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oa Interpreted Strike-Slip Fault Elements in the 1st Eocene Reservoir of Wafra Field, PNZ Kuwait
- Publisher: European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers
- Source: Conference Proceedings, GEO 2010, Mar 2010, cp-248-00002
Abstract
The Wafra field lies in the northwest part of Kuwait/ Saudi Arabia partitioned Neutral Zone (PNZ) and<br>the 1st Eocene is the shallowest reservoir in the field. The structure of Wafra consists of two parallel<br>anticlines, trending northwest - southeast. It is proposed that these anticlines are cut by northeast -<br>southwest elements (strike slip faults). Accordingly, structural compartmentalization has been created<br>due to horizontal and vertical displacements, with some rotation in the horizontal plane especially in<br>the southern area of the field. These elements are believed to play an important roll in the<br>development of structures in PNZ.<br>This structural domain represents the direct response to two major elements: the extension of Red Sea<br>to the west, and the compression of Zagros crush zone to the east.<br>Regionally, many observations have been detected suggesting the occurrence of these elements. These<br>observations are: Landsat images of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, sinuosity of the Kuwait coast line, and<br>structural offset of oil fields in PNZ area i.e. Wafra, South Fawaris & Humma.<br>So far, micro-scanner image data has proved to be one of the best methods to provide evidence for<br>the presence of these elements. Abrupt changes in bedding dip attitude, deviation azimuth, and facies<br>plus the occurrence of intensive fractures are the main evidence for these elements (strike-slip faults).<br>Structure and pressure maps have been integrated with image data to verify the regional distribution<br>of these strike slip faults in Wafra area. Current seismic data has insufficient quality to provide support<br>for these interpretations.