Journal of Petroleum Geology, Vol.7, No.3, pp.277-302, 1984

©Copyright 2000 Scientific Press, Ltd.

THE APPLICATION OF FACIES PARAMETERS AND MAPPING
TECHNIQUES TO EXPLORATION OF THE SUBSURFACE
LOWER CRETACEOUS OF THE QATTARA DEPRESSION,
WESTERN DESERT EGYPT

Mohamed Hossny Elzarka*

* Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.

Abstract

The occurrence of oil in some fields of the Qattara Depression is largely controlled by the lithological composition of the Lower Cretaceous succession. The lithologic percentage and ratio; classifying, entropy and distance functions; entropy ratio, relative centre of gravity, variance, covariance and relative standard deviation; and tripartite and entropy facies parameters have been calculated for the sections studied. They have then been correlated with optimum parameters, i.e. the average composition of four oil-bearing sections. Similarity or departure of the calculated parameters from those of the optimum composition facilitates delineation of areas favourable for finding oil. Thus, this tool provides a valuable means for the prospecting for and exploration of new oil and gas deposits, as indicated in the case study presented.