Journal of Petroleum Geology, vol. l3,(3), July, 1990, pp.

329-340 329

THE NEOGENE-QUATERNARY SECTION

IN THE NILE DELTA, EGYPT:
GEOLOGY AND HYDROCARBON POTENTIAL

R. Abu El-Ella*

The Nile Delta area covers nearly 60,000sq. kms in the northern part of Egypt. The Nile Delta
basin contains a thick sequence of Neogene-Quaternary clastics that are considered to be
prospectivefor oil and gas. The information availablefor investigating the basin sediments, and
evaluating their hydrocarbon potential, has been gathered from some 24 wells. As most of these
wells have not penetrated below the Miocene, deeper sediments could not be investigated, The
studied section is uniform across the northern Delta, consisting of at least 15,oOOJ. of shales and
sandstones: it becomes thinner southwards, The section is composed of three sedimentay cycles,
including eight formations. Thick, organic-rich sediments were deposited under favourable
conditionsfor oil and gas genesis in several parts of the studied basin. The northern part of the
onshore area, and the eastern and western parts of the offshore area, are favourable sites for
hydrocarbon generation and accumulation for the following important reasons: (1) mature
source rocks, (2) structural relief capable of trapping hydrocarbons in the eastern and western
parts of the offshore area ( Abu Qir and El-Emsah localities), (3) stratigraphic traps in the
northern part of the onshore area, and (4) the depositionalfeatures of the Abu Madi Formation.

INTRODUCTION
The present-day Nile Delta area covers an onshore area of about 30,000 sq. kms and an
equal area offshore. This region is part of the unstable shelf of Egypt, and gravity,
aeromagnetic, and seismic data supported by drilling, indicate the presence of a thick,
Neogene-Quaternary section, consisting of at least 15,000 ft. of shales and sandstones to
the north, which becomes thinner southward. The hinge-line, which is represented by a
belt of step-faulting, separates the Mesozoic and Paleogene sediments to the south from
the Neogene and Quaternary series to the north, and appears to pass across the northern
half of the Delta.

*Dept. of Science and Mathematics, Faculty of Petroleum and Mining Engineering, Suez Canal
Universiv, Suez, Egypt.
330 Hydrocarbon potential of the Nile Delta

Geological knowledge of the Nile Delta area is still limited, because of insufficient
subsurface data and the complete absence of any surface outcrops. Information about the
stratigraphy of the area has been gathered by Said (1962, 1965), and Salem (1976). Rizzini
et al. (1976) classified the Neogene-Quaternary section in the Nile Delta area into three
sedimentary cycles. Detailed petrographical, mineralogical, and microlithofacies
investigations have been made by Zaghloul et al. (1975,1976,1977).Isopach and lithofacies
maps for the Neogene-Quaternary sedimentary basins were constructed and studied by
Zaghloul et al. (1978).
The present paper presents a sedimentary basin analysis for the Neogene-Quaternary
sequence in the Nile Delta area, and an evaluation of the hydrocarbon potential of this
sequence. The 24 wells referred to in this paper are plotted in Fig. 1.

