Ocean Bottom Nodes Seismic Survey Evaluation in the Central Gulf of Suez a Revival of the Exploration Portfolio in a Mature Basin

Abstract

Abstract The Gulf of Suez (GOS) is located in northeast Egypt and represents the northern extension of the Red Sea and is one of the most prolific oil provinces in Egypt, (fig. 1). This basin is an Oligo-Miocene rift. Structurally, it is a complex basin where rotated fault blocks represent the main trapping style. The exploration history of the basin dates back to the end of the 19th century when the first commercial oil was discovered in 1908 (Gemsa Oil Field). There are more than 170 fields and 3000 wells in the basin. Most of the fields are mature and in their brown stage. The seismic data in the GOS is challenging and the quality of the data is generally sub-optimum to map reservoirs in a complex structural setting, especially in areas far from well control. This paper aims to showcase how the recent technology of the Ocean Bottom Nodes (OBN) seismic technology yields superior data quality compared to the legacy datasets. It resolved to a far extent the problems that the operators face in the acquisition and processing of conventional towed streamer 3D seismic data in the area.