rocks demonstrates their close relationship (ALSHARHAN & NAIRN, 1997). Fifteen samples representing the Arab D Member in Dukhan (D-290 well, onshore) and Bul Hanine (BH-X well, offshore) oil elds were analysed for their organic carbon content (weight percentage). The results are tabulated in Table 3 and illustrated in Figure 4. Palynofacies can help not only for establishing the depositional environment but also for the determination of hydrocarbon source potential and assessment of thermal maturity of the host sediments (BATTEN, 1981 & 1996 ; TYSON, 1995). The palynofacies composition of the Arab D Member is illustrated from the absolute abundance of the major particulate organic matter (Fig. 3). Samples of the Arab D reservoir are characterized by the abundance of AOM, which is generally produced

8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0

Samples

Fig. 4 : Total organic carbon content (TOC) of selected samples from the Dukhan and Bul Hanine oil elds.

from the biodegradation of other palynofacies elements (dinoagellate cysts, microforaminiferal linings, structured phytoclasts and miospores). Opaque phytoclasts are common, while palynomorphs and structured phytoclasts are subordinate (Fig. 3). Kerogen of the Arab D member is dominated by AOM ranging from 35 % up to 100 % especially in the basal part of the member (mudstone microfacies). Thus, the carbonates of the Arab D Member may have a type II to type I kerogen composition as it contains dinoagellate cysts. Total organic carbon (TOC %) is generally high between 0.43 and 8.55 %. The higher TOC percentages are also belonging to the lower lime mudstone and wackestone microfacies. Generally, these TOC values indicate high source potential for hydrocarbon generation. Accordingly, the Arab D Member is not only the main reservoir rock in Qatar, but the basal part also

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slows a source potential beside the main Hanifa and Jubailah sources. The thermal maturity of the organic matter in the Arab D Member was determined using spore colours, particularly those of psilate trilete spores as Cyathidites, Deltoidospora, and Dictyophyllidites. It varies between orange and pale brown, suggesting a thermal mature facies. 8. AGE OF THE ARAB D MEMBER In this study, the age determination of the Arab D reservoir depends essentially on both benthic foraminifera and dinoagellate cyst species. The foraminifera species such as Kurnubia and Pfenderina together with their

lateral equivalence in eastern Arabia are conrming a late Kimmeridgian age for the Arab D reservoir (AL-SILWADI et al., 1996). On the other hand, each species of the recorded dinoagellate cysts range through the Kimmeridgian. Nevertheless, the co-existence of these species in one assemblage indicates a late Kimmeridgian age (Fig. 5). Cribroperidinium ? longicorne has been reported extensively from the early Kimmeridgian of France (GITMEZ & SARJEANT, 1972) ; early-late Kimmeridgian of southern England, Egypt and worldwide (RIDING & THOMAS, 1988 ; IBRAHIM & SCHRANK, 1996 ; STOVER et al., 1996). Gochteodinia antennata is a marker Kimmeridgian species recorded from England (GITMEZ & SARJEANT, 1972 ; RIDING & THOMAS, 1988) ; early Kimmeridgian

Fig. 5 : Stratigraphic ranges for the encountered dinoagellate cyst species as reported from France, England, Denmark, Egypt and worldwide (GITMEZ & SARJEANT, 1972 ; POULSEN, 1996 ; RIDING & THOMAS, 1988 ; THOMAS & COX, 1988 ; THUSU et al., 1988 ; COURTINAT, 1989 ; STOVER et al., 1996 ; IBRAHIM & SCHRANK, 1996 ; IBRAHIM et al., 2002).

