Predicting heat flow in constrain modeling of a petroleum system in the Red Sea is a significant exploration challenge. In this study, we developed an integrated workflow to utilize seismic, magnetic and gravity data in the offshore Jazan area of the Red Sea to build a crustal model and to identify crustal type. Depth to Curie temperature was estimated from magnetic data and used together with thermal properties of the rocks to predict present-day heat flow for the interpreted crustal model. The predicted heat flow shows a generally increasing trend toward the rift axis due to an elevated asthenosphere boundary that is consistent with a thinned crust model. The model of thinning continental lithosphere and predicted heat flow derived from the integrated workflow provides valuable constraints to reduce the uncertainties in basin modeling.

Keywords:
oceanic crust, anomaly, Reservoir Characterization, Jazan area, Curie isotherm, radiogenic heat production, gravity data, Upstream Oil & Gas, crustal model, Curie temperature
Subjects:
Reservoir Characterization, Exploration, development, structural geology, Seismic processing and interpretation
Copyright 2017, Society of Petroleum Engineers
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