This study aims at assessing the hydrocarbon source rocks of the Belayim oilfields, central Gulf ... more This study aims at assessing the hydrocarbon source rocks of the Belayim oilfields, central Gulf of Suez, Egypt through detailed geochemical methods, to characterize organic-rich facies of the Senonian-Eocene deposits. Liquid chromatography, gas chromatography and gas chromatography- mass spectrometry are the methods used in this study. In order to throw light on the organic matter source, composition, and thermal maturity, 4 crude oil samples are analyzed using C7 and stable carbon isotopes in addition to some techniques applied on the extracts. The source rocks are mainly derived from algae and bacteria with a minor contribution of terrestrial organic sources mainly clay-poor source rocks, deposited under normal saline and reducing paleoenvironmental conditions. This is evidenced by the n-alkanes distribution, pristane/phytane, homohopane, gammacerane index and the high concentration of cholestane, the presence of the C30 n-propylcholestanes and low diasteranes ratios. The source rock extracts range from immature to marginally mature, based on biomarker maturity-related parameters. A similar scenario is envisaged to the studied crude oil samples which showed a partial positive correlation with the source rocks of the Eocene Thebes Formation, and the Upper Senonian Brown Limestone. Our data pinpointed that the Lower Senonian Matulla Formation samples may trigger some oil in the study area.
ABSTRACT Palynological, palynofacies and organic geochemical results of 46 samples retrieved from... more ABSTRACT Palynological, palynofacies and organic geochemical results of 46 samples retrieved from the Upper Cretaceous – Eocene Matulla, Brown Limestone and Thebes formations, Belayim oilfields, central Gulf of Suez, Egypt are presented. The two latter formations are not dated palynologically as their lithology is not promising for palynological yield. However the Matulla Formation is dated as Turonian–Santonian age, based on the combined evidence of pollen and dinocysts. Palynofacies analysis carried out under both transmitted and fluorescent microscopy indicated that both the Thebes and Brown Limestone formations are deposited under a distal suboxic–anoxic environment. On the other hand, the Turonian–Santonian Matulla Formation supported the existence of a marginal marine deposition under dysoxic–anoxic basin to proximal suboxic–anoxic shelf environments. Rock-Eval pyrolysis and TOC results indicated that most of the studied formations are thermally immature to marginally mature and have a good petroleum potential. They are organically-rich in both oil- and gas-prone kerogen Type-II and II/III, deposited under marine reducing conditions favorable for hydrocarbon generation and expulsion.
This study aims at assessing the hydrocarbon source rocks of the Belayim oilfields, central Gulf ... more This study aims at assessing the hydrocarbon source rocks of the Belayim oilfields, central Gulf of Suez, Egypt through detailed geochemical methods, to characterize organic-rich facies of the Senonian-Eocene deposits. Liquid chromatography, gas chromatography and gas chromatography- mass spectrometry are the methods used in this study. In order to throw light on the organic matter source, composition, and thermal maturity, 4 crude oil samples are analyzed using C7 and stable carbon isotopes in addition to some techniques applied on the extracts. The source rocks are mainly derived from algae and bacteria with a minor contribution of terrestrial organic sources mainly clay-poor source rocks, deposited under normal saline and reducing paleoenvironmental conditions. This is evidenced by the n-alkanes distribution, pristane/phytane, homohopane, gammacerane index and the high concentration of cholestane, the presence of the C30 n-propylcholestanes and low diasteranes ratios. The source rock extracts range from immature to marginally mature, based on biomarker maturity-related parameters. A similar scenario is envisaged to the studied crude oil samples which showed a partial positive correlation with the source rocks of the Eocene Thebes Formation, and the Upper Senonian Brown Limestone. Our data pinpointed that the Lower Senonian Matulla Formation samples may trigger some oil in the study area.
