1. science
2. geology

STRATIGRAPHIC TRAPS OF THE MIDDLE EAST
Shangri-La’s Barr Al Jissah
Resort & Spa
Muscat, Oman
20 - 22 October 2014
This three-day workshop will be dedicated to sharing knowledge, ideas, and workflows pertaining to exploration for
stratigraphically trapped hydrocarbon accumulations in the Middle East. The workshop will emphasize case studies involving
both carbonates and clastics — in order to help focus explorationists in their search for these types of traps.
In the Middle East, as in other parts of the world, most simple anticlinal traps have already been discovered. Current
exploration activities in the Middle East are increasingly focused on more subtle trapping styles, such as pinchouts, lenses,
unconformity traps, and reefs. Worldwide, a significant percentage of hydrocarbon accumulations (including “giant” fields)
are associated with stratigraphic traps. Since most known oil and gas fields in the Middle East are of a structural nature,
significant hydrocarbon volumes are expected to be discovered in this region in non-structural traps.
Mature sedimentary basins have the highest percentages of known stratigraphic traps. These areas are generally associated
with greater well control and more seismic data, resulting in much better understanding of depositional environments and
tectonic histories. In underexplored sedimentary basins in which sufficient well and seismic control is lacking, stratigraphic
traps are especially difficult to find. Therefore, understanding stratigraphic traps in mature sedimentary basins is key to
discovering stratigraphically trapped hydrocarbon accumulations in underexplored sedimentary basins with similar
depositional and tectonic settings.
Detailed analysis of lithology between well control depends on the acquisition of high-resolution seismic data, reliable
processing of the data, and sound interpretation based on horizon picking, 3D visualization, seismic attribute extraction and
analysis, and seismic stratigraphy. With continual improvements in seismic data acquisition and processing — resulting in
higher bandwidth, higher signal-to-noise, and seismic resolution of ever-thinner geological units, all coupled with advanced
techniques such as 3D AVO and spectral decomposition (to name a few) — the percentage of stratigraphically trapped
discoveries in the Middle East will undoubtedly increase.
The case histories will illustrate geological settings and characteristics with maps, cross sections, and appropriate well data.
And the real behind-the-scene stories on how they were discovered — concept-led or technology-led deliberate hunting
or by serendipity. We will of course be very interested to hear how the follow-up, in-field or exploration, has been executed.
Key learnings — from technical to management decision making — will be important to share with the rest of the audience.
Benefits of attending:
The workshop is an opportunity for attendees to receive up-to-date knowledge about stratigraphic trap exploration,
exposure to regional and global stratigraphic case studies and to be introduced to state of the art-technologies utilized to
detect these difficult to find yet rewarding traps. It is an opportunity to network and share experiences. The participants will
receive a summary of the breakout sessions and discussions, lessons learned and a CD with abstracts for papers presented
in the workshop.
ONSITE BROCHURE
SESSION TOPICS
Session 1: Global Carbonate and Clastic Case Histories
Session 2: Role of Petroleum System Analysis, Fairway Mapping
and Geologic/Stratigraphic Framework in Stratigraphic Traps
Exploration and Development
Session 3: Middle East Carbonate Case Histories
Session 4: Middle East Clastic Case Histories
Session 5: Future Exploration Opportunities
Session 6: Enabling Technologies for Stratigraphic Trap Prediction
PLATINUM SPONSOR
GOLD SPONSOR
PROGRAM COMMITTEE
Abdel Fattah Bakhiet (Chairman), Saudi Aramco
Ahmed Taher (Co-Chair), ADNOC
Mark Doyle (Co-Chair), PDO
Nawaf Al Salim, KOC
Donald Williams, Saudi Aramco
Friso Veenstra, TNO
