Unravelling New Exploration Frontiers for the Lower Jurassic of Kuwait

Abstract

The main objectives of this work are to provide a new assessment of structural and stratigraphic trapping mechanisms of the Lower Jurassic Marrat Formation onshore Kuwait through integrated G&G workflows supported by seismic characterization. A unique 3D seismic survey was recently acquired in the western Kuwaiti sector known as “Khabrat Ali”. This acquisition is aimed at opening new exploration frontiers in a sector with very limited data. Results of this study provide significant insights into the potential development of the reservoir facies in the Lower Jurassic Marrat carbonate ramp system. Those results highlight an important change in the perception related to west Kuwait which was once thought to be deposited in a lagoonal system with little explorational potential. For the first time three main lead areas presenting good reservoir characteristics have been identified. Two comprising stratigraphic trapping potential, localized in the westernmost (extensive shoal geobody) and eastern “Khabrat Ali” (restricted shoals or associated reworked deposits). Finally, combined structural-stratigraphic traps are also observed along two major structures localized in the central part of “Khabrat Ali”. Those results provide major constraints for future stratigraphic and basin models expected to be conducted soon.