M. A. Younes

Geology Department, Faculty of Science, Moharrem Bek, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt. E-mail: [email protected]

ABSTRACT: Reservoir Characterization and Hydrocarbon Habitat in Abu Qir Field, Offshore Nile Delta, Egypt

The Abu Qir basin is considered as one of three main subbasins in the Nile Delta that has been formed due to the effect of the Serravalian tectonic movement during the late Miocene. This basin is most probably the kitchen that feed the proven potential reservoirs from the Abu Madi and Sidi Salem formations of middle to late Miocene age in Abu Qir Field. The detailed sedimentological studies of reservoir rocks revealed the presence of two major lithofacies associations: delta front-submarine fan facies and fan delta facies. The predominant reservoir rock types are subfeldspathic arenites composed of dominantly moderate to well sorted sands containing subangular to subrounded, medium to coarse grained quartz and feldspar with minor lithics. The petrophysical parameters proved that the sandstone reservoir rocks of Abu Madi Formation are considered as a good potential reservoir than of Sidi Salem Formation due to the high effective porosity and measured permeabilities. The Rock-Eval pyrolysis data and kerogen analysis revealed that the Miocene shale rocks of the Moghra and Sidi Salem formations possess TOC ranges between 1.2 to1.3 wt.% and the available pyrolysis yield S1+S2 ranges between 2.50-4.60 Kg HC/ton rock. These rocks have mixed kerogen types II-III composed mainly of inertinitic-vitrinitic materials. The burial history model in Abu Qir subbasin proved that the Miocene shale source rocks of the Moghra and Sidi Salem formations have reached the mid mature stage of hydrocarbon generation window at vitrinite reflectance values (Ro%=0.7- 1.0%) at 4-6 million year before present (mybp).

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90906©2001 AAPG Annual Convention, Denver, Colorado