Microfacies Patterns and Depositional Environments of the Sarvak Formation in the Abadan Plain, Southwest of Zagros, Iran

The Sarvak Formation is the second major oil-bearing reservoir in the south and south west of Iran. The Middle Cretaceous Sarvak formation in the Zagros Mountains (Zagros Basin) is mainly composed of carbonate sequences. Based on facies studied, thirteen microfacies were recognized in the studied area, which were categorized in the three facies groups: including inner ramp, mid ramp and outer ramp. Evidences such as the gradual changes in the facies (basin slope), the absence of extensive uninterrupted barrier reef, the lack of calciturbidite and gravity sediments as well as the high proportion of grain-supported indicated that the Sarvak Formation was deposited in the ramp like depositional system, particularly on an inner ramp setting. Inner ramp facies group is the principal setting and subdivided to tidal flat, restricted and unrestricted lagoon as well as shoal sub-environments.


Introduction
Zagros basin is known as one of the most petroliferous regions in the world in term of hydrocarbon potentials [1]. After Asmari Formation that is most important reservoir in Iran, the Sarvak Formation constitutes second largest petroleum reservoir. Sarvak Formation is a part of Bangestan group. The Kazhdumi, Sarvak, Surgah as well as the Ilam Formations with middle to upper Cretaceous age formed the Bangestan group in the south and southwest of Iran [2]. The type section of Sarvak Formation is located in the northwest of the Behbahan city in Khuzestan province. In the type section, Sarvak Formation is composed of over 820 m of thin, medium bedded and massive limestone containing chert nodules and interbeds of shale. According to distribution of foraminifer contents in the type section [2] mentioned Albian to cenomanian age for Sarvak Formation) [2].
The lower boundary of the Sarvak Formation with the Kazhdumi Formation is sharp, in the Zagros province. The upper lithostragraphic unit of Sarvak carbonates is different in various parts of Zagros. In some parts of Zagros Ilam Formation and in the other parts Gurpi Formation covers Sarvak limestones. Because of reservoir significance, many authors have been studied geological characteristics of Sarvak Formation in the Zagros basin and Arabian plate [3]- [16].
The aims of current article are 1) assign detailed microfacies type, 2) interpret the facies, 3) determine different setting of facies and 4) delineate depositional environment model.

Geological Setting
Zagros province that is essentially portion of Alp-Himalaya orogenic belt, known as one of the most important and largest oil-rich regions of the worlds because of abundance of giant and supergiant folds and oil fields as well as numerous salt domes [17]. The Zagros fold and thrust belt with nearly 1800 km long and 250 km wide composed of deformed rocks that created in the foreland of the collision between the Arabian Plate and the Iranian Plate [18] [19]. Convergence movement and subduction of Arabian plate beneath the Central Iran block created a series of thrusts and anticlines in the Zagros basins. Folding process has not been stopped in this fold-thrust belt and crust evolution continues in the West of the Zagros Mountains of Iran [20] [21]. According to structural and geological features and stratigraphic characteristics Zagros province divided into three major zones including high Zagros, folded Zagros and Abadan plain (Figure 2) [17]. The Study area (Azadegan anticline) is located on Abadan plain at 80 km West of Ahvaz city. This anticline is located in the in the Iran-Iraq

Materials and Methods
The current paper is based on core and petrographic examination of the Sarvak Formation from the azadegan oil field. Three wells in the field were collected and more than 600 thin sections examined to assign sedimentological characteristics, facies types, and depositional model. Whole of thin sections were half-stained with Alizarin Red-S to denotation calcite from dolomite. Carbonate facies analysis is carried out based on Dunham (1962) [22] and Embry and Klovan (1971) [23] carbonate classification models. For determine depositional environments concepts of standard depositional environment models and distribution of facies was used (e.g. [24]- [28]).

Microfacies Description and Interpretation
Based on petrographic analysis and sedimentology characteristic of the Sarvak Formation 13 microfacies types can be defined into three facies groups. These comprise the inner ramp (A), mid ramp (B) and outer ramp (C) facies group.

A) Inner ramp facies group
Carbonate deposits of the inner ramp facies group composed of nine microfacies that are belong to the tidal flat, lagoon and shoal sub-environments.