This study aims at assessing the hydrocarbon source rocks of the Belayim oilfields, central Gulf ... more This study aims at assessing the hydrocarbon source rocks of the Belayim oilfields, central Gulf of Suez, Egypt through detailed geochemical methods, to characterize organic-rich facies of the Senonian-Eocene deposits. Liquid chromatography, gas chromatography and gas chromatography- mass spectrometry are the methods used in this study. In order to throw light on the organic matter source, composition, and thermal maturity, 4 crude oil samples are analyzed using C7 and stable carbon isotopes in addition to some techniques applied on the extracts. The source rocks are mainly derived from algae and bacteria with a minor contribution of terrestrial organic sources mainly clay-poor source rocks, deposited under normal saline and reducing paleoenvironmental conditions. This is evidenced by the n-alkanes distribution, pristane/phytane, homohopane, gammacerane index and the high concentration of cholestane, the presence of the C30 n-propylcholestanes and low diasteranes ratios. The source rock extracts range from immature to marginally mature, based on biomarker maturity-related parameters. A similar scenario is envisaged to the studied crude oil samples which showed a partial positive correlation with the source rocks of the Eocene Thebes Formation, and the Upper Senonian Brown Limestone. Our data pinpointed that the Lower Senonian Matulla Formation samples may trigger some oil in the study area.
ABSTRACT Previous research has focused upon the geochemical fingerprinting of oil and mummy bitum... more ABSTRACT Previous research has focused upon the geochemical fingerprinting of oil and mummy bitumen in order to define their biomarker characteristics and their geographical origins. Here, a set of source rock samples comprising the Upper Cretaceous–Early Paleogene sequence from the Ras El Bahar-2 borehole on the western coast of the southern Gulf of Suez is investigated for a comparative molecular biomarker link between source rock bitumen and oil and mummy bitumen reported in the literature. The analyzed source rocks are quantitatively-rich in organic content and qualitatively derived from algae and bacteria deposited in highly reducing environments. The source rocks are sulphur-rich and related to type II-S kerogen, having the ability to generate hydrocarbons at low levels of thermal maturity. For oil and seeps, they are genetically related. The biomarkers suggest their derivation from siliciclastic source rocks that received substantial terrestrial inputs within predominantly Tertiary basins and were deposited in normal marine conditions with pervasive suboxia. The source rock bitumen is correlatable with the Cleopatra mummy bitumen, whereas the oil seeps are comparable with the bitumen from some Egyptian mummies reported in the literature.
This study assesses the hydrocarbon source rocks of the Belayim oilfields, central Gulf of Suez, ... more This study assesses the hydrocarbon source rocks of the Belayim oilfields, central Gulf of Suez, Egypt. Detailed geochemical methods, including liquid chromatography, gas chromatography and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, are used to characterize organic-rich facies of the Turonian–Eocene deposits. Crude oil samples are analyzed using C 7 and stable carbon isotopes, in addition to analysis of the extracts, in order to throw light on the organic matter source, composition, and thermal maturity. The source rocks are mainly derived from algae and bacteria deposited under normal saline and reducing palaeoenvironmental conditions, with a minimal contribution from terrestrial organic and mainly clay-poor source rocks. This is evidenced by the n-alkane distribution, the pristane/phytane, homohopane, gammacerane index, the high concentration of cholestane, the presence of the C 30 n-propylcholestanes and low diasteranes ratios. The source rock extracts range from immature to marginally mature, based on biomarker maturity-related parameters. A similar scenario is envisaged from the crude oil samples which showed a partial positive correlation with the source rocks of the Eocene Thebes Formation, and the Upper Cretaceous Brown Limestone. Our data suggest that Turonian–Santonian Matulla Formation samples may signify the presence of some oil in the study area. ª 2014 Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of University of Bahrain.
This study aims at assessing the hydrocarbon source rocks of the Belayim oilfields, central Gulf ... more This study aims at assessing the hydrocarbon source rocks of the Belayim oilfields, central Gulf of Suez, Egypt through detailed geochemical methods, to characterize organic-rich facies of the Senonian-Eocene deposits. Liquid chromatography, gas chromatography and gas chromatography- mass spectrometry are the methods used in this study. In order to throw light on the organic matter source, composition, and thermal maturity, 4 crude oil samples are analyzed using C7 and stable carbon isotopes in addition to some techniques applied on the extracts. The source rocks are mainly derived from algae and bacteria with a minor contribution of terrestrial organic sources mainly clay-poor source rocks, deposited under normal saline and reducing paleoenvironmental conditions. This is evidenced by the n-alkanes distribution, pristane/phytane, homohopane, gammacerane index and the high concentration of cholestane, the presence of the C30 n-propylcholestanes and low diasteranes ratios. The source rock extracts range from immature to marginally mature, based on biomarker maturity-related parameters. A similar scenario is envisaged to the studied crude oil samples which showed a partial positive correlation with the source rocks of the Eocene Thebes Formation, and the Upper Senonian Brown Limestone. Our data pinpointed that the Lower Senonian Matulla Formation samples may trigger some oil in the study area.
