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Depositional Environment of the (Albian–Cenomanian) Bentiu formation of

Heglig oil field Muglad Basin Sudan

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 Red sea university Journal of Basic and Applied Science ISSN: 1858 -7690 (Online)
Vol. 1 Issue 1 - April 2016 ISSN: 1858 -7658 (Print)

Depositional Environment of the (Albian – Cenomanian)

Bentiu formation of Heglig oil field Muglad Basin Sudan

Ahmed Ali Hassan Taha1 *, Abdul Hadi Abd Rahman 2, Ahmed Salim 2, Yassir Ibrahim Ali 3
1.2 Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, department of Petroleum geosciences

3. Red Sea University, Earth Science College, portsudan

*

Abstract
This paper discusses the application of wireline logs in the determination of depositional
environment of the reservoir interval of Bentiu formation (Albian – Cenomanian) Muglad
Basin Sudan. A suite of a wire line logs from the Well A38 in Heglig field is collected
from the Ministry of petroleum in Sudan, consist of GR, SP, RD, RS, RMSL, CNC, ZDEN
and DT, which comprise the materials for this study. Petrel software was used to display
these logs. Bentiu formation which is a main reservoir interval in the well A38 is the main
target of this study; it is divided into Bentiu, I, Bentiu 2 and Bentiu 3 formations. Wire line
logs signatures, and lithology log shows that these intervals composed mainly of sandstone
intercalated with mudstone and siltstone. The sandstones rang in grain size from fine to
coarse predominantly medium grains, GR signatures show coarsen up and fining up patterns
indicating fluvial deposit. GR pattern, Neutron-Density separation, Resistivity, sonic and
lithology logs indicate the intervals were deposited in a fluvial environment, mainly crevasse
splay, floodplain, channel fill and point bars.

Keywords: Bentiu formation, wireline log, Muglad basin, fluvial deposits.

Introduction part of it is situated in south of Sudan

Bentiu formation is the main reser-
voir interval within the Muglad basin
of the Sudan Schull;1988. Muglad
basin is largest among the central Af-
rican rift system members (CARS),
Republic and the other half situated
in the North of the South Sudan Re-
public, it extends for about 1200 km
in its length and more than 300 km in
its width, it trends north west – south
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Vol. 1 Issue 1 - April 2016 ISSN: 1858 -7658 (Print)

east. Figure (1) shows the location of
the Muglad basin. Bentiu formation
whose depositional environment was
interpreted as fluvial environment
represents the main reservoir inter-
val of the Muglad basin, and it con-
sists mainly of sandstones interbed-
ded with claystone and mudstones.
The interpretation of wireline logs as
subsurface techniques is now widely
used in sedimentology. A wide range
of physical parameters can be mea-
sured using different suites of tools
lowered down a hydrocarbon explo-
ration borehole. These give informa-
tion on lithology, porosity, oil and
water saturation Cant;1992, Allen
P. A. and Allen J. R.;1990 , Emery
& Myers;2009 . Depositional envi-
ronment and facies could also be in-
ferred from certain suites of wireline
logs Miall;2013. Geophysical logs
not only provide a complete vertical
profile of the borehole, but also rap-
idly yield to the trained interpreter
curve shapes and feature representa-
tive of depositional facies.

Figure 1: Map shows location of the study area within block two in the Heglig oil field in
south of the Sudan. The map also shows the location of the Sudan within continent Africa
red line border; new Sudan map light brown background, block two where the Heglig oil
field is located yellow color area, red square indicates the location of the selected well with-
in the field highlighted in the blue background area in the lower-right corner of the map.

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Vol. 1 Issue 1 - April 2016 ISSN: 1858 -7658 (Print)

Some of these features include fin-
ing upward sequences, coarsening
upward sequences, and uniform se-
quences, which result from unique
depositional processes. For example,
gamma-ray log shapes are often used
by geologists to determine sandstone
grain size, trends and hence deposi-
tional environment and facies Rid-
er;1990, figure (2). This study uses
a suite of well logs form well A 38
in Heglig field one of the largest oil
fields in Muglad basin in Sudan. The
log suite consists of Gamma ray, Re-
sistivity, Neutron, Density and Sonic
logs. The purpose of this study is to
infer the different facies and to in-
terpret the depositional environment
along the reservoir interval of Bentiu
formation of the Muglad basin.

Figure 2: Environmental interpretations of gamma log patterns (after Sanchez & Le

Roux;2003) (base on Cant;1992).
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 Red sea university Journal of Basic and Applied Science
Vol. 1 Issue 1 - April 2016
Material and Methods
A Gamma ray, Resistivity, Neutron,
Density and Sonic are the principal
logs collected from the Ministry of
Petroleum in Sudan in form of LAS
files comprise the core materials for
this study. The LAS files are import-
ed on selection into Petrel software
for the display of the logs on Petrel
first explorer window, after inserting
a new well folder where LAS files are
imported on selection. Gamma ray is
the record of a formation’s radioac-
tivity, in its simple form Gamma ray
can be used to correlate, to suggest
facies and sequences and definitely
to identify lithology (shalliness). Re-
sistivity is the measurement of a for-
mation’s resistivity. Resistivity log
is mainly used to find hydrocarbon,
and it can also contribute to lithol-
ogy, texture, facies, over pressure
and source rock’s aspects. Neutron
log principally a measure of forma-
tion water content; it is an important
porosity indicator and also is a very
good lithology indicator when com-
panied with Density log. The Den-
sity log is the continuous record of
formation’s bulk density. Quantita-
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tively, the density log is used to cal-
culate porosity and indirectly, hydro-
carbon density. When combine with
neutron log gives a good lithology
indicator. Finally sonic log measure
travel transit time of a formation.
Quantitatively, the sonic log is used
to evaluate porosity in a liquid-filled
hole. For geologists, the sonic log is
sensitive to subtle textural variations
in both sands and shales. It can help
to identify lithology, and help to in-
dicate source rocks.
Results and Discussion
The Bentiu Formation comprises the
main reservoir interval in the study
area and is characterized by stacking
successions of thick, amalgamated
cross-bedded sandstones and inter-
vening extensive laterally, thinner
Murdock intervals, M.Yagoub;2010.
In the well A38, Bentiu formation
considered to be the principal reser-
voir horizon, it consists of about 302
meters thick pile of non-marine sedi-
ments, mainly sandstone interbed-
ded with siltstones and claystone.
Well tops Bentiu 1, Bentiu 2, and
Bentiu 3 are well documented on the
well figure (3).
 Red sea university Journal of Basic and Applied Science ISSN: 1858 -7690 (Online)
Vol. 1 Issue 1 - April 2016 ISSN: 1858 -7658 (Print)

