Elkhedr Ibrahim

Petrophysical characteristics of Wakar Formation, Port Fouad marine field, north Nile Delta, Egypt

Petrophysical characteristics of the late Miocene Wakar Formation of Port Fouad Marine Field have been evaluated through the analysis of well-logging records of nine exploratory and development wells, distributed in the northeastern offshore area of the Nile Delta. These records have been analyzed through utilizing the ELAN Plus petrophysics software in order to identify the lithological constituents and fluid saturation parameters. The gas potentialities of the studied formation have been evaluated through number of isoparameteric maps. The litho-saturation analysis indicates that the Wakar Formation in the studied wells is mainly gas-bearing with some water-bearing sand levels. The analytical formation evaluation reveals that the lithological facies consists mainly of sandstone, shale, and siltstone. The disseminated shale is mainly of dispersed type and some of laminated habitat. It also points to the dominance of the intergranular porosity. The isoparametric maps of the petrophysical parameters show that the level S1 of Wakar Formation is the main reservoir.

Structure of the Yanbu suture zone in Northwest Saudi Arabia inferred from aeromagnetic and seismological data

The present work focuses on a study of the Yanbu suture zone and related ophiolites using aeromagnetic and seismological data. The interpretation of aeromagnetic data indicates that NW–SE- and NE–SW-trending structural faults dominate the study area. These faults coincide with narrow and elongated magnetic highs, possibly caused by intrusions emplaced along the faults. The NE trend is dissected by cross-cutting NW-trending faults in some places. The NE-oriented suture zone is marked by short-wavelength high magnetic anomalies associated with ultramafic rocks (ophiolites) and is divided by the NW-oriented left-lateral Najid faulting (Qazaz shear zone) into two shifted alignments. This implies that deep-seated regional trends govern to a large extent the location and extension of the ophiolite exposures. There is a clear correlation between land earthquakes and the interpreted magnetic structures, where the majority of earthquake epicenters lie on or close to the interpreted major faults. A clear concentration of earthquakes is observed where the NE-trending faults cross the Red Sea NNW-trending faults. Here, two separate aftershock clusters occur to the north of Yanbu City, indicating the reactivation of the pre-existing Precambrian NE-trending transform fault,which crosses two parallel NNW-trending faults that have been injected by Cenozoic volcanics during the Cenozoic rifting of the Red Sea. These results indicate that the seismotectonics of the study area is strongly related to the geodynamic rifting processes acting in the Red Sea, where the relative movement between African and Arabian plates resulted in several series of normal and transform faults that run parallel and cross the Red Sea, respectively.

Utilizing potential field data to support delineation of groundwater aquifers in the southern Red Sea coast, Saudi Arabia

In this paper potential field data are interpreted to map the undulation of the basement surface, which represents the bottom of the water bearing zones, and to delineate the tectonic framework that controls the groundwater flow and accumulation in the southern Red Sea coastal area of Saudi Arabia. The interpretation reveals that the dominant structural trend is a NW (Red Sea) trend that resulted in a series of faulted tilted blocks. These tilted blocks are dissected by another cross-cut NE trend which shapes and forms a series of fault-bounded small basins. These basins and the bounded structural trends control and shape the flow direction of the groundwater in the study area, i.e. they act as groundwater conduits. Furthermore, the present results indicate that volcanic intrusions are present as subsurface flows, which hinder the groundwater exploration and drilling activities in most of the area; in some localities these volcanic flows crop out at the surface and cover the groundwater bearing formations. Furthermore, the gravity and magnetic data interpretation indicates the possible existence of a large structural basin occupying the southeastern side of the study area. This basin is bounded with NW and NE trending faults and is expected to be a good host for groundwater aquifers; thus it is a promising site for hydrogeological investigation.

Geotechnical investigation of the El-Elb dam site, northwest Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, using 2D resistivity and ground-penetrating radar techniques

In the present study, the existence of cavities, voids, and fractures was verified at the site of the El-Elb Dam, which is located to the northwest of Riyadh City across Wadi Hanifa, using 2D electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and ground-penetrating radar (GPR) techniques. For this purpose, four ERT profiles were measured on the downstream side of the El-Elb Dam using the Syscal Pro Switch-72 resistivity meter. In addition, a GPR survey using a 400-MHz antenna and a SIR-3000 instrument was conducted along five profiles above the stilling basins on the downstream side of the dam and one radar profile was measured outside the stilling basins area across the course of the wadi. The resultant geophysical data were interpreted with the aid of information from a field-based structural and stratigraphic evaluation of the outcropped bedrock on the banks of the wadi course. The analysis of the inverted ERT and filtered radar sections revealed several resistivity and electromagnetic reflection anomalies that are identified laterally and vertically across the measured sections. These anomalies indicate the presence of fractures and karst features affected the limestone bedrock in the dam site. These near-surface karstified and fractured strata represent a critical hazard to the structural safety of the dam.