FA1) Fenestral mudstone
The fenestral mudstone made up of mud supported micritic texture with fenestral fabrics. Skeletal grains are less than 10% and there are not non-skeletal grains in this facies (Figure 3(a)). An abundance of lime mudstone with fenestral fabrics, bird's eye structure and a lack of skeletal grains indicated that FA 1 is belongs to supratidal to intertidal zone [29]- [31].

FA2) Benthic foraminifera sponge spicule wackestone to packstone
This facies consists of mud supported texture with less than 50% grains. Benthic foraminifers (Such as miliolid and textularia) and sponge spicules are the main skeletal grains. Bivalves and echinoderm fragments as well as peloids are subordinate grains. Bioturbation and micritization are observed in this facies (Figure 3(b)). Based on bioturbated mud supported nature (mudstone to wackestone), presence of benthic foraminifers such as miliolid, micritization of grains can be suggested that this facies forms on restricted lagoon sub-environment [24] [32].

FA3) Bioclast wackestone to mudstone
The matrix of this microfacies is dark brown microcrystalline calcite (micrite). The main allochems are ben- thic foraminifera (such as miliolid and alveolina), gastropods, shell fragments together with sponge spicules. Sparse fine grained peloids are subordinate allochems (Figure 3(c)). Geopetal fabric and neomorphism are present. The plentifulness of lime mudstone (micritic texture) and the presence of lagoon fauna particularly porcelaneous-wall benthic foraminifera and gastropoda along with peloid grains indicated that FA 3 forms on the low energy restricted lagoon environment [33] [34].

FA4) Benthic foraminifera and gastropoda wackestone to packstone
The main allochems of this microfacies are skeletal constituents such as benthic foraminifera and gastropods. Skeletal constituents include around 30% to 60% of grains and indicate variation in size. Other constituents are bivalve debris and peloids. Also, bioturbation and micritization are existed (Figure 3(d)). The occurrence of lime mudstone, lagoon fauna and the abundance of peloids exhibit a shallow subtidal restrict lagoon settings [35]. Micritizied boundaries of grains show boring by micro-organisms such as endolithic algae and microbes. Micritic envelopes of carbonate grains implies to low energy environments and low sedimentation rates [36].

FT5) High diversity benthic foraminifera bioclast wackestone to packstone
This facies is characterized by high diversity of benthic foaminifera. The major benthic foraminifers are miliolid, alveolina, nezzazata and textularia. Rudist debris, ostracods, bivalve shells and green alga along with echinoderms are other skeletal grains (Figure 3(e)). The minor allochems are peloids. High diversity of benthic foraminifers and characteristic of facies showed that FT 5 was formed to moderate energy unrestricted lagoon en-vironment [28] [35].

FA6) Large benthic foraminifera rudist debris wackestone to packstone
This facies is mainly composed of large benthic foraminifera (15% to 35%) and rudist debris (20% to 45%). The size of rudist fragments ranges between 0.5 to 2 mm. the minor grains are bivalve and echinoderm debris in addition to peloid grains (Figure 3(f)). Relative abundant of lagoon fauna, presence of micritic matrix and rudist debris indicated that this facies created in the moderate energy unrestricted lagoon setting [8] [26] [34].

FA7) Bioclast packstone to grainstone
Bioclast packstone to grainstone facies is chiefly composed of skeletal grains. Skeletal grains formed more than 60% of this facies. Benthic foraminifera (such as miliolid and nezzazata), rudist debris, bivalve and echinoderm fragments are the principal skeletal grains. Peloid grains are observed in this facies. Most of the allochems are covered by a micritic envelope and surrounded by spary calcite cement. The grains are relatively well rounded and sorted (Figure 4(a)). According to the type of grains, the present of micritic envelope and unwashed spary calcite, relatively well sorted and well rounded grains can be said FA 7 formed on the leeward shoal environments [24] [28].

FA8) Rudist debris grainstone
Rudist debris grainstone facies characterized by grain supported texture with richness of rudist fragments the size of rudist debris ranges between 0.5 to 3 mm. benthic foraminifera, bivalve and echinoderm fragments and peloids are subordinate constituents (Figure 4(b), Figure 4(c)). The grain supported nature, lack of mud, large size rudist debris hinted to high-energy of central shoal conditions [3] [37].

