oa Using ambient noise in identifying hydrocarbon reservoirs and aquifers in the Nile delta basin, Egypt

The Nile delta basin has a rapidly growing population exceeding 40 million with a need for renewable natural sources of energy and water. This study presents a reliable exploration tool for identifying hydrocarbon reservoirs and aquifers in the Nile delta basin using horizontal to vertical (H/V) spectral ratios of ambient noise measurements. More than 100 measurements were taken using broadband portable stations at three parallel profiles crossing the basin from south to north. The dataset was processed and interpreted in terms of geologic structure, which was characterized by multiple successive depositions from the Nile Valley and Mediterranean Sea. Two H/V peaks were picked up at a low frequency ~0.3 Hz and a relatively high frequency at ~1 Hz. The H/V results were correlated with geologic structure maps and the profiles provided a good indication of the gas producing horizon in the Nile delta at a lower frequency and the main aquifer in the basin at a higher frequency. Application of ambient noise as an exploration tool is highly time and cost effective for use in densely populated areas.