The area of study comprises one of the most hydrocarbon‐potential basins of the Egyptian Western Desert, the Abu Gharadig basin. Major marine transgression and regression cycles dominated the territory during different geologic times. Those depositional cycles, together with at least three tectonic cycles—the end of the Paleozoic Hercynean, the close of the Jurassic until the Late Cretaceous and, the close of the Cretaceous until Mid‐Teritary—resulted in a highly deformed, thick sedimentary cover. A study of the geophysical anomalies of the basin, including those indicated by aeromagnetic, gravity, and seismic data as well as the study of about 60 deep wells drilled within and around the Abu Gharadig basin, has revealed that the major tectonic disturbances of the area were caused by basement complex block faulting. These major tectonic disturbances have produced great variations in the thickness and distribution of the various geologic units throughout the region. Aeromagnetic anomalies and the wells which reached the basement indicate great variations in the depths and type of the basement complex and the presence of major intrusions in the region. The major fracturing is indicated to be mainly along an east‐west, west‐northwest and east‐northeast directions. The Bouguer gravity anomalies indicate major basement fracturing as well as variations in sedimentary patterns, erosions, and subsequent tectonic disturbances. The most obvious anomalous trends on the gravity map, based on frequency and amplitude, are the north‐east to east‐northeast, the east‐west and the west‐northwest. The main Abu Gharadig depositional center does not show sharp variations because of the homogeneity of the near‐surface rocks and the great basement depth (20 000-40 000 ft). Seismic interpretation has confirmed the presence of all these fracturing trends. It also identified some major structural trends. These are closely related to the depositional centers, and represent potential drilling locations, especially those associated with Late Cretaceous‐Tertiary active contemporaneous faulting.
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