- Home
- A-Z Publications
- First Break
- Previous Issues
- Volume 25, Issue 11, 2007
First Break - Volume 25, Issue 11, 2007
Volume 25, Issue 11, 2007
-
-
Integrated 3D seismic and petrophysical data of the Sarvak formation in the Persian Gulf
By A. BashariDuring the Middle Cretaceous, extensive carbonate platforms covered the eastern part of the Arabian plate, including, the eastern Persian Gulf. Many of the major hydrocarbon accumulations are found in the Middle Cretaceous reservoir rocks which developed as the carbonate platforms evolved.
-
-
-
Bar Al Hikman: a modern carbonate and outcrop analogue in Oman for Middle East Cretaceous fields
Authors P. Homewood, V. Vahrenkamp, M. Mettraux, J. Mattner, B. Vlaswinkel, H. Droste and A. KwartengThe modern carbonate systems and sabkhas of Abu Dhabi and other sites along the Arabian shores of the Gulf are well established as shallow-marine to onland modern analogues for local carbonate or evaporite formations such as the Shuaiba or the Khuff, but they have also successfully been used for decades as analogues for carbonate-evaporite-bearing formations worldwide (Purser & Evans, 1973; Hughes, 1997, AlSharhan and Kendall, 2003). On the eastern coast of Oman, isolated on the edge of the Arabian Peninsula, the Bar Al Hikman peninsula also provides a recent and modern carbonate-evaporite system that lies around the coast and on-land (Figure 1). This little known site, currently under study (Homewood et al., 2005), is becoming established as a most useful analogue for numerous rudist-bearing Cretaceous fields, both in Oman and elsewhere in the Middle East.
-
-
-
Microgravity investigation of an aquifer storage and recovery site in Abu Dhabi
Authors C.C. Bradley, M.Y. Ali, I. Shawky, A. Levannier and M.A. DawoudIn this case study paper microgravimetry is used to investigate the geological structure of an area proposed for an aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) project in northeastern Abu Dhabi Emirate in the UAE. This study is a joint collaboration between the Environmental Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD), Schlumberger Water Services, and the Petroleum Institute. The goal of the project is to explore the geological structure underlying the aquifer and to see if gravity can be used to help further delineate the lower aquifer boundary. The test site, approximately 4 km2 in area, contains an aquifer 50 m below the surface which is bisected by a thrust fault running approximately north to south.
-
-
-
A low frequency, passive seismic experiment over a carbonate reservoir in Abu Dhabi
Authors M.Y. Ali, K.A. Berteussen, J. Small and B. BarkatA low frequency passive seismic experiment was conducted over an onshore carbonate oilfield in Abu Dhabi in an effort to confirm and understand the origins of a low frequency signal that has been observed above several hydrocarbon reservoirs in the area. While the analyses of the data are still on-going the preliminary results of the experiment have confirmed the existence of a narrow band of low frequency (2.5-2.8 Hz) signals over the oil reservoir zone; however, this analysis has found that these signals are also detected over the water saturated zone. More studies will need to be conducted to fully investigate the particle motion of these waves, their apparent velocities, and the azimuth of their wave fronts.
-
-
-
Teaching Arab students to find oil: the challenge of founding a petroleum university in the Middle East
More LessProf Karl A. Berteussen, acting director, Faculty of Petroleum Geosciences, Petroleum Institute, Abu Dhabi, offers this memoir on the start up of a new learning establishment in the Middle East and in particular the setting up of a geosciences programme. The Petroleum Institute (PI) is a new university in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE). Most of the readers would know that UAE is a country rich with hydrocarbons. It has around 9% of the known recoverable oil in the world and around 3% of the gas. If handled correctly, the present production of around 2.8 million barrels per day can last for around 100 years. Like all other countries, UAE wants to be in control of its own future. For that one needs an educated local workforce instead of relying on the expertise of so called expats, like me. The background for establishing PI is thus foremost the need to educate local youth, i.e. the Emirates, to be qualified to take over their own industry; so called emiratization.
-
-
-
Should we protect Abu Dhabi’s geological heritage?
By B. PiersonProf Bernard Pierson was geology advisor with The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) from 2003 to 2007. During that time, he developed and led geological field trips to the coastal environments of Abu Dhabi. He is convinced that it is more than just sand and rocks and that the natural environments and the geological features found in Abu Dhabi are unique and deserve to be protected. He tells us why in this article, originally written for a mixed audience and published in the October-December issue of ADNOC News. The words ‘protection of nature’ immediately bring to mind saving endangered species, marine ecosystems, and threatened rain forests. Environmental agencies and conservation-oriented NGOs indeed focus mainly on the protection and preservation of fauna and flora. But who would think that geological settings, rocks, or minerals also need to be protected?
