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INTRODUCTION AND PREVIOUS RELATED WORKS

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INTRODUCTION AND PREVIOUS RELATED
WORKS
1.1 Preface
The Gulf of Suez is the most prolific oil province in
Egypt. It covers an area of about 25,000 km2 and lies
between: latitudes 27° 30̀ N to 30° 00̀ N and longitudes 32°
10̀ to 34° 00̀ E. It is known to be a clysmic gulf (Robson,
1971). The Gulf of Suez basin forms an area of subsidence
which was formed during the Early Paleozoic time as a
narrow embayment of the Tethys and intensively
rejuvenated during the rifting phase of the great East African
rift system from Lower to Middle Tertiary time (Meshref,
1990). Huge accumulations of sediments were resulted from
this fast subsiding depression, interrupted at times by great
and regional uplifts with subsequent erosion.
The Gulf of Suez runs in a northwest - southeast trend
and forms an elongated half graben measuring about 320 km
in length, with width ranging from 30 to 80km, and water
depth only 40 to 60 m. It is bounded by two major sets of
marginal faults. Paleozoic–Tertiary succession and huge

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Precambrian basement blocks are exposed on both sides of

the Gulf of Suez (Alsharhan, 2003).
1.2 Location map of the study area
Bakr oil field was the field providing one of the
commercial oil fields and the most prolific in the area. Figure
(1) shows that Bakr oil field is located at the western coast
of the Gulf of Suez between Latitudes 28° 47̀ and 28° 40̀ N
and Longitudes 32° 91̀ and 33° 00̀. It is located about 10 kms
north of Gharib oil field, and about 40 kms north of Ras
Shukheir oil and gas field. Figure (2) shows the distribution
of the available seismic lines and wells in the study Area.

31°0'0"E 32°0'0"E 33°0'0"E

30°0'0"N 30°0'0"N

29°0'0"N 29°0'0"N
BAKR OIL FIELD

RAS GHARIB FIELD

RAS SHUKEIR FIELD

28°0'0"N 28°0'0"N

27°0'0"N 27°0'0"N
STUDY AREA
BAKR OIL FIELD Km
0 20 40 80 120 160

31°0'0"E 32°0'0"E 33°0'0"E

Figure (1) Location map of Bakr oil field.

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Figure (2) The distribution of the available seismic lines and wells
in the study area.

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1.3 Exploration History of the Study Area

EGPC (1996) mentioned that since the discovery of
Ras Gharieb oil field in 1938, which based then on gravity
data, Bakr area has drawn the attention of the oil companies.
The General Petroleum Company considered that the five
dry holes, which had been drilled by S. O. E (1940 – 1944),
were inadequate to evaluate the oil possibilities of the area.

According to Hadidy (1960), the Bakr oil field was

witnessed relatively active gravity exploration survey efforts
in the 1940s led to the drilling of six exploratory wells
between 1940 and 1945, all of which were plugged and
abandoned as dry holes though there were some oil shows in
both the Miocene and Cretaceous. After the seismic survey
was concluded in 1957, a new wildcat was located in the
light of combined gravity and seismic data. It was completed
as an oil discovery in 1958.
The Bakr field is distinguished by a Pre-Miocene fault
block, which has a northwest-southeast trend and is
dissected by transverse cross faulting into two blocks, Bakr
north and Bakr south. The two blocks were separated by a
non-productive graben.

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According to EGPC (1996), the discovery well (Bakr-

6) was drilled in 1958 on the basis of seismic, magnetic and
gravity data, adjacent to S. O. E. -4 well to assess the oil
shows, previously reported in the Eocene through the well.
Drilling and testing proved that the Eocene was
commercially productive. Production began in 1960.
Successive drilling resulted in 121 wells (106 of which are
oil wells, 15 dry holes) which have been drilled to define the
west and southwest limits of the field, and the well numbered
from 57 to 80 are deviated holes either from shore or
artificial islands.
Only two original oil water contacts were established
within the field; the upper is at -3330 feet, while the lower is
at -4090 feet.
The carboniferous shaly section (known as black shale
or Nubia "B" unit) is considered as an effective seal, which
separates the two pools.
The upper pool is producing from the Lower Miocene
carbonate buildup, Belayim (known as Nullipore or
clypeaster bed) and Thebes Eocene cherty limestone. It also
produces from the Lower Senonian Matulla, the Turonian

