Khorshid et al. Journal of Science, 2017, Vol. 58, No.

4B, pp: 2118-2127

DOI: 10.24996/ ijs.2017.58.4B.16

ISSN: 0067-2904

Structural and Stratigraphic Study of Hartha Formation in the East

Baghdad Oil Field, Central of Iraq.

Salman Z. Khorshid1, Falih M. Duaij2, Hayder H. Majeed*1

1
Department of Geology, College of Science, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq.
2
Oil Exploration Company, Iraqi Oil Ministry, Baghdad, Iraq.

Abstract
Three-dimensional seismic reflection study was conducted for the Eastern
Baghdad oil field which is located in the middle part of Iraq within Al-Madaaen
province that belong to Baghdad governarate, South of Diyala River , this field
includes two southern parts (S1 and S2), the study area was about 781.905 km 2 for
the upper Cretaceous age, synthetic seismogram was generated from data of EB-5
and EB-1 wells. Saadi reflector was picked and identified to determine the Hartha
Formation. The seismic sections and time slice maps confirmed that the upper
Cretaceous age was affected by faults and the indicators of faults ended within
Hartha Formation and continue to the deeper formations with increasing intensity.
The attribute section was applied on time slice and shows that the area was affected
by normal fault parallel to the structure of the field trends (NW-SE). Time, velocity
and depth maps of Hartha reflector depending on data from wells (EB-1, EB-2, EB-
6, EB-30, EB-52, EB-54) the maps show the structural picture of East Baghdad
structural nose opened toward NW and trending (NW-SE) that confirmed by 3D
volume which prepared for the studied area. DHI was identified as flat spot, dim
spot and sag , when applying attributes like (instantaneous phase and Instantaneous
Frequency) has been proved the absence of hydrocarbons in EB-15 well on other
hand found in adjacent wells such as EB-2 and EB-5 because of facies changes and
not structural change. A scaling facies change was identified at (inline 40910 and
inline 47960) , Mound (inline 48310), as well as the work of the Isochron map,
which was used to find Isopach and a suitable site for drilling wells.

Keywords: Hartha Formation Facies change and Direct Hydrocarbon Indicator

study, upper Cretaceous age-East Baghdad oil field.

‫ وسط العراق‬,‫دراسة تركيبية و طباقية لتكوين الهارثة في حقل شرق بغداد‬

*1‫ حيدر حميد مجيد‬،2 ‫ فالح مهدي دعيم‬،1‫سلمان زين العابدين خورشيد‬
.‫ العراق‬،‫ بغداد‬،‫ جامعة بغداد‬،‫ كلية العلوم‬،‫قسم علم االرض‬1
.‫ العراق‬،‫ بغداد‬، ‫ و ازرة النفط العراقية‬،‫شركة االستكشافات النفطية‬2

‫الخالصة‬
‫تم أجراء دراسة زلزالية انعكاسية باألبعاد الثالثة لحقل شرق بغداد الواقع وسط العراق ضمن قضاء‬
‫ حيث بلغت‬،)S2 ‫ و‬S1( ‫ والذي يتضمن الجزئين الجنوبين‬، ‫ جنوب نهر ديالى‬،‫المدائن التابع لمحافظة بغداد‬
‫ تم عمل االثر المصنع من بيانات‬.‫ للعمر الطباشيري العلوي‬2‫ كم‬509.187 ‫مساحة منطقة الدراسة حوالي‬
‫ وأكدت المقاطع الزلزالية وخرائط‬.‫ تم التقاط عاكس السعدي وتمييزه لتحديد تكوين الهارثة‬. EB-5 ‫البئر‬