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of Denmark (POULSEN, 1996) ; and late Kimmeridgian of Egypt (IBRAHIM et al., 2002). Ctenidodinium ?schizoblatum occurs sporadically in some intervals of the dolomitic lime mudstone and wackstone. It was reported previousely from the late Kimmeridgian/Portlandian of France (COURTINAT, 1989) ; and the late Kimmeridgian of Egypt (IBRAHIM et al., 2002). Most of the dinoagellate cyst species recorded herein have showed their top occurrence in late Kimmeridgian elsewhere ; these are : Cibroperidinium globatum, C. granuligerum, Dichadogonyaulax chondra, Epiplosphaera bireticulata, Systematophora areolata, S. orbifera, and S. penicillata (THUSU et al., 1988 ; RIDING & THOMAS, 1988 ; THOMAS & COX, 1988 ; STOVER et al., 1996 ; IBRAHIM et al., 2002). According to the aforementioned discussion, a late Kimmeridgian age is thus given to the Arab D Member in Qatar as well as in eastern Arabia. SHARLAND et al. (2001) emphasized that the Arab D Member occurs between two maximum ooding surfaces MFS J70 of the top part of the Jubailah Formation (late Kimmeridgian, dated at 152.75 Ma) and MFS J80 of the topmost Arab D Member (late Kimmeridgian, dated at 151.75 Ma). The Kurnubia jurassica foraminifera Zone is recognized from this member in Abu Dhabi, indicating a late Kimmeridgian age (AL-SILWADI et al., 1996). In the United Arab Emirates, AZER & PEEBLES (1998) have reported three strontium isotope values that indicate middle to late Kimmeridgian age for the top of the Arab D to the lower part of the Arab C Member. 9. PALEOENVIRONMENTAL INTERPRETATION The litho- and biofacies content of sedimentary rocks is made up of autochthonous and allochthonous components derived from a variety of sources reecting the original depositional environment, the climate, and the character and composition of the terrestrial vegetation. Therefore, the foraminiferal and palynological content of a sample can be used as a basis for paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic interpretations.

During the deposition of the Arab D Member carbonates, arid condition dominated much of the eastern part of the Arabian region that led to form interbedded sequence of carbonates and evaporites (MURRIS, 1981 ; ALSHARHAN & KENDALL, 1986). In Qatar, short-term transgressiveregressive cycles are present in the Arab D reservoir as indicated by the rhythmic sequences of wackestone/ packstone/grainstone microfacies. The anhydrite interval that occurs at the top of the Arab D reservoir marks the end of the Arab D regression cycle. The Arab D facies in western Qatar seem to be deeper than in the eastern area as inferred from the increase of amount of clean limestone toward the western area of Qatar. Marine microplankton dominates over terrestrial sporomorphs. The highly-ornamented (long processes) wall, chorate morphology of the majority of dinoagellate cyst species present within the lower Arab D reservoir (lime mudstone and wackestone) is believed to be an adaptation to open marine environments (DOWNIE et al., 1971 ; HARKER et al., 1990). HARKER et al. (1990) showed that fossil gonyaulacoid cysts, like Cribroperidinium, and Hystrichosphaeridium, appear to be most common in stable marine condition. In addition, the species richness of dinoagellate cysts throughout the Arab D reservoir is low to moderate (1-10 species) which is interpreted as reecting relatively inshore to shallow-shelf conditions (GOODMAN, 1979). However, the relative abundance of gonyaulacacean over peridiniacean dinoagellate cysts typical of the basal Arab D samples is indicative of slightly more offshore, possibly shelf conditions (G/P ratio of HARLAND, 1973 ; LISTER & BATTEN, 1988 ; HARKER et al., 1990). The common occurrence of foraminiferal test linings in the present samples is indicative of normal marine coastal and/or shallow environment (BATTEN, 1979 ; LISTER & BATTEN, 1988 ; TYSON, 1993 & 1995). Accordingly, the carbonate sediments of the Arab D reservoir may have been deposited in shallow water of middle shelf depth (30-50 m) under arid to semiarid climatic conditions as deduced from the presence of Classopollis pollen and of course the deposition of evaporites (anhydrite) capping the Arab D Member.

Plate I Fig. 1 : Compact micritic limestone (mudstone) with ghost of agglutinated benthic foraminifera. Lower part of the Arab D ; X25 ; Dukhan Field ; crossed nicols. Fig. 2 : Wackestone with Pseudomarssonella maxima and shell fragments. Very ne rhombic dolomite are scattered in this facies. Middle part of the Arab D Member ; X25 ; Idd El-Shargi Field ; crossed nicols. Fig. 3 : Packstone with Pseudomarssonella bipartita and echinoderm debris. Middle part of the Arab D Member ; X25 ; Dukhan Field ; crossed nicols. Fig. 4 : Bioturbated argillaceous wackestone with shell fragments and very ne rhombic dolomite. Lower part of the Arab D Member ; X25 ; Idd El-Shargi Field ; crossed nicols.