ABSTRACT Palynological, palynofacies and organic geochemical results of 46 samples retrieved from... more ABSTRACT Palynological, palynofacies and organic geochemical results of 46 samples retrieved from the Upper Cretaceous – Eocene Matulla, Brown Limestone and Thebes formations, Belayim oilfields, central Gulf of Suez, Egypt are presented. The two latter formations are not dated palynologically as their lithology is not promising for palynological yield. However the Matulla Formation is dated as Turonian–Santonian age, based on the combined evidence of pollen and dinocysts. Palynofacies analysis carried out under both transmitted and fluorescent microscopy indicated that both the Thebes and Brown Limestone formations are deposited under a distal suboxic–anoxic environment. On the other hand, the Turonian–Santonian Matulla Formation supported the existence of a marginal marine deposition under dysoxic–anoxic basin to proximal suboxic–anoxic shelf environments. Rock-Eval pyrolysis and TOC results indicated that most of the studied formations are thermally immature to marginally mature and have a good petroleum potential. They are organically-rich in both oil- and gas-prone kerogen Type-II and II/III, deposited under marine reducing conditions favorable for hydrocarbon generation and expulsion.
This study aims at assessing the hydrocarbon source rocks of the Belayim oilfields, central Gulf ... more This study aims at assessing the hydrocarbon source rocks of the Belayim oilfields, central Gulf of Suez, Egypt through detailed geochemical methods, to characterize organic-rich facies of the Senonian-Eocene deposits. Liquid chromatography, gas chromatography and gas chromatography- mass spectrometry are the methods used in this study. In order to throw light on the organic matter source, composition, and thermal maturity, 4 crude oil samples are analyzed using C7 and stable carbon isotopes in addition to some techniques applied on the extracts. The source rocks are mainly derived from algae and bacteria with a minor contribution of terrestrial organic sources mainly clay-poor source rocks, deposited under normal saline and reducing paleoenvironmental conditions. This is evidenced by the n-alkanes distribution, pristane/phytane, homohopane, gammacerane index and the high concentration of cholestane, the presence of the C30 n-propylcholestanes and low diasteranes ratios. The source rock extracts range from immature to marginally mature, based on biomarker maturity-related parameters. A similar scenario is envisaged to the studied crude oil samples which showed a partial positive correlation with the source rocks of the Eocene Thebes Formation, and the Upper Senonian Brown Limestone. Our data pinpointed that the Lower Senonian Matulla Formation samples may trigger some oil in the study area.
This study aims at assessing the hydrocarbon source rocks of the Belayim oilfields, central Gulf ... more This study aims at assessing the hydrocarbon source rocks of the Belayim oilfields, central Gulf of Suez, Egypt through detailed geochemical methods, to characterize organic-rich facies of the Senonian-Eocene deposits. Liquid chromatography, gas chromatography and gas chromatography- mass spectrometry are the methods used in this study. In order to throw light on the organic matter source, composition, and thermal maturity, 4 crude oil samples are analyzed using C7 and stable carbon isotopes in addition to some techniques applied on the extracts. The source rocks are mainly derived from algae and bacteria with a minor contribution of terrestrial organic sources mainly clay-poor source rocks, deposited under normal saline and reducing paleoenvironmental conditions. This is evidenced by the n-alkanes distribution, pristane/phytane, homohopane, gammacerane index and the high concentration of cholestane, the presence of the C30 n-propylcholestanes and low diasteranes ratios. The source rock extracts range from immature to marginally mature, based on biomarker maturity-related parameters. A similar scenario is envisaged to the studied crude oil samples which showed a partial positive correlation with the source rocks of the Eocene Thebes Formation, and the Upper Senonian Brown Limestone. Our data pinpointed that the Lower Senonian Matulla Formation samples may trigger some oil in the study area.
