Western Desert Of Egypt Research Articles

Paleogeographic, paleoclimatic and sea-level implications of glauconite deposits in Egypt: A review

Glauconite deposits are confined to the Western Desert in Egypt of four different sequences and ages from older to younger include, 1) Lower Cenomanian Bahariya Formation, 2) Lower-Middle Campanian Qusseir Formation, 3) Upper Campanian Duwi Formation, and 4) Lutetian-Bartonian Hamra Formation.Lower Cenomanian, Upper Campanian and Lutetian-Bartonian glauconites occur as pellets, while the Lower-Middle Campanian glauconite occurs as fine-grained particles of non-pelletal texture. Based on K2O contents, the Lower Cenomanian and Upper Campanian glauconites are classified as slightly evolved, while the Lower-Middle Campanian and Lutetian-Bartonian glauconite are categorized as evolved. Positive correlations between K2O and Fe2O3 in the Bahariya Formation, Qusseir Formation and Hamra Formation deposits suggest a layer lattice glauconitization mechanism for these deposits. On the other hand, the lack of correlation between Fe2O3 and K2O declines the layer lattice formational mechanism for the Duwi Formation glauconite. A neo-formation mechanism was suggested for this glauconite. Rare earth elements patterns are the same in the four deposits and resemble the shallow sweater pattern.The four glauconite deposits formed in shallow marine environments and might correspond to major eustatic transgressive and global warming events. Glauconite of the Bahariya Formation corresponds to the Early Cenomanian Tethys major transgression in Egypt and can be correlated to the Albian/Cenomanian global cycle boundary as well as the early Cenomanian “hot greenhouse”. The sequence boundary near the topmost part of the Qusseir Formation matches the global warming of the Middle Campanian Event (MCE). The upper Campanian glauconite of the Duwi Formation occurs as lowstand wedge and may correlate to the late Campanian climatic warm optimum. The stratigraphic position of the Hamra glauconite above the unconformity surface refers to transgressive phase that may match with latest Lutetian major sequence boundary (Lu4) and global warming event of the Middle Eocene Climatic Optimum (MECO).Paleogeographic maps show that the Western Desert of Egypt during Cenomanian and Lower Campanian covered by shallow marine setting, which match with the proposed setting for the glauconites in these ages. However, paleogeographic maps for the Upper Campanian and Middle Eocene were modified to fit with the suggested setting of glauconites of these epochs. The prevalence of shallow marine setting during these four ages interprets the restricted occurrences of glauconites at the Western Desert of Egypt during these epochs.

RADIOECOLOGICAL IMPACT AND THE ASSOCIATED HAZARDS DUE TO NORM FROM OIL AND GAS PRODUCTION FACILITY IN THE WESTERN DESERT OF EGYPT.

An oil and gas production facility in the western desert of Egypt was investigated for possible radiation risks due to the routine operation. Radium-226, Radium-228 and Potassium-40 were assessed in the soil samples collected from the adjacent soakaway pond. The average 226Ra, 228Ra and 40K activity concentrations were 881.0±42.0, 966.0±43.0 and 143.0±8.0Bqkg-1, respectively. Both 226Ra and 228Ra were above the world ranges, while 40K was within the world range. Water samples from the facilities effluent's produced water showed elevated levels of both radium isotopes. The effective doses at three different points on the separator outer surfaces over the period between 1995 and 2014 were assessed. The maximum reading was 5.4μSvh-1 on 2014. The time has significantly contributed to the enhancement of the effective dose readings. However, they are still within the expected range encountered in similar studies reported by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Bivalve borings in Maastrichtian fossil Nypa fruits: Dakhla Formation, Bir Abu Minqar, South Western Desert, Egypt

Disconnected aggregates of allochthonous fossil Nypa fruits occur in the Ammonite Hill Member of the Dakhla Formation (Maastrichtian), exposed at the Bir Abu Minqar section, south Western Desert of Egypt. In a pale brown, calcareous siltstone and/or fine-grained sandstone layer, the fossil fruits found are densely infested by the borings Teredolites clavatus and Apectoichnus longissimus. In the specimens described, wood borings assigned to A. longissimus are more abundant than T. clavatus. Remains of the boring bivalves are not preserved. These aggregates of bored fruits likely accumulated in a warm, shallow, well-oxygenated marine environment. Prior to final accumulation, Nypa fruits drifted in seawater only for a short time and exhibit evidence of biostratinomic alterations. The present study is the first to systematically describe the occurrence of both nominal ichnotaxa from the Maastrichtian rocks in Egypt.