Plate I

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10. CONCLUSION Arab Formation is considered as one of the most prolic oil reservoir of Qatar. The Arab D Member represented a regressive phase from shallow open marine lime-/ mudstone and wackestone with occasional peloidal, tidal-current, shoal grainstone and packstone in the lower and middle parts through subtidal and intertidal, well sorted, ooilitic, peloidal grainstone, packstone, and anhydrite. The anhydrite represents the maximum sea-level fall occurring in the Arab D Member as well as in the Arab Formation. The deduced climate is arid to semiarid. The grainstone facies in the upper part of the unit is found rich in benthic foraminifera dominated by Kurnubia and Pfenderina. Palynomorphs are dominated by proximate and chorate dinoagellate cysts whereas amorphous organic matter and opaques phytoclasts are high in abundance among other palynofacies. Age of the Arab D Member is late Kimmeridgian. The main reservoir is the oolitic-peloida grainstones and dolomitized limestones. The basal organic-rich lime-/mudstone of the Arab D Member in addition to the underlying Hanifa and Jubailah formations are the main source for oil in the Upper Jurassic Arab Formation in Qatar. Spore/pollen colours demonstrate that the Arab D sediments are thermally mature.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The authors would like to thank the management of Qatar Petroleum for providing the samples necessary for this study and the Scientic and Applied Research Center (SARC), University of Qatar, for TOC analyses. REFERENCES

AL-HUSSEINI, M. I. (1997) - Jurassic sequence stratigraphy of the western and southern Arabian Gulf. GeoArabia, 2 : 361-380.

AL-SAAD, H. A. & F. N. SADOONI (2001) - A new depositional model and sequence stratigraphic interpretation for the Upper Jurassic Arab D reservoir in Qatar. Journal of Petroleum Geology, 24 : 243-264. ALSHARHAN, A. S. & C. G. KENDALL (1986) - Precambrian to Jurassic rocks of the Arabian Gulf and adjacent areas : their facies, depositional setting and hydrocarbon habitat. American Association of petroleum Geologist, 70 : 9771002. ALSHARHAN, A. S. & A. E. NAIRN (1994) - Geology and hydrocarbon habitat in the Arabian Basin : the Mesozoic of the State of Qatar. Geologie en Mijnbouw, 72 : 265-294. ALSHARHAN, A. S. & A. E. NAIRN (1997) - Sedimentary basins and petroleum geology of the Middle East. Elsevier, Amsterdam, New York, Oxford, 843 p. AL-SILWADI, M. S., A. KIRKHAM, M. D. SIMMONS & B. N. TWOMBLEY (1966) - New insights into regional correlation and sedimentology, Arab Formation (Upper Jurassic), Offshore Abu Dhabi. GeoArabia, 1 : 6-27. AZER, S. R. & R. G. PEEBLES (1998) - Sequence stratigraphy of the Arab A to C Members and Hith Formation, Offshore Abu Dhabi. Geoarabia, 3 : 251-268. BANNER, F. T., M. D. SIMMONS & J. E. WHITTAKER (1991) - The Mesozoic Chrysalidinidae (Foraminifera, Textulariacea) of the Middle East : the Redmond (Aramco) taxa and their relatives. Bulletin of British Museum Natural History (Geology), 47 : 101-152. BATTEN, D. J (1979) - Miospores and other acid-resistant microfossils from the Aptian/Albian of Holes 400A and 402A, DSDP- IPOD LEG 48, Bay of Biscay. In : MONTADERT, L., (Ed.). Initial Reports Deep Sea Drilling Project, 48 : 579-587. BATTEN, D. J. (1981) - Palynofacies, organic maturation and source potential for petroleum. In : BROOKS, J. (Ed.). Organic maturation studies and fossil fuel exploration. Academic Press, London, New York : 201-223. BATTEN, D. J. (1996) - Chapter 26B. Palynofacies and petroleum potential. In : JANSONIUS, J. & MCGREGOR, D. C. (Eds). Palynology : principles and applications. American Association of Stratigraphic Palynologists Foundation, 3 : 1065-1084. BEYDOUN, Z. R. (1988) - The Middle East : Regional Geology and Petroleum resources. Scientic Press, Beaconeld, UK. COURTINAT, B. (1989) - Les organoclastes des formations lithologiques du Malm dans le Jura mridional.

Plate II Fig. 1 : Pfenderina salernitana bearing compact packstone with Nautiloculina oolithica (middle of the picture). Middle part of the Arab D Member ; X25 ; Dukhan Field ; crossed nicols. Fig. 2 : Well-sorted oolitic grainstone with Kurnubia palastiniensis. Some grains are completely micritized. Middle part of the Arab D Member ; X40 ; Dukhan Field ; crossed nicols. Fig. 3 : Coral-algae bearing wackestone/packstone facies. Middle part of the Arab D Member ; X40 ; Dukhan Field ; crossed nicols. Fig. 4 : Medium grained rhombic dolomite crystals oating in a wackestone matrix. Most of these dolomites probably occurred as replacement of the original texture. Upper part of the Arab D Member ; X25 ; Dukhan Field ; crossed nicols.

