Gravity Survey of King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals Dammam Dome, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

The study area is a part of Dammam Dome that is situated at King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM) campus, Dhahran, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The gravity survey was conducted as a pilot case study to explore part of Dammam Dome in greater detail. Gravity data were collected solely during night hours due to low noise levels. A significant part of the survey was conducted during the summer holiday period, , when there was no student are on campus. A total of 235 gravity measurements were made using a Scintrex CG5 gravitometer, while a Trimble R10+ differential GPS (DGPS) was used to measure the stations’ location and elevation with the highest accuracy. All gravity data were reduced using several algorithms, and their outcomes were cross-compared. The Complete Bouguer anomaly map for the campus was then generated. Several enhancement filters including edged detection and shallow to deeper source separation were applied. Data were inverted, and 2.5D and 3D models were created to image the subsurface conditions. The main purpose of this study is to better understand the subsurface geology, tectonic settings of the Dammam Dome by applying the high-resolution gravity method before carrying out any comprehensive geophysical (seismic) 3D survey.