Subsurface Stratigraphy of Kuwait

Abstract

This chapter reviews the subsurface stratigraphy of Kuwait targeting geosciences educators. The lithostratigraphy and chronostratigraphy of the reviewed formations (association of rocks whose components are paragenetically related to each other, both vertically and laterally) followed the formal stratigraphic nomenclature in Kuwait. The exposed stratigraphic formations of the Miocene–Pleistocene epochs represented by the Dibdibba, Lower Fars, and Ghar clastic sediments (Kuwait Group) were reviewed in the previous chapter as part of near-surface geology. In this chapter, the description of these formations is based mainly on their subsurface presence. The description of the subsurface stratigraphic formations in Kuwait followed published academic papers and technical reports related to Kuwait’s geology or analog (GCC countries, Iraq and Iran) either from the oil and gas industry or from different research institutions in Kuwait and abroad. It is also true that studies related to groundwater aquifer systems also contribute to our understanding of the subsurface stratigraphy of Kuwait for the shallower formations. The majority of the published data were covered the onshore section of Kuwait. The subsurface stratigraphic nomenclature description is based on thickness, depositional environment, sequence stratigraphy, the nature of the sequence boundaries, biostratigraphy, and age. The sedimentary strata reflect the depositional environment in which the rocks were formed. Understanding the characteristics of the sedimentary rocks will help understand many geologic events in the past, such as sea-level fluctuation, global climatic changes, tectonic processes, geochemical cycles, and more, depending on the research question. The succession of changing lithological sequences is controlled by three main factors; sea-level change (eustatic sea level), sediment supply, and accommodation space controlled by regional and local tectonics influences. Several authors have developed theoretical methods, established conceptual models, and produced several paleofacies maps to interpret Kuwait’s stratigraphic sequence based on the data collected over time intervals from the Late Permian to Quaternary to reconstruct the depositional history of the Arabian Plate in general and of Kuwait to understand the characteristics of oil and gas reservoirs.