BASIN ANALYSIS

Analysis of the Neogene-Quaternary Basin, of great importance for hydrocarbon

accumulations, has three important aspects, which are discussed as follows:
1. The shape and size of the basin
The basin has a triangular shape, and covers an area of about 60,000 sq. kms. Neogene-
Quaternary sediments are bounded to the west by the Western Desert and to the east by
the North Sinai Region; they narrow to the south, in the vicinity of Cairo. The Nile cone
extends out to the 1,000-m isobath in the Mediterranean Sea. The Nile fan extends to the
2,000-m isobath. The basement dips due north from the floor and flanks off the basin as
confirmed by the magnetic data of the studied area.
2. Stratigraphy, lithology, and environment of deposition
Stratigraphic nomenclature for the Neogene-Quaternary section in the studied area is
shown in Fig.2, and two geo-seismic cross-sections through some wells are shown in Figs.
3 and 4 (the lines of these cross-sections are shown in Fig. 1).
The Neogene-Quaternary section is relatively uniform, and is constituted by three
sedimentary cycles (Rizzini et al., 1976). The oldest cycle (Miocene) is incomplete
downwards, since the majority of the wells in the Nile Delta area do not reach the bottom
of that series. The cycle begins with clayey sediments of an outer, neritic-marine
environment (Sidi Salem Fm.), and ends in the Messinian with the deposition of a fluvial,
littoral, and lagoonal series (Qawasim Fm.) and evaporites of the Rosetta Fm. (Figs. 2, 3
and 4).
The second cycle begins with the deposition of the sandy, basal Abu Madi Fm. (Lower
Pliocene) on an erosional surface, followed by a clayey formation of outer- to inner-
neritic marine environment (Kafr El Sheikh Fm.). This cycle (Pliocene-Quaternary) ends
with sediments of fluvial-deltaic and inner-neritic marine environments (El Wastani and
Mit Ghamr Fms.).
The third cycle (Holocene) is represented by a few metres of coastal and lagoonal
sediments.
The Sidi Salem and Abu Madi Fms are the main exploration targets. They represent the
most important gas “pay-zones” in the region. Important secondary targets for
hydrocarbon exploration among the studied formations are the Qawasim and Kafr El
Sheikh Formations.
TheJirst cycle
The Sidi Salem Fm. is the the lowest of three units defined within the first cycle. It is
recognized in all the studied wells, and its bottom was reached in only eight wells (Figs. 3
and 4). The type-section of this formation in well Sidi Salem-1 extends from 3,584 m to
4.030 m. Structural and stratigraphic relationships between this formation and underlying
 R. Abu El-Ella 33 1

n. A

EASTERN DESERT

0 DRY HOLE
0 GAS WELL
* OIL a G A S WELL

0 10 20 30 K M
1111

Fig. 1. Location map of the studied wells.

Well names:
1. El-Temsah-1; 2. Ras El Barr-I; 3. Baltim-I: 4. Rosetta-2; 5 . Sidi Salem: 6. Monaga-I; 7. Damanhur-I:
8. Qantara-I; 9. El Qara-2; 10. Abu Madi-2; 11. Abadiya-I; 12. Kafr El Sheikh-I: 13. NDOA-I:
14. NDOB-I; 15. Abu Qir-I: 16. Busseili-I; 17. Qawasim-I: 18. El Wastani-I; 19. Mahmoudia-I;
20. Bilqas-I; 21. Matariya-1; 22. N.Dilingat-I; 23. Itay El Baroud-I; 24. Mit Ghamr-1.

units are still only partly understood. The lower limit is not known in the central part of
the Nile Delta, but to the south, east and west, for formation overlies Lower Miocene
(Moghra Fm.) or older rocks in the extreme western part (Figs. 3 and 4). The upper limit is
indicated by the thick, fluvial, littoral, and lagoonal series of the Qawasim Formation. In
some wells, the Sidi Salem Fm. is limited upwards by the Rosetta or Abu Madi Fms. The
Sidi Salem Fm. includes the middle-upper part of the Miocene.
The Qawasim Fm., as defined herein, is the middle unit within the first cycle. It is well-
developed in the majority of the studied wells, and is missing in six wells (Figs. 3,4. and 5).
The type-section in well Quwusim-1 extends from 2,791 m to 3,732 m, and is a fairly
irregular succession of thick layers of sandstones, and conglomerates interbedded with
clay layers. The formation rests conformably o n the underlying Sidi Salem Fm., and is
topped with anhydrites of the Rosetta Fm., sands of the Abu Madi Fm., or the marine clay
of the Kafr El Sheikh Fm. The Qawasim includes the upper part of the Miocene.
The Rosetta Fm. is the uppermost unit within the first cycle. It is developed only in well
Rosetta-2, and is only a few tens of meters thick. For ease of data handling, the formation
in this well is considered as a part of the Qawasim Fm.
332 Hydrocarbon potential of the Nile Delta

A GE I FORMATION1 InTH~CKNE
mete
AVERA
:NVIRONMENT
HOLOCENE Bllas 50 Coastal b lagoonal

’LEIS T 0C F NE
Mlt Ghonr 700 Fluvlal deltalc

w UPPER
El Wastoin! 300 Fluvlal deltaic b
Inner nerltlc narlne
Z
W
MIDDLE
0 Ourer t o inner

0 K o P r el Shelkh 1500 nePltlC ~ l o r l n e

Coostai

L.n.goonoi

Fluvlal I i t t o r o i
% Lagoonai

Fig. 2. Subsurface stratigraphic column for the Nile Delta area, Egypt.

