Source rock evaluation of the Central Gulf of Suez, Egypt: A 1D basin modelling and petroleum system analysis

Abstract

Geochemical studies were applied to evaluate the possible source rocks of Cretaceous–Eocene formations in the October oil field, including pyrolysis analysis data such as total organic carbon (TOC %), generating source potential (S2), production index (PI), oxygen, and hydrogen indices (OI, HI) and (Tmax). Three source rocks are characterized by fair to good and very good TOC%, which are Thebes, Duwi, and Abu Qada formations with kerogen type I and type II, respectively, and some samples are in the type III region reflecting the degree of maturation and can generate oil and gas. 1D basin models were constructed for five wells to simulate the multi‐tectonic phases and multiple burial histories, migration path, and event chart in the study area. The sedimentation rates from Cretaceous to Palaeocene age are characterized by low burial rate sedimentation, low to medium in the Eocene age, and high burial rate and rapid sedimentation in the Miocene and post‐Miocene age. The petroleum system of the October oil field was studied, and two petroleum systems can be recognized, according to the integration studies between the source rock evaluation and petroleum basin modelling.