Arab J Geosci
DOI 10.1007/s12517-014-1277-2
ORIGINAL PAPER
The Mishrif, Yamama, and Nahr Umr reservoirs petroleum
system analysis, Nasiriya oilfield, Southern Iraq
Amer Jassim Al-Khafaji
Received: 3 October 2013 / Accepted: 3 January 2014
# Saudi Society for Geosciences 2014
Abstract Forty rock samples were taken from cores and
cuttings, and five oil samples were taken from Mishrif, Nahr
Umr, and Yamama formations in the Nasiriya oilfield wells, of
longitudinal, asymmetrical anticline structure, of about 34 km
length and 13 km width located at the unstable plat form,
Mesopotamian basin zone. Three major oil reservoirs in the
Nasiriya oilfield: (1) Late Cenomanian–Early Turonian
Mishrif Formation with reserved oil approximately 1,009
million tons show measured porosities up to 40 % and the
oils are aromatic, medium gravity, high sulfur content, and
interpreted as being sourced from: type II/III carbonate rocks
interbedded and deposited in a reducing marine environment
with high salinity based on biomarkers and isotopic analysis;
Middle–Upper Jurassic age is based on sterane ratios analysis
of isoprenoids and isotopes, and thermally mature source
rocks. (2) The reservoirs of the Albian Nahr Umr of approx-
imately 68 million tons reserved oil show measured porosities
up to 23 %. (3) Late Berriasian–Early Valanginian Yamama
formations of 275 million tons reserved oil measured porosi-
ties up to 28.8 %. The Nahr Umr and Yamama reservoirs oils
are saturated, light to medium API gravity, low to medium
sulfur content which are usually derived from marine shale
and carbonate source rocks (containing type II kerogen). The
upper seal is the Middle Miocene anhydrites of the Lower Fars
Formation and the lower regional seal is Upper Jurassic
Gotnia anhydrites. Source rock geochemical analysis suggests
for all Cretaceous source rocks samples, immature to mature,
and shows that the Sulaiy and Yamama formations to be of
good quality source rock with high total organic carbon (up to
8 wt% TOC). The Lower Cretaceous source rocks were de-
posited in a suboxic–anoxic basin and show good hydrogen
indices, and are likely to have charged the reservoirs with low
A. J. Al-Khafaji (*)
College of Science for Women, Babylon University, Babylon, Iraq
e-mail: a.alkhafaji@uobabylon.edu.org
amounts of hydrocarbons, during the Miocene. The most
likely source rock for the Mishrif-, Yamama-, and Nahr
Umr-reservoired oils are the Middle–Upper Jurassic source
rock. The migration from the source rock is likely to be largely
vertical and possibly along faults before reaching highly per-
meable reservoirs of the reservoir formations. Structural traps
in the Mishrif, Nahr Umr, and Yamama formation reservoirs
are likely to have formed in the Late Cretaceous.
Keywords Mishrif . Yamama . Nahr Umr . Nasiriya oilfield .
Petroleum system
Introduction
The Iraqi Petroleum Company through a seismic investigation
which covered southern part of Iraq (Nasiriya–Hilla–Diwania)
has discovered Nasiriya Oil Field in 1975 of the past century.
The structure of Nasiriya consists of longitudinal, asymmetri-
cal anticline with a NW–SE axis direction, it is about 34 km
length and 13 km width at Mishrif surface reflection (SOC
report 1975), the field located at the unstable platform—
Mesopotamian Basin zone (Buday 1980). It is situated
38 km North West of Nasiriya city (Fig. 1).
Basement rocks depth varies between 9 and 10 km (Jassim
and Goff 2006). The region is not structurally complex, where
strong structural movements did not affected the stratigraphy
column, as the case in the eastern regions of Iraq, during the
Upper Jurassic–Cenomanian period. Nasiriya structure was
generated during the Miocene because of a lateral movement
related to the Alpian orogeny, which led to the development of
the structure and increase in capacity, with the survival of its
linear form. Nasiriya structure is one of the structures in the
area resulting from the presence of heights near the basement
rocks that affected the Paleozoic and Mesozoic formations
(Buday 1980).
 Arab J Geosci