SILVER SPONSOR
DAY 1 LUNCHEON
TECHNICAL PROGRAM
DAY 1: Monday, 20 October 2014
07:00 - 08:00
Workshop Registration
08:00 - 08:10
Workshop Chairman’s Welcome
and Introduction
Abdel Fattah Bakhiet, Saudi Aramco
08:10 - 08:20 Inaugural Keynote Speech
Intisaar Al Kindy, VP Exploration, PDO
08:20 - 08:50 Technical Keynote Speech
Paul Binns, P E Binns Ltd
08:50 - 13:00Session 1: Global Carbonate and Clastic
Case Histories
Session Chairs:Donald Williams, Saudi Aramco &
Friso Veenstra, TNO
08:50 - 09:15
Shao Qing Sun, C&C Reservoirs
“Stratigraphic/Subtle Traps as Key Targets for
Future Exploration”
09:15 - 09:40
Robert Lindsay, Saudi Aramco
“The Search for Carbonate Stratigraphic Traps”
09:40 - 09:55
14:25 - 14:50 Christopher Reid, Saudi Aramco
“Stratigraphic Trapping Mechanism in the
Triassic-Jurassic Carbonate and Clastic
Systems of the Rub Al Khali Basin, Saudi
Arabia”
14:50 - 15:05 Coffee Break & Posters
15:05 - 15:30 David Tang, Saudi Aramco
“Regional Sequence and Seismic Stratigraphy
Defining Jurassic Stratigraphic Opportunities
Fairways”
15:30 - 15:55 Ghaida Al-Sahlan, KOC
“Decoding Gotnia Basin of Kuwait,
Stratigraphic Approach”
15:55 - 16:10 Coffee Break & Posters
16:10 - 17:10 Break Out and Discussion 17:10 - 18:00 Report Back
18:30Icebreaker Reception and Dinner, Heritage
Village, Shangri-La’s Bar Al Jissah Resort
Coffee Break & Posters
09:55 - 10:20 Henk Droste, Shell
“Stratigraphic Trapping Potential in the
Mesozoic Carbonates of Arabia”
10:20 - 10:45 TBC, Saudi Arabian Chevron
“Integration of Seismic Stratigraphy and Seismic Geomorphology for Prediction of Lithology: Applications and Workflows” 10:45 - 11:00 Coffee Break & Posters
11:00 - 12:00 Break Out and Discussion
12:00 - 13:00 Report Back 13:00 - 14:00 Lunch, Al Tanoor Courtyard
14:00 - 18:00Session 2: Role of Petroleum System
Analysis, Fairway Mapping and Geologic/
Stratigraphic Framework in Stratigraphic
Traps Exploration and Development
ession Chairs: Ahmed Taher, ADNOC & Abdel Fattah S
Bakhiet, Saudi Aramco
14:00 - 14:25 Pieter Spaak, Shell
“Predict or Encounter - Exploring for
‘Strat-Traps’ in Arabia”
Stratigraphic Traps of the Middle East • 20 – 22 October 2014
DAY 2: Tuesday, 21 October 2014
08:30 - 13:00Session 3: Middle East Carbonate Case
Histories
Session Chairs:Robert Lindsay, Saudi Aramco & Henk
Droste, Shell
08:30 - 08:55 Muhammad Nor Mansor, Saudi Aramco
A Callovian Carbonate Stratigraphic Trap in the
Eastern Saudi Arabia: An Analog for Exploring
Subtle Traps
08:55 - 09:20 Kester Harris & Colin Nunweek, PDO
“Upper Shuaiba, Lekhwair High, Oman”
09:20 - 09:35 Coffee Break & Posters
09:35 - 10:00 Salim Al Siyabi, Daleel Petroleum
“Appraisal and Development of a Cretaceous Stratigraphic Trap, Going Beyond Seismic”
10:00 - 10:25 William M. Fitchen, Oxy
“The Role of Stratigraphic Trapping in Shuaiba
Reservoir ”
10:25 - 10:40 Coffee Break & Posters 10:40 - 11:40 Break Out and Discussion
11:40 - 13:00 Report Back
13:00 - 14:00 Lunch, Al Tanoor Courtyard
TECHNICAL PROGRAM
14:00 - 18:00Session 4: Middle East Clastic Case
Histories
Session Chairs:Nawaf Al Salim, KOC & Pieter Spaak,
Shell
14:00 - 14:25 Abdullah Zahrani, Saudi Aramco
“Predicting Ordovician Stratigraphic Traps: A
Case Study of Exploring Channels in Central
Arabia”
14:25 - 14:50 Luis Giroldi, Saudi Aramco
“Mapping and Seismic Characterization of the
Main Unayzah a Eolian Sand Fairway, Eastern
Saudi Arabia”
14:50 - 15:05 Coffee Break & Posters
15:05 - 15:30 David Alsop, PDO
“Stratigraphic Traps in the Gharif and Barik
Formations, Sultanate of Oman”
15:30 - 15:55 Herve Farran, PDO
“Regional Sub-Crop Trap Play – A New Era
of Exploration Using the Latest Seismic
Processing Achievement”
15:55 - 16:10 Coffee Break & Posters
16:10 - 17:10 Break Out and Discussion 17:10 - 18:00 Report Back
DAY 3: Wednesday, 22 October 2014
08:30 - 13:00
Session 5: Future Exploration Opportunities
Session Chair: Mark Doyle, PDO &
David Tang, Saudi Aramco
08:30 - 08:55 Don Williams, Saudi Aramco
“Arab A Stratigraphic Trap, Summan Platform,
Saudi Arabia”
08:55 - 09:20 Farrukh Qayyum, dGB Earth Sciences B.V.
