Microfacies and petrofacies analysis, diagenetic characteristics and environmental condition of the Faraghan Formation in the central part of the Persian Gulf

Clastic deposits of the Faraghan Formation (Late Permian, Sakmarian) are present in different outcrops in the Zagros area and some wells in the Persian Gulf Basin. The presence of these clastics represents the existence of an extended clastic system on the north-east of the Arabian plate. The Faraghan Formation unconformably overlies Zakeen sandstone (Devonian) and grades upward into Dalan carbonate (Upper Permian). To study the Faraghan Formation some thin sections were prepared from cuttings of some wells in the central part of the Persian Gulf and then they were studied. Results show of this study that the Faraghan Formation consists of quartz arenite, sandy siltstone and sandy claystone petrofacies and carbonate mudstone, bioclast wackestone and bioclast packstone microfacies. Based on sedimentary characteristics and spatial relationships between the petrofacies, this formation was deposited on a linear shoreface environment (floodplain, shoreface and offshore sub-environments). Main diagenetic processes consist of compaction, dissolution, cementation, neomorphism, sericitization and dolomitization. Heterogeneity of the Faraghan Formation lithology and variety of environmental conditions and diagenetic features make this formation a good candidate for hydrocarbon reservoir studies.