Fig. 1 Location map of the studied wells along with oilfields

Arab J Geosci
Materials and analytical scheme
Three Mishrif-reservoired oil samples were taken from wells
Ns-1 and Ns-3, and two Yamama- and Nahr Umr-reservoired
oil samples were taken from Ns-1 oil well. Geochemical
source rock analysis was conducted on 40 samples taken from
cores and cuttings in wells in the Nasiriya oilfield.
Geomark Research Ltd. in Houston (Texas, USA) per-
formed the analysis of samples using gas chromatography,
gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, carbon isotope,
TOC analysis, and pyrolysis in 2010 and other TOC, pyroly-
sis, and some oil samples analysis were perform in the labo-
ratories of the Iraqi Oil Exploration Company (IOEC) during
the year 1993.
Nasiriya oilfield total petroleum system
The essential elements required for petroleum accumulation in
the Mesopotamian Basin are Upper Jurassic-–Lower
Cretaceous source rocks. This sequence is proven active
source rocks in the South Mesopotamian Basin, southern
Iraq (Al-Ameri et al. 2009; Al-Khafaji 2006, 2010; Abeed
et al. 2013).
The reservoir horizons are mostly of Cretaceous ages.
Either seal rocks from unconformities or tighten shales, silt-
stones. Paleogene/Neogene traps, in additional to the total
petroleum system processes: generation, migration, and accu-
mulation are discussed in the following sections:
Cretaceous reservoir formations
Five exploration wells were drilled on Nasiriya structure. Ns-1
oil well drilled on the crest of the structure, while the other
four wells were drilled on aspects of the structure; the oil was
discovered in three formations, they are Yamama, Nahr Umr,
and Mishrif reservoir horizons.
The stratigraphic seals in Nasiriya oilfield are based on
lithostratigraphic sections of Van Bellen et al. (1959) and
well sites descriptions of the studied wells. These are illustrat-
ed in Fig. 2. Lower regional seal of the Upper Jurassic
Kimmeridgian Gotnia anhydrites is an impermeable seal rock
consists of 80 m thickness. It represents the lower seal, which
prevented mixing of hydrocarbon supply from the Jurassic
source rocks to some extent with our Cretaceous petroleum
system.
There are three major oil reservoirs in the Nasiriya oilfield:
1. Mishrif Formation is of Late Cinomanian–Early Turonian
age. It was deposited during the Cenomanian sedimentary
cycle, which was started after a partial regression during
the end of late Albiane (Van Bellen et al. 1959; Sharland
et al. 2001). In addition, it is one of the most important oil
reservoirs in the Mesopotamian Basin, southern Iraq (Al-
Khersan 1975; Aqrawi et al. 1998), containing some 30 %
of Iraq’s total oil reserves (Al-Sakini 1992). It consists of a
bio-chalky limestone; calcareous rocks of different facies
covered many sedimentological environments varies from
a fresh water in the top of the formation to a basinal
environment (Reulet 1982). Mishrif Formation is divided
into two main reservoir units (Fig. 3): the Upper Mishrif
which consists of limonitic clay of chalky limestone and
the Lower Mishrif. The latter is an important reservoir unit
due to rudist deposits (Fig. 4). The formation is charac-
terized by good porosity and permeability values and was
recognized by electrical logs, positive, and SP logs, po-
rosity ranging from 20 to 40 %, increasing towards north-
west the structure; it is represented by highly porous finely
crystalline limestone with interrelations of detrital partly
chalky and dolomitic limestone, and permeability from 30
to 100 md (Fig. 5a). Every part divided into two sedimen-
tary subunits, which are separate by a diagnostic compact
limestone layer.
The average thickness of this formation is about 179 m,
while the reserved oil approximately 1,009 million tons in
the lower part of the formation (Jassim and Goff 2006;
Reulet 1982; Aqrawi et al. 1998).
2. Nahr Umr Formation is of Albian age (VanBellen et al.
1959–2005). It is widespread throughout the
Mesopotamian Zone. Buday (1980) divided the lower
Cretaceous sedimentary cycle in Iraq into two sub-
sedimentary cycles: the first started from the Late
Berriasian to the Aptian, the second sub-sedimentary
cycle is the Alpian which covered Nahr Umr and
Maudud formations. Nahr Umr Formation in its type
locality consists of black shales, interbeded with medium
to fine-grained sands and sandstones with liginite, amber,
and pyrite (Van Bellen et al. 1959–2005). The deposition-
al environments generally are pro-delta and delta-front
which is considered as a deltaic environment affected by
sea currents (Al-Ameri et al. 2001).
The average thickness of the formation is about 119 m;
the reserved oil is approximately 68 million tons. Porosity
ranging from 10 to 23 % and permeability from 50 to 400
md in the upper part of the formation (Van Bellen et al.
1959–2005).
3. Yamama Formation is of Late Berriasian–Early
Valanginian age (Van Bellen et al. 1959–2005). It com-
prises outer shelf argillaceous limestone and oolitic,
pelloidal, pelletal, and pseudo-oolitic shoal limestone.
Three reservoirs units separated by two barriers were
recognized within Yamama Formation (Fig. 3), which
consists of mainly of several facies of calcareous rocks,
which represent different sedimentary environments
(Buday 1980; van Bellen et al. 1959–2005). Yamama

