Delineation and Detection for a Number of Expected Oil Structures Northern Iraq by Gravity Investigations

The surveyed area covers about 3000 km2 in the northern part of Iraq,
with elevations ranging between 300 to 1910m above sea level. The
study area is located within the foothills and high folded zones,
including several important anticlines (Maqlob, Kand, Ain Sifni,
Shaykhan, Chia Gara, and Maten anticlines). The geophysical survey is
based on 232 gravity points. The gravity data had been corrected, and
the Bouguer anomaly was calculated along each point. The optimum
upward continuation level produced was arranged from 5 to 6 km, that
applied to obtain the residual and regional anomaly profiles of the
study area. The 2D modeling technique was used for the quantitative
interpretation. Four gravity profiles were modeled. The results of this
study show that the top depth of the basement rocks of the studied area
is around 6km, and several faults are indicated in the sedimentary
sections by potential methods. In addition, several grabens, half
grabens, and horsts surrounded by normal and reverse faults are
displayed in the sedimentary sections by gravity "lows" and "highs".