Abstract

The off-shore Nile Delta is one of the most promising areas for gas exploration and production in Egypt and the Middle East. The present study deals with evaluation of the gas-bearing sand anomalies at the off-shore Nile Delta of Egypt using the available well logging and the pressure datasets. The early to middle Pliocene sediments (Kafr El Sheikh Formation) of eleven wells scattered in the Darfeel and Port Fouad Concessions are analyzed and studied for determining the different petrophysical parameters necessary for reservoir evaluation. This study reveals the presence of three gas-bearing sand zones (anomalies-1, -2 and -3), with good hydrocarbon potential, encountered at different depth levels at the Early Pliocene sediments of Kafr El Sheikh Formation. The detailed petrophysical analysis of these zones shows that anomalies-1 and 2 attain good reservoir parameters, while anomaly-3 is not penetrated in majority of wells in the study area. However, anomaly-2 exhibits unique characteristics; in terms of the good porosity (27 to 33%), low shale volume (Vsh<10%) and high gas potentiality (42 to 93%), which it attains. The constructed petrophysical property maps of gas anomalies-1 and -2, reveal an observed diminish of gas saturation towards the eastern flank of the study area. The potential accumulations with the best reservoir cut-off parameters, are recognized in the central and western parts of Darfeel Concession. The analysis of pressure data is concerned mainly with locating the different fluid contacts and determining the pressure gradients of the gas-bearing zones. Very close pressure regimes are detected for most of the investigated gas anomalies through out the study area. Pressure gradient ranges of 0.331 to 0.345 psi/ft and 0.314 to 0.444 psi/ft are indicated for anomalies-1 and 2, respectively.

Key words: Well logs, pressure data, gas-bearing sand anomalies, off-shore Nile Delta, Egypt.