The Role of Stratigraphy in Growth Strata Studies : A Case Study of the Early Cretaceous Deposits in the Persian Gulf , SW Iran

The growth strata was investigated in the Early Cretaceous deposits including Fahliyan, Gadvan and Dariyan formations in the Well 3 that is located between QatarFars height and Hormuz Strait in Persian Gulf. This study is based on the lithostratigraphic analysis and microfossils distribution. Lithostratigraphically, the Well 3 is divided into three rock units including Fahliyan, Gadvan and Dariyan. Based on the microfossils content, the age of studied successions is Berriasian to Aptian. The comparison of seismic studies, lithostratigraphic analysis and microfossils distribution show that growth and generation of anticlines construct in the Early Cretaceous. As a result, the Fahliyan, Gadvan and Dariyan rock units have potential reservoir and oil trap.


Introduction
The Early Cretaceous deposits in the Zagros basin and Persian Gulf have been divided into several rock units including Fahliyan, Gadvan, Dariyan and Kazhdumi formations [1].The lithological diversity of the Early Cretaceous deposits shows unstable environmental conditions and active tectonic resulting from subduction of Arabian Plate beneath Iranian Plate [2] [3] [4].In order to reconstruct tectonic process and paleogeo-How to cite this paper: Ghaseminia, F., Daneshian, J., Soleimany graphic map of the Early Cretaceous deposits, lithostratigraphic and biostratigraphic studies have been performed.Investigation of lithostratigraphic characteristics of the Early Cretaceous deposits in the studied well is more effective in order to recognize source and reservoir rocks [5] [6].The present study has focused on the growth strata in the Early Cretaceous deposits based on the lithostratigraphic characteristics, biostratigraphic analysis and seismic interpretations.The aim of performing growth strata is to investigate the tectonic transformations of the studied well [7] [8] [9].Growth strata are deposits that are deposited concurrent with tectonic activities such as folding in an area and have an important status in formation of oil traps which have stratigraphicgeological structure.Indeed, folds can be a place for storing and accumulating oil and gas.When folding takes place in an area, concurrent with the growth of the structure of deposits, growth strata are deposited and these deposits are effective in dating the age of tectonic transformations [10] [11] [12].
In this research, stratigraphy and growth strata studies are combined for the first time.The results of this research can assist in detecting and identifying oil traps and their evolution along geological periods [13] [14].For this purpose, the Early Cretaceous deposits have been investigated in one of the well in the Persian Gulf.

Geological Setting
The Zagros mountains in south west of Iran are considered as part of the Alpine-Himalaya Mountains [15] [16].The Zagros mountains are located in northwest of the Persian Gulf and are affected by the Early Cretaceous to present Zagros orogeny.
From the Middle Eocene to Early Miocene, the Arabian Plate began to impact with Central Iran and the Zagros belt orogeny is generated.The collision of the Arabic Plate and Zagros mountains is created the topography of the Persian Gulf [17] [18].Persian Gulf is a marginal sea situated on continental shelf and its downhill is towards Oman Sea.Persian Gulf is 200 -300 km wide and covered an area about 226,000 km 2 .Morphologically, Persian Gulf is asymmetrical form and its slope is toward Arabic coast.
The southern shore of the Persian Gulf consists of evaporation and tidal flat environments, while the northern shore comprises of hard and high rock units.The low-slope southern shore of the Persian Gulf and its shallow sea was formed anticlines with northern-southern trend like Saudi Arabia basement trend.The anticlines of Qatar, Roodkhan, and Bahrain have often constituted low-slope topography view controlled by fault systems.The northern shore of the Persian Gulf is clift shore with a north west trend and height of anticline reach to 1500 m.Therefore, the northern shore structures of the Persian Gulf are different with southern shore structures, geometrically.Generally, the present deposits of the Persian Gulf become more fine-grained from the shore towards the depths.Currently, the deepest facies of the Persian Gulf is argillaceous limestone [19] [20].Geologically, Persian Gulf is a shallow subduction formed during Neogene period in the southern margin of the Zagros mountains.The northern shore of the Persian Gulf has been folded by foldings of Pliocene-Pleistocene period.The main trend of the Persian Gulf is one of the geological consequences of the Zagros folding event formed during Pliocene-Pleistocene period.The studied well is located in the Persian Gulf between the heights of Qatar-Fars and Hormuz Strait (Figure 1).