FA9) Bioclast grainstone
The bioclast grainstone mostly consist of skeletal allochems cemented by spary calcite. The dominant allochems are rudist debris, benthic foraminifera, bivalve and echinoderm fragments as well as peloids (minor). The moderate to well sorted rudist debris formed around 40% of this facies (Figure 4(d)). Micritic envelope is present in edge of some of the grains. The absence of mud (or lesser mud contents) in this facies mentioned current or wave dominated high-energy shoal environment.

FA10) Bioclast packstone to grainstone
This facies comprised of microspar to sparite matrix as well as bioclast fragments. The major allochems include rudist debris, echinoderm/crinoids and benthic foraminifera. Components are well sorted and include micritic edges. Rudist debris are neomorphed by sparry calcite (Figure 4(e)). Given the facies evidences such as packstone to grainstone texture, occurrence of carbonate mud and type of fauna propose that FA 10 made up in the moderate energy of the end of inner ramp (terminal portion of the shoal) [26].

B) Middle ramp facies group
Two microfacies are situated in the middle ramp environment. These include FB 1 and FB 2 .

FB1) Bioclast floatstone to rudstone
Bioclast floatstone to rudstone mainly comprised of large skeletal fragments such as rudist debris. The major grains are medium to large rudist debris along with echinoid and bivalve fragments. Benthic foraminifera, gastropoda and peloid are minor grains. Rudist debris creates 25% to 50% of the components (generally up to 2 mm in size) (Figure 4(f), Figure 4(g)). According to Embry and Klovan [23] this facies is the result of fragmentation of reef builder structures. This crushed components of reef build up's forms talus deposits in the middle ramp (fore shoal) depositional environment [28].

FB2) Echinoderm bioclast wackestone to packstone
This facies is chiefly consists of rudist debris, echinoderm and bivalve fragments. In addition, benthic foraminifers are minor constituents. Grains are located in the micritic mud background (Figure 4(h)). This facies is belonging to middle part of mid-ramp) [8].

C) Outer ramp facies group
This facies group consists of one microfacies including:

FC1) Bioclast mudstone to wackestone
This facies belongs to the deepest part of Sarvak Formation in the study area. This mud-supported facies comprised of small rudist, echinoderm and bivalve debris and small foraminifers (Figure 4(i)). The mud-supported nature, a low abundance of benthic fauna and the absence of wave and current patterns show low energy calm environments of the outer ramp (off-shoal) depositional setting [8] [14].

Depositional Environment
The depositional environment of the Sarvak Formation is various from place to place [7] [8]- [17]. In the some areas depositional system of the Sarvak Formation is introduced as ramp-type platform [15] [16] and in the others shelf-type platform (e.g [3] [8]). The gradual changes in the basin slope, the absence of extensive barrier reef, the lack of calciturbidite and gravity sediments as well as the high proportion of grain-supported facies indicated that Sarvak Formation deposited on a carbonate ramp system with gentle gradient, especially on an inner ramp ( Figure 5) (e.g. [26]- [28] [34]).
The Inner ramp setting divided to four sub-environments, including tidal flat, restricted lagoon, open marine lagoon and shoal. The shoal sub-environment was responsible for sedimentation of high-energy facies, while the lagoon was responsible for creation of low-energy facies (Figure 5).
The lagoon sub-environment is marked by the presence of mud-dominated nature (mainly mudstone and wackestone), shallow water fauna (especially benthic foraminifer, gastropods and sponge spicule) and peloid grains. This region was strongly influenced by micro-organisms, which was inferred from the prevalence of micritic envelope coated most of grains. In addition, living organisms actively influenced the lagoon zone and bioturbation is prevalent in this sub environment. The shoal sub-environment is characterized by the existence of grain-dominated and high-energy facies nature (mainly packstone and grainstone) and the abundance of rudist debris. The formation, fragmentation and reworking of the rudist structures is prevalent in different parts of shoal.

Conclusion
The Sarvak Formation is the second largest petroleum reservoir horizons in the South and Southwest of Iran, mainly consists of carbonate successions. According to petrographic analysis and facies studied thirteen microfacies are identified in the Sarvak formation in the studied area, that are grouped in three facies groups including inner ramp, mid ramp and outer ramp. Thus, depositional environment of the Sarvak formation is a carbonate ramp with gentle slope that is composed of different sub-environments such as tidal flat, lagoon and rudist shoal, fore shoal and off-shoal.