Fig. 2 Stratigraphic column of Nasiriya oilfield with hydrocarbon generation parameters and seal within the total petroleum system of Nasiriya oilfield
Formation generally was deposited in alternating oolitic
shoal and deep inner shelf environments, probably con-
trolled by subtle structural highs within a carbonate ramp,
so it was a vertical accumulation for several separated
reservoirs (Sadooni 1993). Yamama Formation shows
vertical and lateral changes in its lithofacies distribution
because of diagenetic processing. Sadooni (1993) have
demonstrated the importance of Yamama reservoir, which
contains the highest quality oil of the Basra oilfields (to
the south of the study area).
The average thickness of the formation is about 236 m.
The estimated reserved oil in Yamama formation is
Arab J Geosci
around 275 million tons. Upper part of the Formation
was the main reservoir with porosity variety between 6.5
and 28.8 %, permeability variety between 10 to 2,329 md
(Figs. 5b and 6; Van Bellen et al. 1959–2005).
Crude oil geochemistry
To determine the source rocks horizons and to predict the
migration pathways (oil-source rocks and oil-oil correlation)
used, the results of the organic geochemical analyses of source
Arab J Geosci

Fig. 3 Main oil reservoirs in Ns-1 oil well, Nasiriya oilfield, modified (SOC report 1993)

rock samples in addition to thermal maturity. To achieve this
study, five crude oil samples were used.
Firstly, two crude oils from Mishrif reservoir (wells Ns-1
and Ns-3) were analyzed in the laboratories of GeoMark
company in Huston, Texas, USA.
Secondly, three crude oil samples from Mishrif, Nahr Umr,
and Yamama which are already analyzed by SOC in Iraq.
Mishrif oil geochemistry
Alkanes abundance revealed by gas chromatography
(following Hunt 1996), as well as biomarkers following
Seifert and Moldowan (1978) and Peters et al. (2005) and
the trace elements (sulfur, nickel, and vanadium). These con-
stituents could be used for predicting the palaeoenvironments
 Arab J Geosci

Fig. 4 Basic lithological units of the Mishrif sequence and logs of reservoir properties, in Ns-1 oil well, Nasiriya oilfield. Modified from (SOC report
1989)
Arab J Geosci

Fig. 5 a Map of the distribution

of porosity in the oilfield of
Nasiriya (Mishrif Formation). b
Porosity Distribution in Nasiriya
Field (Yamama Formation).
Modified from (SOC report,
1989)

of the source rocks and resistant enough (during oil genera-
tion) to flow with the oil from the source rocks to the reservoir
rocks.
API gravity and sulfur content API gravities average 27±1.5°
with weight percent sulfur 4.26±0.3 %. A comparison with
oils from different petroleum systems is shown in Figs. 7 and
8. Medium gravity, high sulfur crudes are usually derived
from carbonate source rocks (containing type IIS kerogen),
since during diagenesis sulfur can become preferentially in-
corporated in organic matter (kerogen) that eventually gener-
ates high sulfur oils due to insufficient iron (Fe) to scavenge
 Arab J Geosci

Fig. 6 Basic lithological units of the Yamama sequence and logs of reservoir properties, in Ns-1 oil well, Nasiriya oilfield. Modified from (SOC report,
1994)
Arab J Geosci

Fig. 7 Pristane-n C17 versus

Phytane-n C18 plot diagram
(following Peters et al., 2005)
showing marine algal organic
matters of mainly kerogen type II/
III, reducing paleoenvironments
and mature source of the Mishrif
oil and marine algal type II,
reducing paleoenvironment and
mature source of Yamama and
Nahr Umar oil, for the studied
wells in southern Iraq

H2S as pyrite or marcasite (Zumberge and Summons 2004).
V/(V + N) ratio equal to 0.9 indicate marine source organic
matter (Peters et al. 2005; Table 1).
Stable carbon isotopic compositions The stable carbon isoto-
pic compositions of the saturate and aromatic Mishrif hydro-
carbons are all within analytical error, averaging −27.23 and
−27.55‰, respectively (relative to PDB; ±0.1‰). In con-
trast to oils from marine shale, the aromatic isotopic
composition is often isotopically lighter than the saturate
hydrocarbons in low maturity, high sulfur oils. This pat-
tern occurs because high sulfur oils from carbonate source
rocks typically have the most negative CV values (−1.65
average for carbonates and −0.25 average for shale (Sofer
1984); with C15+ aromatic 13C compositions almost as,
or even more, negative than the C15+ saturate 13C
compositions.
From the result of the isotopic analysis presented in
Table 2, negative trending of the carbon isotopes of both
saturated and aromatic hydrocarbons were observe.

