While renewable energies are rapidly expanding, natural gas will remain a key fossil fuel in the coming decades. As a cleaner-burning and relatively low-carbon energy source, it will continue to play an essential role as a transition fuel in the global energy mix. Its importance lies not only in supporting energy security but also in complementing renewables, particularly in regions with rapidly growing demand. Therefore, the discovery and development of new gas reservoirs in the Persian Gulf remain a matter of high scientific and economic significance. The Faraghan and Zakin clastic formations in the Persian Gulf, equivalent to the Pre-Khuff formations in Arabian countries, represent major Paleozoic successions with strong potential as gas reservoirs. While seismic surveys, well logs, core analyses, and production tests form the backbone of modern exploration programs, regional geological studies remain indispensable for interpreting petroleum systems and guiding local decision-making. This study develops a regional geological model by investigating source rocks, reservoir intervals, seal rocks, hydrocarbon-bearing structures, and the tectono-stratigraphic history of the Arabian Plate from the Paleozoic to the present. By linking hydrocarbon traps to structural evolution and basin dynamics, the study proposes exploration strategies aimed at improving the prediction and discovery of hydrocarbons within Paleozoic clastic successions of the Persian Gulf. Evaluation of source rock potential identifies the Qusaiba Shale Member (equivalent to the Sarchahan Formation) as a prolific Silurian source rock widely distributed across the Arabian Plate. Its hydrocarbon generation window, opening about 150 million years ago, coincided with key phases of trap development, ensuring the presence of critical petroleum system elements in the region. Two main phases of trap formation are recognized: the first around 150 Ma, related to tectonic activity along the Qatar-Fars Arch and the emplacement of salt structures, and the second during the Oligocene–Miocene (20–30 Ma), which further enhanced structural complexity and trap integrity. Reactivation of pre-existing north–south faults during the Hercynian orogeny provided migration pathways, while salt tectonics created additional structural traps and conduits for hydrocarbon movement. Comparative assessment of reservoir quality among the Unayzah, Jauf, Jubah, and Tawil formations in Arabian countries, alongside the Faraghan and Zakin formations in the Persian Gulf, highlights intervals with favorable porosity and permeability. Similarly, evaluation of potential seal rocks underscores the need for testing key stratigraphic intervals—particularly in Iranian sectors of the Gulf—to verify their sealing capacity. By integrating tectonic history, structural evolution, and stratigraphic architecture, this study establishes a regional exploration framework that enhances understanding of hydrocarbon distribution. The results provide a scientific basis for designing more effective exploration strategies and maximizing the gas discovery potential of Paleozoic clastic reservoirs in the Persian Gulf region.
Keywords: Persian Gulf, Arabian Plate, Paleozoic clastic reservoirs, Faraghan Formation, Zakin Formation, Sarchahan Formation, hydrocarbon system, regional geology.
