Three-Dimensional Seismic Analysis in the Characterization of a Giant Carbonate Field, Onshore Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

A recent three-dimensional (3-D) seismic data set over an onshore oil field in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, is compared to a geologic model based on more than 200 wells. This chapter analyzes the seismic character of Upper Thamama Group (Early Cretaceous, BarremianAptian) carbonate reservoirs and shows how, even after more than 25 years of drilling and production, 3-D seismic data have improved the understanding of the field. A discussion of acquisition and processing techniques shows the iterative improvements in the seismic data quality, particularly in multiple suppression. The seismic provides an areal view of the structure and associated faulting. Seismic attributes were used to look at the prediction of rock properties and reservoir character.The extensive well data in the geologic model have allowed widespread comparison with the seismic predictions, and examples are highlighted, which demonstrate the similarities and differences between the two data sets.The chapter demonstrates that, even with a high density of well data, 3-D seismic can be a complementary data set. For this field, the combination of the two data sets has allowed a better understanding of the complex wrench faulting and the behavior of the Thamama reservoir character away from the wells. Important new paleogeographic information has also been obtained from the combination of well data with the depositional geometries and patterns seen on the seismic data at Bab (Aptian age) and Asab (Late Jurassic) levels.