API gravities, vanadium, nickel, sulfur, and their relation to gross composition: Implications for the origin and maturation of crude oils in Western Desert, Egypt

ABSTRACT

In the present study, the geochemical analyses of API gravities, vanadium, nickel, sulfur, and bulk composition were performed on eight samples from productive wells in Gindi, South Deep Abu-gharadig, Abu-gharadig, Dahab-Merier, and Faghure basins locates in the North Western Desert. The results were used to describe the source organic matter input, depositional environment, assess the degree of thermal maturity, and to correlate between crude oils to determine the genetic relationship between hydrocarbon generation and their source rock for the studied oil samples. The results showed that a wide range of crude oil parameters exists in this data, indicating that a variety of oil types is represented. Crude oils range from unaltered to altered by vanadium, nickel, and sulfur concentrations, V/Ni and saturate fraction were used to classify the oils. Oils are classified into two groups. Group I contains oil samples from Gindi, South deep Abu-gharadig and Abu-gharadig, and Dahab-Merier that are generated from organic matter input deposited in marine environment under anoxic to suboxic conditions. Group II from Faghur basin possess high Pr/Ph ratios suggesting high contribution of terreginous organic matter deposited under relatively oxic conditions.

KEYWORDS:

• API
• crude oils
• Egypt
• gross composition
• nickel
• sulfur
• vanadium
• Western Desert