Evolving Mishrif Play Exploration Opportunities Beyond Structures in Offshore Abu Dhabi: Swinging Facies Boundary and Stratigraphic Trap Potential

This paper explores the exploration potential of the Eastern Mishrif Play in Offshore Abu Dhabi, focusing on subtle potential stratigraphic traps formed along swinging facies transitions at the platform margin adjacent to the Shilaif intra shelf basin. The study aims to address key technical and operational challenges associated with targeting such carbonate systems, particularly in identifying lateral reservoir limits, locating sweet spots, and support optimized well planning to reduce exploration risk and enhance subsurface understanding. A multidisciplinary approach was adopted, integrating regional prospectivity, well and seismic based evaluation. The workflow included post-drill evaluation, log and core-based facies analysis to understand reservoir-seal distribution and depositional architecture. Advanced seismic interpretation including post-stack attribute analysis and inversion were employed to resolve reservoir-seal boundaries, lateral facies transition and Mishrif reservoir limit. These techniques, calibrated with well control, supported high confidence prediction of stratigraphic trap configurations and optimal drilling targets. The results revealed the existence of a swinging pinch-out trend along the eastern Mishrif platform margin, where porous shoals to inner ramp transition into tighter outer ramp and basinal facies. A robust well based stratigraphic framework, derived from core and log data, aided in distinguishing key depositional environments and associated lithofacies. Seismic attribute responses, particularly amplitude dimming trends and inversion-derived impedance contrasts aligned with geological expectations revealed laterally continuous terminations indicative of the potential stratigraphic trapping. Spectral decomposition and wedge modeling further enhanced interpretability of thin and gradational facies. While seismic interpretation was challenged by the subtle impedance contrast between Mishrif, overlying Laffan and underlying Shilaif formations, integration of geological and geophysical data proved critical in reliably defining Mishrif reservoir limit. This work demonstrates the effectiveness of an integrated workflow in recognizing and de-risking subtle carbonate stratigraphic traps and associated challenges. It emphasizes the importance of well calibrated seismic evaluation for trap delineation and reservoir prediction in mature basins. The approach provides a valuable framework for data-driven exploration in shelf-to-basin carbonate systems like Mishrif, where subtle facies transitions control hydrocarbon entrapment.