Fig. 8 Average API gravity and weight % sulfur of Mishrif-reservoired oils from Nasiriya oilfield, other data points represent average oil values from
150 global petroleum systems from marine carbonate, distal marine shale, marine marl, and lacustrine shale source rocks
 Arab J Geosci

Table 1 Oil samples bulk properties—1 and 2: oil samples analyzed at Table 3 Analysis chart of GC oil biomarkers data for lower cretaceous
GeoMark Comp.); 3, 4, and 5: oil samples analyzed at (IOEC) formations in Nasiriya, Southern Iraq

Oil sample Formation API gravity % S % C15 Ppm V ppmNi Oil Formation Pr/Ph Pr/n-C17 Ph/n-C18 n-C27/n-C17 CPI
sample
1 Mishrif 27.2 4.20 34.9 55 15
2 Mishrif 26.8 4.33 35.7 55 13 1 Mishrif 0.79 0.22 0.33 0.17
3 Mishrif 27.5 4.15 2 Mishrif 0.82 0.23 0.32 0.13
4 Nahr Umr 29.7 2.66 3 Mishrif 0.74 0.37 0.32 0.92
5 Yamama 31.2 2.08 4 Nahr Umr 0.84 0.18 0.29 1.08
5 Yamama 0.55 0.14 0.28 0.95

1 and 2: oil samples analyzed at GeoMark Comp.); 3, 4, and 5: oil

samples analyzed at (IOEC)
Normal alkanes and isoprenoids The very low values of Pr/n-
C17 and Ph/n-C18 for all the samples (Table 3) indicate that
the samples are non-biodegraded. Plots of analyzed Pristine/n-
on the type of the crude oils. As for steranes (at m/z 217 and
C17 versus Phytane/n-C18 are affixed on pristine–phytane
218), the αβ and C29 homologues (Peters et al. 2005). So both
diagram of Hunt (1996), for evaluating kerogen types affini-
tricyclic and pentacyclic (hopanes) terpane biomarker ratios
ties and palaeoenvironments, Fig. 7. The plots of Mishrif oil
confirm the carbonate source rocks origin of the Mishrif-
samples indicate a low biodegradation and high maturation
reservoired oils.
sources. The kerogen source is of mixed type II/III that accu-
The low abundance of C29 steranes further indicates that
mulated in marine carbonate source rocks, dysoxic (low oxi-
there is little or no contribution from terrestrial higher plants
dation and low reduction). Pristane/phytane (Pr/Ph) is an
(Hunt 1996). The relative distribution of C27, C28, and C29
indicator of depositional environment with low specificity
aaa (20S) + (20R) and abb (20S) + (20R) steranes which
due to interference by thermal maturity and source input
shows that the steranes of most oils are shifted towards C27,
(Peters et al. 2005). Low pristane/phytane ratios (0.55–0.84;
from gas chromatography, are also suggestive of carbonate
source rocks for Mishrif oil samples (Table 3).
Table 4 Analysis chart
of GC-MS oil bio- OilMod ratio 1 2
Triterpanes and steranes The pentacyclicterpane, gamma-
markers data for lower
cerane, a biomarker for hypersaline/restricted source environ- cretaceous Mishrif for- C19/C23 0.13 0.12
ments, is uniformly low (GA/C31 hopane<0.24) in all Mishrif mation in Nasiriya oil C22/C21 1.04 0.07
oil samples. The low gammacerane concentration in all the field, Southern Iraq C24/C23 0.27 0.26
samples may indicate that the source rocks were deposited in C26/C25 0.72 0.73
water of normal salinity. Tet/C23 1.17 1.18
The relatively high C24 tetracyclic to C23 tricyclic terpane C27T/C27 0.01 0.01
ratio of 2.65 suggests shallow, warm water, intra-shelf depo- C28/H 0.01 0.01
sitional source rock depositional environments, Table 4 (Al- C29/H 1.60 1.67
Ameri et al. 2009).
C30X/H 0.00 0.00
GC/MS chromatograms of terpanes (m/z 191) are charac-
OL/H 0.00 0.00
terized by the terpane distribution in a wide range from C19 to
C31R/H 0.32 0.33
C35 with C29αβ– and C30αβ–pentacyclichopanes and C23
GA/C31R 0.24 0.23
and C 24 tricyclic terpanes αβ abundant. Steranes and
C35S/C24S 1.11 1.07
triterpanes are most common biomarker constitutions in crude
Ster/Terp 0.18 0.18
oils. These ratios can further provide additional information
Rearr/Reg 0.13 0.12
C27% 34.7 33.4
C28% 25.9 24.9
Table 2 Stable carbone isotope composition δ per mil PDB for Mishrif C29% 39.4 41.8
oil samples (analyzed at GeoMark Comp.) C29 20S/R 0.61 0.61
C27 Ts/Tm 0.18 0.18
Oil sample C15+ saturate C15+ aromatic Canonical variable
C29 Ts/Tm 0.07 0.07
1 −27.23 −27.53 −3.87 DM/H 0.01 0.01
2 27.24 −27.47 −3.72 TAS3(CR) 0.31 0.31
Arab J Geosci

