Geologic Well‐Log Interpretation Across Carbonate Reservoir Types in the Middle East: Insights Into Reservoir Heterogeneity and Play Characteristics

ABSTRACT Characterizing carbonate reservoirs in the Middle East remains a persistent challenge due to pronounced heterogeneity, complex diagenetic overprints, and facies variability associated with shelf‐margin dynamics. This study develops depositional and diagenetic models for major carbonate play types—shelf sheets (inner shelf sheets, sheets proximal to and updip from the carbonate shelf edge, and basinal sheets and wedges), buildups (shelf buildups and downslope buildups), and shelf‐margin clinoforms—to improve qualitative interpretation of well‐log responses in data‐limited settings. Because many legacy wells lack digital log data, interpretations are derived from published values, emphasizing the reproducibility of diagnostic gamma‐ray, neutron–density, and sonic motifs across stratigraphic intervals. The resulting framework defines characteristic log signatures for end‐member carbonate plays and clarifies how depositional setting and diagenetic evolution govern porosity and reservoir quality. Although limited by incomplete stratigraphic coverage and the absence of direct seismic‐to‐well calibration, the study provides a regionally consistent qualitative model that enhances understanding of carbonate reservoir architecture across the Arabian Gulf. These models form a foundation for future quantitative analyses integrating modern log suites and, potentially, for artificial intelligence (AI)‐assisted approaches to automated facies recognition.