Hydrochemical characteristics and evaluation of the granite aquifer in the Alwadeen area, southwest Saudi Arabia

This study was carried out in the Alwadeen area of Khamis Mushayt district of southwestern Saudi Arabia to evaluate the hydrochemical characteristics of the shallow hard rock aquifers. These hard rock aquifers mostly comprise granites and contain significant quantities of groundwater that complement the available groundwater from the unconsolidated alluvial sediments in the nearby wadis. The field investigation indicates two main fracture sets which intersect each other and are oriented in the west-northwest and east-west directions. The granitic rocks in the area are intruded by coarse-grained and quartz-rich monzogranite and pegmatite veins. Hydrogeologically, the fracture systems are important since they facilitate the groundwater storage and assume the transmissive function during times of groundwater abstraction. Given the fact that groundwater in the fractured rock aquifers generally occurs at shallow depths, it may be exposed to contamination from surface and/or near-surface sources, and it is therefore important to evaluate its quality. To this end, a hydrochemical analysis was carried out on six groundwater samples collected from the area. The hydrochemistry revealed that the groundwater is fairly fresh, and facies analysis reveals mixed Na-Cl and Ca-Mg-Cl-SO4 types. Overall, the results reveal that the groundwater is saturated with calcite and dolomite, but unsaturated with gypsum and halite. The degree of salinity increases in the direction of the groundwater flow due to increased rock-water interaction.

Improved reservoir characterisation using fuzzy logic platform: an integrated petrophysical, seismic structural and poststack inversion study

There is a tendency for applying different integrated geophysical approaches for better hydrocarbon reservoir characterisation and interpretation. In this study, petrophysical properties, seismic structural and poststack seismic inversion results are integrated using the fuzzy logic AND operator to characterise the Tensleep Sandstone Formation (TSF) at Powder River Basin (PRB), Wyoming, USA. TSF is deposited in a coastal plain setting during the Pennsylvanian era, and contains cross-bedded sandstone of Aeolian origin as a major lithology with alternative sabkha dolomite/carbonates. Wireline logging datasets from 17 wells are used for the detailed petrophysical evaluation. Three units of the TSF (A-sandstone, B-dolomite and B-sandstone) are targeted and their major rock properties estimated (i.e. shale/clay volume, Vsh; porosity, φEff; permeability, K; fluid saturations, Sw and SH; and bulk volume water, BVW). The B-sandstone zone, with its petrophysical properties of 5–20% effective porosity, 0.10–250 mD permeability and hydrocarbon potential up to 72%, is considered the best reservoir zone among the three studied units. Distributions of the most important petrophysical parameters of the B-sandstone reservoir (Vsh, φEff, K, Sw) are generated as GIS thematic layers. The two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) seismic structural interpretations revealed that the hydrocarbons are entrapped in an anticlinal structure bounded with fault closures at the west of the study area. Poststack acoustic impedance (PSAI) inversion is performed on 3D seismic data to extract the inverted acoustic impedance (AI) cube. Two attribute slices (inverted AI and seismic amplitude) were extracted at the top of the B-sandstone unit as GIS thematic layers. The reservoir properties and inverted seismic attributes were then integrated using fuzzy AND operator. Finally, a fuzzy reservoir quality map was produced, and a prospective reservoir area with best reservoir characteristics is proposed for future exploration. The current study showed that integration of petrophysical, seismic structural and poststack inversion under a fuzzy logic platform can be used as an effective tool for interpreting multiple reservoir zones. In this study, petrophysical properties, seismic structural and poststack seismic inversion results are integrated using the fuzzy logic AND operator to characterise the Tensleep Sandstone Formation at Powder River Basin, Wyoming, USA. The 3D seismic cube and logging datasets of 17 wells are used for enhancing the seismic and petrophysical evaluation.

Structural development of northwest Saudi Arabia using aeromagnetic and seismological data

High resolution aeromagnetic and seismological data constrained by field-based structural investigations have been used to map and delineate the structural elements that affected and shaped the Midyan area in the northwest part of Saudi Arabia. The area was divided into four major domains defined by NNE, NNW, NW and ENE trending faults identified by trends, patterns and intensity of magnetic anomalies. The ENE trending left-lateral strike-slip faults intersected by NNE trending faults are the predominant tectonic features in the Gulf of Aqaba coastal area and stop at the boundary of a central domain characterized by complexity in the pattern and intensity of magnetic anomalies, that may be attributed to heterogeneity of basement rocks containing complex igneous rock suites including diorite, gabbro, ultramafic and alkali granitic rocks. This domain is characterized by the presence of narrow linear magnetic anomalies that extend for kilometers in an NNW direction, indicating dikes intruded through NNW trending faults. These dikes become WNW-oriented near their northern termination by transfer of movement to WNW-oriented faults marking the northern termination of the Red Sea rift. It is believed that this fault zone is still experiencing neotectonic activity, as evident from recorded seismicity. The aeromagnetic structural results coincide with fault plane solutions for the largest earthquakes, confirming aeromagnetic interpreted trends and illustrating mixed mechanisms between extensional and strike-slip faulting. Thus the study area displays different mechanisms associated with different tectonic trends which show clearly in the structural patterns of the area.