Fig. 9 Average tricyclic terpane

ratios of Mishrif-reservoired oils
from Nasiriya oilfield suggesting
a carbonate source rock. Other
data points represent average oil
values from 150 global petroleum
systems from marine carbonate,
distal marine shale, marine marl,
and lacustrine shale source rocks

indicating the close similarity and marine origin of the source
of the oils (Figs. 9 and 10)
Average hopane ratios of Mishrif-reservoired oils from
Nasiriya oilfield also suggesting a carbonate source rock.
As illustrated in Fig. 11, Peters et al. (2005) reported
many researchers suggesting C28/C29 regular sterane ratios
(αββ 20R isomers based on peak heights from the m/z=
218 mass chromatogram), as <0.4 for Lower Palaeozoic or
older oils, 0.4–0.7 for Upper Palaeozoic–Lower Jurassic
oils and >0.7 for Upper Jurassic to Miocene oils. The
calculated C28/C29 ratio of 0.66, employing both regular
and triaromatic steranes (C27R/C28R; peak areas from the
m/z=231 mass chromatograms) of about 1.3, and weight-
ed using a saturate to aromatic hydrocarbon ratio of about

Fig. 10 Average hopane ratios of Mishrif-reservoired oils from southern Iraq suggesting a carbonate source rock (SR). Other data points represent
average oil values from 150 global petroleum systems from marine carbonate, distal marine shale, marine marl, and lacustrine shale source rocks
 Arab J Geosci

Fig. 11 Calculated average C28/

C29 sterane ratio (0.61; based on
both regular steranes and
triaromatic steranes) of Mishrif-
reservoired oils from southern
Iraq suggesting a source rock of
Middle to Upper Jurassic age

0.49, suggests that the Cretaceous Mishrif-reservoired oils
were generated from Middle to Upper Jurassic carbonate
source rocks.
Oleananes are diagenetic products of function, a
listed angiosperm triterpenoids (Murray et al. 1997)
whose presence in oils indicate an age range from
Cretaceous or younger and higher in tertiary sediments
(Peters et al. 2005). The lack of oleanane indicates that
the oils are derived from pre-Cretaceous source rocks or
source rocks of earliest Cretaceous age, i.e., a time
period when angiosperms did not exist. However, the
interpretation is restricted, because a lack of oleanane
can simply mean that no oleanane precursor was present
in the source rock.
The whole crude oil gas chromatogram indicates a
lack of biodegradation due to the presence of abundant
n-paraffins. The low API gravity and high sulfur and
aromatic content of these oils, Table 5, as well as very
low Ts/Tm terpane ratios which significant scattering
with VR (increasing with increasing maturity), suggest
that these oils were generated from a source rock of low to
moderate thermal maturity within the oil window (Seifert and
Moldowan 1978; Al-Khafaji 2006; Al-Ameri et al. 2009).
Figure 12 shows a geochemical summary sheet for a Mishrif
oil from Ns-1, Nasiriya oilfield.
Nahr Umr and Yamama oil geochemistry
Yamama and Nahr Umr reservoired crude oil samples bulk
properties: API gravities average 31.2° and 29.7°, respec-
tively, with weight percent sulfur 2.08 and 2.66 %, re-
spectively. Light to medium gravity, low sulfur crudes are
usually derived from marine shale and carbonate source
rocks (containing type II kerogen). It might be derived
from the most mature source rocks, generating oils of low
density.
Yamama- and Nahr Umr-reservoired crude oils are more
mature than Mishrif reservoired crude oils, due to their API
and sulfur content, which increase with decreasing maturity,
or sometimes may be formed during early diagenesis. Oils
with low sulfur content belong to the saturated oils (Tissot and
Welte 1984; Peters et al. 2005). The Yamama and Nahr Umar
oils are saturated with,sat/aro ratio equal to 0.89 and 0.94 for
Yamama and Nahr Umr oil samples, respectively. Abeed et al.

Table 5 Fractionation data of the oil samples

Oil sample Formation % Sat % Aro %NSO % Asph Sat/Aro n-Paraffin/naphthene

1 Mishrif 25.0 56.2 13.2 5.6 0.44 0.59

2 Mishrif 24.9 57.4 12.5 5.3 0.43 0.72
3 Mishrif 30.6 50.3 18.6 0.61
4 Nahr Umr 38.38 40.8 20.82 0.94
5 Yamama 39.98 45.1 13.86 0.89

1 and 2: oil samples analyzed at GeoMark Comp.); 3, 4, and 5: oil samples analyzed at (IOEC)
Arab J Geosci

Fig. 12 Example geochemical summary sheet of a Mishrif-reservoired oil from southern Iraq Nasiriya oilfield showing bulk properties, whole oil gas
chromatogram as well as terpane and sterane biomarker mass chromatograms