Correction to: The Early Holocene Lithic Tradition of the Northern Farafra Plateau (Tenth–Ninth Millennia cal BP): Its Significance in the Egyptian Western Desert

The author group in the original version of this article contained a mistake.

Senonian platform-to-slope evolution in the tectonically-influenced Syrian Arc sedimentary belt: Beni Suef Basin, Egypt

The Beni Suef Basin is a rift basin that was formed in the Early Cretaceous in response to the break-up of the Gondwana. The infill consists of a thick Mesozoic–Paleogene succession deposited during two main tectonic phases; the Early Cretaceous syn-rift phase and the Late Cretaceous post-rift phase. The post-rift phase was subsequently subjected to an intense compressional tectonic regime related to late Cretaceous Syrian arc tectonics. Within the basin-fill succession, the Senonian deposits, which are composed of carbonates and mixed siliciclastic/carbonate rocks of the “B” and “A” members of the Abu Roash Formation, was formed as a marine platform developed under fluctuated shelfal conditions. These deposits were overlain by chalk of the Khoman Formation that is interpreted to have formed in an outer shelf–middle slope setting. The Senonian succession is subdivided into two 3rd order depositional sequences (Latest Turonian–Early Coniacian SQ-1 and Coniacian–Santonian SQ-2) and one 2nd order depositional sequence (Campanian–Maastrichtian SQ-3). The depositional history of the Senonian in the Beni Suef Basin is interpreted to have been controlled by variable sedimentation accompanied by progradation and retrogradation of carbonate platform between inner and outer shelf environments during the Coniacian–Santonian, and between inner shelf and upper slope environments during the Campanian–Maastrichtian to the end of Senonian. The changes in depositional environments and relative sea-level fluctuations were a factor of the variations in accommodation and sedimentation likely controlled primarily by the Syrian Arc tectonic pulses, which may also have affected basin development and that of the surrounding areas over the northern Western Desert of Egypt particularly during Senonian.

The Early Holocene Lithic Tradition of the Northern Farafra Plateau (Tenth–Ninth Millennia cal BP): Its Significance in the Egyptian Western Desert

The Early Holocene Lithic Tradition of the Northern Farafra Plateau (Tenth–Ninth Millennia cal BP): Its Significance in the Egyptian Western Desert

Characterization and exploitation of black shale as unconventional source of biohydrogen: a case study from the Abu-Tartur mine, Western Desert, Egypt

Biohydrogen is a specific type of biogas produced by the anaerobic degradation of organic matter in the absence of methanogenic bacteria. Depending on the high sensitivity of methanogenic bacteria to oxygen, the surface outcrops of black shale are expected to be unfavorable environments for methanogenic bacteria. At this point, the present study sheds more light on the potential production of biohydrogen from Abu-Tartur black shale, as an example, located in the Western Desert of Egypt. A combination of analytical techniques including the LECO C230-carbon analyzer, Rock-Eval pyrolysis 6, optical and scanning electron microscopes, X-ray diffractometer, pH meter, polymerase chain reaction, and 16S ribosomal RNA analysis was used for the current work. The anaerobic fermentation was conducted at different solid densities 9%, 11%, 13%, and 15% for 5 weeks. Also, the influence of clay minerals on biohydrogen production along with the biodegradation of clay minerals on fermentation is considered. The overall results indicate the majority of samples are fair to good in organic richness (0.92–1.35 wt% TOC). The studied kerogen is classified as immature type III associated with montmorillonite, illite-montmorillonite mixed layer, and sepiolite. The low degree of thermal maturity is consistent with the high percentage of smectite expandable layers “> 60%.” On fermentation, noticeable volumes of biogas (average 10.2 cubic centimeters) were gradually adsorbed by clay minerals with increasing the total solid content from 9 to 15%. XRD patterns of fermented samples reveal the disappearance of montmorillonite and illite-montmorillonite mixed layer, with the persistence of sepiolite reflection peaks. On the other hand, the ribosomal sequence analysis “16S rRNA” refers to the absence of methanogenic bacteria and the dominant occurrence of Bacillus sp. and Lysinibacillus sp., which are well known for their ability to produce biohydrogen.