-
-
-
Natural source EM for offshore hydrocarbon detection offers potential cost savings
Authors L. Fox and O. IngerovLeo Fox and Olex Ingerov of Phoenix Geophysics suggest that their marine magnetotelluric concept might provide a cost effective alternative to the marine controlled source electromagnetic methods in operation today. Since 2000, major hydrocarbon companies have increasingly used marine controlled source electromagnetics (MCSEM) to determine the resistivity of deepwater offshore geological structures already discovered with the marine seismic technique. Hydrocarbon companies wish to avoid the high cost (~$50 million) of offshore dry holes. MCSEM has proven very effective.
-
-
-
EM is becoming a major attraction
By N. AllegarNorman Allegar of KMS Technologies explains how this Houston-based company is emerging as one of the players in the market for electromagnetic survey technology. The company was founded in 1999 with a vision to take electromagnetic (EM) sensors to the permanent monitoring market and to establish it as a routine tool in hydrocarbon exploration and appraisal. It was recognized early on that reservoir monitoring systems could offer high value to operators, but at the time, existing seismic-based methods could not convincingly deliver the solutions needed which required knowledge of the reservoir fluid. While there was serious push and support from major oil companies, technology was the motivator for the company.
-
-
-
Using gravity gradiometry as a blueprint for exploration in thrust and fold belts
Authors P. Houghton, D. Bate, M. Davies and J. LumleyPhil Houghton, Duncan Bate, Mark Davies, and John Lumley of ARKeX discuss the rationale behind the company’s development of an airborne gravity gradiometry method illustrated by a case study over difficult terrain in Canada. Exploring in difficult terrain and complex geology is challenging for any technology and traditionally in frontier areas, such as the Utah Hinge Line and the interior basins of North East British Columbia, regional reconnaissance is the first step. Explorationists gather information from surface geology maps, available seismic and well data in order to assess a region’s prospectivity. In addition, potential field techniques are often utilized, as surveys can be performed relatively easily, especially from the air.
-
-
-
First gas after 40 years: geophysical surprises from the Saturn field
By S. ElamThis paper was originally given as an oral presentation at the 2006 Vienna EAGE annual conference. At that time the development drilling on the Saturn complex had not been completed. Drilling on the Saturn fields and its satellites was completed early in November 2006, and due to the passage of time, some updates have been included here that were not presented previously. As with the original presentation, there is an emphasis on the surprises that the development drilling encountered, both good and bad. Fortunately, on balance, the positive surprises exceeded the negative and gas is being produced at a higher rate than initially expected.
-
-
-
Mirror imaging of OBS data
More LessThe world’s demand for energy is accelerating, while its hydrocarbon reserves are diminishing. Producers are compelled to explore and produce oil and gas in more challenging environments and to maximize recovery in existing reservoirs. New technology has always been a key to success. One such new technology is seismic acquisition using ocean bottom station (OBS) nodes (Berg et al., 1994; Ronen et al., 2003; Amal et al., 2005; Docherty et al., 2005; Granger et al., 2005).
-
Volumes & issues
-
Volume 42 (2024)
-
Volume 41 (2023)
-
Volume 40 (2022)
-
Volume 39 (2021)
-
Volume 38 (2020)
-
Volume 37 (2019)
-
Volume 36 (2018)
-
Volume 35 (2017)
-
Volume 34 (2016)
-
Volume 33 (2015)
-
Volume 32 (2014)
-
Volume 31 (2013)
-
Volume 30 (2012)
-
Volume 29 (2011)
-
Volume 28 (2010)
-
Volume 27 (2009)
-
Volume 26 (2008)
-
Volume 25 (2007)
-
Volume 24 (2006)
-
Volume 23 (2005)
-
Volume 22 (2004)
-
Volume 21 (2003)
-
Volume 20 (2002)
-
Volume 19 (2001)
-
Volume 18 (2000)
-
Volume 17 (1999)
-
Volume 16 (1998)
-
Volume 15 (1997)
-
Volume 14 (1996)
-
Volume 13 (1995)
-
Volume 12 (1994)
-
Volume 11 (1993)
-
Volume 10 (1992)
-
Volume 9 (1991)
-
Volume 8 (1990)
-
Volume 7 (1989)
-
Volume 6 (1988)
-
Volume 5 (1987)
-
Volume 4 (1986)
-
Volume 3 (1985)
-
Volume 2 (1984)
-
Volume 1 (1983)