_________________________________
*Email:[email protected]
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‫الشرائح الزمنية أن العصر الطباشيري العلوي تأثر بالفوالق وأن مؤشرات الصدع انتهت في تكوين الهارثة‬
‫ على الشريحة الزمنية واظهر أن‬attribute section ‫ تم تطبيق‬.‫وتستمر في التكاوين العميقة مع زيادة شدتها‬
.)NW-SE( ‫ ) بالتوازي مع محور تركيب شرق بغداد‬normal fault ( ‫المنطقة تأثرت بالفوالق االعتيادية‬
‫أظهرت خرائط السرعة و الزمن لعاكس الهارثة التي استخدمت بيانات من ابار‬
‫( ووضحت ان الصورة التركيبية للحقل‬EB-1, EB-2, EB-6, EB-30, EB-52 and EB-54)
‫( و تم تأكيد ذلك من خالل عمل مكعب‬NW-SE) ‫ و انحداره‬NW ‫عبارة عن خشم تركيبي مفتوح باتجاه‬
(flat spot and dim ( ‫ مثل‬DHI ‫ تم التوصل الى وجود الدالئل الهايدروكاربونية‬.‫زلزالي ثالثي اإلبعاد‬
)Instantaneous phase and Instantaneous Frequency ( ‫ مثل‬Atrributes ‫عند تطبيق‬spot
EB-2 ‫ و‬EB-5 ‫ ووجودها في اآلبار المجاورة مثل‬EB-15 ‫وقد ثبت عدم وجود الهيدروكربونات في بئر‬
.‫وتم تحديد سبب المشكلة وهو تغير سحني وليس تركيبي‬

Introduction
Seismic methods are the most effective, and the most expensive, of all the geophysical techniques
used to investigate layered media and common features to reflection and refraction surveys [1]. The
role of seismic reflection gives more direct and detailed picture of the subsurface geological
structures, it gives seismic sections, time and velocity contour maps to determine a structural trap, as
well as, seismic stratigraphy and seismic facies. The structure of subsurface formation is mapped by
measuring the variation in the reflection times from one place to another on the surface. Depth to
reflecting interface can be determined from the times using velocity information that can be obtained
from reflected signals or from surveys in available wells [2]. The seismic reflection exploration
method passed through numerous development stages from mid last century to present time included
the field survey, data processing and interpretation. Basically, most of conventional survey are
reconnaissance with (2D), while the 3D survey is carried out to estimate the hydrocarbon
accumulations and development of the fields. 3D survey gives huge amount of the seismic data which
permit a better interpretation and gives detailed picture to the subsurface geology [3].
Location of the Study Area
East Baghdad oil field lies in the middle of Iraq and far from the center of Baghdad about 20 Km
to the east [4] the whole south area of East-Baghdad project is 1201 Km2 contains three part (S1, S2
and S3). This study includes two parts (S1 and S2), the area of these two part is 781.905 Km2, this
structure trends in the direction ( NW-SE) with approximately 100 Km length and extends from the
Taji to Azizia area across the Diyala River where most of this structure is covered by agriculture area
[5, 6] Figure-1.

Figure 1- Location map of the study area.

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Loading of 3D Seismic Data

The data of 3Dsiesmic reflection is loaded in pre- stack and post stack time migrated format in
SEG-Y to Geoframe workstation , the base map of the study area is constructed with global
coordinates browser WG 1984 UTM system. This process involves entering the first and last inline
number, the first and last cross line number, the divided space between bin size along inline direction
and cross line direction as shown in Figure-2.

Figure 2-Base map of the study area.

Check-Shot Survey
The best way for velocity measurements is to explode charges of dynamite near the surface be side
a deep borehole and record the arrival times of waves received by geophone that placed inside the
wells at a number of depths spreaded between its top and bottom of the target (Hartha) formation .
After that the data can be comparied to surface seismic data by using the sonic log and creating a
synthetic seismogram [7, 8]. A process of calibration of time curve with depth for sonic and velocity
logs for the purpose of correcting time values of sonic log according to the field velocity survey.
Figure-3 shows the check shot of EB-5. Using of seismic data that cover the well area to extract the
wavelet shapes which dependant in the process of convolution to convert reflection coefficient values
to seismic signal in amplitude.

Figure 3- Shows check shot curve for East Baghdad well-5.