First Record of Blister beetle Meloe rugosus M. (Coleoptera: Meloidae), as insect pest on some field crops in Farafra Oasis, Western Desert, Egypt

The blister beetle Meloe rugosus Marsham, ( Coleoptera : Meloidae ) was recorded for the first time as a serious insect pest attacking winter crops , particularly faba bean ( Vicia faba L.) and wheat ( Triticium aestivum ) in Farafra Oasis, western desert of Egypt. Beans, peas, alfalfa, Egyptian berseem, onion and the wild weed, Meliolotus indica L. were also recorded as host plants of this species. Adult beetles are phytophagous feeding plant foliage and flowers and under the stress of high population, plants may suffer death. Beetles occurred from early as November until late May. Through field observations in mid-January, the mating stage begins, where the male and female meet through the female sex pheromone. It was noted that the male searches for the female in the early morning, and when one of them meets the other, the mating stage initiate and the eggs are laid in the soil. During swarming and feeding, beetles secrete cantharidin fluid, a potent blister agent and long-term health threat to nearly all livestock feeding on plants hay. Field observations on insect behavior, eggs, crop damage, and activity and host plants were briefly explained.

Hydrochemical and isotopic characteristics of thermal groundwater at Farafra Oasis, Western Desert, Egypt

Groundwater from the Nubian sandstone aquifer at Farafra Oasis in the Western Desert of Egypt has been investigated using chemical tracers and environmental isotopes to clarify the hydrochemical features of this aquifer. The majority of the collected samples are characterized by Ca-Cl water type, which may be attributed to dissolution of the carbonate-rich sediments. Calculated saturation indices show that the main hydrogeochemical processes were the dissolution of carbonates and evaporites and the precipitation of Fe-rich minerals. Temperatures calculated using the K-Mg geothermometer show that the reservoir temperature ranges from 58°C to 121°C. The groundwater samples have δD and δ 18 O values similar to the isotopic content of the Nubian aquifer palaeowater in the Western Desert. Additionally, the isotopic composition suggests that there is no active potential current recharge from the local precipitation. Gamma spectrometry of 226 Ra, 232 Th and 40 K activities indicates that the groundwater of the Nubian aquifer is safe with respect to radioactivity. Groundwater in Farafra Oasis is the main source of irrigation and drinking water for local residents. All the samples are excellent for irrigation uses for all types of crops. It is suggested that the water samples may require some treatment regarding the high iron content before usage as drinking water. Supplementary material: Locations of the collected groundwater samples and their Na-K-Mg ternary cation plot is available at https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.4938252

Impact of Lithofacies and Structures on the Hydrogeochemistry of the Lower Miocene Aquifer at Moghra Oasis, North Western Desert, Egypt

The Moghra Oasis is one of the major Egyptian desert-reclamation projects. Understanding the hydrochemistry of the Moghra aquifer is an onus to properly plan and manage the agricultural activities in the North Western desert of Egypt. The basic geologic structure of the area under study was deduced from a detailed land magnetic survey. The resulted magnetic field map was analyzed using different filtering techniques and tomographic inversion. Field observation, stratigraphic setting, sedimentological studies, microfacies analyses and lithologic log of the studied wells were integrated to detect the lithofacies characteristics of the Moghra aquifer. Strong vertical and lateral variations of channel-fill and flat-laminated lithofacies beside several types of diagenetic processes caused the heterogeneity of the Moghra aquifer. The direction of groundwater flow in the heterogeneous Moghra aquifer is controlled by a fault system deduced from the magnetic study. Twenty groundwater samples from around Moghra Lake were collected and were analyzed hydrochemically for major ions and trace elements. The microfacies analysis (primary components and diagenetic processes), spatial variance in pH and ions concentrations, statistical and hydrogeochemical classifications, ionic ratios and relationships and saturation indices were helpful to understand the groundwater hydrogeochemical processes. The main hydrochemical type was Na–Cl. Ion-exchange due to seawater intrusion, sulfate ion reduction, iron-oxides reduction and mineral dissolution were the detected water–rock interaction processes. Dolomite precipitation was also proven. Iron oxides, quartz and carbonate minerals precipitation in the upper saline groundwater were expected. More mineral dissolution for evaporate minerals, silicate minerals and carbonate minerals in the lower saline groundwater is expected to occur.

