The Geometry Configuration of ATBRA Basin Utilizing Satellite Gravity Measurements

Abstract

Study area lies in the River Nile state -North Central of Sudan - between latitudes 17˚ 34' -18˚ 00' E and longitudes 33˚ 55' – 34˚ 43' N . The geological settings of the study area are composed of Pre-Cambrian Basement Complex, upper Cretaceous Nubian sandstone formation, Oligocene Hudi Chert , and Quaternary superficial deposits in ascending order. Atbara Basin represents one of the promising basins in Sudan as far as petroleum is concerned. The previous oil exploration activities have been concentrated in South Sudan basins and little attention was given to Atbara Basin. For this reason, Atbara Basin remained undiscovered and it potentiality is, so far, no fully understood. The outcome of this study was to generate a structural framework and a depth to basement interpretation for the study area. The Ground Gravity data was originally provided as buoguer anomaly ( BA) where the satellite gravity data was provided as free air anomaly ( FAA) delivered together with the elevation data for each point. This combination of data was used to compute Bouguer Anomaly (BA) for the study area. By compression between ground and satellite gravity data the satellite data were adopted to be used in present study is because the satellite data gives a good coverage, high resolution with relatively low cost. Different derivatives were computed from the Bouguer anomaly values of satellite the Bouguer anomaly and the derived values were interpreted in terms of variations in lithological units, which were constrained by the surface exposures where available. The average method was used to separating regional from the residual component of the gravity by using mathematical equation. Two profiles were constructed across the residual gravity map in an approximately NW-SE and NW- SE directions cutting the most prominent anomalies in the area. To generate modeling of the subsurface geology of the study area based on the residual gravity map.