(2012) suggested that the values of Ts/(Ts + Tm) range be-
tween 0.11 and 0.42, as for 22S/(22S+22R), the highest
values were found for the Yamama reservoir, which is likely
to contain the most mature oil.
Nahr Umr and Yamama reservoired-oil samples plotted in
Figs. 7 and 8, the ratio Ph/n-C18<0.3, Sa/Aro ratio, and low
API following Peters et al. (2005; Tables 2 and 4) indicate
higher reduction, marine anoxic palaeoenvironments and the
kerogen source is of marine algal type II., shale and carbonate
source rocks.
Source rock evaluation
Determination of total organic carbon (TOC), Rock Eval
pyrolysis for the kerogen type, and organic maturation were
 Arab J Geosci

based on the 40 rock samples. They were selected from the Table 6, in additional to 17 rock samples are done in Geomark
Mauddud, Nahr Umr, Zubair, Ratawi, Yamama, Sulaiy, and Research Ltd. in Houston, TX, USA, at 2010.
Gotnia formations and 23 rock samples analyzed in the labo- TOC was measured using LECO. Rock samples were
ratories of the Iraqi Oil Exploration Company (IOEC)in 1993, analyzed using Rock-Eval Pyrolysis.

Table 6 Rock-eval pyrolysis data for lower cretaceous formations in Nasiriya oil field, Southern Iraq

(A)
Sample number Well Formation Depth (m) Leco TOC (WT %) S1 S2 S3 HI OI PI PP Tmax
1 NS-1 Maudud 2,331 0.64 0.8 0.6 1.25 113 236 0.57 1.41 430
2 NS-1 Nhr Umr 2,592 0.65 0.82 0.46 1.17 70 177 0.64 1.28 424
3 NS-1 Zubair 2,601. 3.65 1.06 3.52 0.88 96 24 0.23 4.58 424
4 NS-1 Zubair 2,914 1.15 1.06 1.05 0.85 92 74 0.5 2.11 430
5 NS-1 Zubair 2,950. 4 2.94 3.85 1.58 96 39 0.43 6.79 429
6 NS-1 Zubair 2,955 2.1 0.89 2.05 1.94 78 92 0.3 2.94 429
7 NS-1 Zubair 2,970 3.3 0.84 2.61 4.1 79 33 0.26 3.55 429
8 NS-1 Zubair 2,987 1.08 0.65 0.62 1.13 57 104 0.51 1.27 431
9 NS-1 Rarawi 3,105 0.56 1.3 0.47 1.21 84 216 0.73 1.77 427
10 NS-1 Ratawi 3,119 1.08 3.46 0.77 2.4 71 222 0.82 4.22 423
11 NS-1 Ratawi 3,172 0.52 2.41 0.39 2.21 75 425 0.86 2.8 403
12 NS-1 Yamama 3,229 0.86 0.15 0.6 0.56 70 65 0.2 0.75 419
13 NS-1 Yamama 3,279. 0.65 0.05 0.05 0.15 8 23 0.6 0.1 424
14 NS-1 Sulaiy 3,443 1.11 0.21 032 0.52 29 47 0.4 0.53 432
15 NS-1 Sulaiy 3,463 0.8 0.39 0.52 1.03 66 129 0.42 0.92 430
16 NS-1 Sulaiy 3,482 0.8 0.3 0.41 0.32 51 46 0.42 0.71 431
17 NS-1 Sulaiy 3,504. 0.75 0.5 0.5 0.37 80 49 0.45 1.1 430
18 NS-1 Sulaiy 3,544 0.8 0.33 1.81 0.42 226 52 0.15 2.14 434
19 NS-1 Sulaiy 3, 564. 0.82 0.75 1.72 0.37 210 42 0.3 2.47 432
20 NS-1 Sulaiy 3,572. 0.72 0.89 1.4 0.74 194 103 0.39 2.29 433
21 NS-1 Sulaiy 3,592 0.59 0.93 1.11 0.68 188 115 0.45 2.04 430
22 NS-1 Gotnia 3,629 2.06 2.39 3.37 1.82 162 85 0.41 5.76 434
23 NS-1 Gotnia 3,633 0.58 0.67 0.56 0.83 96 143 0.54 1.23 436
(B)
Sample number Well Formation Depth (m) TOC (WT %) S1 S2 S3 Hi OI PI PP Tmax, °C
1 NS-1 Maudud 2,385.00 0.34 0.33 0.59 0.72 174 212 0.36 0.92 351
2 NS-1 Nhr Umr 2,424.00 1.71 0.59 4.3 0.72 251 42 0.12 4.89 426
3 NS-1 Nhr Umr 2,436.00 1.04 1.05 2.86 0.51 275 49 0.27 3.91 428
4 NS-1 Shualba 2,525.00 0.17 0.18 0.31 0.27 182 159 0.37 0.49 433
5 NS-1 Zubair 2,615.00 6.52 3.78 20.9 1.05 321 159 0.15 24.68 420
6 NS-1 Zubair 2,880.00 0.93 3 1.62 0.68 174 73 0.65 4.62 430
7 NS-1 Ratawi 3,093.00 0.39 0.48 0.71 0.26 182 67 0.4 1.19 431
8 NS-1 Ratawi 3,117.00 0.81 2.72 1.58 1.04 195 128 0.63 4.3 384
9 NS-1 Yamama 3,187.00 0.34 0.53 0.61 0.7 179 206 0.46 1.14 433
10 NS-1 Yamama 3,240.00 0.18 0.15 0.46 0.1 256 56 0.25 0.61 432
11 NS-1 Yamama 3,267.00 1.55 3.72 8.73 0.26 563 17 0.3 12.45 427
12 NS-1 Yamama 3,351.00 0.16 0.26 0.39 0.28 244 175 0.4 0.65 428
13 NS-1 Sulaiy 3,503.00 0.21 0.48 0.55 0.33 262 167 0.47 1.03 430
14 NS-1 Sulaiy 3,526.00 0.39 0.72 1.48 0.29 379 74 0.33 2.2 432
15 NS-1 Sulaiy 3,568.00 0.29 0.59 0.68 0.46 234 159 0.46 1.27 432
16 NS-1 Gotnia 3,613.00 0.66 1.66 1.86 0.48 282 73 0.47 3.52 426
17 NS-1 Gotnia 3,630.00 0.71 1.22 1.33 0.64 187 90 0.48 2.55 430

