Detection of potential hydrocarbon accumulations at Qaret El-Soda area, Western Desert, Egypt, based on airborne geophysical survey data

Abstract

Airborne spectral gamma-ray survey data were processed using Th-normalization technique for oil and gas exploration in the Qaret El-Soda area, Western Desert of Egypt. This technique was applied to suppress the effects of surface lithology, which are the main factors influencing the variation of radioelement content in rocks. Normalization of K and U by thorium yielded residual potassium and residual uranium estimates. Possible occurrences of new hydrocarbon microseepages were determined by mapping low values of residual potassium and high values of residual uranium relative to potassium, which are indicated as DRAD values, which were obtained by subtracting residual potassium from residual uranium values (eU_resid – K_resid). Lower residual values of K, which were associated with higher DRAD anomaly values, highlight areas of prospective hydrocarbon accumulations. The obtained results from quantitative analysis and interpretation of aeromagnetic data show sufficiently thick sediments, probably suitable for the accumulation of hydrocarbons. This means that the study area may possess a potential for hydrocarbon exploration if supported by other detailed geophysical and geochemical exploration techniques.

KEYWORDS:

• Thorium normalization
• gamma-ray spectrometry
• hydrocarbon accumulations
• aeromagnetic data
• depth estimation

Acknowledgment

The authors would like to express their gratitude to Prof. Dr. Ahmed A. Ammar, Emeritus Professor of applied geophysics, Exploration Sector, Nuclear Materials Authority of Egypt, for constructive critical revising of the manuscript and fruitful discussions. The authors would also like to express their great appreciation to editors and anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments and suggestions, which improve and strengthen the presentation of this manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data sharing and data accessibility

Research data are not shared.