Sustainable Agricultural Groundwater Management for New Reclaimed Areas in Farafra Oasis, Western Desert of Egypt

Sustainable groundwater management is an important practice of water resources engineering, especially, in case of deserts and oases where there is no source of surface water and precipitation rarely occurs. The importance increases when the only source of groundwater is a nonrenewable aquifer. This is the case of new reclaimed areas in Farafra Oasis, Western Desert of Egypt. The only source of irrigation water is groundwater extracted from the nonrenewable Nubian Sandstone Aquifer (NSA). There is a great agricultural development in Farafra Oasis as a part of the 1.5 million feddan mega project. Agricultural development, for new areas, is a must for Egypt to fulfil the increasing food demand accompanied with the increasing population growth rate. However, this development has to consider the sustainability of groundwater usage along with the social, economic, and national security aspects. Groundwater extraction rate from NSA has increased. As it is a nonrenewable aquifer, there is no groundwater recharge. Consequently, the groundwater potentiometric level (GPL) decreases with time. The traditional sustainability concept of safe yield or discharge equals recharge is not applicable on such cases. The Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation (MWRI) of Egypt set the groundwater sustainability criteria for groundwater-dependent new reclaimed areas in Farafra Oasis, Western Desert of Egypt. Both duration and economic lifting depth, have been considered. This paper presents groundwater sustainability assessment for extraction rates, Qwell = -1000, -2000, -3000, -4000, and -5000 m3 /d, to obtain the most beneficial sustainable extraction rate according to the MWRI sustainability criteria. A new groundwater-dependent reclaimed area of 10,000 feddan in Sahl Baraka, Farafra oasis, was taken as a case study area. GIS functions were used to obtain the values of unknown data and develop the initial groundwater potentiometric map. MODFLOW was used to construct a numerical model for groundwater extraction rate simulation for the case study area. This model was calibrated and used to obtain the depression cone drawdown (DCD) associated with different extraction rates. All NSA regional drawdown rates at Farafra oasis were considered. Benefit –Deficit analysis for duration and economic lifting depth criteria are presented and show that the extraction rate of Qwell = -3000 m3 /d is the most beneficial sustainable extraction rate according to the MWRI adopted sustainability criteria.

An integrated structural and stratigraphic characterization of the Apollonia carbonate reservoir, Abu El-Gharadig Basin, Western Desert, Egypt

The current work aims to study the structural and facies characterizations of the Apollonia Formation carbonate reservoir by applying the curvature attribute and facies modeling. This reservoir is considered an unconventional, gas-bearing chalk reservoir located at the JDT field in the Abu El-Gharadig Basin, northern Western Desert of Egypt. The workflow begins by computing the curvature seismic attribute on the available 3D seismic data of the field. This is accompanied by the detailed sedimentological and petrophysical analysis of available core data and the distribution of the resulting facies log along the available 3D geological model. The results of the curvature attribute along the Apollonia “A5” layer showed faults traces more than three times the traces determined by the variance attribute along the same layer, with small horizontal spacing between faults about 230 m. This attribute is considered as the best attribute for determining subseismic resolution faults (SSRF) of the polygonal faults affecting the reservoir. The facies analysis indicated that this chalk reservoir is composed of four primary facie: Faceis A (clean chalk), Facies B (slightly argillaceous chalk), Facies C (argillacesou chalk) and Facies D (marl). These facies had been differentiated form each other based on the clay percentage, porosity and permeability. The best reservoir facies are Facies A (clean chalk) with a clay percentage 0–5%, average porosity 31% and average permeability 0.43mD and Facies B (slightly argillaceous chalk) with a clay percentages 5–15%, average porosity 23% and average permeability 0.12mD. Distributing these facies along the JDT field declares dramatically that facies characterization of the lower pay zone is better than the upper pay zone because of the abundance of A- and B-type facies along the lower zone. Consequently, a 3D geological model had been constructed which used for the determination of the best location of any further development well targeting primarily A- and B-type facies and for any future production and hydraulic fracturing operations.

