Using an Integrated Approach to Understand and De-Risk a Jurassic Play in Central Rub’ Al-Khali, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

The Central Rub’ Al-Khali in Saudi Arabia represents a potential frontier hydrocarbon province. Recent high-fold 3D seismic acquisition and consequent interpretation have led to a greater understanding of structural definition and have also aided in further defining key petroleum systems elements such as reservoir, seal and charge. The upgrade from 2D to 3D seismic data has led to a better definition to interpreted geometries of Jurassic structures in the study area. The enhanced data set has also greatly improved the understanding of the growth history of structures by helping to identify the full extension of faults using seismic attributes. Stratigraphic seismic amplitude extractions on key data sets have led to the identification of several important lineaments within the Jurassic (Callovian-Oxfordian) interval; these lineaments have been used in an integrated workflow (by incorporating well and core data) to help define depositional settings. Lineament directions correspond well with net reservoir data from logs and cores suggesting there is an identifiable seismic expression which helps in the understanding of the depositional setting and progradation direction of the interval of interest. Key well data from the area were used to help de-risk the charge in the Callovian-Oxfordian and additionally the Kimmeridgian–Tithonian intervals of the Jurassic; where an understanding of the depositional settings of potential reservoir/seal intervals is thought to control the presence of hydrocarbons. Recovered fluid samples along with mud gas data and hydrocarbon shows information have been used to validate the charge understanding on the area and to help delineate effective reservoirs and seals. The current work demonstrates an integrated approach where high quality seismic, key well data and a charge system understanding have been used to help de-risk a Jurassic play and high grade a hydrocarbon province in the Central Rub’ Al-Khali in Saudi Arabia.

AAPG Datapages/Search and Discovery Article #90332 © 2018 AAPG International Conference and Exhibition, Cape Town, South Africa, November 4-11, 2018