Review article
Sidi Rahman Oil Discovery in Egypt A Big Exploration Step in an Area of Lost Interest
Srećko Leustek
; INA d.d. Zagreb, Exploration & Production, Egypt Branch Deputy General Manager & Exploration Manager 55, Road 18 – Maadi, Cairo
Adel Sehim
; Professor of Structural Geology, Cairo University, INA d.d. Zagreb, Exploration & Production, Egypt Branch Consultant 55, Road 18 – Maadi, Cairo
Abstract
Converting an unattractive area, including numerous failed wells, into an oil attractive area is the challenge facing exploration when applying for an acreage previously relinquished by others, and finally achieving new hydrocarbon reserves. Since the first discovery during World War I (WWI), numerous oil fields were discovered in Egypt but none of them was found along the 1 200 km Mediterranean coastal strip, leaving the area unattractive for exploration. To build a new conceptual geomodel, not applied before, was imperative on the road to success. A small commitment for the first exploration phase of East Yidma Concession has triggered the needs to focus on a restricted area. Despite scarcity of data, a petroleum model has been reached. The presence of tough obstacles, including WWII mine fields and tourist sites along the coast, did not change the decision to focus on northwestern part of the concession. Poor seismic data and coverage was the reason to acquire seismic survey with a specific design, whose final results supported and updated the previously achieved petroleum model. High importance was given to evaluation of two completely separated plays with maximum elevation difference. Drazia-1 well was selected to test a deep rift-trough while Sidi Rahman-1, positioned on a tail of an old seismic line, aimed to penetrate a high stand structural ridge. Despite the results of conventional techniques and some non-conventional tools as acoustic spectroscopy that identified Sidi Rahman area as of low probability, it was decided to test the location. Drazia-1 proved oil accumulation down to 3 901 m (12 800 ft) in Barremian reservoir, while Sidi Rahman-1 tested the shallowest known oil at 1 914 m (6 280 ft) in Lower Cenomanian sandstone and 7 pay-zones down to 3 840 m (12 600 ft). The recent discoveries of INA re-triggered the interest and attracted international companies to invest in Egypt’s Mediterranean coastal strip.
Keywords
Egypt; Jurassic rifting; oil exploration; Western Desert
Hrčak ID:
49288
URI
Publication date:
28.12.2008.
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