“An Integrated Approach for the Identification
of Stratigraphic Potential in The Mishrif
Sequence, Middle East”
09:20 - 09:35 Coffee Break & Posters
09:35 - 10:00 Ahmed Taher, ADNOC
“A Diagenetic Trap Potential in Southwest
Onshore Abu Dhabi. Analogue for a Potentially
Attractive New Mishrif Play”
10:25 - 10:40 Coffee Break & Posters
10:40 - 11:40 Break Out and Discussion
11:40 - 13:00 Report Back
13:00 - 14:00 Lunch, Al Tanoor Courtyard
14:00 - 17:30Session 6: Enabling Technologies for
Stratigraphic Trap Prediction
Session Chairs:Kenneth Cass, Saudi Arabian Chevron
& Karl Street, Halliburton
14:00 - 14:25 Geert de Bruin, TNO
“Unraveling the Eridanos Delta in the Dutch
Offshore for Shallow Gas Exploration”
14:25 - 14:50 Bilal Shaheed, Weatherford
“Advances in Borehole Micro-Image
Processing”
14:50 - 15:15 Tarek Nafie, Schlumberger
“A Well Driven Seismic Processing Approach
for Seismic Imaging Of Subtle Stratigraphic
Traps”
15:15 - 15:30 Coffee Break & Posters
15:30 - 15:55 Maria Helena Caeiro, Partex
“Using Global Seismic Inversion to Detect
Sub-Seismic Geologic Features in a
Carbonate Reservoir from a Giant Field
onshore Abu Dhabi”
15:55 - 16:20 Lin Ye, KOC
“Spectral Decomposition - A Tool for
Delineation of Strati-Structural Traps in
Minagish Formation, Southeast Kuwait”
16:20 - 16:50 Panel Session
16:50 - 17:30 Workshop Wrap Up and Adjourn
Poster Presenter (Displayed throughout the workshop)
Abdullah G. Dhubeeb, Saudi Aramco
“Biostratigraphy Role in Defining Collovian-Oxfordian Sequences
and its Impact in the Search for Stratigraphic Traps in KSA”
10:00 - 10:25 Hussain Najwani, Oman Oil
“Upside Opportunities in Shallower Structural
and Stratigraphic Traps of the Abu Butubul
Gas Field in Oman”
Stratigraphic Traps of the Middle East • 20 – 22 October 2014
AAPG Middle East Calendar of Events:
2015
GTW – Carbonate Reservoirs
of the Middle East
2-4 March 2015 • Abu Dhabi, UAE
SEG/AAPG Intrashelf Basins
of the Middle East Workshop
11-13 May 2015 • Dubai, UAE
GTW - Fractured Reservoirs
of the Middle East
GTW – Siliciclastic Reservoirs
of the Middle East
GTW - Source Rocks
of the Middle East
GTW - Hydrocarbon Seals
of the Middle East
EAGE/AAPG Tight Reservoirs
in the Middle East Workshop
23-25 March 2015 • Kuwait City, Kuwait
20-22 April 2015 • Manama, Bahrain
2-4 November • Dubai, UAE
AAPG/SEG Advances in
Subsurface Mapping Workshop
Students Programme –
IBA/Students & YPs' Summit
16-18 March 2015 • Muscat, Oman
GTW - Exploring Mature Basins
23-25 November 2015 • Doha, Qatar
18-20 May 2015 • Location TBC
8-10 June 2015 • Dead Sea, Jordan
5-7 October 2015 • Abu Dhabi, UAE
For more information visit
Middle East Region
PLATINUM SPONSOR
GOLD SPONSOR
middleeast.aapg.org
SILVER SPONSOR
DAY 1 LUNCHEON