Plio-Pleistocene Sedimentary Evolution and Hydrocarbon Distribution. The Eastern Nile Delta Offshore (Egypt)

By

 Fabio Lottaroli¹, Kamal Barsoum¹, Osama Abou El Gadayel¹, Stefano Carbonara¹

(1) ENI/AGIP - IEOC (Egyptian Branch), Cairo, Egypt

 Plio/Pleistocene gas plays are currently the main target of exploration activity in the Nile Delta offshore (Egypt). Tens TCF of gas resources have been proved within the Pliocene and Pleistocene turbiditic and shelfal deposits, and the deep offshore potential is still to be achieved.

Highly complex tectonic framework and a deep syntectonic control upon deposition characterise the eastern offshore province. A predictive stratigraphic/depositional model is a basic instrument to approach subtle DHI’s targets. For the Plio-Pleistocene of the studied area such a model have been achieved matching high-resolution biostratigraphy and regional seismo /stratigraphic interpretation. Framing distribution and facies of discrete time intervals within the Plio/Pleistocene some geologic highlights becomes plain:

-An important NW/SE tectonic lineament marks the boundary of the active growth faulting sector, affecting the deposition during Early Pliocene.

-Gas findings are grouped within three NW/SE belts becoming progressively younger towards N/NE.

-During the Middle Pliocene a “sedimentary” control on the prospectivity is plain, represented by channels and levees complexes on the slope fan.

-During Middle - Late Pliocene the synsedimentary growth faulting acted the primary role controlling sand accumulation.

-The tectonic-induced subsidence created a SE/NW belt of basins filled only with Late Pliocene to Pleistocene expanded sequences.

Reservoir age and their sequence stratigraphic significance have been set into a regional synthetic picture. Finally, these evidences have been integrated with increasing available information about Western and Deep offshore Nile Delta Plio/Pleistocene, attempting to set it in a unique regional sedimentary picture.