Abstract
The present study aims to interpret the available data, that derived from well logs and 2-D seismic reflection data, in the area located northeast onshore Nile Delta, in order to delineate its structural styles and its relation with the basement inferences and regional tectonic, and also to detect the possible existence of hydrocarbon accumulation at the Tertiary-Quaternary sedimentary section. The study area lies between latitudes 30°31' and 31°17'N, and longitudes 30°38' and 31°21'E. Using the available well logs, the average velocity gradients are calculated at El-Wastani, Kafr El Sheikh, Abu Madi, Qawasim and Sidi Salem Formations and velocity contour maps are constructed. The available 2-D seismic sections were interpreted and utilized to construct the isochronous reflection maps to the tops of the fore-mentioned five formations. These maps were converted into depth maps. The depth maps show the predominance of three tectonic trends. The structure contour maps were used to deduce the structural elements affecting the fore-mentioned formations in the area under study. These maps reflect the abundance of the E-W trending faults (sometimes ENE-WSW and in other times WNW-ESE), which characterize the general Mediterranean Sea trend. The second system of structural deformations is trending NE-SW (Syrian arc trend). The third type of faults is the NW-SE trending features (Red Sea faults trend). By integrating the structure contour maps together with the different kinds of maps have been done using different sources of data such as velocity data, the possible locations that can be oil traps for hydrocarbon accumulation have been detected.
Highlights
The Nile Delta, is characterized by a rolling surface sloping regionally in the northern direction
It is well known that the Nile Delta has been subjected to the general geologic events, that affected Northern Egypt during Pre-Miocene time. [15] pointed out that the tectonic history of Northern Egypt including the Nile Delta is subdivided into three main phases as follow: 1) The first tectonic phase: deep structures in the Nile Delta show that the hinge line divided the delta parallel to the pre-existing E-W fault trends
The average velocity gradient map constructed on the different tops shows a dip belt of high average velocity, trending NW-SE, that increases in the southestern direction of El-Wastani, Kafr El Sheikh, Qawasim and Sidi Salem Formations (Figures 4-8), while on top of Kafr El-Sheikh increases toward the northwestern direction (Figure 5)
Summary
The Nile Delta, is characterized by a rolling surface sloping regionally in the northern direction The landforms in this area are influenced by several endogenic and exogenic processes. The faults morphology is clearly noted and has a direct influence on the topographic features, while folding has only a local effect on the landscape as in [1] These endogenic morphologic features have been subsequently affected by a number of exogenic factors including both physical and chemical weathering, and the erosion by running water and seawater activities. It was seen that the thickness of the Post-Miocene sedimentary section in the north is more than 1850 m of clastics sediments. The thickness of these sediments decreases southward where its thickness reaches about 1640 m (Figure 2)
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