Habitat of oil in Abu Gharadig and Faiyum basins, Western Desert, Egypt
The Abu Gharadig and Faiyum basins are areas which have some of the greatest hydrocarbon potential in the Western Desert of Egypt. Several extensive cycles of marine transgression and regression occurred in these territories through geologic time. The depositional cycles combined with at least 3 tectonic cycles - (1) the Hercynian orogeny at the end of the Paleozoic, (2) from Late Jurassic to early Tertiary, and (3) from Late Cretaceous to middle Tertiary - resulted in a highly deformed, thick sedimentary sequence. This organic-rich Jurassic-Upper Cretaceous-lower Tertiary sequence in large areas of these basins was subjected to enough heat and depth to generate hydrocarbons. The Abu Gharadig and Faiyum basins are separated structurally by a major ridge. Both basins are bounded on the north by another major ridge associated with Cretaceous and Tertiary faulting. A major platform with tin sedimentary cover forms the southern boundary. The hydrocarbon potential exists in cyclic sequences of sandstone, shale, and carbonate, having moderate porosities and permeabilities. An important hydrologic phenomenon prevails in major parts of the basins; fresh water has flushed the early Cenomanian and older reservoirs. Exploration efforts should be concentrated on deep structures close to the main depocenters and inside or very close to the main depocenter and inside or very close to the 150/sup 0/F (65/sup 0/C) geothermal contour.
- Research Organization:
- Getty Oil (Canada) Ltd., Calgary, Alberta
- OSTI ID:
- 5394425
- Journal Information:
- Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States), Vol. 68:5
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Paleozoic and Mesozoic stratigraphy and oil potential of Western Desert
Tectonic evolution of Abu Gharadig basin
Related Subjects
EGYPTIAN ARAB REPUBLIC
NATURAL GAS DEPOSITS
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
GEOLOGY
CARBONATE ROCKS
CRETACEOUS PERIOD
GEOTHERMAL GRADIENTS
HYDROCARBONS
JURASSIC PERIOD
SANDSTONES
SEDIMENTARY BASINS
SHALES
STRATIGRAPHY
TERTIARY PERIOD
WATER INFLUX
AFRICA
CENOZOIC ERA
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
MESOZOIC ERA
MINERAL RESOURCES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
RESOURCES
ROCKS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
TEMPERATURE GRADIENTS
020200* - Petroleum- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration