Improved seismic data processing and interpretation for strati-structural petroleum plays in the north of Al-Khafji area, Middle-East

Abstract

Seismic data with appropriate processing tools, often come to the rescue of interpretation, minimizing the ambiguities involved in analysing complex geological situations. Stratigraphic features associated with structure, play critical role in hydrocarbon entrapment within the Middle-Late Cretaceous reservoirs in the Al-Khafji offshore area. A total of 61 square kilometres high resolution 3D OBC seismic data were acquired in the North Khafji area, with objectives to explore strati-structural traps and their associated reservoir settings. New petroleum plays are intended to be explored after integrating new 3D seismic vintage with older Al-Khafji seismic data interpretation. Present study is aimed at comparing seismic datasets that are processed by different companies. Authors examine and identify the relative merits of data attributes that are suitable for structural and strati-structural traps interpretation. The initial interpretation done during 1997, reports a possible carbonate build-up, correlatable to Gudair formation, which is equivalent to a horizon associated with Aruma-Wasia unconformity. Comparative study made between Khafji and north of Khafji field could not conclusively establish the extension of this carbonate build-up in the North-Khafji area, because of ambiguous nature of structural and stratigraphic anomalies. At places, there is inconsistency among scales of these datasets. However, based on the interpretation of the newly processed seismic data, seismic structure and attributes have been integrated and reinterpreted for scalable anomalies. Present study strongly suggests an exploration potential in the North-Khafji area and stipulates pursuing further geological studies, detailing these seismic anomalies and converting them into commercial petroleum plays in the offshore basin.