Materials and Methods
The Early Cretaceous deposits in the Well 3 in the Persian Gulf were investigated.This well has been drilled and sampled by National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC).A total of 73 thin section were prepared and analyzed in order to determine lithostratigraphy, biostratigraphy and growth strata analysis.Thin sections were stained by potassium ferricyanide and alizarin-red S solution Biostratigraphic analysis are based on studies of [21] [22] [23].Also, the frequency of the benthic microfossils was determined.The boundary between formations were determined by lithostratigraphic characteristics and microfossil distribution, and then growth strata of deposites was studied.The study method of growth strata is based on In-line study and also flatted of headformations by Karizma application.After the operation of seismic processing, the interpretation of seismic data was started.This operation requires thorough examination of the data and the results of operations and can require seismic lines.The most obvious characteristics of the Karizma application is the show of data into spectrum the application to is designed to display seismic lines recorded by the receivers used in seismic survey and is able to display two-dimensional seismic lines into three-dimensional lines form.This means that the application takes the received records by a straight line receiver (Inline or crossline) and to the then shows ups and downs (peak and trough) which indicates a change in flank and its direction Growth strata of the Early Cretaceous deposits were recognized by the determination of thickness difference of headformations.

Lithostratigraphy
The drilled thickness in the Well 3 is 2220 m and consists of the Surgah to Kangan formations.The Early Cretaceous deposits with 365 m in this well consist of Fahliyan, Gadvan and Dariyan formations.The thickness of the Fahliyan Formation is 172 m and lithostratigraphically consists of limestone, shale, sandstone and dolomite.The thickness of the Gadvan Formation is 81 m and lithostratigraphically consists of limestone and dolomite.Also, the thickness of Dariyan Formation is 112 m and lithostratigraphically consists of argillaceous limestone, shale and dolomite.

Biostratigraphy
The biostratigraphic framework of the Early Cretaceous deposits in south west of Iran studied by Wynd.Wynd has introduced 1 Facies, 6 Assemblage zones, and 1 Subzone in the Early Cretaceous deposits in south west of Iran and summarized them in Table 1.Biostratigraphic studies led to recognition of 3 species belonging 11 genera of benthic foraminifera in the studied well.Based on the recognized fossil in the Early Cretaceous deposits, two biozones were identified in the Falyian and Dariyan formations and these biozones were adaptable with biozone 14 and 16 indicated by Wynd.The distribution of benthic foraminifera and algaes has been plotted on the biostratigraphic column (Figure 2).Most of recognized fossils were destroyed by diagenetic process.Due to absence of index microfossils and dolomitization process, no biozone was identified in the Gadvan Formation.The following assemblages were identified for this study:
Due to lack of index microfossils and Widespread dolomitization in the Gadvan Formation, no biozone has been introduced in this formation.Examples of the genera and species of benthic foraminifera and algaes were shown in Figure 3.

