Western Desert Of Egypt Research Articles

Ecological desert settlement Egypt western desert

•TheWestern Desertcovers 700,000 km2 and occupies about two-thirds of Egypt's land area. It spans from the Mediterranean Sea from north to the Sudanese border at south and from the Nile River east to the Libyan border west.•The population density of the Nile valley is 1500 persons/km2 while the population density of the western desert is 5 persons/km2.•The yearly population growth rate average 2% in 2017. Although Egypt population is 95 million, by 2050 the population will reach 150 million.•So we should start reclaiming the desert as the Nile valley became over crowded by inhabitance.•The tents of passing nomads occupies the desert land which is often considered as a primitive wasteland. Shelter is principle for the life of all human beings as it must adapt to the living requirements including climate, site conditions and human needs.•Egypt is one of the solar belt countries which is characterized by arid climatic conditions.•Ecological settlement is one of the best solutions for reclaiming the desert using natural resources by the help of digital software named (AUTODESK FLOW DESIGN) (wind simulation program).•By using combination between vernacular architecture and high tech architecture the thesis will introduce a desert settlement proposal in Bahariya oasis.

Seismic interpretation for the Jurassic/Paleozoic reservoirs of QASR gas field, Shushan-Matrouh basin north Western Desert, Egypt

The QASR gas field lies in the northern part of Shushan-Matrouh Basin (northern part of the Western Desert). Jurassic (Lower Safa)/Paleozoic are a reservoir rocks, in which the gas is trapped in clastic Sandstone, depending on structural framework affecting it. The QASR field structure is one of the most complex structures in the Western Desert of Egypt. The Jurassic (Lower Safa) and Paleozoic formations are consists of sandstone, siltstone with some shale streaks, indicating shallow marine facies, its sequence may reach a maximum thickness of over 900 ft in the northeastern part of Shushan-Matrouh basin.The combination between well logs data and 3D seismic interpretation represent that the Jurassic (Lower Safa)/Paleozoic form a complex horst block, which is bounded by NE-SW trending deep-seated faults, with throws is excess of 300 ft. The migration of hydrocarbons into the QASR structure could either be laterally from source rocks that occur in the Shushan basin to the west, and vertically from the sub-basin to the north via the QASR-OZORIS bounding fault.Time and depth-structural maps of Jurassic (Lower Safa)/Paleozoic describe various structure aspects that play a vital role in the hydrocarbon potentialities and prospect identification in the area. One incipient element of exploration and development success is to detect the faults that provide structural closure and traps.Two major faults run in the NE-SW direction and configurator a manner of horst and graben blocks. In addition, NWSW trending faults cut these blocks and form a right-lateral strike-slip component of displacement. Four-way dip structural closure represents the fruitful locations for high production and new prospect wells in the QASR gas field and other similar setting elsewhere.

Reduction Behavior of Low Grade Iron Ore at Reducing Conditions Simulating Different Zones of Blast Furnace

Representative technological samples for Baharia iron ore are collected from El-Gedida iron ore mines at the western desert of Egypt. Baharia iron ore was fired at 1000oC for 3 hours, then the green and fired samples was isothermally reduced by different ratios of H2/CO/CO2/N2 which closely represent the theoretical reduction conditions in different zones of blast furnace. The influence of reduction conditions on the reduction behaviour and the morphology of the reduced samples were investigated. Reduction behavior is arranged as: (cohesive>thermal reserve>top) zones due to reduction power of different zones which affect the microstructure of reduced samples. As a result of slow reaction at top conditions, reducing gas created tracks within the samples which increase porosity. On the other hand at cohesive conditions, grain growth occurred and small spherical grains of fired samples were semi-melted forming sintered clusters. The comparative reduction behavior for green and fired iron ore was investigated. At cohesive zone, the effect of firing can hardly be distinguished. But at thermal reserve and top zones conditions, the reduction rate of fired samples is greater than that for the green samples and that was confirmed by morphological examination of them.