A: done at OEC, Baghdad, 1993; B: done at GeoMark Co., Texas, 2010

Arab J Geosci
Source rock potential assessment
The organic geochemical results indicate that the Sulaiy and
Yamama formations have a medium petroleum generative
potential (Fig. 13a). Many samples of Sulaiy have a relatively
high hydrogen index (HI), up to 226 mg HC/g TOC, indicat-
ing predominantly types II and III kerogen (Fig. 13c) derived
from marine algal organic matter. This organic matter charac-
terized by high AOM and alginite can generate oil (Al-Ameri
et al. 2009). On the other hand, the analyzed samples with
hydrogen indices between 66 and 226 mg HC/g TOC that
contain mixed Type II–III kerogen can generate oil and gas if
they are subjected to sufficient burial and heating.
Fig. 13 Pyrolysis output plots for source rocks of the Upper Jurassic–
Lower Cretaceous Formations in Nasiriya oilfield, southern Iraq: a Pe-
troleum potential diagram, b Kerogen types and maturity, c Van Krevlen
In addition, production index (PI) and pyrolysis Tmax
were also can be used to indicate the maturation and
nature of the hydrocarbon products (i.e., generated or
migrated). The production index (PI) represents the ratio
of volatile organic matter to the total amount of organic
matter generated from a sample by pyrolysis [S1/(S1 +
S2)]. High production index values are probably due to
migrated hydrocarbons. The generated hydrocarbons in-
crease production index (PI) values and probably cause
the wide scatter of pyrolysis Tmax (Fig. 13b). The rela-
tionship between PI and Tmax indicates that the Sulaiy
samples are thermally mature and the hydrocarbons are
generated (Fig. 13d). Therefore, the Sulaiy Formation is
diagram, d plot of pyrolysis Tmax versus production index (PI), showing
the maturation and nature of the hydrocarbon products of the Sulaiy
Formation samples

