Department of Geology

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Department of Geology has more than 17 academic staff members

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Mr. Abdalraheem Mohammed Mohammed Huwaysh

Publications

Some of publications in Department of Geology

Petrography and Diagenesis of `as Sarir Formation` in Abu Attifel Oil Field, Sirt Basin, Libya

Abstract The Sirt Basin is one of the youngest sedimentary basins in Libya and covers an area of approximately 600.000 km² in north central Libya. It is located on the northern margin of the African plate, with approximate coordinates 14°00`- 20°00`E and 28°00`-31°00`N. The Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous as Sarir Sandstone in the Sirt Basin evolved as a consequence of the interplay between global eustasy and regional tectonics. As Sarir Sandstone of the eastern Sirt Basin is composed mainly of sandstones and shales resting unconformably on a basement complex of igneous and metamorphic rocks. It is unconformably overlain by the Upper Cretaceous sediments of Maragh, Lidam and Etel formations. It has been subdivided into three members. The upper member consists mainly of sandstones with intercalations of siltstones and shales of variable thickness. The middle member consists of shale and silty shale. The basal part of the formation, which rests directly on the crystalline basement represents the lower member. It is comprised of sandstone with subordinate intercalations of siltstones and shale. Two main facies have been recognized on the basis of lithological features and types of stratifications: which consist mainly of shale and intercalation of silt and sand. The Middle Shale Member consists mainly of shallow lake deposits, containing black shale facies. Continental Fluvial Deposits represent most of the cored interval and it belongs to the Upper as Sarir Sandstone. These facies have been subdivided into braided and meandering lithofacies: The braided depositional system, has been recognized in three different intervals of the studied cores; classified as subfacies (1), subfacies (2) and subfacies (3). The meandering depositional system, represents three sub-environments including point bars, abandoned channels and over-bank deposits. The reservoir characteristics of these sediments are studied on the basis of porosity, permeability and reservoir zonation. The reservoir quality of As Sarir Formation is largely controlled by primary sedimentary features associations, which were shaped by the depositional environments. Meandering Lithofacies are formed from continuous sand successions and show good porosities, up to 18.51%, and permeabilities up to 125.5mD. The Braided Lithofacies also show good reservoir quality, but the effective porosity and permeability are lower, because of associated shales. The most important diagenetic features responsible for a reduction in reservoir quality are those resulting from compaction, cementation, and the diagenesis of clay minerals.
صلاح الدين محمد الوحيشي (2014)
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Sedimentological Aspects of the Sarir Sandstone in Messla Oil Field, Southeastern Sirt Basin, Libya

Abstract The Sarir Sandstone in Messla Oil Field are of Lower Cretaceous ageAptian Alpian and occur in the subsurface of the eastern part of the Messla high in the southeast Sirt Basin. The Sarir Sandstone interpret as fluvial and alluvial fan deposits whereas the Lower Sarir Sandstone were deposited in a braided system as inter-channel bars. The Upper Sarir Sandstone were deposited in the meandering belt of the fluvial system. The Sarir Sandstone is on-lapping Formation and wedge out against Rakb Group. The Sarir Sandstone is unconformable overlies the Pre-Cambrian Basement and unconformable overlain by the Upper-Cretaceous Rakb Group where it is pinching (wedging) out against the Bald Basement; Messla High)). Lithostratigraphic correlations of borehole logs ((well logs)) in concession 65 suggests that deposits gradually downed a fault controlled topographic surface increased in thickness on the down-thrown side of a fault controlled the topographic surface of Pre-Upper Cretaceous Unconformity. IV M. Sc. Hassin Haweel “Sedimentological Aspects of the Sarir Sandstone in Messla Oil Field”, 2015 Core Samples record mainly sandstone units interbedded with sandstone and shale and minor streaks and the Red Shale Unit. Estimation of depositional environment has thus been made from grain size analyses using thin sections. Petrographic studies show that the Sarir Sandstone in composition from (subarkose to arkosic arenite). The Sandstones range from texturally immature to submature, however, much of the clay content is diagenetic in origin and not a function of the depositional regime. Diagenetic studies reveal a gnite complex paragenesis. During early diagenesis, the Sarir Sandstones were modified by Calcite, dolomite, and locally pyrite, diagenesis process; replacements of corroded silica by carbonates. Cementation fluvial sandstones Intrastratal dissolution and precipitation of kaolinite in the resulting pore space. Deformation of micas between more resistant grainy pre-dates one phase of quartz overgrowth, probably the carbonates.The purpose of this study was to investigate in detail the characteristics of the Sarir Sandstone in Messla Oil Field. Another aim was to find out the relation to the adjacent area. The method of this study was conducted with the review of the previousworks in Messla Oil Field; published papers, the open file of the Arabian Gulf Oil Company (AGOCO), well files for the data to be used in constructing maps, cross sections and profiles. Four cored wells (418 feet) V M. Sc. Hassin Haweel “Sedimentological Aspects of the Sarir Sandstone in Messla Oil Field”, 2015 were used for the core descriptions and cut samples that represent the Sarir Sandstone and (130) thin sections were used for the Petrographic analysis with polarized and scanning electron microscopes (SEM). On the other hand, XRD and XRF were not available. The results of the study were: Subsurface investigations including cores (conventional and side walls), petrographic analysis, and wire-line logs suggested that this formation (Sarir Sandstone) can be divided in to three main units in Messla Oil Field; these units are: The Lower Sarir Sandstone, the Red Shale, and the Upper Sarir Sandstone. In the adjacent area Sarir Formation was divided in to five members; Pre-Upper Cretaceous Member-1 unconformably overlying Pre-Cambrian Basement, and upwards; Member 2, Member 3, Member 4, and Member 5 unconformably overlain by Rakb Group. The Lower Sarir Sandstone in Messla Oil Field is characterized by the presence of gravely sandstone, gradually changes in to the Red Shale. Also, from the core descriptions plotted sheets, and the well logs it is finning upwards. The quarzitic sandstones of (the Lower and the Upper Sarir Sandstones) are considered to be the main producing horizons where quartz grains have undergone a complex diagenetic history, including: Authigenesis, quartz and feldspar overgrowths, dissolution, carbonates cementation, and replacement. The principal conclusion was that: the gravelly sandstone unit at the Lower part of the Lower Sarir Sandstone was deposited, most likely in a braided system as inter-channel bars. The sandstone unit of the Upper Sarir VI M. Sc. Hassin Haweel “Sedimentological Aspects of the Sarir Sandstone in Messla Oil Field”, 2015 Sandstone was deposited in the meandering belt of the fluvial system. The shale facies of the Red Shale unit represents a well-developed break between the Lower Sarir Sandstone and Upper Sarir Sandstone units; it also provides a good seal for the underlying sandstone of the Lower Sarir Sandstone. The nature of the shale facies, (i.e. lack of organic content, and presence of oxidizing conditions indicated by iron oxides color, indicate that they are not a significant source of hydrocarbons. On the other hand, the Rakb Shale isthe only source rock in the studied and adjacent areas.
حسين محمد علي حويل (2015)
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The Basaltic Intrusions of Central Jabal Nefusah Foothills