Discussion
The growth strata studies is based on lithostratigraphic characteristics and stratigraphic distribution of microfossils in the studied well.In this way, the headformations are recognized by the obtained information from lithostratigraphic and biostratigraphic analysis and seismic information.So far, numerous oil fields have been detected in the Persian Gulf and most of these oil fields are explorated in the anticline structures.The growth strata studies is very important in identifying these oil traps.One of the different types of oil traps is folded type which has various subtypes.First subtype, are formed under the influence of compressional force and eventually folding.Second, they are developed in response to the difference between compressional deposits, and finally, is related to diapiric process [24] [25] [26] [27].The first type or anticline traps are result of compressional forces and is formed in regions such as active margins of continents where the crust undergoes shortening [25] [28] [29] [30].In the Zagros Basin and Persian Gulf regions, different types of anticline traps are recognized.Tectonic activities are most important in making oil traps and lead to folding of deposits.For this reason, the deposits are divided into three groups based on these activities [26] [31] [32] [33].(I) Pertectonic: these deposits are initial deposition in basins and are usually formed in response to factors such as weathering and erosion and then transfer to basin such as seas and lakes.The most important characteristic of these deposits are their equal thickness.(II) Syntectonic: these deposits are usually settled in basins concordant with tectonic activities [27] [34], and greatly assist in interpretation of the tectonic activities in the area.Also, these deposits are more important in dating the age of tectonic activities.These types of deposits are known as growth strata if they are related to tectonic phenomena such as folding [28] [35].The growth strata in anticlines are recog-nized with characteristics such as variable thickness, fanning form, and alteration of the slope from edge to the top.(III) Posttectonic: these deposits are usually formed following tectonic activities in the basins.The thickness of these deposits are absolutely equal, and are deposited in the basins following extension or pressure.During the formation of an anticline in response to compressional forces concordant to deposotion, the growth strata was formed in the sides of anticline.The thickness of these deposits decreases from the side towards the top of the anticline and shows growth and formation of the anticline [29] [36] [37].To investigate the growth strata in the studied well, first the In-line is identified (horizontal line used in interpretation of seismic information of an anticline structure) and then with using the In-line study, the growth strata is identified in the intervals between Hith and Dariyan formations (Figure 4) [38].The difference in thickness between the Hith and Dariyan formations was determined in the edges and head of the structure considering the seismic interpretation and headformations data obtained from lithostratigraphy and stratigraphic distribution of microfossils.This difference in the thickness of deposition is observed from the edge towards the head of the structure and it decreases toward the head.The deposits that are settled during the Early Cretaceous in studied well represent growth of the structure at this period.The thickness of the studied formations at their edge parts suggests growth strata deposits that settled concurrent with generation of the structure.In the next stage, based on flatting of each horizon onto the determined headformations in the studied well, the growth strata analysis was performed.Indeed, variations in deposition at different geological periods are specified by flatting on every horizon or headformation.The difference in thickness between the Hith and Dariyan formations are observed by flattening on Fahliyan and Dariyan horizons (Figure 5, Figure 6).In these intervals, the thickness difference of deposits from the side towards the head of the structure suggests deposition of growth strata in the structure's edges during the Early Cretaceous period.

Conclusion
This study is assigned to lithostratigraphic and biostratigraphic analysis of the Early Cretaceous deposits in Persian Gulf.Lithostratigraphically, the deposits of Early Cretaceous in Persian Gulf consist of limestone, argillaceous limestone, shale, sandstone and dolomite.The biostratigraphic analysis based on benthic foraminifera led to recognition  termination of precise boundaries of every formation, the growth strata of these deposits were studied.By determining the thickness difference in the specified parts, the growth strata in the Early Cretaceous period in the studied region have been recognized.As a result, the generation of the structure has taken place within the Early Cretaceous deposits.

Figure 1 .
Figure 1.The geographical position of the Well 3 in the Persian Gulf, south west of Iran.
The most upper part of the Surmeh Formation and the base of Fahliyan Formation Fars region Tithonian-Neocomian Radiolaria flood facies (No.12)The lower part of the Sarvak and Garu formations Hensonella-Orbitolina-Choffatella assemblage zone (No.16) Dariyan Formation Khuzestan and Fars region, northeastern Lorestan Aptian Conical Orbitolina assemblage zone (No.18)The upper part of the Dariyan Formation Khanekat area in Fars Albian

Figure 2 .
Figure 2. Lithostratigraphic and biostratigraphic column of the Early Cretaceous deposits in the well No.3, Persian Gulf, south west of Iran.

Figure 4 .
Figure 4. Seismic interpretation of studied well together with the information of studied headformations.

Figure 5 .
Figure 5. Flatting on the Fahliyan horizon in the studied well.

Figure 6 .
Figure 6.Flatting on the Dariyan horizon in the studied well.