Integration of geoelectric and seismic data to characterize the near surface of the Dammam dome, Saudi Arabia

One of the main obstacles in obtaining good quality seismic images of the hydrocarbon reservoirs in the Middle East is the complex geology of the near surface. Indeed, an accurate characterization of the near surface is of primary importance, as unrealistic assumptions about the seismic velocity field generally yield erroneous results when the traditional seismic method is applied. In this study, geoelectric and seismic refraction data were integrated in an attempt to evaluate the resolution of this combination of methods for characterizing the complex geology of the near surface of an area on the Dammam dome, Saudi Arabia. The challenging difficulties inherent to the acquisition of geoelectric data in desert areas were overcome, so that high-quality datasets were obtained. The near surface electrical resistivity and seismic velocity variations were investigated by running surveys before and after the rain season at the test site. The estimated electrical resistivities and seismic velocities in the study area showed good correlation. The integration of the geoelectric and seismic methods allowed us to correlate the estimated geophysical models with the stratigraphy of the Rus Formation.