An Archaeometallurgical Explanation for the Disappearance of Egyptian and Near Eastern Cobalt-Blue Glass at the end of the Late Bronze Age

A recent compositional study of Egyptian cobalt-blue glass from museum collections in Japan (18th Dynasty) and from the site of Dahshur (18th and 19th-20th Dynasties) concluded that a new source of cobalt was exploited for the later Dahshur glass, thereby suggesting that glass production continued into the Ramesside period (Abe et al. 2012). It is shown in the current article that some of this 18th Dynasty glass and the majority of the 19th-20th Dynasty glass had been recycled, not only supporting the general consensus that glass production virtually disappeared by 1250 BC, but that the cobalt source did not necessarily change. It is further proposed, however, that the generally accepted cobalt source for Egyptian glass was not the alum deposits of Egypt's Western Desert, but derived from cobaltiferous siliceous ores, possibly from central Iran. Re-analysis of the compositions of cobalt-blue glass frit found at Amarna, as well as Egyptian and Mesopotamian glass, suggests that the cobalt colourant was a by-product of silver extraction from these ores and can therefore be considered as a concentrated cobalt glass slag, which travelled in the form of a frit to glass producers who added it to locally derived base glasses and/or their precursors. Experiments conducted on ore containing cobalt-nickel arsenides with native silver demonstrate that not only can silver be extracted and that concentrated cobalt glass can be produced simply by adding a flux, but that some components of the ore partition preferentially into the silver or the glass slag, thereby weakening their associations with the other components in archaeological glass. Treating the cobalt-blue colourant as a slag composed of the gangue of a smelting system provides an explanation for the unique elevated levels of alumina and lower levels of potash found in cobalt-blue glasses, as well as providing an explanation for the cessation of cobalt exploitation at the end of the Late Bronze Age. It is suggested that the exhaustion of native silver and siliceous silver ore deposits during the Bronze Age, with argentiferous lead ores becoming the main source of silver, depleted the amount of cobalt available, thereby reducing the amount of glass produced which, in turn, led to increases in recycling during the New Kingdom period.

Hydraulic Flow Units of Some Studied Bahariya Samples: Abu Gharadiq Basin, W. Desert, Egypt

Hydraulic flow units and rock types in the Middle and Lower Bahariya Formation encountered in different drilled wells in NEAG-1 field were investigated. These are governed by lithologic variations and flaser laminations characterizing the Bahariya deposits, while they have a direct impact on sedimentation and digenetic process. The measured pore throat radius (r35) using mercury injection capillary pressure (MICP) technique were used to develop self-reliant trend lines with reliable formula derived from laboratory petrophysical measurements. Petrographic investigations were used for outlining mineralogy, porosity types and mode of occurrence of formation fines. X-ray diffraction technique (XRD) of bulk samples was used for detecting rock forming minerals, mineralogy of cementing materials and their quantitative dominance in the pore spaces of the studied Bahariya sandstone samples. The Primary and secondary porosity either interparticle or intraparticle are controlling by pore space architecture while, four reservoir rock types (T-1, T-2, T-3 and T-4) are detected. Each rock type reflects different sedimentary environmental agent, degree of digenesis and variation in mineralogy. The calculated equations predict that up to 85 % of measured permeability data demonstrate 10 hydraulic flow units which reveal the value of r35 standing between 0.2μm and 3. 11μm. The relationship between helium porosity and nitrogen permeability for the studied samples are supported by high coefficients of correlation (R2 = range 0.75 to 0.85) allowing reservoir characterization and permeability prediction from measured average porosity of each reservoir rock type. Different empirical relationships were constructed in order to facilitate hydrocarbon exploration and development in the Neag-1 oil field in the Egyptian Western Desert.

Labeling Photosynthetic Compounds (14 <sub>C</sub>) and Malate Under Shock Salt Stress Impact in Desert Plants of the Western Desert of Egypt

Many plant species in the Egyptian north-western desert provide numerous benefits as providing sources of food, energy, fuel-wood, and traditional medicine. Such species are subjected to severe desertification caused by salt stress. We induced photosynthesis using 14C to predict the photosynthetic pathway employed by the plants under shock stress conditions. Results indicated that the shock stress greatly inhibits photosynthetic rates of Ononis vaginalis and Zygophyllum album while affecting others (Gymnocarpos decandrum and Plantago albicans) to a lesser extent. A large amount of 14C was incorporated in total amino acids and sucrose during photosynthesis. The increase in the content of labeled organic acids in Zygophyllum album under stress, the accumulation of night malate, and the presence of Kranz layer indicated a change in the photosynthetic pathway from C4 to CAM pathway. The palatable plant species (Plantago albicans) characterized by highest content of amino acids and sugar phosphate as compared with the other studied species. Studying plant metabolism under desert conditions is important to understand the strategies for salt-shock tolerance in these species.

