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A New Understanding of Basin Distribution and Architecture in Egypt Revealed
by the Application of Non-seismic 
Exploration
Techniques
By
Peter G. Stuart-Smith1, Jon Teasdale2, Karen Romine2, Lynn Pryer2, Tom Loutit2
(1) SRK Consulting, Deakin West ACT, Australia (2) SRK Consulting,
A new view of the onshore and offshore basins of Egypt has been the result
of two recent projects (EARS and MARS)* based on a combination of mineral and
petroleum exploration techniques. Understanding basement composition and
structure and the tectonic evolution of each basin were the focus of the
studies, involving the systematic calibration, integration and interpretation of
non-seismic, principally magnetic and gravity data, with seismic datasets. The
results demonstrate that potential field data when rigorously integrated with
seismic and other datasets are cost-effective and efficient tools in remote
areas at both regional and concession scale.
Proterozoic and Pan-African metamorphic and igneous basement terranes and
structural elements control the distribution, size and geometry of Paleozoic and
Mesozoic basins. Terrane boundaries and major NW-trending Pan-African shear
zones provide the principal control on basin distribution and geometry, with
basement composition and structural fabric controlling individual basin
architecture. Egypt’s basins can be grouped according to the “character” of the
underlying basement into five groups: Western Desert, Nile River Basins, Gulf of
Suez/Red Sea, Sinai and the Eastern Mediterranean. The results of the study
provide a consistent base for volumetric assessments and a knowledge platform
for designing exploration
and acquisition strategies. The studies have also
resulted in an improved understanding of the distribution of source-rock,
reservoir and basement-involved traps, and can be used to predict first-order
fluid flow directions, river drainage and sediment composition across the basins
of Egypt.
*EARS - Egypt Area Regional Study (Apache Egypt, BP Egypt, IEOC, Repsol-YPF, Shell Egypt and SRK Consulting) *MARS - Mediterranean Area Regional Study (BP Egypt, Apache Egypt and SRK Consulting)