Abstract The basaltic Intrusions of the Central Jabal Nafūsah Foothills which extend from NW Wādi Zāret to NE Wādi Ghān Dām are part of the latest stage of Gharyān Volcanic Province (GVP). These intrusions are classified on basis of their shape and mechanism of emplacement into four kinds of volcanic bodies. These are; sheets (dykes and a sill), dykes associated with volcaniclasts, volcanic cone and lava mounds. Generally, the dyke emplacements are restricted only to the area between Wādi Zāret to Abū Ghaylān, while the other forms extend from Rās al Mazūl Dome to Wādi Ghān Dam. The more differentiated rocks are restricted to the area between Rās al Mazūl Dome and Wādi Ghān. Farther west towards Wādi Zāret, ultramafic xenoliths and magnesium-number increase, suggesting closer proximity to the source. The rocks are essentially alkaline with within Intraplate signatures. They straddle the composition from picrites, basanites, alkali basalts through hawaiites, mugearite to benmoreites with a compositional gap between the last two types. Generally, the phenocrysts are represented by foresteritic olivine, Cadiopsidic pyroxene, magnesiotaramitic amphibole, plagioclase, K-feldspar and titanomagnetite. The chemical composition of the mafic minerals indicates that they are high pressure phenocryst phases. The most primitive picrites satisfied the criteria of primary mantle melts. The rocks are generally, enriched in LILE suggesting an enriched mantle source. The studied rocks were grouped into five groups based on incompatible trace element ratios; Group-A includes picrite, basanites and hawaiites, and Group-B includes picrite (Z-3), basanites , alkali basalts, and hawaiites, while Group-C is formed of hawaiites, Group-D is composed of mugearite and Group-E is made up of benmoreites. Picrites and basanites of these rock have high Mg-number (>0.64), high Cr and Ni contents and strong light rare earth element enrichment, but systematic depletion in Rb, K and Ba relative to trace elements of similar compatibility in anhydrous mantle. Alkali basalts and more differentiated magmatic rocks have lower Mg-number and lower abundances of Ni and Cr, and have undergone fractionation of mainly olivine, clinopyroxene, Fe–Ti oxide, amphibole and plagioclase. The variation in the concentrations of major, trace, rare earth elements, and incompatible element ratios in the rock samples demonstrate the heterogeneous character of their source region. Such heterogeneity can be interpreted by the involvement of a heterogeneous mantle reservoir to different degrees of partial melting. The REE data require residual spinel stability peridotite field in the source and constrain the melting process of Group-C and Group-D to 2% to 3.5% degrees of melting respectively, Group-A and Group-B both to 5% degree of partial melting while Group-E to 10% degree of partial melting of spinel lherzolite xenoliths of Al Ourban area. Mass balance modelling of the major suggests two possible FC scenarios; Derivation of basanites and hawaiites of group-A from G-3 picritic parental magma. Derivation of Group-D and Group-E was also possible from these basanites. Derivation of basanites of Group-B from Z-3 picrite parental magma and simultaneous derivation of G-4 and QJ-1 alkali basalts from Z-3 picrite parental magma. V Simple mass-balance calculations suggest that the melting assemblages of picrites and basanites consisted of forsteritic olivine, diopsidic clinopyroxene, Ti-magnetite. While the alkali basalts and more differentiated magmatic rocks, mass-balance calculations suggest that the melting assemblages consisted of sodic plagioclase, magnesiotaramitic amphibole, diopsidic pyroxene, Ti-magnetite, K-feldspar with sub amounts of apatite and sphene.
سمية عون (2015)
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