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A new insight into the structural architecture of Sharyoof field, Say’un–Masilah basin, Yemen

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Abstract

This work offers a new insight into the structural architecture and 3D representation of Qishn sandstone reservoir along Sharyoof field which is located at Say’un–Masilah basin in Hadramawt Province, Yemen. The 3D representation depends mainly on the integration of wireline logging data with 2D seismic lines along the Sharyoof field. The workflow of this study includes the interpretation of well logging data, tying the well data with the horizons along the 2D seismic lines, and manual interpretations for the seismic data to construct time structure contour maps. The check shot data was used to construct a velocity model which used to convert the resultant maps from time to depth. Finally, results were integrated to construct a 3D structural model for the Sharyoof field. The depths of 4 main formations tops (Fartaq, Harshiyat, Qishn, and Sa’ar formations) and their members were determined by the well logging data based on their lithological content. Seismic interpretation shows 6 main gentle dipping, planer, normal faults of NE–SW affecting the pre and syn depositional formation. Some of these faults extend to shallow depths affecting the post-rift Tertiary formations. The structural architecture of the Sharyoof field is mainly affected by the Early Cretaceous rifting between the African–Arabian and Madagascar–Indian which leads to the reactivation of the Najd fault system and the initiation of these NE–SW normal faults. The increase of the hydrocarbon productivity along the Sharyoof field requires drilling a new development well which suggested being north–east the current wells, as the hydrocarbon potentiality is mainly concentrated along this area.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the Data Bank Development project in Yemen for supporting this work with the required data through. They gratefully acknowledge Mrs. Sarah El-Nadi for her English revision and the reviewers whose comments helped to strengthen this manuscript.

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Correspondence to Munir Elmahdy.

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Responsible Editor: François Roure

Highlights

• Integration of seismic and well data for the reservoir characterization of the Qishn reservoir at Sharyoof field.

• 3D structural modeling of the Sharyoof field.

• Improvement of the hydrocarbon production from the Qishn Formation along the Sharyoof field.

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Abdullah, E.A., Al-Areeq, N.M., Elmahdy, M. et al. A new insight into the structural architecture of Sharyoof field, Say’un–Masilah basin, Yemen. Arab J Geosci 14, 1977 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-021-08299-2

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