Journal of Petroleum Geology, Vol.13, No.3, pp. 329-340, 1990

©Copyright 2000 Scientific Press, Ltd.

THE NEOGENE-QUATERNARY SECTION IN THE NILE DELTA, EGYPT: GEOLOGY AND HYDROCARBON POTENTIAL

R. Abu El-Ella*

*Dept. of Science and Mathematics, Faculty of Petroleum and Mining Engineering, Suez Canal University, Suez, Egypt.

Abstract

The Nile Delta area covers nearly 60,000 sq. kms in the northern part of Egypt. The Nile Delta basin contains a thick sequence of Neogene-Quaternary clastics that are considered to be prospective for oil and gas. The information available for investigating the basin sediments, and evaluating their hydrocarbon potential, has been gathered from some 24 wells. As most of these wells have not penetrated below the Miocene, deeper sediments could not be investigated. The studied section is uniform across the northern Delta, consisting of at least 15,000 ft. of shales and sandstones, it becomes thinner southwards. The section is composed of three sedimentary cycles, including eight formations. Thick, organic-rich sediments were deposited under favourable conditions for oil and gas genesis in several parts of the studied basin. The northern part of the onshore area, and the eastern and western parts of the offshore area, are favourable sites for hydrocarbon generation and accumulation for the following important reasons: (1) mature source rocks, (2) structural relief capable of trapping hydrocarbons in the eastern and western parts of the offshore area (Abu Qir and El-Temsah localities), (3) stratigraphic traps in the northern part of the onshore area, and (4) the depositional features of the Abu Madi Formation.