Exploration Challenges in the Northern Emirates: A UniQ Approach to Structural Definition

Abstract

This study summarizes the efforts taken to provide reliable structural delineations offshore the northern United Arab Emirates, an area where previous attempts failed to provide purposeful results. With the employment of latest acquisition and processing techniques, a new high-density full azimuth volume shows clear uplift over legacy results. Structures never detected before are imaged, contributing to the de-risking of future well placement. These results are indicative of the challenges when acquiring and processing seismic data in the Northern Emirates. The use of latest technologies was required to overcome several geophysical challenges, such as complex near surface, near-vertical thrust sequences and multiple faulting planes. All these elements contributed in generating extreme noise contamination, where a fast-varying geology with high dips made separation of primaries from noise one of the most difficult tasks. Key pre-imaging technologies such as near surface characterization, 5D regularization to radial symmetry, as well as a tomographic velocity model building approach with iterative inputs from interpreters have been fundamental to converge to a solid velocity model that allows for a reliable structural imaging. The work is particularly relevant for offshore exploration targets in the Northern Emirates, a region that has recently seen a growth in interest from local and international operators.