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Imaging fracture distributions of the Al-Khuff Formation outcrops using GPR and ERT geophysical techniques, Al-Qassim area, Saudi Arabia

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Abstract

Khuff Formation is of utmost importance in Saudi Arabia for oil and gas reservoir although it is composed mainly of limestone. This reason refers to the existence of intensive fractures which play a vital role in the increase in porosity and permeability of this formation. The fracture pattern in the study area was verified through 2D and 3D ground penetrating radar (GPR)-defined and electrical resistivity tomography (ERT)-defined surveys. In this respect, ten of 2D GPR surveys were collected along an intersected grid of profiles covering the study area while ERT data were collected along three profiles of the GPR grid. The results were interpreted in light of the field-based structural and stratigraphic assessment of the outcropping rocks. The analysis of the inverted ERT and filtered GPR sections revealed the presence of fractures. Several resistivity and electromagnetic reflection anomalies were laterally and vertically identified across the measured sections clarifying fractures that extend to a depth of 24 m in the limestone. Most fractures are oriented vertical to sub-vertical dipping both east-west and north-south.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to extend their sincere appreciation to the King Abdul-Aziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) for funding this research work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geosciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, 75080-3021, USA

    Mansour S. Alhumimidi & Carlos L.V. Aiken

  2. National Petroleum and Gas Center, Water and Energy Research Institute, King Abdulaziz City for Sciences and Technology, P.O. Box 6086, Riyadh, 1144, Saudi Arabia

    Mansour S. Alhumimidi

  3. Department of Geophysics, Faculty of Earth Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

    Hussein M. Harbi

  4. National Remote Sensing Technology Center, Space and Aeronautics Research Institute, King Abdul-Aziz City for Sciences and Technology, P.O. Box 6086, Riyadh, 11442, Saudi Arabia

    Mohammed S. Alfarhan

  5. Geology and Geophysics Department College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Kamal Abdelrahman

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  1. Mansour S. Alhumimidi
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  2. Hussein M. Harbi
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  3. Mohammed S. Alfarhan
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  4. Kamal Abdelrahman
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  5. Carlos L.V. Aiken
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Correspondence to Mansour S. Alhumimidi.

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Alhumimidi, M.S., Harbi, H.M., Alfarhan, M.S. et al. Imaging fracture distributions of the Al-Khuff Formation outcrops using GPR and ERT geophysical techniques, Al-Qassim area, Saudi Arabia. Arab J Geosci 10, 306 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-017-3059-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-017-3059-0

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