First High-Power CSEM Field Test in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

We conducted an initial high-power CSEM (controlled-source electromagnetic method) survey in a coastal salt-flat area in the broader area of Half Moon Bay, in the southern part of Dammam Peninsula in the eastern province of Saudi Arabia. The primary purpose of this work was to verify the technology, but we were also able to detect and characterize potential economic brines in the study area. For a high-quality data acquisition, several transmitter–receiver configurations, different acquisition parameters, and passive and active EM data were collected, evaluated, processed, and interpreted to characterize the subsurface. The long-offset EM (LOTEM) and the focused-source EM (FSEM) were the optimum configurations due to the high-quality of the collected data. This is a starting point for using the CSEM method towards the O&G, geothermal, CO2 sequestration, groundwater, lithium brine, and other natural resources’ exploration and exploitation in the Gulf countries.

Expanding the Spatial Reach and Human Impacts of Critical Zone Science

“…One commonly used EM instrument is ground‐penetrating radar (GPR), which is a high‐frequency (usually 50–200 MHz in most CZ systems) method used for mapping the CZ base in shallow (usually <10 m) systems (e.g., Guo, Ma, et al., 2020; Guo, Mount, et al., 2020; Orlando et al., 2016). A deeper option is controlled‐source electromagnetics (CSEM), which can map low‐resistivity anomalies 100s of m into the subsurface (Ashadi, 2022), and has produced high‐resolution images of subsurface fluid movement (Neal & Krohn, 2012). The high‐resolution capacity of CSEM can be taken to greater depths by using focused‐source electromagnetics (FSEM), which focuses the EM field vertically and eliminates horizontal electric current density (Davydycheva & Rykhlinski, 2011).…”

Application of Electromagnetic Methods for Reservoir Monitoring with Emphasis on Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage

“…The equipment was designed for monitoring purposes, ensuring high repeatability, long-term stability, and minimum influence of system bandwidth limitations on signal bandwidth. The transmitter used was either a 100 (EOR example) or 150 (CCUS and Saudi Arabia examples) kVA transmitter, as described in [17]. The array acquisition system for the CSEM (LOTEM) and MT configurations is described in [18].…”

“…As discussed above, lithium applications require the same EM technology as in the other case history examples. Mature lithium deposits can be found in Latin America, China, Australia, and the USA, and emerging deposits can be found in Europe and the Middle East [17].…”

“…Active and passive electromagnetic surveys (CSEM-LOTEM and MT) were conducted in the Half-Moon region of East Province in Saudi Arabia in January 2022 [17]. A highpower CSEM transmitter using a 1 km dipole was installed for the energy transmission, and seven receivers for both active and passive EM measurements were deployed at various distances from the transmitter, ranging from 930 m to 20 km.…”

An Array Multi-Physics Acquisition System with Focus on Reservoir Monitoring for the Energy Transition

“…These combined multiphysics-methods deliver synergetic valuable information on the location and direction of the waterfront, due to the high sensitivity of the EM field to the fluid properties and the strong response of seismic to volumes boundaries (with impedance contrast). After recent successful case histories [33][34][35][36][37], we focus on the largest error contributors, we will start with the biggest issue we need to address in electromagnetics, anisotropy. This is because the error by ignoring anisotropy is between 30 to 50% (discussed below).…”