Incised valley fill sandstone bodies in Upper Carboniferous fluvio–deltaic strata: recognition and reservoir characterization of Southern North Sea analogues

1999 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 771-788 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. J. HAMPSON ◽  
S. J. DAVIES ◽  
T. ELLIOTT ◽  
S. S. FLINT ◽  
H. STOLLHOFEN
Keyword(s):  
North Sea ◽  
Reservoir Characterization ◽  
Upper Carboniferous ◽  
Incised Valley ◽  
Valley Fill ◽  
Southern North Sea

Sequence stratigraphic controls on reservoir characterization and architecture: case study of the Messinian Abu Madi incised-valley fill, Egypt

2013 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed Abdel-Fattah ◽  
Roger Slatt
Keyword(s):  
Reservoir Characterization ◽  
Nile Delta ◽  
Hydrocarbon Exploration ◽  
Incised Valley ◽  
Sequence Stratigraphic ◽  
Valley Fill ◽  
Body Distribution ◽  
Stratigraphic Framework ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Impact

AbstractUnderstanding sequence stratigraphy architecture in the incised-valley is a crucial step to understanding the effect of relative sea level changes on reservoir characterization and architecture. This paper presents a sequence stratigraphic framework of the incised-valley strata within the late Messinian Abu Madi Formation based on seismic and borehole data. Analysis of sand-body distribution reveals that fluvial channel sandstones in the Abu Madi Formation in the Baltim Fields, offshore Nile Delta, Egypt, are not randomly distributed but are predictable in their spatial and stratigraphic position. Elucidation of the distribution of sandstones in the Abu Madi incised-valley fill within a sequence stratigraphic framework allows a better understanding of their characterization and architecture during burial.Strata of the Abu Madi Formation are interpreted to comprise two sequences, which are the most complex stratigraphically; their deposits comprise a complex incised valley fill. The lower sequence (SQ1) consists of a thick incised valley-fill of a Lowstand Systems Tract (LST1)) overlain by a Transgressive Systems Tract (TST1) and Highstand Systems Tract (HST1). The upper sequence (SQ2) contains channel-fill and is interpreted as a LST2 which has a thin sandstone channel deposits. Above this, channel-fill sandstone and related strata with tidal influence delineates the base of TST2, which is overlain by a HST2. Gas reservoirs of the Abu Madi Formation (present-day depth ∼3552 m), the Baltim Fields, Egypt, consist of fluvial lowstand systems tract (LST) sandstones deposited in an incised valley. LST sandstones have a wide range of porosity (15 to 28%) and permeability (1 to 5080mD), which reflect both depositional facies and diagenetic controls.This work demonstrates the value of constraining and evaluating the impact of sequence stratigraphic distribution on reservoir characterization and architecture in incised-valley deposits, and thus has an important impact on reservoir quality evolution in hydrocarbon exploration in such settings.

scholarly journals Multi-disciplinary approach to sedimentary facies analysis of Messinian Salinity Crisis tectono-sequences (South-Mansoura Area, Nile Delta): Incised-valley fill geological model reconstruction and petroleum geology–reservoir element delineation

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 1643-1666
Author(s):  
Ahmed M. Elatrash ◽  
Mohammad A. Abdelwahhab ◽  
Hamdalla A. Wanas ◽  
Samir I. El-Naggar ◽  
Hasan M. Elshayeb
Keyword(s):  
Reservoir Characterization ◽  
Nile Delta ◽  
Sedimentary Facies ◽  
Reservoir Quality ◽  
Well Log ◽  
Geological Model ◽  
Depositional Facies ◽  
Incised Valley ◽  
Valley Fill

AbstractThe quality of a hydrocarbon reservoir is strongly controlled by the depositional and diagenetic facies nature of the given rock. Therefore, building a precise geological/depositional model of the reservoir rock is critical to reducing risks while exploring for petroleum. Ultimate reservoir characterization for constructing an adequate geological model is still challenging due to the in general insufficiency of data; particularly integrating them through combined approaches. In this paper, we integrated seismic geomorphology, sequence stratigraphy, and sedimentology, to efficiently characterize the Upper Miocene, incised-valley fill, Abu Madi Formation at South Mansoura Area (Onshore Nile Delta, Egypt). Abu Madi Formation, in the study area, is a SW-NE trending reservoir fairway consisting of alternative sequences of shales and channel-fill sandstones, of the Messinian age, that were built as a result of the River Nile sediment supply upon the Messinian Salinity Crisis. Hence, it comprises a range of continental to coastal depositional facies. We utilized dataset including seismic data, complete set of well logs, and core samples. We performed seismic attribute analysis, particularly spectral decomposition, over stratal slices to outline the geometry of the incised-valley fill. Moreover, well log analysis was done to distinguish different facies and lithofacies associations, and define their paleo-depositional environments; a preceding further look was given to the well log-based sequence stratigraphic setting as well. Furthermore, mineralogical composition and post-depositional diagenesis were identified performing petrographical analysis of some thin sections adopted from the core samples. A linkage between such approaches, performed in this study, and their impact on reservoir quality determination was aimed to shed light on a successful integrated reservoir characterization, capable of giving a robust insight into the depositional facies, and the associated petroleum potential. The results show that MSC Abu Madi Formation constitutes a third-order depositional sequence of fluvial to estuarine units, infilling the Eonile-canyon, with five sedimentary facies associations; overbank mud, fluvial channel complex, estuarine mud, tidal channels, and tidal bars; trending SW-NE with a Y-shape channel geometry. The fluvial facies association (zone 1 and 3) enriches coarse-grained sandstones, deposited in subaerial setting, with significantly higher reservoir quality, acting as the best reservoir facies of the area. Although the dissolution of detrital components, mainly feldspars, enhanced a secondary porosity, improving reservoir quality of MSC Abu Madi sediments, continental fluvial channel facies represent the main fluid flow conduits, where marine influence is limited.

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