Application of Different Optimization Algorithms for Optimal Sizing of PV/Wind/Diesel/Battery Storage Stand-Alone Hybrid Microgrid

In this paper, a simulation model describing the operation of a PV/wind/diesel hybrid microgrid system with battery bank storage has been proposed. Optimal sizing of the proposed system has been presented to minimize the cost of energy (COE) supplied by the system while increasing the reliability and efficiency of the system presented by the loss of power supply probability (LPSP). Novel optimization algorithms of Whale Optimization Algorithm (WOA), Water Cycle Algorithm (WCA), Moth-Flame Optimizer (MFO), and Hybrid particle swarm-gravitational search algorithm (PSOGSA) have been applied for designing the optimized microgrid. Moreover, a comprehensive comparison has been accomplished between the proposed optimization techniques. The optimal sizing of the system components has been carried out using real-time meteorological data of Abu-Monqar village located in the Western Desert of Egypt for the first time for developing this promising remote area. Statistical study for determining the capability of the optimization algorithm in finding the optimal solution has been presented. Simulation results confirmed the promising performance of the hybrid WOA over the other algorithms.

The Optimum Types and Characteristics of Drilling Fluids Used During Drilling in The Egyption Westren Desert

In this study, the factors that affect the selection of the types and characteristics of drilling fluids that were used while drilling nine wells in the Egyptian Western Desert were investigated. This study proves that the selection of drilling fluid type is not only based on the applications of drilling fluids, cost of drilling fluid or previous experience but also on other factors combined together such as geology of the area, potential problems for each section, make up base fluids availability, waste management techniques, environmental regulations, rig and drilling equipments and drilling data. In this study also, the evaluation of the designed characteristics of the selected types of drilling fluids was made to achieve the required functions such as good hole cleaning, well control, hole stability and to reduce lost circulation problem.

MIOSPORES AND DINOFLAGELLATES BIOZONATION AND PALEOECOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OFTHE SUBSURFACE LOWER CRETACEOUS SUCCESSIONIN NORTH WESTERN DESERT, EGYPT.

A palynological analysis has been carried out on the Lower Cretaceous Kharita, Dahab, Alamein and AlamEl Bueib formationsencountered in the subsurface sections of the Mamura-1 (MAX-1), Mersa Matruh-1 (MMX-1) and Burg El Arab-1(BAX-1) wells, north Western Desert of Egypt. 144 core samples have been analyzedpalynologically and produced 147 species belonging to 102 genera, which allow and recognizing three informalsporomorph zones and two informal dinoflagellate zones are restricted to northern Western Desert rangingfrom Neocomian to Albian ages. They are correlated with the well-documented biozonations established for thesame interval from other localities in the north Western Desert of Egypt and northern Gondwana regions.According to the relative abundances and paleoecologic characters of the palynomorphs, the KharitaFormation maybe deposited in an open-marine, warmer and humid climate. The Dahab and Alamein formationsmaybe deposited in a shallow to inner shelf environment and under humid, tropical to sub-tropical climaticconditions. The Alam El Bueib Formation maybe deposited in deltaic; warmer environment under humidclimatic conditions.

Revised (miospores-based) stratigraphy of the Lower Cretaceous succession of the Minqar-IX well, Shushan Basin, north Western Desert, Egypt: Biozonation and correlation approach