an effective source rock for significant oil and limited gas
generation.
In Fig. 13a, b, c and d, Rock-Eval parameters are plotted to
determine the organic matter type, maturation level, and
source quality. They illustrate the following results for each
source rock unit:
& The Upper Jurassic–Lower Cretaceous Sulaiy and the
Lower Cretaceous Yamama formations have the best oil
source potential with TOC values up to 3.7 wt%. They
represent immature to mature (Tmax of 425–436 °C),
kerogen types II and III. These rocks have medium to fair
current petroleum potential and have generated relatively
low amounts of hydrocarbons.
& The Jurassic Najmah and Sargelu formations were
not subjected to pyrolysis because of their position
below the good regional seal of Gotnia Anhydrites.
Fig. 14 Stratigraphic column and hydrocarbon generation potential chart for the Upper Jurassic–Lower Cretaceous rocks in well Ns-1, Nasiriya oilfield
southern Iraq
Arab J Geosci
Accordingly, the most likely source rock for the
Mishrif-, Yamama-, and Nahr Umr-reservoired oils
are the Middle–Upper Jurassic source rock which are
probably responsible for hydrocarbon generation and
expulsion.
A geochemical log to the well Nasiriya-1 showing
Rock-Eval pyrolysis data and total organic carbon
are demonstrated in Fig. 14.
Trapped oil along the migration pathway
The analysis of oil for the recorded oil accumulation Mishrif,
Nahr Umr, and Yamama reservoirs could lead to the direction
of the migration pathway, especially with aid of seismic
Arab J Geosci
Fig. 15 Seismic section along Nasiriya- Diwan oilfields showing migration path to assess hydrocarbon accumulation sites
section (Fig. 15) or any subsurface structural section of the
basin.
Peak oil generation and expulsion of petroleum in the
Upper Jurassic source rocks begun in the Late Paleocene
(Verma et al. 2004; Abeed et al. 2013). These generated and
expelled hydrocarbons had possessed vertical migrations
along faults and compression joints in the anticline crest.
They had charged the already formed traps of the Middle
Cretaceous Mishrif, Nahr Umr, and Yamama formations that
formed during the Upper Cretaceous time by the mechanism
of basement movements in preexisted trends as response to
thick sediment accumulations in the Mesopotamian Basin and
the global cratonic reaction to plate collision (Alsharhan and
Nairn 1997; Sharland et al. 2001). Accordingly, these traps are
mainly structural.
The Mishrif, Nahr Umr, and Yamama formation reservoirs
traps and other principle trapping structures in Mesopotamian
basin are large, broad, NS striking, basement-cored anticlines
that began forming in the Paleozoic, which continued
throughout the Mesozoic and early Cenozoic.
Plotting localities of the Sargelu, Najmah, Yamama, and
Sulaiy formation source rocks, Mishrif, Nahr Umr, and
Yamama reservoir rocks and Anhydrite Lower Fars and
Anhydrite Gotnia formation seal rocks, on the seismic section,
shows presence of normal faults reached to Gotnia Formation
throughout Jurassic and Cretaceous formations, led us to the
predicted lines of migration pathways (Fig. 15).
There are secondary lateral migrations of the expelled
hydrocarbon along the permeable carbonate, shale beds inter-
layer within these source formations from South and
Southeast studied area to the zone of the normal faults to
complete the migration. But in vertical passageway, it arrived
to the reservoir formations anticline traps to fill their closures
in vertical distance and lateral extension from the highest point
or crest to the spill plane, that is, the level at which the oil spills
below the trap into adjacent permeable bed. Dismigration
could compliment the pathways along tensional joints until
their vertical migration have been stopped in the Lower Fars
Anhydrite seal of regional extent (Pitman et al. 2004; Abeed
et al. 2013).
The upper seal is the Middle Miocene anhydrites of the
Lower Fars Formation and its lower regional seal is the Upper
Jurassic Gotnia anhydrites
Conclusions
Mishrif and Yamama formation are the main reservoirs in
Nasiriya oilfield and Nahr Umr is the secondary reservoir.
The organic geochemical of crude oil accumulated in Mishrif
Formation is aromatic, of low maturity, and shows non-
biodegradation, rich in sulfur, medium gravity and high mat-
uration sources. Mishrif crude oils are derived from low
oxidation carbonate source rocks. The calculated C28/C29 ratio
and triaromatic steranes, weighted using a saturate to aromatic
hydrocarbon ratio, suggests that the Cretaceous Mishrif-
reservoired oils were generated from Middle to Upper
Jurassic carbonate source rocks. Oils are generated from a
source rock of low to moderate thermal maturity within the oil
window.
The crude oils, which accumulated in Nahr Umr and
Yamama reservoirs, are saturated, mature oil, and show high
reduction, marine anoxic palaeoenvironments, and marine
algal kerogen type II. Low to medium gravity (API) and
medium to low sulfur crudes are usually derived from low
oxidation shale and carbonate source rocks.

Lower Cretaceous Sulaiy source rock samples show ma-
ture to early maturation generated hydrocarbon but they have
not reached to expulsion stage. For this, it is unlikely that these
source rocks may be responsible for the studied reservoirs.
Probably the Upper–Middle Jurassic source rock is responsi-
ble for hydrocarbon generation and expulsion.
Upper Jurassic Gotnia anhydrite is the lower regional seal,
and during Late Cretaceous, the studied reservoirs trap were
mainly formed before oil generation and expulsion.
Acknowledgments We would like to give sincere thanks to Iraqi Oil
Exploration Company (IOEC) and South Oil Company (SOC) for the
supplies of rock samples and crude oil. Pyrolysis for these rock samples
are performed in the Iraqi Oil Exploration Company while oil analysis of
these samples were done in Geomark Research, Ltd. in Houston, TX,
USA. To whom I give sincere acknowledgments to Prof. Dr. Zumberge
for inviting me to visit his company GeoMark in Houston to do the
biomarkers and pyrolysis analysis. Many thanks for Dr. Qusaiy Abeed
from Neflex,, UK for his revision.
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