Hydrocarbon source rock potential in the southwestern Gulf of Suez graben: Insights from organic geochemistry and palynofacies studies on well samples from the Ras El Bahar Oilfield |
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| Institution: | 1. Mansoura University, Faculty of Science, Geology Department, Mansoura 35516, Egypt;2. Alexandria University, Faculty of Science, Department of Environmental Sciences, Alexandria, Egypt;3. Department of Geography and Earth Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Penglais, Aberystwyth SY23 3DB, UK;4. School of Earth, Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK;1. Geology Department, Faculty of Applied Science, Taiz University, 6803 Taiz, Yemen;2. Department of Geology, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia;1. Department of Earth Sciences, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA;2. Department of Geosciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA;1. Geological Survey of Canada, 3303-33 Street NW, Calgary, AB, T2L 2A7, Canada;2. Arctic Geochemical Consultants, Calgary, AB, T2L 2A7, Canada;3. Geological Survey of Canada, 490 de la Couronne, Quebec City, QC, G1K 9A9, Canada;1. Mansoura University, Faculty of Science, Geology Department, Mansoura 35516, Egypt;2. Department of Geography and Earth Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Penglais, Aberystwyth SY23 3DB, Wales, UK;3. School of Earth, Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK;1. Egyptian Petroleum Research Institute, Nasr City, Hei Al-Zehour, 11727 Cairo, Egypt;2. Natural Resources Dept, Institute of African Research and Studies, Cairo University, Egypt |
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| Abstract: | Palynological and biomarker characteristics of organic facies recovered from Cretaceous–Miocene well samples in the Ras El Bahar Oilfield, southwest Gulf of Suez, and their correlation with lithologies, environments of deposition and thermal maturity have provided a sound basis for determining their source potential for hydrocarbons. In addition to palynofacies analysis, TOC/Rock-Eval pyrolysis, kerogen concentrates, bitumen extraction, carbon isotopes and saturated and aromatic biomarkers enable qualitative and quantitative assessments of sedimentary organic matter to be made. The results obtained from Rock-Eval pyrolysis and molecular biomarker data indicate that most of the samples come from horizons that have fair to good hydrocarbon generation potential in the study area. The Upper Cretaceous–Paleocene-Lower Eocene samples contain mostly Type-II to Type-III organic matter with the capability of generating oil and gas. The sediments concerned accumulated in dysoxic–anoxic marine environments. By contrast, the Miocene rocks yielded mainly Type-III and Type-II/III organic matter with mainly gas-generating potential. These rocks reflect deposition in a marine environment into which there was significant terrigenous input. Three palynofacies types have been recognized. The first (A) consists of Type-III gas-prone kerogen and is typical of the Early–Middle Miocene Belayim, Kareem and upper Rudeis formations. The second (B) has mixed oil and gas features and characterizes the remainder of the Rudeis Formation. The third association (C) is dominated by amorphous organic matter, classified as borderline Type-II oil-prone kerogen, and is typical of the Matulla (Turonian–Santonian) and Wata (Turonian) formations. Rock-Eval Tmax, PI, hopane and sterane biomarkers consistently indicate an immature to early mature stage of thermal maturity for the whole of the studied succession. |
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| Keywords: | Palynofacies Rock-Eval pyrolysis Biomarkers Upper Cretaceous–Miocene sediments Gulf of Suez |
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