3D forward stratigraphic modelling of the Sarvak Formation, northwestern Persian Gulf

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Recent exploration activities in Eastern Arabia have shifted focus toward discovering potential hydrocarbon resources in frontier regions with limited available data, rather than targeting conventional anticlinal structures. As a result, integrated, multidisciplinary, and multiscale stratigraphic evaluation of sedimentary units has become crucial for forecasting subsurface sedimentary structures in both carbonate and siliciclastic systems. Stratigraphic forward modelling is applied to the Sarvak Formation, incorporating sedimentological, stratigraphic, and petrophysical datasets. The simulation is calibrated using well data, lithofacies distributions, thickness variations, and sequence stratigraphy. It successfully reproduces the main stratigraphic architecture of the Sarvak Formation. Units 1–3 (early–middle Cenomanian) represent an extensive carbonate platform formed under relatively uniform subsidence and broad accommodation space. Units 4 and 5 (late Cenomanian–early Turonian), which are spatially restricted to fault-bounded central depressions, exhibit localised uplift, erosional truncation, and thinning of units over structural highs. These units contain restricted lagoon wackestones, argillaceous limestones, and shales. The spatiotemporal patterns of sediment thickness and sedimentation rates show a strong correlation with the tectonic subsidence and basin morphology, particularly during the early–middle Cenomanian stages. From the late Cenomanian onward, sediment distribution becomes more compartmentalized due to tectonic influences, resulting in localised depocenters in structural troughs. The modeled Maximum Flooding Surfaces closely align with regional sequence stratigraphic markers, validating the model's stratigraphic accuracy. The integrated approach enhances understanding of complex depositional systems where siliciclastic and carbonate regimes interact under dynamic tectonic and sea-level conditions. The calibrated model highlights the roles of tectonics, sediment supply, carbonate production, and sea-level changes, and improves sequence stratigraphic interpretation. Ultimately, this reduces exploration risk by accurately simulating sedimentary facies distribution and stratigraphic architecture at fine scales, thus increasing the likelihood of identifying prospective hydrocarbon accumulation zones. The study underscores the importance of integrating multidisciplinary data when modelling complex mixed carbonate-siliciclastic basins.