Geochemical Exploration in The Offshore Nile Delta

By

 Hany M. Kamel¹, Mohmed Sarhan¹

(1) Petrobel oil Company, Cairo, Egypt

 The major objective of Geochemistry in Exploration phase is to reduce the risk of drilling dry wells by applying geochemical concepts. This paper covers the eastern and central sub-basins in the offshore Nile Delta.

Risk reduction involves selective mapping of quantity, quality and maturity of petroleum source rocks, identification of the possible migration pathways from the mature sources to the prospective traps, effectiveness of regional or local seals and geologic processes, which are controlling all these factors.

Integration of geological studies and geochemical measurements & correlations help in identifying the charged closures, which exist in the hydrocarbon migration pathways in the study area.

The Oligocene sequence can be pointed out as the source rock for the most of the hydrocarbons found in the Nile Delta area. The early Miocene (Qantara Formation) can be considered as a secondary source rocks. Some Mesozoic intervals could represent effective sources and co-sources for the hydrocarbons found towards the north Sinai domain. The migration mainly occurred from the deepest part of the basin located in the North to Northwest area towards South to Southeast. Secondary migration along lateral paths may be quite effective, as proven along the Abu Madi paleo-valley.