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Wata and Cenomanian Raha sandstones. The lower pool is

producing from the basal Nubia sands below the black shale.
The main production of this field comes from the
Eocene (45%).
1.4 Previous related works
Different authors from different points of view studied
the Bakr area, among them:
Said (1962) stated that the Gulf of Suez and Red Sea
together, with the Gulf of Aqaba are structurally controlled.
They form the northern branches of the Great East African
System, Said also, concluded that the Gulf of Suez is an area
of subsidence within the stable shelf area.
Kamel (1962) reported that West Bakr area comprises
a monocline with a regional dip to the east. The outcrop of
Cretaceous sequence could be seen in the western part of the
area. The Cambrian basement hills are located far west of the
field.
El Gendy (1963) reported that no older sediments or
sign of surface structure appear except an eastern dipping
Miocene shale section exposed near the Red Sea hills, some
20 km to the southwest of Ras Bakr. The Pliocene and
Miocene outcropped in Gharib-Kareem area led to assume

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that a NW-SE direction controls the topographic expression

in the area. These lines were assumed to be in West Bakr
area.
Moustafa and El Hashmy (1964) mentioned that the
structure of Bakr oil field is a part of the Pre Miocene uplift
running through Gharib north, Khier, West Bakr and Rahmi
oil fields.
El Hadidi (1967) assigned that the petrophysical
characteristics of the Eocene Thebes reservoir in North Bakr
Field were being in the average porosity 12.5 %, average
permeability is 951.3 MD and average water saturation of
35.5 %.
Hanter (1974) reported that on pre Miocene highs
lenticular sandstone and reefal limestone reservoirs are
developed and anticlines are formed above these highs. He
concluded that the pre Miocene itself, is in the form of tilted
fault block with reservoir potentials that are unconformably
truncated by Miocene source and cap rock.
Kato (1975) mentioned that through gravity and
magnetic interpretation the evaporites have become
gradually shallow and thin from the northwest towards the
southeast. He also assumed that there is a syncline in the

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eastern direction of the west bakr area followed westward by

several normal faults.
EPEDECO´s report (1977) stated that the Eocene
limestone is dense and compact, showing fairly to good
porosity (15 – 20 %). The development of secondary
porosities are recognized in the cherty limestone of Lower to
Middle Eocene units.
Abd El Azim (1978) said that the sedimentary section
in Bakr oil field is rich in organic material, mainly of the
sapropelic type and reflecting high catagenetic changes of
the initial organic source. Two main beds were identified as
most probable effective oil source beds, (1) calcareous shale
body of Rudeis Formation, (2) argillaceous Eocene
limestone bed with indigenous hydrocarbon types,
effectively enrichment by non-indigenous (migrated)
hydrocarbon most probably of younger age.
Takasu et al. (1982) assumed that through gravity,
magnetic and seismic re-interpretation two major gravity
anomalies presenting two major troughs are recorded. The
first lies to the northeastern corner of West Bakr and the
second is located at the southwestern part of the area.

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Abdel Fattah (1985) mentioned that the middle and

southwestern parts of West Bakr Field contain the most
suitable expected traps of oil and gas.
Elzarka and Mokhless (1987) mentioned that Ras
Malaab carbonates are calcitic dolostones that contain
hematite, pyrite, glauconite and rarely anhydrite. The shale
component is mainly montmorillonite with hematite and
pyrite; the carbonate fraction is calcite. The evaporites of the
Belayim Formation are mainly anhydrites with gypsum,
hematite, pyrite and Glauconite. The carbonate fraction of
the evaporites is formed of calcite that changes to dolomitic
calcistone towards the top of that formation. The evaporites
of the South Gharib Formation are mainly formed of
anhydrite with halite or kaolinite and a carbonate fraction.
The carbonate fraction of those samples is of the calcistone
and the magnesium calcistone types.
Barakat (1988) studied the lithofacies and
depositional environment of Miocene sediments at the Gulf
of Suez. He concluded that the poor reservoir quality of
Miocene rocks is due to both their original composition and
their texture maturity and related digenetic processes, and he
deduced that much of the porosity in Miocene subsurface

