Neotectonics for the Rumaila Oilfield, Southern Iraq, Using InSAR Techniques

Abstract

The Rumaila oilfield in southern Iraq in Basrah Governorate is considered one of the largest oilfields. Production has been ongoing in the oilfield since the last quarter of the 20th century. The main goal of this research is to determine the spatial distribution and magnitude of deformation inside the Rumaila oilfield. The study aims to investigate the potential correlation between these deformations and their underlying causes, particularly examining the influence of tectonic and nontectonic variables. Microwave satellites are used to validate the existence of deformations resulting from oil production activities or other reasons. In some oilfield areas, there may be subsurface deformations like subsidence or uplift due to tectonic or nontectonic factors like human activity, salt tectonics, basement rock faults, and activities resulting from the collision of the Arabian and Eurasian plates. We used the Sentinel-1A satellite data from June 2017 to December 2022 for the ascending and descending tracks, with 75 and 74 images, respectively. The process yielded excellent results, diagnosing three deformation areas for the three culminations: the first area is located north of the oilfield within the West Qurna area, with deformation ranging from -23 to 6.2 mm/year. The second area represents the North Rumaila oilfield; it had a deformation rate of -33 to 11 mm/year. The last area is the South Rumaila oilfield, where the rate of deformation is about -5.7 to 4.5 mm/year. The Rumaila oilfield experiences subsidence, maybe due to human activity, while uplifts are likely reactions to tectonic factors, as per the study's findings.