ABSTRACT Previous research has focused upon the geochemical fingerprinting of oil and mummy bitum... more ABSTRACT Previous research has focused upon the geochemical fingerprinting of oil and mummy bitumen in order to define their biomarker characteristics and their geographical origins. Here, a set of source rock samples comprising the Upper Cretaceous–Early Paleogene sequence from the Ras El Bahar-2 borehole on the western coast of the southern Gulf of Suez is investigated for a comparative molecular biomarker link between source rock bitumen and oil and mummy bitumen reported in the literature. The analyzed source rocks are quantitatively-rich in organic content and qualitatively derived from algae and bacteria deposited in highly reducing environments. The source rocks are sulphur-rich and related to type II-S kerogen, having the ability to generate hydrocarbons at low levels of thermal maturity. For oil and seeps, they are genetically related. The biomarkers suggest their derivation from siliciclastic source rocks that received substantial terrestrial inputs within predominantly Tertiary basins and were deposited in normal marine conditions with pervasive suboxia. The source rock bitumen is correlatable with the Cleopatra mummy bitumen, whereas the oil seeps are comparable with the bitumen from some Egyptian mummies reported in the literature.
This study assesses the hydrocarbon source rocks of the Belayim oilfields, central Gulf of Suez, ... more This study assesses the hydrocarbon source rocks of the Belayim oilfields, central Gulf of Suez, Egypt. Detailed geochemical methods, including liquid chromatography, gas chromatography and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, are used to characterize organic-rich facies of the Turonian–Eocene deposits. Crude oil samples are analyzed using C 7 and stable carbon isotopes, in addition to analysis of the extracts, in order to throw light on the organic matter source, composition, and thermal maturity. The source rocks are mainly derived from algae and bacteria deposited under normal saline and reducing palaeoenvironmental conditions, with a minimal contribution from terrestrial organic and mainly clay-poor source rocks. This is evidenced by the n-alkane distribution, the pristane/phytane, homohopane, gammacerane index, the high concentration of cholestane, the presence of the C 30 n-propylcholestanes and low diasteranes ratios. The source rock extracts range from immature to marginally mature, based on biomarker maturity-related parameters. A similar scenario is envisaged from the crude oil samples which showed a partial positive correlation with the source rocks of the Eocene Thebes Formation, and the Upper Cretaceous Brown Limestone. Our data suggest that Turonian–Santonian Matulla Formation samples may signify the presence of some oil in the study area. ª 2014 Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of University of Bahrain.
Fining upward sequence means that the grain size is decreasing upward, whereas coarsening upward ... more Fining upward sequence means that the grain size is decreasing upward, whereas coarsening upward means that the grain size is increasing upward. In order to deposit coarser, heavier grains, the hydraulic energy must be higher (faster flowing water) than the energy required to deposit fine grains. A good example of a fining-upward succession is a river point bar. Point bars are formed at bends in rivers and can be composed of gravel, sand, silt and clay. Their characteristic half-ellipse shape is easily recognizable. Because of the way they are formed, point bars occurring in modern rivers have the same shape as point bars that were formed in rivers millions of years ago. Point bars get their unique shapes because of the way water flows through curving channels like bends in a river. As the water enters the bend of the river the flow spins in a spiral. The flow is strongest on the outside of the bend causing erosion of the outer bank. As the water flows away from the outer bank and rises up the slope of the inner bank, or point bar, it loses some of its energy and begins to deposit sediments eroded from the outer bank. First the coarse grains are deposited near the base of the point bar and then the finer grains as the water flows towards the top of the point bar. The processes that deposit point bars are the same in large and small rivers. As a result, all point bars also have the same kind of shape whether they are large or small. Scientists use this knowledge to help them make computer models of underground formations. A good example of a coarsening upward succession is a delta. Because deltas are sites of sediment building outward from the coast, they are progradational; the landward depositional environments move seaward over more marine/lacustrine deposits. Thus, delta sequences in the rock record start with deep water, marine, fine grained sediments and grade upward into shallower water, possible more freshwater, coarser grained sediments. This is one of the distinguishing aspects of deltas that let you define them in the sedimentary record. These changes in grain size and environment typically occur over 1's to 100's of meters in the rock record and include many beds.
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