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reservoir is of secondary porosity which may be reduced by

compaction and precipitation of evaporites in fractures and
pores.
Khalil and Meshref (1988) reported that the
sedimentary basin in the Gulf of Suez could be divided into
"Pre-rift and Syn-rift" sediments separated by an
unconformity and they contain major hydrocarbon
accumulation. They recognized that there are four rift
evaluation stages; initial fill rifting stage, advanced rifting
stage, major rifting stage and later rifting stage. Every
evolution stage is characterized by different sedimentary
characteristics and the forming of different types of trapping
mechanism for hydrocarbon occurrence; which controlled
by tectonic evolution of the Suez area.
Saoudy (1992) said that the Nukhul evaporites, the
Rudeis shale and carbonate, the Belayim and south Gharib
salt are representing the cap rock and the lateral seal.
Elmowafy (1993) said that the thickness distribution
of the Rudeis Formation shows two basin areas occupying
the eastern and the southern sectors of the field area. The
thickness of Kareem Formation increases towards the
eastern and southern parts of the area.

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The sequence of Belayim Formation is generally

attenuated along the western edge of the field and is well
developed in the other parts of the area. Early Miocene
transgression resulted in the deposition of basal Miocene
sediment "Nukhul Formation" with reduced thickness. The
transgression continued resulting in the deposition of
"Rudeis, Kareem, Belayim, and South Gharib formations"
with Syn - depositional fault movement.
Alsharhan and Salah (1994) concluded that the
hydrocarbon potentials of the southern Gulf of Suez are
generally high because:
1- Rifting tends to produce both restricted and open
marine setting favorable to a source rock presence.
2- Subsequent rotational faulting and marginal uplifting
produce clastic system from the mature shield terrenes and
form shallow area where porous reef build up and
dolomitized limestone potential reservoir could be
developed.
3- Rotational faulting of the Miocene sequence
produces structural traps, which may be sealed by on lapping
basin mud rocks or evaporites during later thermal
subsidence of the rift.

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Alsharhan and Salah (1995) concluded that the

hydrocarbon potentials of the northern and central Gulf of
Suez are generally high because the rifting of the Gulf of
Suez produces favorable condition for rich source rock
deposition, a suitable maturity regime for generating
hydrocarbons, development of both sandstone and carbonate
reservoirs, presence of potential fine clastic and evaporites
seals and several types of traps for accumulation of
hydrocarbon.
Donya (1996) said that the Kareem and Rudeis
formations show a complex facies and lithological
relationship and represent the main reservoir horizon in the
study area "South Gharib off shore area".
The iso-chore maps of Belayim and South Gharib
formations illustrate a gradual increase in thickness towards
the western sector of the area.
Comprehensive formation evaluation procedure was
carried out by means of computer programs for the studied
reservoirs "Kareem and Rudeis sandstone "in the
petrophysical analyzed wells.
According to the Vitrinite Reflectance measurements,
Kareem / Rudeis "shale and limestone" Lower Miocene can

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only generate oil, R0 =0.56; while Matulla shale "Lower

Senonian" can generate and expel oil R0 =1.08.
Hassan (1999) said that the Bakr Member forms the
lowermost unit of Rudeis Formation, and it is composed of
argillaceous, sandy limestone with shale intercalations and
thin dolomite interbeds.
The maximum thickness of Bakr Member is 270m and
the minimum thickness is 87m. It is worth to mention that
the carbonate sequences of Bakr Member are considered as
high oil reservoir potentials in the south of the west Bakr
structure. The studied blocks revealed some oil shows being
evaluated as non-economic.
The correlation chart for Bakr Member using gamma
ray mirror image reflects that the lithological sequence does
not suffer any remarkable change either vertically or
horizontally. On the contrary, it shows a noticeable thickness
variation.
Abd El Khalik (2000) mentioned that the source
potential in the southeastern basin of the Gulf of Suez may
expel oil, which would have moved updip towards the
western part to feed the high structure.

