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

Abstract

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.