Photosynthetic compounds (14C) and malate under shock salt stress impact of different plants in the western desert of Egypt

Photosynthetic compounds (14C) and malate under shock salt stress impact of different plants in the western desert of Egypt

The Changing Sacred Landscape of Egypt's Western Desert in Late Antiquity: The Case of ʿAin el-Gedida

This article explores ways in which the sacred landscape of Egypt's Western Desert changed in the fourth and early fifth centuries CE with the advent of Christianity. The oases of Kharga and Dakhla...

Sand Seas and Dune Fields of Egypt

The article reviews the state of knowledge about distribution, sizes, dynamics, and ages of all sand seas (N = 6) and dune fields (N = 10) in Egypt (1,001,450 km2). However, chronological data (Optically Stimulated Luminescence, Thermoluminescence), used in the INQUA (International Union for Quaternary Research) dune database, only exists from three of the five sand seas located in the Western Desert of Egypt. The North Sinai Sand Sea and four of the ten dune fields are located near the Nile Valley, the delta or the coast and therefore changed drastically due to land reclamation during the last decades. Here, but also in the oases, their sands pose a risk for settlements and farmland. Our comprehensive investigations of satellite images and our field measurements show that nearly all terrestrial dune forms can be observed in Egypt. Longitudinal dunes and barchans are dominant. Sand seas cover about 23.8% (with an average sand coverage of 74.8%), dune fields about 4.4% (with an average sand coverage of 31.7%) of its territory. For the Great Sand Sea and the Farafra Sand Sea, situated in the central and northern part of the Western Desert, a Late Glacial transformation by strong westerlies was found, but not for the Selima Sand Sea, situated in the south of Egypt. Regarding the sparse chronological data up to now, for a reasonable estimation of future sand mobility in the course of global climate change, further data are essential. Finally, further studies concerning sand mobility, local wind systems, and land use are needed.

PETROLEUM SYSTEM OF SHOUSHAN BASIN, WESTERN DESERT, EGYPT

The Western Desert is located in Egypt and it consists of a few extensional coastal rift-basins. It started as rifts and was formed during the Jurassic time in association with the opening of the Tethys Sea. There were three major tectonic events that occurred in Western Desert within Jurassic to Eocene time and resulted in NE-SW trend and NW-SE trend normal fault, and inversion of Western Desert basin due to rifting of Neo-Tethys followed by South America & Africa Atlantic rifting and Transpressional Syrian Arc event which had contributed to the formation of hydrocarbon trap. The generation, migration and accumulation of hydrocarbon started in the Late Cretaceous (95–90 Ma) and it continues to the present time. There is proven petroleum system named as Khatatba-Khatatba petroleum system within the Western Desert. The source of hydrocarbons is the Middle Jurassic Khatatba organicz-rich shales which contains type II- III and type III kerogen source migrated into Khatatba sandstones reservoir rock. Khatatba sandstones are mostly quartz arenite, which composed mainly of more than 95 % quartz. These sandstones have high porosity and high permeability with well sorted and are mostly subangular to subrounded grains. Masajid carbonate acts as regional seal within the basin. Hence, the Western Desert of Egypt has a significant hydrocarbon potential for exploration or development targeting on inversion structure.

Petrophysical evaluation of clastic Upper Safa Member using well logging and core data in the Obaiyed field in the Western Desert of Egypt

Upper Safa Member is part of Jurassic Khatatba Formation; it consists of low net gross ratio sand streaks. The core and well logging data were used to perform a comprehensive reservoir evaluation. The Schlumberger application “Techlog” was used to perform the required evaluation analysis. Four oriented wells were selected for this study. The volume of shale “Vsh” using gamma-ray (GR) was used to evaluate the lithology and to discriminate sand “reservoir” from shale “non-reservoir”. A porosity model using the density log was constructed and used as an input to calculate Archie’s water saturation “Sw”. Porosity- Permeability (Poro-Perm) Transform was used to evaluate the reservoir permeability. The net reservoir and net pay thicknesses were seen attractive in three out of four wells. The reservoir quality parameters “Porosity and Permeability” were different from well to well. The hydrocarbon saturation “Sh” was high in the three wells. The hydrocarbon intervals depths were highlighted and considered in the perforation strategy.