Plate II

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Systmatique, biostratigraphie et lments dinterprtation palocologique. Documents des Laboratoires de Gologie, Lyon, 105 : 1-35. DOWNIE, C., M. A. HUSSAIN & G. L. WILLIAMS (1971) Dinoagellate cyst and acritarch associations in the Paleogene of south-east England. Geoscience Man, 3 : 29-35. DUNHAM, R. J. (1962) - Classication of carbonate rocks according to depositional texture. In : HAM, W. E. (Ed.). Classication of carbonate rocks. American Association of petroleum Geologist, Memoir 1 : 108-121. FOCKE, J. W., D. MUNN, S. J. AL-KUWARI, H.W. FRIKKEN & H. P. FREI (1985) - Petrographic atlas of rock types, common in the subsurface of Qatar and some recent equivalents. Qatar General Petroleum Corporation (offshore operations), Qatar. GITMEZ, G.U. & A. S. SARJEANT (1972) - Dinoagellate cysts and acritarchs from the Kimmeridgian (Upper Jurassic) of England, Scotland and France. Bulletin of British Museum Natural History (Geology), 21 : 171-257. GOODMAN, D.K. (1979) - Dinoagellate communities from the Lower Eocene Nanjemoy Formation of Maryland, USA. Palynology, 3 : 169-190. HARKER, S. D., A. S. WILLIAMS & A. S. SARJEANT (1990) - Late Cretaceous (Campanian) organic-walled microplankton from the Interior Plains of Canada, Wyoming and Texas, biostratigraphy, palaeontology and palaeoenvironmental interpretation. Palaeontographica Abteilung B, 219 : 1243. HARLAND, R. (1973) - Dinoagellate cysts and acritarchs from the Bearpaw Formation (Upper Campanian) of southern Alberta, Canada. Palaeontology, 16 : 665-706. HUGHES, G. W. (1996) - A new bioevent stratigraphy of the Late Jurassic Arab-D carbonates of Saudi Arabia. GeoArabia, 1 : 417-434. IBRAHIM, M. I., N. M. ABOUL ELA & S. E. KHOLEIF (2002) Dinoagellate cyst biostratigraphy of Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous formations of the North Eastern Desert, Egypt. Neues Jahrbuch fr Geologie und Palontologie Monatshefte, 224 (2) : 255-319. IBRAHIM, M. I. & E. SCHRANK (1996) - Palynological studies on the Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous of the Kahraman-l well, northern Western Desert, Egypt. Gologie de lAfrique et de lAtlantique du sud, 611-629. LISTER, J. K. & D. J. BATTEN (1988) - Stratigraphic and palaeoenvironmental distribution of Early Cretaceous dinoagellate cysts in the hurlands farm borehole, west

