Exploration for a Frontier Salt Basin in Southwest Oman

An undrilled Infracambrian-lower Paleozoic salt basin is interpreted as being present in the Dhofar area of southwest Oman. A re-evaluation of the existing seismic and gravity data indicated that the basin is located immediately north of a major NE-orientated basement feature known as the Ghudun-Khasfah High. The basin is centered in the southern part of the Al Hashman Block 36 and the northern part of Mudayy Block 38, both operated by Phillips. Studies conducted by Phillips suggest that the basin has a similar structural history and pre-Silurian stratigraphy to the known salt basins of Oman. New stratigraphically deeper Paleozoic and Infracambrian exploration plays that are proven in the other Oman salt basins are proposed for this undrilled basin. The new plays rely on an unproven Infracambrian Huqf source. Source and reservoir degradation through widespread post-Huqf deformation is possible, but structural modeling and seismic facies analysis, together with the detection of significant micro-seepage anomalies, suggest otherwise. In addition, the identification and gravity modeling of what appear to be salt features on seismic lines support the presence of Lower Cambrian salt swells and piercement structures. The salt features are believed to be age equivalent to the Ara salt section of the upper Huqf Supergroup present in the other salt basins. Phillips has named this potential salt basin the Ghudun Salt Basin.