Biostratigraphy, sequence stratigraphy and depositional environment of Dalan and Kangan formations in Lavan Gas Field in Persian Gulf, with emphasis on Permian-Triassic boundary

Permo- Triassic subsurface section at Lavan 3 Well in Lavan Gas Field exhibits a 85 m-thick succession of limy dolostone and dolomitic limestone bearing anhydrite in the upper Dalan Formation, as well as a 154 m-thick succession of limy dolostone and dolostone with anhydrite intercalations in Kangan Formation. In the present study, 116 species belonging to 55 foraminifera genera were identified which were divided into two biozones, namely Charliella altineri- Paraglobivalvulina mira- Dagmarita chanackchiensis Assemblage zone (Dzhulfian in age) and Claraia aurita- Spirorbis phlyctaena Assemblage zone (Anisian in age). Nine primary microfacies were identified in the upper Dalan Formation, while, 13 microfacies were detected in Kangan Formation, together with different sub-environments (sabkha, tidal flat, lagoon, submarine ridge, and open marine) which were found to be deposited in a shallow marine carbonate platform in­ the form of a homoclinal ramp. Based on microfacies changes, aggradational, progradational and retrogradational stacking patterns of deposits and by conformation with the Gama-ray log, these strata could be divided into a couple of third-order sedimentary sequences for the upper Dalan Formation, as well as a couple of third-orders for the Kangan Formation, including two system tracts (TST and HST). On a global scale, the findings are comparable to the upper part of the Absaroka supersequence