Imaging Inclusions within the Hormuz Salt at Jebel Al Dhanna, United Arab Emirates: Insights into Subsurface Storage

Salt domes are increasingly recognized as strategic assets for the energy transition, serving not only in hydrocarbon exploration but also in sustainable applications such as hydrogen storage and CO₂ sequestration. In alignment with the UAE’s sustainability and decarbonization goals, the Infra-Cambrian Hormuz Salt domes represent promising targets for subsurface storage. However, a critical challenge is that the limited knowledge of their internal architecture constrains assessments of cavern feasibility and long-term containment integrity. This study integrates data from three wells and 3D seismic to characterize the Jebel Al Dhanna salt dome—the only emergent salt dome onshore UAE—and its inclusions. Lithological analysis indicates that over half of the drilled interval consists of massive halite, indicating laterally extensive zones suitable for cavern development. Both sedimentary and igneous inclusions are present, with thicknesses ranging from 1 to 193 m. Inclusions thicker than the ~40 m vertical seismic resolution generate strong reflections, allowing the mapping of 52 features up to 40 m thick and laterally continuous for tens of meters to over 1 km. Synthetic seismograms and core photographs confirm excellent well–seismic correlation. Three-dimensional models indicate that inclusions cluster in the upper 1.35 km of the dome, particularly along its eastern, western, and central sectors. Although halite forms the dome framework, non-halite inclusions exhibit strong spatial heterogeneity, reflecting variable source contributions and entrainment histories. These findings document a plug-shaped salt stock with inclusion corridors and large volumes of massive halite, supporting the suitability of Jebel Al Dhanna for future geostorage in the UAE. The integrated workflow and analytical techniques applied in this study provide a practical framework for assessing the internal architecture and storage suitability of other salt domes for hydrogen and CO₂ containment.