New Exploration Concepts in Zagros Fold Thrust Belt and Persian Gulf, Iran

Summary After more than 100 years hydrocarbon exploration, The Zagros Fold-Thrust Belt (ZFAB) is still remained as one of the most talented regions for future hydrocarbon discovery. Three main hydrocarbon structures originated from the Neogene folding, inherited deep-seated faults and buried salt diapirs. Remained many complex and small structures with potential prospect in the ZFTB which has not completely studied yet. They could be categorized in: (1) Fault related structures as subtle traps, which formed in response to intermediate detachments during Zagros folding or formed below the thrust faults, (2) Long time halokinesis prepared suitable small traps around the diapirs or under the salt sheets, (3) Inherited deep-seated fault movement and see-level changing formed stratigraphic-structural traps towards the palaeohighs, (4) Results of few drilled wells in pre-Permian sediments (Faraghan Formation) proved new gas reserves (5) and oil rings developed in some of onshore folded anticlinal. Consequently for future oil and gas exploration has to take two strategies. For oil exploration focuses more on the complex and small structures including subtle traps, stratigraphic-structural traps around salt diapirs and Palaeohighs. Whereas, for gas exploration remained many huge anticlines to the eastern part of ZFTB which has not been investigated in details.