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The hydrocarbon migration path in the study area is

updip migration from deep neighboring through to the updip
portion of the uplifted tilted fault blocks.
There are two main areas within the study areas which
should have expelled hydrocarbon which are the central and
eastern basin through.
El Kadi, et al. (2000) mentioned that the Nullipore
carbonate buildups form the main reservoir in Ras Fanar Oil
Field (south of the study area) and it is usually considered to
be of shallow marine carbonate facies of Hammam Faraun
Member of Belayim Formation. They also explained that the
Nullipore system and reservoir quality indicated that the
Nullipore is a pack bound stone carbonate rock affected by
different digenetic processes.
Some of the filling minerals were precipitated within
the pore spaces and these minerals are the (calcite, dolomite,
anhydrite and celestite). The pore types distributed overall
the rock are of biomoldic, vuggy, intercrystalline and
fracture porosities.
These porosity types have been modified and altered
by digenetic processes such as compaction, cementation,
pressure solution, dolomitization, dissolution and fracturing.

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The type of digenetic process reflects the amount of

Nullipore rock permeability.
Mahrous (2000) said that the source rock evaluation
was carried out for the Miocene and pre – Miocene
sediments. The analytical techniques contain the study of
total organic carbon content using leco analyzer, organic
matter quality using hack eval pyrolysis, "organic matter
maturity" using Vitrinite Reflectance and spore color index
measurements. The source materials of the studied Miocene
formations is:
 Belayim and Kareem formations which are "good to
very good quality for reservoir potentials".
 Rudeis and Nukhul formations are fair quality source
rocks.
 The upper part of Thebes Formation is a good source
rock potential.
 Esna Shale Formation is fair to good quality source
rock.
These generally contain a mixed algal and waxy sapropelic
kerogen (Type I, II) which have been deposited in a strongly
anoxic environments.

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Eldesoky (2000) said that the Belayim marine

Miocene anticline fracture is separated from the Belayim
land Miocene anticline by a local saddle feature while the
Pre – Miocene structure of both the Belayim marine and
Belayim land is considered as one rift block dissected by a
set of normal faults and they are bounded from the east by
the coastal rift bounding fault and from the west by the
Belayim main bounding fault.
There are still some oil potentialities and there is some
area to be explored in Belayim area.
Abdel Moneim (2004) assumed that the general
stratigraphy of the Gulf of Suez shows the prior to the
initiation of the Gulf of Suez rift area which had relatively
stable history with only some extensional faults developed
during the Jurassic – Early Cretaceous Tethyan extension
and subsequent inversion of these extensional fault system
in the Late Cretaceous through to the Middle Eocene.
There are three distinct depocenters (province) within
the Gulf of Suez basin; the Darag basin "SW dip regime" at
the northern end, the central basin or Belayim province "NW
dip regime" and the southern Amal – Zeit province "SW dip
regime".

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Amer (2005) reported that the availability of the pre –

Miocene seismic reflector is fair to poor due to the existence
of different types of multiplies and diffraction. The velocity
survey data of the Miocene and pre – Miocene rock was
detected from some drilled wells. The Rudeis areas are
bounded by two major normal faults to the east and
southwest direction.
The diffraction effect of these two faults did not allow
the picking of the exact position of these faults on seismic
section.
Hassan (2006) mentioned that all petrophysical
parameters were represented in petrophysical data logs (PDL
or litho saturation) and different type of maps (iso
parametric) such as effective porosity, shale content and
hydrocarbon saturation in three type of presentation
(contour, 3D and vector).
The shale content increases towards the SE and NW
of the study area for Kareem Formation, and towards the
western and center of eastern part for Rudeis Formation, and
towards the west and the central part of Nukhul Formation.
Mekkey (2007) concluded that the structure contour
map, constructed on the top of Rudeis Formation shows