Sussex, England. Palaeontographica Abteilung B, 210 : 9-89. LOEBLICH, A. R. & H. Jr. TAPPAN (1988) - Foraminiferal genera and their classication. New York. MEYER, F. O., R. C. PRICE & S. M. AL-RAIMI (2000) - Stratigraphic and petrophysical characteristics of cored Arab-D SuperK intervals, Hawiyah area, Ghawar eld, Saudi Arabia. GeoArabia, 5 : 355-384. MEYER, F. O., R. C. PRICE, I. AL-GHAMDI, I. AL-GOBA, S. M. AL-RAIMI & J. COLE (1996) - Sequential stratigraphy of outcropping strata equivalent to Arab-D reservoir, Wadi Nisah, Saudi Arabia. GeoArabia, 1 : 435-455. MOSHRIF, M. A. (1987) - Sedimentary history and paleogeography of Lower and Middle Jurassic rocks, central Saudi Arabia. Journal of Petroleum Geology, 10 : 235-250. MURRIS, R. J. (1981) - Middle East : Stratigraphic evolution and oil habitat. American Association of petroleum Geologist, 64 : 597-618. POULSEN, N. (1996) - Dinoagellate cysts from Marine Jurassic Deposits of Denmark and Poland. AASP. Contr. Ser. 31 : 1-227. POWERS, R. W. (1968) - Lexique Stratigraphique International. Asie, VIII, Fasc. 10b Arabie Seoudite (excluding Arabian Shield). Centre National de La Recherche Scientique, Paris, 147 p. POWERS, R. W., L. F. RAMIREZ, C. D. REDMOND, & E. L. Jr. ELBERG (1966) - Geology of the Arabian Peninsula : Sedimentary Geology of Saudi Arabia. US Geological Survey Professional Papers, 560-D, 1-147. RIDING, J. B. & J. E. THOMAS (1988) - Dinoagellate cyst stratigraphy of the Kimmeridge Clay (Upper Jurassic) from the Dorset coast, southern England. Palynology, 12 : 65-88. SAINT-MARC, P. (1987) - Arabian Peninsula. In : MOULLADE, M. & A. E. M. NAIRN (Eds). The Phanerozoic Geology of the World II : the Mesozoic. Amsterdam, Elsevier : 435-462. SHARLAND, P. R., R. ARCHER, D. M. CASEY, R. B. DAVIES, S. HALL, A. HEWARD, A. D. HORBURY & M. D. SIMMONS (2001) - Sequence Stratigraphy of the Arabian Plate. In : HUSSEINI, M. I. (Ed.). GeoArabia, Special Publication. 2 : 371 p. STEINEKE, M. R., R. A. BRAMKAMP & N. J. SANDER (1958) Stratigraphic relations of Arabian Jurassic oil. In : Weeks, L. G. (Ed.). Habitat of Oil. American Association of petroleum Geologist Symposium : 1294-1329. STOVER L. E., H. BRINKHUIS, S. P. DAMASSA, L. DE VERTEUIL, J. RJ. HELBY, E. MONTEIL, A. D. PARTRIDGE, A. J. POWELL, J. B.

Plate III Fig. 1 : Compact wackestone with Clypeina jurassica. Middle part of the Arab D Member ; X40 ; Dukhan Field ; crossed nicols. Fig. 2 : Pfenderina butterlini in packstone facies. The white is spar cement. Middle part of the Arab D Member ; X40 ; Dukhan Field ; crossed nicols. Fig. 3 : Redmondoides medius in micritized wackestone facies. Middle part of the Arab D Member ; X25 ; Idd El-Shargi Field ; crossed nicols. Fig. 4 : Pfenderina salernitana in argillaceous packstone with algal fragment (upper right of the picture). Middle part of the Arab D Member ; X25 ; Dukhan Field ; crossed nicols.

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RIDING, M. SMELROR & L. G. WILLIAMS (1996) - MesozoicTertiary dinoagellates, acritarchs and prasinophytes. In : JANSONIUS, J & D.C. MCGREGOR (Eds). Palynology : Principles and applications. American Association of Stratigraphic Palynologists Foundation, 2 : 641-753. SUGDEN, W. & A. J. STANDRING (1975) - Qatar Peninsula. In : Lexique Stratigraphique International, Centre National Recherche Scientique, Paris, III, Asie, Fasc. 10b3 : 120 p. THOMAS, J. E. & B. M. COX (1988) - The oxfordian-Kimmeridgian stage boundary (Upper Jurassic) : dinoagellate cyst assemblages from the Harome Borehole, north Yorkshire, England. Review of Palaeobotany Palynology, 56 : 313326.

THUSU, B., J. G. VAN DER EEM, A. EL-MEHDAWI & F. BU-ARGOUB, (1988) - Jurassic-early Cretaceous palynostratigraphy in northeast Libya. In : EL-ARNAUTI, A., B. OWENS & B. THUSU (Eds). Subsurface palynostratigraphy of northeast Libya. Garyounis University Publication : 171-214. TOLAND, C., M. D. SIMMONS & G. M. WALKDEN (1995) - A new sequence stratigraphic reference section for the Upper Jurassic of Southern Yemen. In : HUSSEINI, M. I. (ed). The Middle East Petroleum Geosciences, Geo 94 : 891-899. TYSON, R.V. (1993) - Palynofacies analysis. In : JENKINS, D. J. (Ed.). Applied Micropalaeontology. Kluwer Academic Publication, The Netherlands : 153-191. TYSON, R. V. (1995) - Sedimentary organic matter. Chapman & Hall, London, 615 p.