Shushan Basin is recently considered one of the important petroliferous basins in the north Western Desert of Egypt, where it contains multiple clastic reservoirs. National and international exploration companies are carrying out extensive correlations within the basin to detect the almost similar clastic reservoirs Alam El Bueib and Kharita formations. Stratigraphy of the Lower Cretaceous of Minqar-IX well in Shushan was previously established based on dinoflagellate cysts recovered from a few and widely spaced samples, where clastic units could not be differentiated. However, the current collection of a large number of closely spaced samples enabled the identification of five informal Lower Cretaceous spore-pollen palynozones (PZ) with high resolution. These zones are used to recognize unidentified clastic rock units and to provide an intrabasinal biostratigraphic correlation of the formations. Three palynozones (PZ 1-PZ 3) identify Alam El-Bueib Formation (?Berriasian-early Aptian). PZ 4 identifies Alamein Formation (late Aptian). PZ 5 corresponds to Kharita Formation (middle Albian). Results reflect the miospores as a powerful stratigraphic tool for dating the largely non-marine sequences, where diverse dinoflagellate cysts are almost lacking and/or facies-controlled. The use of biostratigraphic correlation of strata successions with monotone lithologies was helpful in identifying problematic formations, tracing their lateral facies change, and in detecting an unrecognized hiatus in the studied well.

Campanian–early Eocene cephalopods from Kharga Oasis, Western Desert, Egypt

The Campanian–lower Eocene sedimentary succession in the Kharga Oasis yields rare cephalopods that have so far received little attention. Eight cephalopod species; six nautiloids and two ammonites, are identified in the study area. The nautiloids are referred to five genera in three families. All nautiloid species are recorded from the Paleocene and Eocene rocks, two of which are described as new, as follows: Cimomia kurkurensis nov. sp. and Deltoidonautilus hassani nov. sp. The two ammonite species are Libycoceras ismaelis (von Zittel, 1884) and Baculites ovatus Say, 1820, representing the families Sphenodiscidae and Baculitidae, respectively. Baculites anceps of Quaas (1902, non Lamarck, 1822) from the Maastrichtian of the Western Desert of Egypt is here assigned to Baculites ovatus. The palaeobiogeography of these species is studied in detail.

Maastrichtian to early Paleocene sea level changes and climatic evolution on the southeastern Tethys margin

Abstract An integrative multi proxy approach based on lithology, microfacies, bulk rock composition, total organic carbon (TOC), and δ13Ccarb was used to estimate southeastern Tethys sea level fluctuations during the deposition of the Maastrichtian-Danian oil shales in Jordan. Clay mineral assemblages were used as proxies to determine climatic variation induced sediment supply during the Cretaceous/Paleogene boundary (K/Pg) interval. The results from two cores (OS-02, Jafr Basin, southeast Jordan; OS-28 Azraq-Hamza Basin, central-east Jordan) reveal four major intervals of distinctive bulk rock composition reflecting sea level changes. Interval I (earliest Maastrichtian) with a low sea level and the formation of dolomites and a high detrital quartz input predates the oil shales. Intervals II and III in core OS-02 and interval II in core OS-28 represent the highest relative sea level following the Early Maastrichtian sea level rise on the Arabian Platform. Intervals III (core OS-02) and II (core OS-28) coincide with the highest organic matter deposition. Interval IV (core OS-02) and intervals III and IV (core OS-28) relate to the sea level regression-transgression cycle in the latest Maastrichtian through Danian and are marked by a large drop in the TOC content. Increased terrestrial influx during sea level lows is evident from two peaks/intervals of major negative δ13Ccarb values in core OS-28. Based on clay mineralogy it can be differentiated between warm/humid, warm/cool seasonally alternating, and cool/arid climates. When bulk rock composition is used as a sea level proxy, clay mineral assemblages from both cores reveal the dominance of warm and humid climate or, alternatively, warm/cool seasonal alternations during high sea levels (II and III core OS-02; II and IV core OS-28), while periods of arid and cool climate correspond to lower sea levels. The sea level changes and climatic variations deduced from the Jordanian oil shale successions are in agreement with the long term variations from the Egyptian Western Desert sections (southeastern Tethys), and the Tunisian El-Kef section (southweastern Tethys). Moreover, the sea level changes identified relate to the regional changes on the Arabian platform during the Maastrichtian-Danian.