Petroleum play of the Lower Cretaceous Alam El Bueib Formation in the El Noor-1X well in the north Western Desert (Egypt): A sequence stratigraphic framework

Abstract The North Umbaraka concession in Umbaraka Basin in the northern the Western Desert of Egypt has been the subject of continuous exploration efforts in the recent years. Despite many oil discoveries gave evidence of a working petroleum system, however, there is little economic production. The petroleum plays of the Alam El Bueib Formation are in the central focus of the exploration in this region because of their high economic reservoir potentiality in other areas of the Western Desert. In the present study, three powerful tools are used to delineate the sequence stratigraphic frame that considers the occurrences of the petroleum play chances of Alam EL Bueib Formation in El Noor-1 well. These tools are palynofacies, electric log and organic geochemistry. The palynofacies analysis revealed three biotopes that cover deposition in wave dominated to fluvial-wave dominated deltas with energetic, oxic and active reworking conditions. These environmental settings are only suitable for deposition of organic-lean hydrocarbon source. However, there are abundant organic materials that fluoresce under the UV-V-blue incident light especially in Proximal Delta Front/Prodelta Slope biotope (A) and these materials can generate oil as indicated also by pyrolysis gas chromatography. In addition, analysis of electric logs is used to assess reservoir capacities and effective porosities in the studied rocks. Eight sequences are identified based on these trends including E4, E3, E2, E1, D1, C1, C2 and B1. Four petroleum plays are determined in the studied succession within the frame of the stratigraphic sequences E, D, C and B. There are six reservoirs identified in the sandy bodies of the lowstand systems tracts and the carbonates of the transgressive and highstand systems tracts. The critical moment of hydrocarbon generation occurred during the Campanian (76 Ma). The entire succession of the Alam El Bueib Formation is in the oil window and the source rocks in this formation initiated petroleum expulsion during the Eocene time (32 Myr).

Thymelaea hirsuta and Echinops spinosus: Xerophytic Plants with High Potential for First-Generation Biodiesel Production

The negative impacts of fossil fuel on the environment should be replaced by clean and sustainable energy sources worldwide. Therefore, the use of biodiesel as a clean energy source is crucial. Biodiesel is produced from various natural resources through a transesterification process. Considering the importance of this topic, this study focuses on the assessment of oil properties of Thymelaea hirsuta and Echinops spinosus as primary sources for biodiesel production. The two investigated plants were collected from the Western Desert of Egypt. The results showed that the lignocellulosic content was about 57.3 and 79.8 g/100 g in E. spinosus and 59.1 and 82.8 g/100 g in T. hirsuta, respectively. The two investigated samples showed variable lipid contents (30.2–76.1%). The GC-MS fatty acid profile characterized seven FAs in E. spinosus and twelf FAs in T. hirsuta. The greatest CN was calculated in T. hirsuta (379.2) compared to the lowest in E. spinosus (229.9). Furthermore, the values of saponification number (SN) were 27.9 in E. spinosus and 16.07 in T. hirsuta. The value of higher heating value (HHV) was about 47.5 MJ/kg in E. spinosus and 48.3 MJ/kg in T. hirsuta. Meanwhile, T. hirsuta exhibited a higher induction period (IP) value (19.3 h) comparable to that of E. spinosus (4.3 h). The results revealed that both plants are potential sources for biodiesel production according to various international standards for biodiesel production, and this work appears to be one of the first reports regarding such wild xerophytic plants as promising new primary sources for biodiesel production in Egypt.

The Early Holocene Archaeological Evidence (Site E-05-1) in Bargat El-Shab (Western Desert Egypt)

Bargat El-Shab, situated in the southern part of the Western Desert in Egypt, is one of those places which have been drawing people’s attention from the beginning of the Holocene. Numerous traces of human settlement have been registered on the eastern shore of a small palaeolake-playa, including a site dated to the climatic optimum of the Holocene. Features discovered during research initiated by the CPE at the beginning of the century, which include storage pits and hearths, held not only an abundance of stone artefacts and to a lesser extent ceramic artefacts in its fills, but also had exceptionally rich archaeological and archaeobotanical material. All this provided new and valuable information about the lives of hunter-gatherer communities/ or Neolithic pastoral communities, representing the so-called El Nabta / Al Jerar variant of settlement in the Western Desert.