Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous petroleum system of Faghur Basin, North Western Desert, Egypt

Abstract

Different parts of the Lower Cretaceous Alam El Bueib (AEB) and the Jurassic Khatatba source and reservoir rock units in the Faghur basin, like in other basins in the north Western Desert, act as hydrocarbon sources and reservoirs. In the present study, well-log data from five wells in Phiops field and geochemical data from the Neith S-2X well from the neighbor Neith field together with reflection 2D seismic data of thirty (30) lines have been utilized to evaluate the Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous petroleum system in the Faghur basin and to give evidence for future hydrocarbon exploration and development in the study area. Source rock evaluation shows that several units from both Alam El Bueib and the Jurassic Khatatba shale source rocks represent good source rocks. Total organic carbon (TOC) values of the studied units of Alam El Bueib shale source rocks range from 0.27 to 6.39 wt.% that reflect fair to very good source rock, while Toc value for the Alam El Bueib-6 shale source rock is 2.52 wt.% that indicates a very good source rock. These units are characterized by type (III) kerogen, reflecting their ability to produce gas with minor oil. On the other hand, the characterization of the Khatatba shale source rocks indicates a very good to fair organic richness and a type (III) kerogen with an input of type (II) as well, which appears their ability to generate gas with minor oil. Most of Alam El Bueib and Khatatba shale source rocks are found to be in the mature stage. Petrophysical evaluation indicates four definite reservoir units from the Alam El Bueib reservoirs (Alam El Bueib-3D, Alam El Bueib-3E, Alam El Bueib-3G, Alam El Bueib-6) and the Khatatba reservoir. Values for the net reservoir, hydrocarbon saturation, and water saturation indicate that these units represent very promising reservoirs in the studied Phiops field in Faghur basin. Local intra-formational shale intervals most probably seal these reservoirs in the AEB and carbonate interval of the Masajid Formation in the Khatatba Formation. Moreover, analysis and interpretation of the 2D seismic lines showed that both structural and stratigraphic traps dominate. Integration of geochemical, petrophysical, and seismic results, in light of available geological information, indicates a complete Mesozoic petroleum system in the Faghur basin.