File 451/1913 Pt 1 'Oil: Deposits in Koweit, Bahrein, Farsan Isles, Syria' [‎104v] (52/214)

Koweit. (2.) Southern Area, Burgan.
Introduction. —Burgan is situated about 30 'fk°"etarated" by
the Arabian coast and 14 miles from the shore. From^lntter it separated by
g6nt Udcent^ells wei’e^observed^rom timeTto time on our journey inland. .f
“el itself is marked by a small range of low h,Us
100 feet above the plain. It was previously visited by Mr. U H. I'ascoe earlier m
year o trato _ The beds exposed represent a thickness of about 100 feet, and consist
1 1 eiliceous o-nts with or without a pure white cementing material resembling
S' Gylr bed occur interstratified with these, a thickness of about 8 feet
bein™ observed in one exposure. Coloured clays (yellow and brown) are seen at the
Mr. itscoe found a similar bed at the summit of Warah Hill, about 5 miles further
n ° This is in all probability identically the same horizon.
The strata in general are loosely compacted, but the arenaceous beds are protected
from disintegration by a partial silicification which forms a hard outer crust or an
irregular core ^ ^ ^ ^ uncemi The on l y evidence suggestive of
correlatkm with the Ears series is the occurrence of gypsum beds but these are very
differen in appearance from those observed m the Ears. They are far less consolidated,
a id much more resemble those of the recent deposits seen near Koweit on the opposite
s le of the bay The highest terraces in this neighbourhood should be examined with
“yfew to possible correlation with Burgan. I
StnlJture -No proof was forthcoming that these strata have been affected by any
folding movement. Disregarding local dips, due probably to irregularity ol deposition
horizontality appears to prevail over the whole exposure, and indeed, to extend over
the intervening plain to Warah Hill, about 5 miles away. This is indicated by the
existence there of the conglomeratic sandstone previously mentioned.
Indications of Oil-l fairly large deposit of asphalted sand occurs at the surface
in the midst of the area, while the substance has also been found m pits dug both m
the immediate neighbourhood and at a distance of, perhaps, half a-miie.
The asphalt is surrounded by desert sand, its original source being entirely
° Concluding Remarks .—With our present knowledge, the strata exposed throw no
lioht on the occurrence of the asphalt or the prospects of oil production.
S These strata must therefore be disregarded for the present. Attention may,
however, be drawn to certain general considerations :
1 The occurrence of asphalt obviously indicates the presence of an oil-bearing
series’ beneath whether it be the same series as that exposed or a lower uncon-
formab e^one^ be derived from a lower unconformable series, the latter
may either outcrop entirely in monoclinal structure or may come practically to t e
surface as a partially denuded anticline. In either case the area shou
testmg. ^ ^ wortl ^ of note tliat tliig area is far distant from any mountain chain which
might form the axis of a folding movement affecting it.
As it is the general rule for anticlinal folds to become gentler with
distance from such, it seems highly probable that any flexures which ma\ a\e
formed in this region are merely gentle undulations conforming m direction u
Persian ranges. In fact, the structure is likely to be very favourable for 01 . ,
It may be remarked here that the outcrop of lars strata near Basra, a r
on Dr. Pilgrim’s map, might afford further evidence as to the probable degre
folding attained along this strike. armpars t0
It will be seen that on general theoretical grounds the area ceitaimy PP
be promising, and it is on such grounds alone that any judgment can be formeu
presented advisable befo j. e dr iU ing a deep test-well to determine the structure
by sinking a few shallow wells suitably placed.