Print this pageAbstract: Petroleum Systems in the Northern Gulf of Suez, Egypt
SHAHIN, AHMED NABIL
Three petroleum systems
were recognized in the northern part of the Gulf of Suez. The Khatatba-Nukhul
(!) petroleum 
system
covers about 700 km2, with recoverable
reserves of 0.112 BBO, proven in the fields of Sudr, Matarma, and Asl and
the North Darag-1 discovery, cumulatively. The system can be classified
"known (!)" since carbon isotope and molecular biomarker data indicate
that Mid Jurassic Khatatba Formation (Fm) forms the main source. Thermal
maturation history suggests that oil was generated some 20 to 10 million
years before present (mybp). The principal oil-reservoir rock is the lower
Miocene Nukhul Fm. The traps are combination fault-controlled stratigraphic
traps. The essential elements of the system (source, reservoir, seal, and
overburden rocks) were deposited and the critical processes (generation,
migration, trap formation, and accumulation) extended in time from Mid
Jurassic (170 ma) to present. Based on mass balance, about 1.2 BBO might
be recoverable; about ten times the proven reserves.
The Matulla-Nubia (!) petroleum
system occupies an area of 1700 km2 to the south from the Khatatba-Nukhul
system. The system encompasses the fields of October, Ras Badran, Abu Rudeis,
Sidri, and Fieran. The principal source is the lower Senonian Matulla Fm.
A third system, Matulla-Rudeis
(.), exists northwest of the Matulla-Nubia (!) system
, where Lagia basin
charged Warda Field (100 million barrels recoverable), and the EE, FF,
GG, and HH discoveries. Both Matulla-Nubia (!) and Matulla-Rudeis (.) systems
contain recoverable reserves of 1.565 BBO, mostly hosted by October Field.
The mass balance resulted in 8.4 BBO recoverable reserves, about seven
times the proven reserves.
AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90942©1997 AAPG International Conference and Exhibition, Vienna, Austria