Source-rock potential of Miocene-Paleozeoic sediments in GH-376 oilfield, South Gulf of Suez, Egypt

ABSTRACT

Twenty-two ditch samples were collected from GH-376-1 well, representing the Miocene and Paleozeoic rocks of GH-376 oilfield in the South Gulf of Suez. These were subjected to TOC, S2, Tmax, HI, and OI, and gas chromatography analyses. The results showed that Kareem Formation source rocks are immature and have fair to good potential of type III/II of kerogen for generating mixed gas and oil, but mainly gas. The organic matters are derived mainly from marine contribution from algae and bacteria deposited under reducing environments. Rudies Formation is immature and has poor to fair potential of type II/III kerogen for generating gas. The organic matter is derived mainly from marine and terrestrial sources deposited under oxidizing-reducing environments. Sudr Formation has poor to fair potential of type III kerogen to generate gas. The organic matter has been derived mainly from terrestrial sources deposited under oxidizing conditions. Matulla Formation is immature and has good to very good potential for generating mixed oil and gas. The organic matter has originated mainly from mixed organic sources deposited under oxidizing condition. Nubia Formation has poor generating potential of type II/III kerogen for generating gas. The organic matter was derived from mixed sources deposited under an oxidizing environment.

KEYWORDS:

• Egypt
• GH-376-1 well
• Gulf of Suez
• hydrocarbon potenial
• maturation
• organic richness

Acknowledgments

The authors are deeply grateful to the authorities of EGPC and AMOCO Company for providing samples and analysis of completion and permitting publication of this work.