Polyphasic approach to a characteristic Ulva population from a limno-rheocrenic, mineral (chloride, sodium, sulphate) spring in the Siwa Oasis (Western Desert of Egypt)

An interesting population of ulvacean green algae was collected from a limno-rheocrenic, thermal, mineral (chloride, sodium, sulphate) spring known as Ain Abu Sherouf in the Siwa Oasis, the Western Desert of Egypt. A detailed combined investigation on its morphotaxonomy, autecology, and a multilocus sequence data set including the chloroplast-encoded rbcL gene and the nuclear-encoded nrDNA SSU and ITS allowed us to identify this population as Ulva flexuosa subsp. paradoxa (syn. Ulva paradoxa, Ulvales, Chlorophyta), although the algal thalli were in average narrower than usual in this taxon. Analysis of the molecular rbcL-ITS sequencing data demonstrated a close phylogenetic relationship of the studied population to two Ulva isolates from Japan and China and their taxonomic status was further discussed. The pigment profiling confirmed chlorophylls and carotenoids typical of the Ulvaceae (lutein, α/β-carotenes, violaxanthin, and neoxanthin). Lipidomic analysis revealed the presence of the monogalactosyl diacylglycerols (MGDG), digalactosyl diacylglycerols (DGDG), sulfoquinovosyl diacylglycerols (SQDG), and diacylglyceryl N,N,N-trimethylhomoserine (DGTS) lipid classes. Presence of the plasma membrane DGTS lipids in remarkable proportion might be an adaptation to this nutrient-poor mineral spring habitat, with relatively low phosphorus values. The lower unsaturation index (UI) values of the plastidial DGDG and SQDG lipids are likely to reflect the need to maintain adequate membrane fluidity in this thermal mineral spring system. This polyphasic study not only extended our little knowledge on the distribution, autecology, and adaptive mechanisms of U. flexuosa subsp. paradoxa in the Saharan habitats of Africa, but also re-assessed and refined the taxonomic and phylogenetic affiliation of previously sampled close relatives from East Asia.

Aspects of palyno-organic facies analysis: Comprehensive evaluation of the source rocks and age of some subsurface Lower Cretaceous core materials in the north Western Desert, Egypt

Abstract The palyno-organic facies aspects of the subsurface Lower Cretaceous core samples are extensively investigated in three wells in the northern part of the Western Desert of Egypt. These wells are Burg El Arab-1 and Mamura-1, Mersa Matruh-1 (BAX-1, MAX-1 and MMX-1 respectively). The study is based on the palynofacies and organic geochemical analyses. The palynofacies examination includes a statistical analysis of the different classes of organic particles by cluster analysis and principal component analysis (PCA). This analysis leads to identify 4 palynofacies types (A, B, C1 and C2) which are dominated by various levels of terrestrial floral materials. The paleoenvironmental settings that are attributed to these palynofacies types are the distal suboxic-oxic, proximal oxic, transitional oxic and highly distal oxic. The principal component analysis (PCA) differentiates between these palynofacies types mathematically by the biplot of components 1 and 2. The component 1 corresponds to distance from the terrestrial floral sources. The identification of quantity, type, quality and thermal maturity of organic matter is discussed depending on the palynofacies and organic geochemical analyses. The thermal maturity is assessed digitally by measuring the RGB color channels in the spore images and their corresponding thermal alteration index (TAI incorporated with values of Tmax). These measures are integrated in burial history models with geothermal gradient and depositional history. The study reveals that most of the core samples represent generally fair to good enriched sources of gas prone type III kerogen and less mixed gas-oil type II/III kerogen. Additionally, some occasional high levels of organic conversions are recorded. The burial history models indicate that oil expulsion window initiated in the Cretaceous. The examinations indicate mature oil sources in the Alam El Bueib Formation in MMX-1 well. The organic geochemical parameters are correlated versus the component 1 and sum of all components of PCA. The correlation coefficients (R2) pointed to good correlation between the oxygen index (OI), TOC and S2 and lower correlation with hydrogen index (HI).