The second cycle

The Abu Madi Fm. is the lowerinost of four units defined within the second cycle. It is
well-developed in all the wells except Monugu-1. The type-section is that of the well Ahu
Madi-2. from 3.171 m to 3,306 m. The formation rests unconformably on the older rocks
(Qawasim or Sidi Salem Fms.), and is overlain by the Kafr El Sheikh Fm. (Figs. 2,3,4 and 6).
The Kafr El Sheikh Fm. is the second unit within this cycle. It is well-developed in all
the studied wells. The type section, in well Kafr El Sheikh-1, is from 1,268 m to 2,726 m. The
formation rests conformably on the Abu Madi Fm. or unconformably on the Qawasim
Fm., and is overlain by the El Wastani Fm. (Figs. 2, 3 and 4).
The Wastani Fm. is the third unit within the second cycle. It is well- developed in all the
studied wells. The type-section is at well El Wastani-1, from 1,003 m to 1.126 m. The
formation rests conformably on the Kafr El Sheikh Fm., and is overlain by the Mit
Ghamr Formation. The formation is transitional between the shelf facies of the Kafr El
Sheikh Fm. and the continental sands of the Mit Ghamr Fm.
The Mit Ghamr Fm. is the uppermost unit in the second cycle. It is well- developed in all
the studied wells, and the type-section at well Mit Ghumr-1 extends between 20 and 467m.
This formation rests on the El Wastani Fm. and is overlain by the Bilqas Fm., which
represents the third cycle, and consists of a few meters of coastal and lagoonal sediments.
The first and second cycles only are considered in this study (Figs. 2, 3, and 4).
 R. Abu El-Ella 333

A ABADIYA- I
B
MIT GHAMR-I KAFR EL-SHEIKH-I WAL TIW I NDOW- I

1.L
1WO

zoo0
3mo
4-
woo
~000

--__--- 7000
eooo
woo
---___ 10000

11000
1
-
13000
M G. MI1 GHAMR FM.
0 3000 OOOOm i.W. i t WASlAMfM
VERTICAL -_
II I
K S KAfR i t SHLlKH TM.
o 10 20 aokm kht AEU MbOIFM.
HMllZONTAL L - m 1
Q.A QIWASIMFM.
S S SIMSAl.tHfM

Fig. 3. Geoseismic cross-sectionthrough wells: Mit Ghamr-I, Kafr El Sheikh-I, Abadiya-I, Baltim-I, and
NDOB-I. Line of cross-section shown in Fig.1.

C 0
EL T E M S A H - 1
ABU OIR- I ROSETTA-2 EALTIM- I R A S EL B A R R - I

I ,
,000
2000 2000
3000 3000
4000
4000
6000 a000
eooo 8000
7000 1000
8000 8000
DO00 0000
ioooa 10000

Fig. 4. Geoseismic cross-section through wells: Abu Qir-I. Rosetta-2, Baltim-I. RQS El Ban-I. and El
Temsah-I. Line of cross-section shown in Fig.1.

The section ranges from Middle Miocene to Recent. It has been subjected to marine
deposition of relatively-thick sediments in the north, with relatively-thinner sediments
deposited in the south during development of the Sidi Salem Fm. The few sandy interbeds
present in the formation could have been deposited by a submarine fan in the central part
of the basin, or by storm activity in the more peripheral parts (Gadow and Reineck, 1969).
Tectonics do not seem to have played an important role in this phase of sedimentation.
The evolution of the basin seems to have been controlled by the relationship between
subsidence and sedimentation.
Huge, sandy masses of the Qawasim Fm. appeared in the central part of the basin; they
caused progradation, with the formation of large foresets (Fig. 5). This formation became
thinner or even disappeared in the peripheral parts of the basin (Figs. 3 and 4). There are
many indications of the existence of a marked phase of pre-Pliocene marine regression in
the Mediterranean Basin, not only in Egypt (Choumakov, 1967; Fanucci et al., 1974).
334 Hydrocarbon potential of the Nile Delta

Fig. 5. Structure at top of the Qawasim Formation.

