Identification of structural framework of the basement is critical to hydrocarbon exploration of the UAE sedimentary basins. The basement structures typically propagate into the overlying sedimentary rocks and influence fluid flow and the distribution of hydrocarbon traps.
Over the past few years, ADNOC has drilled a number of deep exploration wells in the offshore of Abu Dhabi. These wells targeted pre-Khuff play. However, the success rate of these wells has proved very limited so far. The main problem is that the evolution, stress, and structural controls of these plays are not well understood. This is because the movement of basement structures and overlying Infracambrian salts control the sedimentary structures. This project aims to tackle this challenge by deploying an innovative and comprehensive suite of recently developed techniques, providing not only the depth to the crystalline basement and thickness of Infracambrian salts, but also tectonic evolutions of these structures.
