The sandstones of the Kareem Formation form one of the most prolific reservoir lithologies in the Gulf of Suez oil province, and produce oil and/or gas in almost 30 fields. These sandstones have a good reservoir quality throughout the basin, with gross- and net-pay thicknesses of up to 235 m and 195 m, respectively. The sandstones' porosity varies from 9% to 33%, and permeabilities range from 20 and to 730 md. Reservoir quality depends on the sandstones' shaliness, diagenetic history and degree of compaction.

The sandstones still have high exploration potential particularly in the southernmost portion of the Gulf of Suez where they are extensive and thick but where there has been little drilling. Organic-rich shales within the Kareem Formation constitute potential source rocks for oil and gas, especially in the southernmost part of the Gulf of Suez where the geothermal gradient is high and where, according to previous studies, these sediments are located-within the oil-generation "window".