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several normal clysmic faults. This may reveal that the area
was affected by faults in pre – Miocene and rejuvenated
during the Miocene times.
At the south of the area it shows major horst block with
step block to the west. In the north of the area it shows two
horst blocks separated by huge graben and followed by step
block on their side.
The shale content of Hammam Faraun reefal
limestone (Nullipore) is "19%", Rudeis sand is "33%",
Nukhul sand is"13%"and for Nubia (C & D), it is "20%".
The effective porosity which is represented by iso-
parametric map shows an increasing value towards the west
for Hammam Faraun reefal limestone (Nullipore) 19%. It
increases also towards the north for Nukhul sand 22% and
towards the east for Rudeis sand 22%.
The fluid content in the form of hydrocarbon
saturation increases towards the central of the southern side
of Hammam Faraun reefal limestone "Nullipore reservoir
"60%.
The gross thickness distribution map reveals that the
reservoir thickness increases towards the north-west of the

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study area for Hammam Faraun reefal limestone "Nullipore"

22 m, and towards the north east for Rudeis sand 30 m.
He also concluded that it is promising to detect for
hydrocarbon potentialities in Miocene (Nullipore), Rudeis
sand, Nukhul sand and more exploration activities are
needed to detect the extension of reservoir and other possible
hydrocarbon bearing formations. He also estimated the
hydrocarbon reservoir characteristics at north Amer oil field
(East Bakr field).
Hamed (2009) mentioned that Bakr oilfield is a multi-
reservoir oil producer which lies at the western coast of the
Gulf of Suez. The geologic history was dealt with through
surface outcrops and subsurface well data. Combined
lithofacies maps and PSDM slices are constructed to
investigate the tectono-sedimentary relationships. The
petroleum system forming Bakr oilfield is revisited to
formalize the geologic elements relationship in time and
space. Trapped oil is charged from generative source rocks
located at the offshore east-northeast and the western
onshore Gharib fetch areas. New prospects to the west and
south of Bakr oilfield are generated that may add probable
reserves.

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El Kadi, et al. (2012) found that the Middle Miocene

Hammam Faraun Member represents top-most of the
Belayim Formation. It is mainly composed of reefal
limestone and/or shale intercalation. He also concluded that
the Hammam Faraun reefal limestone is informally named
"Nullipore rock" which is considered as the main reservoir
of some many fields.
Hamed (2014) mentioned that the Red Sea and Gulf
of Suez tectonic activities were resumed 5m.y. ago. He
referred that the term "Post-Miocene" should replace the
term "Post-Rift" since the later should be critically applied.
1.5 Aim of the study
Bakr oil field was discovered in 1958 by the General
Petroleum Company on the basis of seismic and gravity-
magnetic interpretation. This study aims to:
 Further delineation of the geometry of Hammam
Faraun Reefal limestone reservoir.
 Overview the structure framework affecting on the
Belayim carbonate reservoir and its effect on the
hydrocarbon accumulations and entrapment by studying the
trap model weather stratigraphic or combined structural
stratigraphic traps.

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 Make a petrophysical study of Belayim reefal

carbonate to evaluate the hydrocarbon potentials in the study
area.
 Add new prospective area for development wells to
add oil reserves.
1.6 Materials and Methodology:
The present study mainly depends on the use of the
available open-hole well log records (electric, radioactivity
and sonic logs) in the form of composite well logs
(Resistivity, SP, GR, Density, Neutron and Sonic) of four
wells distributed in the area of study. In addition to this,
twenty 2D and 3D seismic lines are used to delineate the
subsurface structural setting.
The subsurface geological setting is gained through
the construction of isopach maps, lithofacies maps, seismic
sections, structural cross sections and structure contour
maps.
The petrophysical evaluation is gained through the
computer processed interpretation that passes through the
quantitative interpretation technique. The petrophysical
characteristics are illustrated laterally (in the form of iso-
parametric maps that are net pay, effective porosity, shale

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content, water saturation and hydrocarbon saturation) and

vertically (in the form of litho-saturation cross-plots).
This study is carried out by using the computer
software programs, such as Petrel 2010 software program
(@schlumberger, 2010), Interactive Petrophysics version
3.5 software program (@schlumberger, 2008).
Notice: To complete this study we used more data of some
other wells in the study area.

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