Research Abstract
In northwestern Egypt, the upper Khatatba Formation shows dual reservoir and source rock characteristics in the Abu Gharadig and Shushan basins due to the lateral intrabasinal facies changes and different tectonic evolution. However, in the Matruh Basin, its petroliferous characteristics are not fully explored yet. Thus, integrated palynological and geochemical analyses were carried out on selected 15 shale and carbonate samples from the Middle Jurassic Zahra and upper Safa members of the upper Khatatba Formation from OBA 2-2A well in the Matruh Basin. The Zahra Member has poor to fair (0.32-0.64 wt % TOC) source rock potential, while the underlying upper Safa Member has very good to excellent (1.33-7.40 wt % TOC) source rock potential. Prevalence of brown phytoclasts and low Hydrogen index (HI: 46-146 mg HC/g TOC) indicates the occurrence of gas-prone organic facies (Kerogen type III), which reached the late oil-window and early gas-window stages as is evidenced by the Tmax (443-468 °C) and thermal alteration index (TAI: 3 to 3+) values. Analysis of preliminary results suggests the mature gas-prone shales of the upper Safa Member probably sourced the hydrocarbons that are proven by the drilling company to be accumulated in the sandy lower Safa Member reservoir. Analysis of the well logs using the Single-Device and Double-Device methods and ∆Log R technique will be utilized to calculate the organic richness of the studied section and calibrated by the pyrolysis-estimated geochemical data. Burial and thermal history modelling will be carried out to identify the generative interval, explore the effect of the regional tectonics on thermal maturation of the organic matter, and identify the timing of the hydrocarbons generation.
Research Authors
Amr Deaf, Abubakr Maky, Awad Omran, and Eman Zain El-Arab
