Evaluation of the shale beds within Alam El Bueib Formation as an unconventional reservoir, Western Desert, Egypt

Mostafa G Temraz,Doaa A Mousa,Mostafa A Lotfy

doi:10.1007/s13202-017-0353-z

Mostafa G Temraz, Doaa A Mousa + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s13202-017-0353-z

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Abstract

Within Alam El Bueib Formation (AEB), thin sandstone beds of approximately 15.24 m (~50 ft) total thickness, are considered to be the main conventional hydrocarbon-producing zone in the Western Desert. However, the shale intervals within the AEB can be an unconventional reservoir target. In this study, we focus on evaluating these shale units through geochemical analysis, to determine the total carbon, total sulfur, total organic carbon (TOC), and Rock–Eval pyrolysis. TOC is an essential property needed to determine the productive shale gas play. Total organic carbon combined with other geochemical data is important in evaluating the potential of shale gas reservoirs as it is related to the amount of kerogen, the produced hydrocarbon content. The TOC in the studied samples indicates poor to very good organic continent, while the hydrocarbon potentiality (S1 and S2) indicates poor source potential. The hydrogen index reflected kerogen type III/II. These data indicate that AEB Formation may be considered as a good source for generating hydrocarbons (mainly gas with minor amount of oil). The maturation evaluated by using “Tmax” indicates immature to marginally mature source rock, and production index ‘‘PI” represents oil and gas production in case of maturation.

Highlights

Producing commercial rates of hydrocarbons in the shale reservoirs cannot be achieved without hydraulic stimulation, so it is described as unconventional reservoirs
We focus on evaluating these shale units through geochemical analysis, to determine the total carbon, total sulfur, total organic carbon (TOC), and Rock–Eval pyrolysis
Total organic carbon combined with other geochemical data is important in evaluating the potential of shale gas reservoirs as it is related to the amount of kerogen, the produced hydrocarbon content

Summary

Introduction

Producing commercial rates of hydrocarbons in the shale reservoirs cannot be achieved without hydraulic stimulation, so it is described as unconventional reservoirs. The study of the Cretaceous rock in Egypt in general and in the northern part of the Western Desert in particular is interesting due to its high hydrocarbon potentiality This area consists of a number of sedimentary basins that received a thick succession of Mesozoic sediments. Brittleness/mineralogy Permeability Natural fractures the Western Desert and is studied by many authors such as El Nady (2013, 2015, and 2016), Ramadan et al (2016), El Nady and Hakimi (2016), Eysa et al (2016) They recognized that Alam El Bueib Formation is mature formation, derived from mixed organic sources, and has fair to good capability to generate gas. Alam El Bueib Formation composed mainly of sandstone, siltstone, calcareous shale, limestone with some streaks of coal (Fig. 3) These facies reflect shallow marine environment of deposition (Ramadan et al 2012 and Temraz et al 2016)

Materials and methods

Results and discussion

Conclusion