Subaerial erosion at that time created many unconformities which can be repeatedly
observed in the seismic sections and on the dip-meters, close to the transition from the
Qawasim to the Abu Madi Fms. According to the present-day characteristics of coastal
deposits with fining-upwards sequences, often many tens of meters thick, and showing a
transgressive character, transgression occurred during the lower Pliocene. The basin
became deeper rather rapidly and reassumed the characteristics which it displayed during
deposition of the Sidi Salem Formation. The sediments became argillaceous, indicating
deposition in an outer- to inner-neritic marine environment (Kafr El Sheikh Fm.).
During the period between the middle and upper Pliocene, sedimentary processes
overcame subsidence. The basin became shallower, as confirmed by the sandy
interbeddings in the series. Sands became prevalent during the deposition of the El
Wastani Fm., and the basin filled with coastal and fluvial-deltaic deposits during the
deposition of the Mit Ghamr Fm.
3. Structure
The available geological and geophysical data show that the tectonics of the area are
related to the Oligocene emergence and rifting of the Gulf of Suez, the Middle Miocene
subsidence and gravitational movement in the northern part, and the return of clastic,
deltaic-type sedimentation. Structure contours of the top of Abu Madi and Qawasim Fms.
(Figs. 5 and 6 ) serve to illustrate the present structural style of the basin.
 R. Abu El-Ella 335

Fig. 6. Structure at top of the Abu Madi Formation.

The principally north, NE- and NW-trending folds in the area, which represents the
northern part of the Egyptian mobile belt, are fractured and faulted by major east-west
faults, and/or SW-NE subsidiary faults. Generally, the Nile Delta basin is characterized
by a large, regional, structural flexure through its central area. Gravity faults and large-
scale slumping features are developed in the NW part of the basin. Asymmetric folds of
the "Syrian Arc" system are evident in the central and western parts.

HYDROCARBON POTENTIAL
The Total Organic Carbon (TOC) content in weight-percentage for 210 samples from 12
wells was determined. The corresponding hydrocarbon content in parts per million was
also calculated for these samples. For ease of data handling, the samples were grouped
into the six studied formations, and the average values of the TOC and hydrocarbon
contents were calculated for each formation. A source-rock richness plot, adapted from
Jackson et al. (1985), was used to rate source-rock potential (Fig.7). It was found that a
specific formation is represented more accurately by the average value than by the value
of the individual sample.
Source rocks
All but ten average TOC formation-values fulfil the minimum TOC content of 0.5%
(Dickey and Hunt, 1972) required for a clastic rock to have any hydrocarbon source
potential; all the individual samples representative of these formations also fulfil the
336 Hydrocarbon potential of the Nile Delta
10,000
V MI1 GHAMR

POOR
. /+
. m X /
--------
SOURCE
OR BARREN GAS(?)

0.1 1.o 10

T O T A L ORGANIC CARBON (%I

Fig. 7. Source-rock richness of the studied formations from 12 wells in the Nile Delta area.