Maximizing the management of groundwater resources in the Paris–Abu Bayan reclaimed area, Western Desert, Egypt

The Paris–Abu Bayan area located along the Darb El Arbaein road is involved in the New Valley Project in the Egyptian Western Desert (EWD) as part of ongoing efforts since the 1960s. In this dryland area, groundwater stored in the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System (NSAS) serves as the only water resource for a number of different uses. A major concern is the significant groundwater withdrawals from 74 pumped wells since the beginning of agricultural activities in 2000. The recent rapid expansion of agricultural activity and the lack of sufficient groundwater recharge as a result of unplanned groundwater development have led to severe stress on the aquifer. Field measurements have shown a rapid decline in groundwater levels, creating a crisis situation for this sole source of water in the area. In this study, mathematical modeling of the groundwater system (single aquifer layer) of the Paris–Abu Bayan reclaimed area was implemented using MODFLOW to devise a new strategy for the sustainable use of groundwater, by applying a number of scenarios in a finite-difference program. The conceptual model and calibration were developed by generating and studying the hydrogeological records, NSA parameters, production wells, and water level measurements for 2005 and 2012. Three management scenarios were applied on the calibrated model to display the present and future stresses on this aquifer over a 30-year period (2012–2042). The results clearly show a high decline in the heads of the NSA, by about 13.8 m, due to the continuous withdrawal of water (first scenario: present conditions, 102,473 m3/day). In the second scenario, the water level is expected to decrease significantly, by about 16 m, in most of the reclamation area by increasing the pumping rates by about 25% (over-pumping) to meet the continuous need for more cultivation land in the area. To reduce the large decline in water levels, the third plan tests the aquifer after reducing the water withdrawal by approximately 25%, applying modern irrigation systems, and suggesting two new reclaimed areas in the northeastern and northwestern parts (areas 1 and 2), with 20 new wells, at 500 m3/day/well. The results in this case show that groundwater levels are slightly decreased, by about 9.5 m, while many wells (especially the new wells in the northern part) show a slight decrease in groundwater levels (0.8 m). The results comparison shows that the groundwater level in the modeled area is lowered by 0.3 m/year with an increase in the number of wells to 94 and increased cultivation area by about 18% (third scenario), versus 0.45 m/year and 0.60 m/year recorded for the first and second scenarios, respectively. Therefore, based on the results, the third scenario is recommended as a new strategy for improving groundwater resource sustainability in the region.

A Pedological Study on some Soils of Farafra Oasis, Egypt

Farafra Oasis is a natural depression which located in the Egypt western desert. The whole area is under hot arid circumstance. There, the lands conferred indications of promising agricultural expansion. Study of the landforms and soils related with them can give a general survey of soil attributes. The investigated landforms include; depression floor (Peni plain- Chalky plain-Sand sheets- Playa).Eight soil profiles were selected to represent the identified physiographic units according to the information obtained during the reconnaissance field survey and the pre-field interpretation. A total of 14 soil samples, representing the different soil horizons of the selected profiles were collected, air-dried, crushed to pass through a 2 mm sieve, and stored for physical and chemical analyses. The soils were classified as following : ((Calcisalids – Gypsisalids – Haplogypsids - Haplosalids – Calcigypsisalids - Quartzipsamment - Torryluvants – Torriorthents - Aquisalids- Gypsiargids -Torripsamment((. Gypsum and calcium accumulations were found in salinity condition in most of the investigated soil samples. The drainage problem and the groundwater presence are common in most of the depression. The challenge is to be knowing of the problems and to design a suitable management system of water and soil.

3D structural modeling of the Upper Bahariya Member in Abu Gharadig oil and gas field, North Western Desert, Egypt

Abu Gharadig Field lies in the central portion of Abu Gharadig Basin of the northern part of the Western Desert of Egypt, about 256 km west of Cairo. Abu Gharadig Basin is considered as an E-W trending intracratonic basin. The Upper Bahariya Member is a clayey reservoir and represents one of the Late Cretaceous units. There is a need for identifying whether the petrophysical parameters of this member are related to the facies changes or the present structures. Therefore, detailed structural and petrophysical studies are required. The structural configuration of the Upper Bahariya Member is studied in the present case and the results of this study will form the basis for future petrophysical studies. The present study includes the delineation of the main structural elements of the studied member within the study area. The aim of the present study was achieved through building a 3D structural model using Petrel™ Schlumberger Modeling software by integrating twenty 2D seismic sections with four digital well logs and a check-shot survey. The interpretation of the resulted model shows that the Upper Bahariya Member was folded into doubly plunging anticline with a gentle plunge to SW and a relatively steep plunge to NE. The fold was dissected by a series of normal faults trending E-W to NW-SE. The anticline is asymmetric and exhibits sigmoidal shape. The axis has mainly a NE-SW orientation and exhibits changing of this orientation in the NE part to be ENE-WSW and in the SW part to be also ENE-WSW, relating to the effect of a rotational stress. Growth faulting and thinning of the studied member at the crest of the anticline suggest the syn-sedimentary tectonics. Thus, these structures are related to the Late Cretaceous right-lateral shear which led to the opening of the North Atlantic.