Accept juillet 2004

Plate IV Foraminifera from the middle part of the Arab D Member. Fig. 1 : Fig. 2 : Fig. 3 : Figs. 4, 5 : Figs. 6, 7 : Fig. 8 : Fig. 9 : Fig. 10 : Fig. 11 : Fig. 12 : Fig. 13 : Nautiloculina circularis (SAID & BARAKAT) ; apertural view ; X 120. Nautiloculina oolithica MOHLER ; apertural view ; X 120. Verneuilinoides maurittii TERQUEM ; X 55. Kurnubia palestiniensis (HENSON) ; X 50. Kurnubia bramkampi REDMOND ; X 60. Pseudomarssonella plicata REDMOND ; X 75. Redmondoides royundatus (REDMOND) ; X 80. Pseudomarssonella sp. X 100. Redmondoides medius (REDMOND) ; X 60. Trocholina palestiniensis HENSON ; X 115. Trocholina conica SCHUMBERGER ; X 120.

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Appendix Foraminifera Pseudomarssonella plicata REDMOND. Pseudomarssonella maxima REDMOND. Pseudomarssonella bipartita REDMOND. Pseudomarssonella sp. Redmondoides royundatus (REDMOND). Redmondoides medius (REDMOND). Pfenderina salernitana SARTONI & CRESCENTI. Pfenderina butterlini BRUN. Nautiloculina oolithica MOHLER. Nautiloculina circularis (SAID & BARAKAT). Verneuilinoides maurittii TERQUEM. Kurnubia palestiniensis (HENSON). Kurnubia bramkampi REDMOND. Trocholina palestiniensis HENSON. Trocholina conica SCHUMBERGER. Dinoagellate cysts Cribroperidinium globatum (GITMEZ & SARJEANT, 1972) HELENES. Cribroperidinium granuligerum (KLEMENT, 1960) STOVER & EVITT. Cribroperidinium ? longicorne (DOWNIE, 1957) LENTIN & WILLIAMS. Ctenidodinium ?schizoblatum (NORRIS, 1965) LENTIN & WILLIAMS.

Cyclonephelium sp. Dichadogonyaulax chondra (DRUGG, 1978) COURTINAT. Dichadogonyaulax ? pannea (NORRIS, 1965) SARJEANT. Dichadogonyaula sp. Epiplosphaera bireticulata KLEMENT. Gochteodinia antennata (GITMEZ & SARJEANT, 1972) BELOW. Hystrichosphaerina sarjeantii (GITMEZ, 1970) DUXBURY. Leptodinium spp. Lithodinia spp. Systematophora areolata KLEMENT. Systematophora orbifera KLEMENT. Systematophora penicillata (EHRENBERG, 1843) SARJEANT. Tenua hystrix EISENACK. Spores and pollen Araucariacites spp. Balmeiopsis limbatus (BALME, 1957) ARCHANGELSKY. Classopollis torosus (REISSINGER, 1950) COUPER. Cyathidites spp. Deltoidospora spp. Dictyophyllidites harrisii COUPER. Inaperturopollenites spp. Miscellaneous Cuticle phytoclasts. Microforaminiferal linings.

Plate V Palynomorphs and phytoclasts from the Arab D Member. All magnications X 600, except otherwise stated. Fig. 1 : Fig. 2 : Fig. 3 : Fig. 4 : Fig. 5 : Fig. 6 : Fig. 7 : Fig. 8 : Fig. 9 : Figs 10, 11 : Fig. 12 : Fig. 13 : Fig. 14 : Fig. 15 : Fig. 16 : Fig. 17 : Dictyophyllidites harrisii COUPER, X 800. Balmeiopsis limbatus (BALME, 1957) ARCHANGELSKY, X 800. Classopollis torosus (REISSINGER, 1950) COUPER, X 800. Lithodinia sp. Dichadogonyaulax ? Pannea (NORRIS, 1965) SARJEANT. Ctenidodinium ?schizoblatum (NORRIS, 1965) LENTIN & WILLIAMS. Dichadogonyaulax sp. Systematophora areolata KLEMENT. Cribroperidinium globatum (GITMEZ & SARJEANT, 1972) HELENES, X 800. Cribroperidinium ? longicorne (DOWNIE, 1957) LENTIN & WILLIAMS. Systematophora orbifera KLEMENT. Large fragment of cuticle phytoclast, X 400. Gochteodinia antennata (GITMEZ & SARJEANT, 1972) BELOW. Cribrperidinium granuligera (KLEMENT, 1960) BRENNER. Cyclonephelium sp. Microforaminiferal linings.

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