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Synthetic Seismogram Generation

Synthetic seismograms were generated for East Baghdad well-5 using GeoFrame software
package. Synthetic is refered in [9, 10] to the main steps for generation of the synthetic seismogram
which they are:
1. Computing the acoustic impedance ( I = 𝜌 × 𝑣 ) Where:
𝑣: Is seismic velocity.
ρ: Is density measured from density logs. .
2- calculating the reflection coefficients of the vertical incident wave on reflector separating two
groups of time intervals such ( i ) and (i+1) that have values of acoustic impedance (ρi vi) and (ρi+1,
vi+1) respectively. Experimentally, choice of wavelet is made to prepare the synthetic seismogram.
The sonic log data are compared with the well velocity survey which symbolizes the direct method to
measure the geological velocity (average velocity) of geological strata. The synthetic seismogram
traces of the East Baghdad well for EB-5 were generated using programs within the IESX (synthetic
programs). These programs have ability to extract the relation between the time and depth functions in
the well location. This relation is very important in determining the reflection on a time axis of
seismic section and synthetic trace against the require bed in the well. The sonic logs were
transformed from the depth to the time domain using the check shots that were provided and used to
make synthetics from the computed reflectivity series convolved with a Ricker and extraction wavelet
to match the dominant frequency of reprocessed 2D seismic data. After that calibration must be done
on seismic section of the synthetic as shown in Figures-4. This figure shows good matching between
seismic section and synthetic seismogram. The continuity of reflectors, seismic section (VA) which is
passing through well EB-15 that is matching the synthetic trace as shown in Figure-5. The picked
reflectors wavelets appeared as peaks on synthetic trace (positive reflection) but in different intensity.

Figure 4- Shows the synthetic seismogram of EB-15.

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Figure 5- Seismic section (VA) shows the continuity of reflectors passing through well EB-15 that
matchs the synthetic trace very well.

Time Map of base of the Hartha Reflector

Two Way Time map (TWT) of base of Hartha has been prepared with reformatted scale
(1/100000) by using special mapping (CPS3) program with contour interval (10) millisecond, datum
surface represents sea level. The TWT map of base of Hartha Figure- 6 showed that East Baghdad
structure is a nose structure opened toward North West, The closure did not appear because of the
missing of data survey due to the presence of Diyala river. From Figure-6 it is clear that the TWT in
this map at the NW part is less than the SE part, this is because the SE part is deeper than NW
part.This map shows that the structural nose trends to NW-SE direction as well as from tracking
layers that the two small faults are apear in the study area.

Figure 6- Shows Two way time map of base of Hartha Formtion.

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Velocity Map of base of Hartha Reflector

The velovity map is import to find depth of formation. In the current research wells ( EB-2, EB-6,
EB-5, EB-54, EB-1 and EB-52 ) are used to find average velocity and that means the real average
velocity of real reference level to a certain point below the surface [9], then convert the TWT maps to
depth maps. Velocity map of base Hartha with scale (1/100000) and contour interval of (20) m/sec, is
drawn the base map of Hartha velocity values increase in the eastern and south east parts of the study
area and decrease progressively toward south west and north west at shows in Figure -7.

Figure 7- Shows Velocity Map of base of Hartha Formation.

Depth Map of base of the Hartha Reflector
From time map and average velocity maps above, the depth map of base of Hartha reflector with
scale (1/100000), contour interval (20) m is prepared, and the datum surface was sea level.
Depth at any point = OWT × Vav. at that point
It is noted that the depth of base Hartha is less in the northwest because it represents structural nose
and increases toword the east, south and southeast directions, due to the exposure of the region to
subsidence [10]. Figure-8 shows depth map of Hartha.

Figure 8- Shows depth map of Hartha.

