Gravity signal at Ghawar, Saudi Arabia, from the global gravitational field model EGM 2008 and similarities around

Abstract

Gravity disturbances (or free-air anomalies), the Marussi tensor, invariants of the gravity field, and other functionals and functions (here called aspects) of the geopotential, as represented by recent global gravitational field models, are computed for Ghawar, Saudi Arabia, (Al-Anazi, 2007) (Al-Almazi, 2007) and for surrounding areas. With the free-air gravity anomalies, derived from the Earth Gravitational Field Model 2008 (EGM 2008) or European Improved Gravity model of the Earth by New techniques (EIGEN)-6C3 gravity models (based on satellite as well as terrestrial data), we can see features well known to geologists, geophysicists, geomorphologists, and others. Resolution with the global gravitational models is, however, lower than with terrestrial data only, but our “view” is global. With the invariants, strike angles, and virtual deformations, we can find more interesting features (than with the gravity anomalies themselves). We can see analogies between places with oil deposits in the area of the Caspian Sea, Ghawar in Saudi Arabia, and other localities nearby. It is evident that the only “gravity signal” (the aspects) cannot decide about possible deposits of any mineral or oil but—as is known on a local scales—can be a useful tool, which—in conjunction with other data and experience of specialists—may lead to some discoveries. Several interesting places are indicated by the strike angles and virtual deformations at the Persian and Oman Gulfs, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Red Sea.