Chemo-stratigraphy as a tool for sequence stratigraphy of the Early Triassic Kangan Formation, North of the Persian Gulf

The Lower Triassic Kangan Formation, which is equivalent to the Upper Khuff, is the main reservoir for natural gas in SW Iran and the northern Persian Gulf. Investigations of this formation in Salman Field indicate that it is composed of 14 facies deposited in tidal flat, lagoon and oolitic barrier settings in the inner part of a carbonate ramp. Vertical variations of microfacies and gamma-ray log profiles show that this formation consists of three depositional sequences (KG3–KG1), each including of transgressive and high stand systems tract and each bounded above and below by type-two unconformities. Carbon and oxygen stable isotope profiles from a well-dated carbonate section were compared with the sedimentological data and results from the sequence stratigraphic study of the Kangan Formation, showing negative and positive peaks coinciding with sequence boundaries and maximum flooding surfaces Boundaries and Maximum Flooding Surfaces, respectively.