A case study of sub-basalt imaging in land region covered with basalt flows

In this study, a set of 20 2D seismic lines, acquired over the Golan Heights basaltic plateau, was processed and analysed. Although the data were acquired and processed by standard techniques, in some cases good-quality seismic images were obtained under several hundred metres of basalts. We describe how the seismic characteristics of the top basalt layer were defined and show the effect of the numerous widespread volcanic sources on the quality of the final images. The new data reveal the first images of the sedimentary sequence under the basalt flows, and indicate that strands of the Dead Sea Transform extend into this area. The entire region was found to be very deformed. Several attractive traps for hydrocarbon exploration were also identified on the output sections.