Fault Development and Hydrocarbon Entrapment in the Mutriba Area, Western Kuwait

Mohammed K. Iqbal*, Michael G. Kumpas, Riyasat Husain, Abdul Aziz Sajer, Hanan Al-Owihan, Nadia Al-Zabout, and Riad Abu Taleb
KOC
*[email protected]

Mutriba is a prominent NNW-SSE trending anticline in western Kuwait with confirmed hydrocarbons at the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous levels. A study was conducted to enhance fault imaging and to improve the understanding of structural architecture of this faulted anticline. The seismic data in the Mutriba area is contaminated by multiples and has poor quality and resolution. Nevertheless the application of attribute and image enhancement algorithms on 3-D seismic data successfully mapped the faults. Additionally analytical techniques were applied to investigate the structural evolution through sequential reconstruction. Fault dislocation and formation fracture density were estimated using seismic data and geomechanical models. The Mutriba structure at pre-Cretaceous levels is dissected by two prominent fault sets trending NNW and EW. The NNW trend is older and is probably related to structural development during Paleozoic time. The younger EW trend offsets the original structural geometry so that the northern segment trends NNW and the southern trend approaches NS. The latter faults appear to have developed during the Late Jurassic and to have been re-activated during Cretaceous and Tertiary times with major uplift. These strike-slip faults cut across the older trend and have segmented the structure into a number of discrete fault blocks. The fault compartmentalization has been studied with regard to hydrocarbon entrapment. Core studies and fracture modeling suggested that the fracture network developed by these fault systems have contributed to improved migration to and within Triassic and Jurassic reservoirs. Fault compartmentalization has controlled Jurassic hydrocarbon occurrences among fault blocks. Integration of regional geological understanding, seismic and geochemical studies and geomechanical modeling has indicated areas for further exploration.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90077©2008 GEO 2008 Middle East Conference and Exhibition, Manama, Bahrain