Evaluation of the depositional environments of Upper Cretaceous strata in the Balambo-Garau sub-basin of the Zagros Foldbelt in western Iran into eastern Iraq provides insight into the distribution of reservoir and seal units, as well as potential trapping configurations. Such mapping within the upper sequences of the Cretaceous suggests a larger impact of Proto-Zagros flexure and localized re-activation of deeper seated structural trends in Iraq and Iran. Environment of deposition and unit thicknesses have been mapped and evaluated across western Iran into eastern Iraq using well logs and biostratigraphic data. From the middle Turonian to Santonian, outer-shelf argillaceous limestones overlie proximal to middle- shelf limestones. The deepening of the sub-basin, part of a broader trend of platform carbonates and associated deeper shelf and basinal facies, is concurrent with eustatic sea-level rise, but may also be affected by large-scale Cenomanian-Turonian adjustment. Environmental belts narrow and deposits lap onto highs exposed by localized uplifts as a result of the reactivation of deep-seated structural trends originating in the Permian (or possibly basement?). Outer- to middle-neritic sediments of the Ilam Formation, which onlap local structural highs, are higher quality reservoir facies of Coniacian–Santonian age and, where sealed, may be potential traps.
Deposits of the latest Campanian to Maastrichtian also show deepening of lower-shelf and basinal environments within the study area. Non-deposition and onlap of deeper water carbonate wackestone to marls onto highs in the Dezful embayment may further reflect the localized reactivation of deeper seated structural trends. Siliciclastic sediments of the Tanjero Formation shed from highs to the northeast are associated with paleogeographic reversal of the Proto-Zagros, depositing turbidites within the proximal thrust-front basin. Despite time-equivalent prolific oil-producing reservoir intervals in Iraq, ongoing deepening due to the Proto-Zagros Foreland Thrust results in largely non-reservoir marl facies of the Gurpi Formation acting as a seal to the underlying units. The Tarbur Formation, present in the Fars region, consisting of shallow-water rudist grainstone and packstone suggests a lack of accommodation created in association with the Proto-Zagros subsidence event.
Tectonostratigraphic trends of the Upper Cretaceous of the Zagros region of western Iran and eastern Iraq show the transition of a relatively quiescent ramp increasingly affected by localized effects of the Cenomanian-Turonian adjustment along with the Maastrichtian inception of Proto-Zagros thrusting and elucidates their impact on reservoir, seal and potential trap distribution within proven and unproven hydrocarbon systems in Iraq and Iran.