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Interpreting Amplitude
By studying the amplitude sections accurately and applying seismic attributes and flattening
technique to determine the areas where Direct Hydrocarbon Indicator (DHI) is located like dim,
bright and flat spot. When determining a phenomenon (DHI), that focused it and return to the
geological information of the area studied. Dim spot is a local low amplitude seismic attribute
anomaly that can mark the existence of hydrocarbons and is therefore known as a direct
hydrocarbon indicator ( DHI ).Whereas flat spot is a seismic attribute anomaly that is shown as a
horizontal reflector cutting across the stratigraphy elsewhere exist on the seismic image[11]. Figure-9
seismic section, shows the EB-6 penetrates flat spot, dim spot and fault in inline 49180.

Figure 9- Seismic section, shows the EB-6 penetrates flat spot,dim spot and fault in inline 49180.

Seismic Attributes
In this section the Instantaneous phase and Instantaneous frequency are studied to show the facies
in the study area as follows:
1-Instantaneous Phase
It is one type of the attributes that used to detect direct hydrocarbon indicator (DHI), which range
between +/-180 degree discontinuity that occurs with instantaneous phase. Reflectivity of intensity is
an influential tool to recognize bright and dim spots. Phase knowledge is advantageous in delineating
such interesting features as faults, onlaps, and prograding reflections [12, 13]. A track was taken
passing through wells EB-5, EB-15, EB-2 and EB-24 to determine the reason for the lack of oil in the
Well 15 and its presence in other wells . The difference between well EB-15 and well EB-5 that
contain oil, the well EB-5 shows in 1390 ms but the comparison between EB-15 with EB-2 and EB-
24 that have oil the problem take place in with 1415 ms , in both cases, there was facies change
around the EB- 15 well , which prevents hydrocarbon from reaching it .as shows in Figure-10 .

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Figure 10- Shows facies change between track(EB-5, EB-15, EB-2 and EB-24) wells.

2- Instantaneous Frequency
One of the attributes applications used to determine the location of hydrocarbons . The
instantaneous frequency application between two wells section to know and confirm the problem of
the presence of oil in well EB- 5 and not being in the well EB-15. The instantaneous frequency value
at well EB-5 is low, this indicates that it is porus, while when moving to a EB-15 well the
instantaneous frequency value starts to increase with low pores [14,15] . The Figure -11 with inline
43890 shows exist facies change between the (EB-5 and EB-15 ) wells that prevents the arrival of
hydrocarbons.

Figure 11- Shows Instantaneous Frequency inline 43890.

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Facies Change
A lateral or vertical differentiation in the lithologic or paleontologic features at the same time of
deposition [16]. It shows a change in the depositional environment . In Figure-12 with inline 40910
shows facies change, this result from variation at the sea level in this period. This difference reflects
that the Hartha Formation is a beach area with a shelf environment, also noted the absence of the
upper part of the Hartha Formation in the north-western part of the field that indicates that this area
has been rose and eroded. Figure-13 shows two mounds and Normal Faults of Hartha Formation in
inline (48310).

Figure 12- Shows the facies change of Hartha Formation in inline 40910.

Figure 13- Shows mound on Hartha Formation in inline 48310.

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Conclusions
The following conclusions can be derival from this research :-
1. Time slice map of base of Hartha showed the presence of faults in Cretaceous formations and the
seismic sections showed the effect of faults on deeper formations and these faults end with Hartha
Formation.
2. The TWT and depth maps of base of Hartha reflector showed that the structural picture of East
Baghdad field as a structural nose opened toward NW . The values of TWT are low at the NW
parts of the study area this indicates that this side is uplifted, on other hand the SE part of the
study area is lower in the NW part because the TWT is high.
3. The area is exposed to rise due to faults and the presence of uncomformity in the northwestern
part as well as the disappearance of the upper part of the Hartha Formation that indicates the area
was exposed to erosion.
4. The reason for the lack of oil in EB- 15 well is due to facies change that means the reason is
stratigraphy not structure, because there is no fault near this well.
5. The application of seismic attributes between wells EB-15 and EB-5 shows that there is a
difference in the lithology and that the frequency value is low at the well 5 indicating that the
porosity is high and vice versa for well EB-15.

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