Aspects of Oil and Gas Prospectivity in Offshore Nile Delta, Based on Geochemical Evaluation of Abu Qir Wells, Oils and Gases

S. Thompson, S. Deibis

Petroleum geochemistry analysis has been carried out on cuttings and cores from ten wells covering more than 45,000 ft of section, three gas samples, and three oil samples from in and around the Abu Qir gas field, offshore Alexandria. The Neogene sediments analyzed lack significant hydrocarbon source potential and are insufficiently mature for hydrocarbon generation to a depth of approximately 12,500 ft. Minor occurrences of medium to light oil in Abu Qir field are geochemically similar and have been generated recently (probably within the last 0.5 m.y.) by a mature Tertiary(?) source containing mainly terrestrially derived, waxy kerogen. The reservoir dry gases are interpreted to have been generated by a postmature source, now at about 20,000 to 25,000 ft depth, which pr bably contains marine-derived kerogen. Such a source could have generated oil during the Miocene.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #91032©1988 Mediterranean Basins Conference and Exhibition, Nice, France, 25-28 September 1988.