The Maradi fault zone: 3-D imagery of a classic wrench fault in Oman

Conference · Wed Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1993 · AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States)

OSTI ID:7135413

Neuhaus, D ^[1]

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1. Petroleum Development Oman, Muscat (Oman)

The Maradi fault zone extends for almost 350 km in a north-northwest-south-southeast direction from the Oman Mountain foothills into the Arabian Sea, thereby dissecting two prolific hydrocarbon provinces, the Ghaba and Fahud salt basins. During its major Late Cretaceous period of movement, the Maradi fault zone acted as a left-lateral wrench fault. An early exploration campaign based on two-dimensional seismic targeted at fractured Cretaceous carbonates had mixed success and resulted in the discovery of one producing oil field. The structural complexity, rapidly varying carbonate facies, and uncertain fracture distribution prevented further drilling activity. In 1990 a three-dimensional (3-D) seismic survey covering some 500 km[sup 2] was acquired over the transpressional northern part of the Maradi fault zone. The good data quality and the focusing power of 3-D has enabled stunning insight into the complex structural style of a [open quotes]textbook[close quotes] wrench fault, even at deeper levels and below reverse faults hitherto unexplored. Subtle thickness changes within the carbonate reservoir and the unconformably overlying shale seal provided the tool for the identification of possible shoals and depocenters. Horizon attribute maps revealed in detail the various structural components of the wrench assemblage and highlighted areas of increased small-scale faulting/fracturing. The results of four recent exploration wells will be demonstrated and their impact on the interpretation discussed.

• OSTI ID: 7135413
• Report Number(s): CONF-9310237-; CODEN: AABUD2
• Journal Information: AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States), Vol. 77:9; Conference: American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) mid-continent section meeting, Amarillo, TX (United States), 10-12 Oct 1993; ISSN 0149-1423
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
CARBONATE ROCKS
RESERVOIR ROCK
GEOLOGIC FAULTS
MAPS
GEOLOGIC FRACTURES
DISTRIBUTION
SEISMIC SURVEYS
THREE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
ARABIAN SEA
CRETACEOUS PERIOD
EXPLORATION
EXPLORATORY WELLS
FRACTURING
HYDROCARBONS
OMAN
SEALS
SEDIMENTARY BASINS
SHALES
ARAB COUNTRIES
ASIA
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS
INDIAN OCEAN
MESOZOIC ERA
MIDDLE EAST
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ROCKS
SEAS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SURFACE WATERS
SURVEYS
WELLS
020200* - Petroleum- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration