Heterogeneous gravity data combination for geophysical exploration research:
Linking satellite gravity gradients to basin maturity
Authors: J.A.C. Meekes1, R. Abdul Fattah1, J. Bouman2, M. Schmidt2, J. Ebbing3, R. Haagmans4
1: TNO, Utrecht, The Netherlands
2: Deutsches Geodätisches Forschungsinstitut (DGFI), Munich, Germany
3: NGU, Trondheim, Norway
4: ESA/ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands
Introduction
The GOCE satellite gravity mission was launched in 2009 to measure the gravity gradients with high
accuracy and spatial resolution. GOCE gravity gradient data may improve the understanding and modeling
of the Earth’s interior and its dynamic processes. To achieve this challenging target, GOCE should be used in
combination with additional data sources, such as in-situ gravimetric, magnetic, and seismic data sets.
Two application fields are considered in our ongoing project:
The well explored and understood North-East Atlantic Margin. The sensitivity of satellite gravity
and gradients will be compared to a lithospheric model established by integrating sources like
seismic, magnetic and terrestrial gravity data and other in-situ data. This analysis will provide a
sensitivity matrix for different types of gravity data, which can be used for forward or inverse
modeling.
For the Rub' al-Khali desert in Saudi Arabia the GOCE data will be used to eventually estimate
the maturity of the main source rocks which will improve our understanding of the petroleum
systems in the region.
The GOCE gravity gradients complemented with GRACE gradients for the long wavelengths in the
gradiometer reference frame will be used in forward and inverse modeling in the North-East Atlantic Margin
and the Arabian Peninsula. The data will also be combined with other gravity data, e.g. terrestrial gravimetry.
Application for the Arabian Peninsula
The Rub' al-Khali desert in Saudi Arabia is, in terms of modeling and data availability, a frontier area. Here
GOCE gravity gradient data will be used to better identify the structure and composition of the crust and the
lithosphere in the region. Gravity gradient data are expected to provide a better resolution of the edges of
geological features (such as faults, lineaments and large intrusions). Thus, it can help to identify density
zonation in the basement and enhance structural boundaries within the crust on a regional scale (such as the
Terranes).
Based on the new model of the crust and the lithosphere in the Rub Al’Khali desert, a regional tectonic heat
flow model will be calculated for various geological ages. We use a grid-based stochastic tool (PetroProb)
developed by TNO to model basal heat flow [1]. Using the heat flow maps and the geological model of the
area, new maturity maps will be generated for the main Paleozoic and Mesozoic source rock units in the
region.
REFERENCES
[1] Van Wees, J.D., van Bergen, F., David, P., Nepveu, M., Beekman, F., Cloetingh, S., Bonte, D. [2009]
Probabilistic tectonic heat flow modeling for basin maturation: assessment methods and applications. In:
Verweij, H., Kacewicz, M., Wendebourg, J., Yardley, G., Cloetingh, S., Düppenbecker, S. (Eds.). Thematic
set on Basin Modeling Perspectives, Marine and Petroleum Geology 26, 536-551.