Influence of the African Rifting System on the Petroleum Potential in East Zeit Area, Egypt

Abstract

Tite study area is located in the vicinity of East Zeit Field. bound by latitudes

27>41' and 28°10' N and longitudes 33°22' and 33°56. E. The process of rifting and the accompanying activities including faulting, deposition. uplift. and erosion are thought to have significantly affected the petroleum system in the Gulf of Suez. This study aims at investigating the influence of rifting on the processes of the organic matter maturation, hydrocarbon generation, expulsion and migration. as well as the influence of rifting on preservation of accwnulated hydrocarbons. In the course of this investigation, several steps were taken. They include:

1. Identification and characterization of the potential petrolemn source rock intervals, their generating capability and typc(s) of hydrocarbon produced (oil or gas). 2. Reconstruction of the geological thermal history of the sedimentary cover

in the Gulf in order to investigate the maturation level, time and depth of petroleum generation and migration. 3. Delineation of the different maturation zones on both maps and cross

sections.

4. Investigate the oil preservation efficiency in the area by relating tbe time of hydrocarbon expulsion and migration to the timing of significant rifting. 5. Identify the migration routes of hydrocarbons expelled from basins to the

Likely prospective areas.

6. Integrate all results in suggesting prospective areas for future exploration for oil and natural gas, based on organic richness, mature areal extent, possible migration routes and preservation time limits. In order to evaluate the source rocks in this study, the following data were

used: total organic carbon, and pyrolysis data, for samples from sixteen wells covering the study area. The maturation levels of these rocks were predicted utilizing the vitrinite reflectance and pyrolysis Tmax measurements.