Basement configuration depth methods of airborne magnetic data in the eastern Gulf of Suez, Egypt

One of the best methods used to delineate basement structures and configuration is the airborne magnetic survey data. The goal of this research is to accurately delineate the deep-seated basement configuration and structures. Production of geophysical maps after processing the data, including two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) magnetic susceptibility layered-earth models for high-resolution airborne RTP magnetic data over the eastern part of the Gulf of Suez, was conducted to accurately detect the shallow and deep-seated basement structures. The well data was used to correlate and control the depth of the basement during the 2D and 3D modelling. Results of the estimation of the depth to the basement showed that Analytical Signal (AS), Source Parameter Imaging (SPI) and Euler methods have very similar results. The eastern part in the three maps indicates more shallow depths that reach 300 m in some locations; on the other hand, the western part of the area indicates deeper depths to the basement, which in some places reaches 5000 m from the existing averaged ground surface. The 3D modelling showed an adequate matching between the depth to the basement in the calculated and observed data. The sedimentary section is tectonically affected by such deep-seated basement structures with a set of faults that extend from the basement upwards through the sedimentary cover. Generally, these faulted sedimentary blocks may constitute potential structural traps for the hydrocarbon accumulation