Figure 3: section shows well logs of the well A38 indicating well tops of Bentiu 1, Bentiu 2
and Bentiu 3.

Bentiu 1 consists of about 96 meters jority is medium grained. The in-

thick sandstone with minor interca- tercalation of shale is mainly con-
lation of siltstone and claystone, the centrated in the lower part having a
sandstone range in grain size from thickness of about fourteen meters
coarse, medium to fine grained ma- this clearly manifested in high GR

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Vol. 1 Issue 1 - April 2016 ISSN: 1858 -7658 (Print)

readings and very large separation of large separation of Neutron-Density

Neutron-Density logs and low resis-
tivity readings. Generally, GR shows
low to medium readings indicat-
ing the presence of clean sandstone
that conformed by Neutron-Density
curve falling close to each other, but
at some intervals high GR readings
are recorded indicating the pres-
ence of shale that conformed with
log and constant resistivity log. GR
shapes show coarsening upward se-
quences as well as fining upward
sequences indicating crevasse splay
and point bars fluvial environment,
respectively; figure (4) shows Bentiu
1 section with a suite of logs com-
prise GR, SP, RD, RS, RMSL, CNC,
ZDEN, DT and lithology logs.

Figure (4) section shows Bentiu 1 interval

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Vol. 1 Issue 1 - April 2016 ISSN: 1858 -7658 (Print)

Bentiu 2 consists of about 146 me- wide separation of Neutron-Density

ters thick sandstone interbedded with
shale, the sandstone range in grain
size from fine to medium occasional-
ly coarse grained and predominantly
medium grained; the shale interca-
lation is predominant in different
parts of the section which indicated
by the high GR value conformed by
logs and low resistivity readings, GR
shows fining upward pattern in the
most parts of the section indicating
deposition in crevasse splay or flood
plain environment. Figure (5) shows
Bentiu 2 section with a suite of logs
comprise GR, SP, RD, RS, RMSL,
CNC, ZDEN,DT and lithology logs.

Figure (5) section shows Bentiu 2 interval

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Bentiu 3 consists of about 60 me-
ters thick sandstone interval, mostly
medium grained occasionally coarse
grained intercalated with minor
shales. GR signature mostly shows
coarsening up pattern that is clear
from the low GR readings and con-
formed by Neutron-Density curves
Figure (6) section shows Bentiu 3 interval
Conclusion
Bentiu formation is a main reservoir
interval in the well A38; it has a thick-
ness of 302 meters, and it consists of
Bentiu 1, Bentiu 2 and Bentiu 3 all
of them deposited in a fluvial envi-
ronment. Bentiu 1 has a thickness of
96 meters, mainly consist of a me-
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falling close to each other and high
resistivity readings this indicates
depositional environment along a
channel as a channel fill or point bar,
figure (6) shows Bentiu 3 section
with a suite of logs comprise GR,
SP, RD, RS, RMSL, CNC, ZDEN,
DT and lithology logs.
dium to fine grained sandstone oc-
casionally coarse grained, predomi-
nantly medium grain. GR shapes
show coarsening upward sequences
as well as fining upward sequences.
GR, Neutron-Density and resistivity
signatures indicate crevasse splay or
point bar fluvial environment.
 Red sea university Journal of Basic and Applied Science ISSN: 1858 -7690 (Online)
Vol. 1 Issue 1 - April 2016 ISSN: 1858 -7658 (Print)

Bentiu 2 comprises about 146 meters mostly medium grained occasion-

of thick sandstone interbedded with
shale. The sandstone range in grain
size from fine to medium occasion-
ally coarse grained and predominate-
ly medium grained, the shale inter-
calation is predominant in different
parts of the section. High GR values
conformed by wide separation of
Neutron-Density logs and low re-
sistivity readings, GR shows fining
upward pattern in the most parts of
the section indicating deposition in
crevasse splay or flood plain envi-
ronment. Bentiu 3 consists of about
60 meters thick sandstone interval,
ally coarse grained intercalated with
minor shales. GR signature mostly
shows coarsening upward pattern
that is clear from the low GR read-
ings and conformed by Neutron-
Density curves falling close to each
other and high resistivity readings
this indicates depositional environ-
ment along a channel as a channel
fill or point bar.
Recommendations
Incorporating this results with seis-
mic data a static model can be con-
structed to help in feature explora-
tion and development in the field.

References
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level Change (Walker, RG; James, NP, 195-218.
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M.Yagoub, A. (2010). Structural and Stratigraphical Significance of Reser-
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basin analysis, and petroleum geology: Springer.
R., Allen P. A. and Allen J. (1990). Basin Analysis: principles and Aplica-
tions. Blackwell Scientific Publication, 451.

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Rider, MH. (1990). Gamma-ray log shape used as a facies indicator: critical
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discovery. AAPG bulletin, 72(10), 1128-1142.

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