minimum TOC content of 0.5%. The other ten average TOC formation-values are found
in the Mit Ghamr Fm. in the wells Baltim-1, Monaga-1 and Abadiya-1; in the El Wastani
Fm. (wells Ras El Barr-I. Baltim-1, Monaga-1, Qantara-1, and Abadiya-1); and in the Sidi
Salem Fm. (in wells' Rosetta-2 and Sidi Salem-1).
Fig. 7 suggests that several formations are possible hydrocarbon sources; the Sidi Salem
Fm. in wells Ras El Barr-1, Baltim-1. Monaga-1, Damanhur-1, El Qara-1 and Abu Madi-2;
and the Abu Madi Fm. in wclls El Emsah-1, Sidi Salem and El Qara-2 are suggested to be
mature, with fair-to-good oil source potential.
The remaining formations (except two) are shown to have relatively smaller
hydrocarbon - organic carbon ratios. and show some gas source potential. The Mit
Ghamr Fm. at Baltim - 1 , and the El Wastani Fm. in Ras El Barr - 1 , are shown to be
poor sources.
Maturity
Source rocks are commonly classified as “immature”, “mature” or “overmature”
depending on their stage of thermal alteration. The maturity ratings used in this study
were obtained from vitrinite reflectance values determined from dispersed organic matter.
The vitrinite reflectance measurements were carried-out on core or cutting samples from
12 wells. Source rocks having vitrinite reflectance values of less than 0.5% were considered
to be immature, and those with values between 0.5% and 1.3% mature (Tissot and Welte.
1978).
Cross-sections through the study area (Figs. 8 , 9 and 10) illustrate the present levels of
maturity. The most significant lateral variation occurs from the central to the eastern and
 R. Abu El-Ella 331

I SALEM-! A 9 1 DIVA'I
4*

-
*
UNCONFORUIlY
SlOl SALEM FORMATlON BOTTOM NOT REACHED

Fig. 8. Cross-section through wells Damanhur-I, Sidi Salem-I, Abadiya-I, Abu Madi-2, El Qara-2, and
Qantara-I, with the maturation stages of the studied formations. Maturity determined by vitrinite
reflectance. Line of cross-section shown in Fig. 1.

western parts of the delta (Fig.8). The majority of the studied formations in the eastern
and western parts fall within the immature zone. whereas in the central part (e.g. the Abu
Madi and El Qara localities) the entire Sidi Salem and Qawasim Fms., and part of the
Abu Madi Fm., fall within the mature zone.
O n the cross-section in Fig. 9, the entire Sidi Salem Fm. and part of the Qawasim Fm.
fall within the mature zone in the central part (Abadiya and Kafr El Sheikh localities);
while the entire section is immature in the north (Baltim-1) and SE (Monaga-1).O n the
cross-section in Fig. 10, a part of the Sidi Salem Fm. falls within the mature zone in the
eastern part (El Temsah-I. Ras El Barr-l), while the entire sequence is mostly immature in
the western part (Baltim-I, Rosetta-2).
Discoveries
Exploration activities in the Nile Delta started relatively late; the first concession was
granted to the International Egyptian Oil Company (IEOC) in 1963. and the first well (Mi?
Ghamr-I) was drilled by this company in 1966.
The first commercial discovery of petroleum was made in 1967. when IEOC discovered
the Abu Madi field in the northern part of the Nile Delta. This field produced gas from the
Lower Pliocene Abu Madi Formation. In 1969, Phillips made the first offshore gas
discovery in Ahu Qir Ba-v in the NW part of the Nile Delta, about 100 kms west of Abu
Madi.
The second offshore gas discovery was made in 1978 by Elf Aquitaine, in the NE
section of the city of Alexandria (well NAF-I), 20 kms NW of Abu Qir. The well also
produced gas from the sandstones of the Abu Madi Formation.
Well Qantaru-1 is significant in that it was the first well to recover oil from the Lower
Miocene sands in appreciable volumes. The Qantara-1 discovery in 1976 encouraged oil
companies to intensify their activities in the Nile Delta.
 38 Hydrocarbon potential of the Nile Delta

ig. 9. Cross-section through wells Baltim-I. Abadiya-I. Kajr El Sheikh-I, and Monaga-I, with the
maturation stages of the studied formations. Maturity determined by vitrinite reflectance. Line of cross-
section shown in Fig.1.

Many development wells have been drilled in the last four years, and many gas "pay
zones" have been encountered in the Abu Madi Formations and the Lower Miocene
sands (e.g. the El Qara and El Temsah localities).
Summary
The Nile Delta has proven to be a good gas- and condensate-producing region. To date,
the wildcat success ratio has been 1:3.6., higher than the international norm. The best
reservoirs are vertically- and laterally- variable sands deposited in a high-energy
environment (Abu Madi Formation). Good source materials deposited in a low-energy
marine environment appear to underlie most of the Nile Delta (Sidi Salem and Kafr El
Sheikh Fms.): these also provide excellent seals.

