Contribution to the Geology and Hydrocarbon Potentialities of the Area between Qarun and Wadi El N atrun"

Abstract

The area of study lies between Latitudes 29° 54' 17.50" N and 30° 56' 31.50" N and Longitudes29°51'40.00"Eand31°12' 35.50" E. The area is bounded on the east by the Nile River (Demiatta Branch), on the west by the North Abu El Gharadig area, on the north by the Hinge line of the Nile Delta and on the south by the Kattaniya inversion zone. The study area covers an area of about 12,000 km2 in the northeastern corner of the Western Desert. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the hydrocarbon potentialities of the area and to find the reasons behind the lack of any commercial hydrocarbon discoveries in the area after more than 25 wells were drilled. Many steps were carried in order to reach above-mentioned objectives such as;

1. The stratigraphic framework was established to correlate most of the boreholes in the study area.

2. Many structural maps were constructed at different stratigraphic levels to understand the structural regime of the area.

3. Many isopach maps were constructed in order to understand the impact of tectonics on the thicknesses of some rock units.

4. Interpretation of the structural setting of the area and the different phases of deformation that effect it.

5. Constructing different lithofacies maps, net sand maps and maturity maps for different stratigraphic levels.