Palynofacies analysis and hydrocarbons assessments on some subsurface Middle Jurassic rocks of northern Western Desert, Egypt

نوع المستند : المقالة الأصلية

المؤلفون

1 Geology Department, Faculty of Science, Sohag University, Sohag, Egypt 82524

2 1Geology Department, Faculty of Science, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt

المستخلص

The current study's palynofacies analysis and visual microscopic inspections of some subsurface Middle Jurassic rocks from Egypt's northern Western Desert revealed that not all the investigated rock units are suitable source rocks for hydrocarbons; some are gas-prone rocks, while others are oil-prone rocks. However, assessments of the hydrocarbon potentiality of the studied rock unit, which is represented by the Khatatba Formation in the Fadda-1 well, can be classified as overmature gas-prone source rocks, as well as reconstruct plant cover and infer palaeoclimate conditions. The high frequency of Deltoidospora and Cicatricosisporites spores suggests locally pteridophyte-dominated lowlands vegetation near/at the well site. Conifer flora is assumed to exist in somewhat dry hinterlands due to the presence of saccate (Araucaria cites and Balmeiopsis) pollen grains. In addition, due to the presence of drought resistant Cassopolis pollen grain, a regional warm and relatively dry palaeoclimate is thought to have prevailed, with a local humid condition developing around the well site.

الكلمات الرئيسية


SJYR stays neutral regarding jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations

Abdel-Kireem M. R., Schrank E., Samir, A.M., & Ibrahim M.I.A., (1993). Cretaceous palaeoecology, palaeoclimatology and palaeogeography of the northern Western Desert of Egypt. IN: Thorweihe, U. & Schandelmeier, C. H. (Eds.), Geoscientific Research in Northeast Africa, Balkema-Rotterdam-Brookfield, 375-380.
Batten, D. J. (1981). Palynofacies, organic maturation, and source potential for petroleum. IN: BROOKS, J. (Ed.), Organic maturation studies and Fossil fuel Exploration. London, Academic Press, 201-223.
Batten, D.J. (1980). Use of transmitted light microscopy of sedimentary organic matter for the evaluation of hydrocarbon source potential: Proceedings of the IV International Palynological Conference, Lucknow (1976-1977), 2, 589-594.
Boulter, M. C. (1994). An approach to a standard terminology for palynodebris. IN: TRAVERSE, A. (Ed.), Sedimentation of organic particles: Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 199-216.
Brenner, G. J. (1996). Evidence for the earliest stage of angiosperm pollen evolution: a paleoequarorial section from Israel. IN: Taylor, D. W. & Hickey, L. J. (Eds.) Flowering Plant Origin, Evolution & Phylogeny New York, Chapman & Hall.
Deaf, A. S. (2009). Palynology, palynofacies and hydrocarbon potential of the Cretaceous rocks of northern Egypt. Published Ph.D. Thesis, Southampton University, 348 pp.
Dow, W. G. (1982). Kerogen maturity and type by reflected light microscopy applied to petroleum exploration (eds) Staplin, F. L., Dow, W. G., Milner, C. W. O., Connor, D. I., Pocock, S. A. J., Gijzel, P. V., Welte, D. H., & Yukler, M. A., Soc. Econ. Paleontol. Mineral. Short Course. (7), 133–157.
Doyle, J. A. (1999). The rise of angiosperms as seen in the African Cretaceous pollen record. IN: HEINE, K. (Ed.) Third Conference on African Palynology. Johannesburg 14-19 September 1997, Balkema, Rotterdam.
Doyle, J. A., Jardine, S. & Doerenkamp, A., (1982). Afropollis, a new genus of early angiosperm pollen, with notes on the Cretaceous palynostratigraphy and paleoenvironments of northern Gondwana. Bulletin des Centres de Recherches Exploration-Production Elf Aquitaine, 6, 39-117.
Hantar, G. (1990). Northwestern Desert. IN: SAID, R. (Ed.) The Geology of Egypt, Rotterdam, Balkema, 15, 293-319.
Issawi, B., El Hinnawi, M., Francis, M. & Mazhar, A., (1999). The Phanerozoic Geology of Egypt, A Geodynamic Approach. Special Publication. 76, E.G.S.M.A., 462 p.
Lorente, M. A. & Van Bergen, P. F., (1990). A multilevel approach to organic matter classification, Stuifmail, 8:2:9-16.
Mahmoud, M. S. & Moawad, A. M. M. (2002). Cretaceous palynology of the Sanhur-1X borehole, North-Western Egypt. Revista Española de Micropaleontologia, 34, 129-143.
Norton, P., (1967) Rock Stratigraphic Nomenclature of the Western Desert. Internal Report. Pan American Oil Company, UAR, Cairo, Egypt (Unpublished document).
Omran, A. M., Soliman, H. A. & Mahmoud, M. S. (1990). Early Cretaceous palynology of three boreholes from northern Western Desert, Egypt. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology, 66, 293-312.
Pearson, D. L. (1984). Pollen/spore color “standard”, version 2. Phillips Petroleum Co. privately distributed.
Playford, G. (1971). Palynology of Lower Cretaceous (Swan River) strata of Saskatchewan and Manitoba.  Palaeontology, 14, 533-565.
SAID, R. (1990). Cretaceous paleogeographic maps. IN: SAID, R. (Ed.) The Geology of Egypt, Rotterdam, Balkema. p. 439-449.
Schrank, E. & Mahmoud, M. S. (1998). Palynology (pollen, spores and dinofglagellates) and Cretaceous stratigraphy of the Dakhla Oasis, Central Egypt. Journal African of Earth Science, 26, 167-193.
Schrank, E. (1990). Palynology of the clastic Cretaceous sediments between Dongola and Wadi Muqaddam, northern Sudan. Berliner Geowissenschaftliche Abhandlungen - Reihe A, 120, 149-168.
Schrank, E. (2001). Paleoecological aspects of Afropollis/Elaterates peaks (Albian-Cenomanian pollen) in the Cretaceous of Northern Sudan and Egypt. IN: Goodman, D. K. & Clarke, R. T. (Eds.) Proceeding of the IX International Palynological Congress, Huston, Texas, USA, 1996; American Association of Stratigraphic Palynologists Foundation, 201-210.
Shell Winning N.V. (1977). Final report and composite well log of the Fadda-1borehole. Western Desert Operating Petroleum Company, Egypt.
Traverse, A. (1988). Paleopalynology. Unwin Hyman, Boston, London, 1-600.
Tyson, R. V. (1993). Palynofacies analysis. IN: JENKINS, D.G. (Ed.) Applied Micropaleontology. Kluwer Academic Publisher, Dordrecht, 153–191.
Tyson, R. V. (1995). Sedimentary organic matter: Organic facies and palynofacies. Chapman & Hall, London. 615pp.
Van Der Zwan, C. J. (1990). Palynostratigraphy and palynofacies reconstruction of the Upper Jurassic to lowermost Cretaceous of the Draugen Field, offshore mid Norway. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology, 62, 157-186.
Watson, J. (1988). The Cheirolepidiaceae. IN: BECK, C. B. (Ed.) Origin and Evolution of Gymnosperms. New York, Columbia University Press.
Zobaa, M.K., El-Beialy, S.Y., El-Sheikh, H.A., & El Beshtawy M.K.  (2013). Jurassic–Cretaceous palynomorphs, palynofacies, and petroleum potential of the Sharib-1X and Ghoroud-1X wells, northwestern Desert, Egypt. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 78, 51–65.