DISCUSSION

The information available for investigating the Neogene-Quaternary section has been
gained from 24 exploratory wells. Since the majority of these wells do not penetrate below
the Miocene, deeper formations were not investigated, so that the area still remains largely
unexplored. More exploratory wells should be drilled to the maximum possible depths, to
give more information about the geology and hydrocarbon potential of the basin.
The majority of the formations considered in this study contain sufficient quantities of
organic carbon to be classed as a fair-to-good source rocks. Source-rock maturity data
indicate that the prospective source rocks are probably restricted to the NE half of the
onshore area, and the extreme western and eastern parts of the offshore area.
Throughout the region, the source rocks in the Sidi Salem Formation have the highest
potential, in terms of both oil generation and level of maturity: while most of the other
sections appear not to have reached sufficient maturity to generate significant quantities of
 R. Abu El-Ella 339

-, ....- - .... I

A I R EL S H E I K H I

B U MAD1
AWASIM

SlDl SALEM

UNCONFDRUlTl
9101 SALEM F M - Ro=0.6
BOTTOM NOT REACHED

Fig. 10. Cross-section through wells Rosetta-2. Baltim-1. Ras El Barr-I, and El Temsah-I, with the
maturation stages of the studied formations. Maturity determined by vitrinite reflectance. Line of cross-
section shown in Fig.1.

hydrocarbons. Therefore, given the proper burial history, the source rocks of the gas “pay-
zones” in the studied area could be within the Pre-Miocene sediments, the Miocene
shales (Sidi Salem Formation), or the sediments of the Abu Madi Formation.
Primary migration is a selective process in which there is a separation of the available
components capable of migration, as opposed to the products of extraction (Welte, 1965).
The movement of petroleum, after expulsion from a source rock, through the wider pores
of more permeable and porous carrier and reservoir rocks, is known as secondary
migration (Tissot and Welte, 1984). The preservation and entrapment of the generated
hydrocarbons require effective seals and minimal structural readjustment after
accumulation. This is most probably acquired by the reservoirs in the Abu Madi
Formation, and the underlying Miocene sediments (some sandy parts of the Sidi Salem
Formation and the Lower Miocene sands), which is confirmed by the fact that the
majority of the gas-bearing sand zones were encountered in the previously-mentioned
reservoirs. Recent gas discoveries have shown that the Abu Madi Formation should be
ranked amongst the most important in the Nile Delta Basin sequence. From a structural
point of view, the northern part of the onshore area of the Nile Delta basin (the Abu Madi
and El Quru fields) is located in the area adjacent to the pericratonic zone, and the
stratigraphic range of productivity is generally broad in such zones. Therefore, it is
possible that gas, and probably oil, occurs in the Pre-Miocene deposits of this area, and in
the eastern and western parts of the offshore area.

CONCLUSIONS

Abundant organic source matter is present in a number of formations in much of the

area. Organic richness and oil yield are highly variable within the examined section,
reflecting differences in maturity of the six formations studied.
340 Hydrocarbon potential of the Nile Delia

Many localities of the northern onshore area, and the eastern and western parts of the
offshore area, represent favourable sites for hydrocarbon generation and accumulation
for the following reasons:
1. The presence of mature source rocks (the Sidi Salem Formation or older rocks).
2. A structural relief capable of trapping hydrocarbons in the eastern and western
parts of the offshore area (the Abu Qir and El Temsah localities).
3. Stratigraphic traps in the northern part of the onshore area.
4. The depositional features of the Abu Madi Formation, representing favourable sites
for hydrocarbon accumulations, due to the presence of a sand-body embedded in,
and sealed by, the Sidi Salem and Qawasim shales.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The Author wishes to express his sincere appreciation to Dr W. H. Kanes, Director of

the Earth Science & Resources Inst., Univ. of South Carolina (USA) for making available
all the facilities with which to do this work. The Author also express his gratitude to the
Commission for Educational & Cultural Exchange between the USA and the Arab
Republic of Egypt for giving him the chance to carry out this work at the Univ. of South
Carolina.

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