Papers included in this dissertation: Paper 1: Farzadi, P. 2006a. The development of Middle Cretaceous carbonate platforms, Persian Gulf, Iran: Constraints from seismic stratigraphy, well and biostratigraphy. Petroleum Geoscience, 12, 59-68. Paper 2: Farzadi, P. 2006b. Seismic facies analysis based on 3D multi-attribute volume classification, Dariyan Formation, SE Persian Gulf. Journal of Petroleum Geology,29/2, 159-174. Paper 3: Farzadi, P. & Hesthammer, J. (Submitted 2006). Diagnosis of the Upper Cretaceous paleokarst and turbidite systems from the Iranian Persian Gulf using volume-based multiple seismic attribute analysis and pattern recognition. N.B.: Originally accepted for publication in the AAPG Bulletin, later rejected because the US government prohibits the publication of papers using Iranian government datasets. The manuscript has been re-submitted to Petroleum Geoscience. Paper 4: Farzadi, P. & Alaei, B. (Submitted 2006). Stratigraphic architecture of the Zagros Basin: towards an objective comparison of the Fold-Thrust Belt and Foreland provinces. Submitted to the Journal of Petroleum Geology; under consideration for a thematic issue. Presentation (at international meeting and on web): Farzadi, P. 2005. Stratal geometries of the Cretaceous carbonate systems: application of multiple volumes attributes analysis to 3-D seismic data from the Persian Gulf. At: Middle to Far East Carbonate Reservoirs: Exploration, Development and Exploitation. PESGB Carbonate conference, 15th & 16th Nov. 2005 London.