Integrated reservoir and basin modeling in understanding the petroleum system and evaluating prospects: The Cenomanian reservoir, Bahariya Formation, at Falak Field, Shushan Basin, Western Desert, Egypt

Abstract

Robust inferences on understanding the reservoir heterogeneity and processes of the respective petroleum system are essential to reduce risks throughout the petroleum exploration and development phases. In this paper we present integrated static reservoir modeling and basin modeling to better characterise the reservoir rock; hydrocarbon-bearing sandstones of the Cenomanian Bahariya Formation. This reservoir is an element of the petroleum system; whose times of hydrocarbon generation-migration-accumulation, and entrapment, are also to be addressed; in Falak Field, Meleiha Area, Shushan Basin, Western Desert, Egypt. We utilized dataset including seismic profiles and well logs of four wells. Stratigraphic and structural modeling was performed to delineate the reservoir framework, then facies and petrophysical modeling, using stochastic simulation algorithms, was performed to delineate the reservoir architecture. 1D basin modeling was performed to retrieve the geohistory and maturation models of the area. Combining both reservoir and basin models was aimed, in this study, at identifying new petroleum prospects and estimating the volume of hydrocarbons within the reservoir intervals of the study area. According to the constructed reservoir and basin models, we identified three new petroleum prospect areas; to the NE, NW, and southern parts of Falak Field; that lead to reliable consistent inferences reasonably have sound impact on the oilfield development phases of the area.