The Exploration For A Deep Aquifer In The Hadhramaut, Yemen

The Hadhramaut province of Yemen, an area with a population of more than half a million inhabitants, is<br>presently facing a serious water crisis. A groundwater exploration project is presently drilling 23 exploration wells<br>widely spaced over the Masila Block, an oil exploration lease are within the province. The main target is the<br>Cretaceous Mukalla Formation, a 300 m thick highly permeable sandstone. Field reconnaissance was integrated<br>with satellite images; geologic, hydrogeologic, geophysical, topographic maps; and local socioeconomic and<br>political information to choose the well locations. Studying available seismic reflection data was particularly<br>useful for choosing drilling locations over grabens buried in wadi fill. The various pieces of information were<br>integrated in a geographic information system (GIS). To date, eight wells have been drilled and completed.<br>Borehole geophysical logging has played an important role in all phases of well completion. All completed<br>boreholes have tested from 200 to over 1,000 imperial gallons per minute.