Facies and petrophysical modeling of the Upper Bahariya Member in Abu Gharadig oil and gas field, north Western Desert, Egypt

The Upper Bahariya Member represents an argillaceous sandstone reservoir and it is one the Late Cretaceous units. There is a need for understanding the detailed facies and petrophysics of this member and identifying whether its petrophysical parameters are related to the facies changes or the present structures. Therefore, the present study aims at determining the facies and petrophysical characteristics of the Upper Bahariya Member and their distribution in the Abu Gharadig field. This field is located in the central portion of Abu Gharadig basin in the northern part of the Western Desert of Egypt. The available data for the present study includes four digital well logs, twenty 2D seismic sections and a checkshot survey. This is achieved through building the 3D facies and petrophysical models using Petrel™ Schlumberger Modeling software. These models were built on a predefined 3D stratigraphic and structural framework. The interpreted lithology of the Upper Bahariya Member is represented by sandstone cemented by argillaceous and/or calcareous materials, siltstone, shale and minor limestone inter-beds. A new lithofacies subdivision for the Upper Bahariya is introduced in the present study through the study area. This subdivision is represented by three lithofacies (an upper shale-silt-carbonate lithofacies, a middle sand-silt lithofacies and a lower shale-silt lithofacies). The Upper Bahariya Member is evaluated as a good quality reservoir and it exhibits rapid variations in the conditions of deposition, from continental fluvial to marine passing through the tidal flood plain conditions. The sandstone source is mainly from the southeast and southwest directions. The vertical and lateral changes of the different petrophysical parameters are directly related to vertical and lateral facies changes.

Optimum coverage of irrigation canals to minimize evaporation and maximize dissolved oxygen concentration: case study of Toshka, Egypt

Water is the vein of life; therefore, preserving enough quantities and meeting standard water quality parameters are essential for good life. Egyptian government approved the New Valley Project in Toshka to help deal with the rapidly growing population of the country; 3 million of the population are to be relocated in Toshka. The New Valley Project entails building a series of canals; the main is Sheikh Zayed canal—to irrigate portions of the Western Desert of Egypt—so that people can work in cultivation—550,000 feddans—another aim is to increase the cultivated area land of Egypt. Toshka is an arid area with very high evaporation rate, about 3 billion m3/year. Researches showed that in the near future Egypt will face scarcity of water. So saving water from Sheikh Zayed canal by reducing evaporation will provide additional source of water to the area. This research aim is to estimate the effect of percentage canal area covering on evaporation rate from the main Zayed canal and also to simulate the dissolved oxygen (DO) in water as a result of covering. This is so because covering will alter the water quality parameters and DO is the main and most important water quality indicator for water and the living biota in it. It was found that full coverage calculated evaporation amount is about 9 million m3/year. Optimization is done and it was found to meet the standard DO levels in river where 50% of the canal’s area could be covered.

Living in an Egyptian Oasis: Reconstruction of the Holocene Archaeological Sequence in Kharga

Within the Egyptian Western Desert, the Kharga Oasis was a particularly favourable and highly frequented area during the Holocene thanks to a permanent ground water supply. The high concentration and accessibility of archaeological sites here allows the cultural and economic changes to be documented at a local scale, when northeastern Africa was experiencing strong climatic variations and the transition to a food production economy. An expansive program led by the Institut francais d’archeologie orientale (IFAO) which included systematic survey, sampling collections, tests and stratigraphic excavations has dramatically increased the amount of data available concerning the prehistory of the Kharga Oasis. Typo-technological analyses focusing on the lithic industries, and other aspects of material culture, plus a series of 14C dates have led to the definition of four main successive cultural phases: Kharga A, B, C and D. This paper describes this proposal of a new archaeological sequence for human occupation in the Kharga Oasis and discusses its integration in the wider frame of Egypt and the Eastern Sahara.