Seismic characteristics and AVO response for non-uniform Miocene reservoirs in offshore eastern Mediterranean region, Egypt
Abstract The Eastern Mediterranean region, extending from the Offshore Nile Delta Cone of Egypt to the Levant Basin, is a confirmed hydrocarbon-rich territory with several giant gas discoveries. Numerous gas fields have been discovered in the Miocene reservoirs within the Nile Delta Cone, and the Le...
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Nature Portfolio
2023-06-01
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Series: | Scientific Reports |
Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-35718-z |
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author | Ahmed S. Abu El-Ata Nader H. El-Gendy Adly H. El-Nikhely Samir M. Raslan Mahmoud S. El-Oribi Moataz Kh. Barakat |
author_facet | Ahmed S. Abu El-Ata Nader H. El-Gendy Adly H. El-Nikhely Samir M. Raslan Mahmoud S. El-Oribi Moataz Kh. Barakat |
author_sort | Ahmed S. Abu El-Ata |
collection | DOAJ |
description | Abstract The Eastern Mediterranean region, extending from the Offshore Nile Delta Cone of Egypt to the Levant Basin, is a confirmed hydrocarbon-rich territory with several giant gas discoveries. Numerous gas fields have been discovered in the Miocene reservoirs within the Nile Delta Cone, and the Levant Basin. The Miocene sedimentary sequences in this region are extremely heterogeneous, consisting mainly of turbiditic slope deposits, channels, and basin floor fans that were capped by evaporites formed during the Messinian Salinity Crisis. As a result, the seismic characteristics and interpreted properties of this heterogeneous section are ambiguous. The study area is located in the Offshore North Sinai Basin, where a thick Early Miocene section was deposited midway between the Nile Delta province, which includes the El-Fayrouz discovery, and the Levant Basin, which includes Tamar, Tanin, and several other discoveries. This study uses quantitative seismic interpretations methods, such as amplitude variations with offset and fluid replacement modeling, to assess the seismic acoustic impedance trend with depth. Also, determine the seismic amplitude response for the brine and gas sands reservoir of the Early and Late Miocene section to link the unexplored study area within the North Sinai Offshore Basin with the explored Nile Delta and Levant Basins. In addition to evaluate direct hydrocarbon indicator (DHI) of the dimming seismic amplitude that is compatible with the structure’s last closed contour of the Syrian Arc anticline of the Early Miocene reservoirs (EMT-1 prospect). Different vintages of 2D and 3D seismic data, six wells, and various published data were used in this study. The quantitative interpretation shows the pitfalls of the acoustic impedance trend and seismic response dependency on depth for gas and brine sand, which led to the drilling of the EMT-1 dry well. Also, the fluid replacement, P-wave velocity (Vp), and density (ρ) modeling confirmed that the seismic dimming amplitude was due to a seismic processing artifact, which was corrected by readjusting the overburden Messinian salt processing velocity model. This research concludes that the seismic quantitative interpretations are successfully used to assess the acoustic impedance versus depth and understand DHI pitfalls, as well as the processing workflow that could enhance the seismic image. |
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institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 2045-2322 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-03-13T07:24:35Z |
publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
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spelling | doaj.art-a8238eb0d17748468ba53ff85bcc8d582023-06-04T11:27:48ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222023-06-0113112610.1038/s41598-023-35718-zSeismic characteristics and AVO response for non-uniform Miocene reservoirs in offshore eastern Mediterranean region, EgyptAhmed S. Abu El-Ata0Nader H. El-Gendy1Adly H. El-Nikhely2Samir M. Raslan3Mahmoud S. El-Oribi4Moataz Kh. Barakat5Geophysics Department, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams UniversityGeology Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta UniversityPhysics Department, Faculty of Science, Alexandria UniversityVice Chairman for Agreements and Exploration/EGASDana Gas CompanyGeology Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta UniversityAbstract The Eastern Mediterranean region, extending from the Offshore Nile Delta Cone of Egypt to the Levant Basin, is a confirmed hydrocarbon-rich territory with several giant gas discoveries. Numerous gas fields have been discovered in the Miocene reservoirs within the Nile Delta Cone, and the Levant Basin. The Miocene sedimentary sequences in this region are extremely heterogeneous, consisting mainly of turbiditic slope deposits, channels, and basin floor fans that were capped by evaporites formed during the Messinian Salinity Crisis. As a result, the seismic characteristics and interpreted properties of this heterogeneous section are ambiguous. The study area is located in the Offshore North Sinai Basin, where a thick Early Miocene section was deposited midway between the Nile Delta province, which includes the El-Fayrouz discovery, and the Levant Basin, which includes Tamar, Tanin, and several other discoveries. This study uses quantitative seismic interpretations methods, such as amplitude variations with offset and fluid replacement modeling, to assess the seismic acoustic impedance trend with depth. Also, determine the seismic amplitude response for the brine and gas sands reservoir of the Early and Late Miocene section to link the unexplored study area within the North Sinai Offshore Basin with the explored Nile Delta and Levant Basins. In addition to evaluate direct hydrocarbon indicator (DHI) of the dimming seismic amplitude that is compatible with the structure’s last closed contour of the Syrian Arc anticline of the Early Miocene reservoirs (EMT-1 prospect). Different vintages of 2D and 3D seismic data, six wells, and various published data were used in this study. The quantitative interpretation shows the pitfalls of the acoustic impedance trend and seismic response dependency on depth for gas and brine sand, which led to the drilling of the EMT-1 dry well. Also, the fluid replacement, P-wave velocity (Vp), and density (ρ) modeling confirmed that the seismic dimming amplitude was due to a seismic processing artifact, which was corrected by readjusting the overburden Messinian salt processing velocity model. This research concludes that the seismic quantitative interpretations are successfully used to assess the acoustic impedance versus depth and understand DHI pitfalls, as well as the processing workflow that could enhance the seismic image.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-35718-z |
spellingShingle | Ahmed S. Abu El-Ata Nader H. El-Gendy Adly H. El-Nikhely Samir M. Raslan Mahmoud S. El-Oribi Moataz Kh. Barakat Seismic characteristics and AVO response for non-uniform Miocene reservoirs in offshore eastern Mediterranean region, Egypt Scientific Reports |
title | Seismic characteristics and AVO response for non-uniform Miocene reservoirs in offshore eastern Mediterranean region, Egypt |
title_full | Seismic characteristics and AVO response for non-uniform Miocene reservoirs in offshore eastern Mediterranean region, Egypt |
title_fullStr | Seismic characteristics and AVO response for non-uniform Miocene reservoirs in offshore eastern Mediterranean region, Egypt |
title_full_unstemmed | Seismic characteristics and AVO response for non-uniform Miocene reservoirs in offshore eastern Mediterranean region, Egypt |
title_short | Seismic characteristics and AVO response for non-uniform Miocene reservoirs in offshore eastern Mediterranean region, Egypt |
title_sort | seismic characteristics and avo response for non uniform miocene reservoirs in offshore eastern mediterranean region egypt |
url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-35718-z |
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