Habitat of oil in Abu Gharadig and Faiyum basins, Western Desert, Egypt

Journal Article · Tue May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1984 · Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5394425

Awad, G M

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), Journal Name: Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States) Vol. 68:5; ISSN AAPGB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020200* -- Petroleum-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
AFRICA
CARBONATE ROCKS
CENOZOIC ERA
CRETACEOUS PERIOD
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
EGYPTIAN ARAB REPUBLIC
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GEOLOGY
GEOTHERMAL GRADIENTS
HYDROCARBONS
JURASSIC PERIOD
MESOZOIC ERA
MINERAL RESOURCES
NATURAL GAS DEPOSITS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
RESOURCES
ROCKS
SANDSTONES
SEDIMENTARY BASINS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SHALES
STRATIGRAPHY
TEMPERATURE GRADIENTS
TERTIARY PERIOD
WATER INFLUX