Structural Effect on Hydrocarbon Trapping, North Western Nile Delta, Egypt

Abstract

The present study aims to interpret the available data, that derived from well logs and 2-D seismic reflection data, in the area located northeast onshore Nile Delta, in order to delineate its structural styles and its relation with the basement inferences and regional tectonic, and also to detect the possible existence of hydrocarbon accumulation at the Tertiary-Quaternary sedimentary section. The study area lies between latitudes 30˚31' and 31˚17'N, and longitudes 30˚38' and 31˚21'E. Using the available well logs, the average velocity gradients are calculated at El-Wastani, Kafr El Sheikh, Abu Madi, Qawasim and Sidi Salem Formations and velocity contour maps are constructed. The available 2-D seismic sections were interpreted and utilized to construct the isochronous reflection maps to the tops of the fore-mentioned five formations. These maps were converted into depth maps. The depth maps show the predominance of three tectonic trends. The structure contour maps were used to deduce the structural elements affecting the fore-mentioned formations in the area under study. These maps reflect the abundance of the E-W trending faults (sometimes ENE-WSW and in other times WNW-ESE), which characterize the general Mediterranean Sea trend. The second system of structural deformations is trending NE-SW (Syrian arc trend). The third type of faults is the NW-SE trending features (Red Sea faults trend). By integrating the structure contour maps together with the different kinds of maps have been done using different sources of data such as velocity data, the possible locations that can be oil traps for hydrocarbon accumulation have been detected.