191 Journal of Petroleum Geology, Vol.

31(2), April 2008, pp 191-212

2008 The Authors. Journal compilation 2008 Scientific Press Ltd
GEOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF POTENTIAL
JURASSIC / CRETACEOUS SOURCE ROCKS IN THE
SHUSHAN BASIN, NORTHERN WESTERN DESERT,
EGYPT
A. S. Alsharhan* and E. A. Abd El-Gawad*+
Some 180 core and cuttings samples of shales and limestones from the Middle Jurassic Late
Cretaceous succession (Khatatba, Masajid, Alam El-Bueib, Alamein, Kharita, Bahariya and Abu
Roash Formations) were collected from wells Ja 27-2, Tarek1 and Jb 26-1 in the central, structurally-
low part of the Shushan Basin and from well Lotus-1 in the structurally-elevated western part of
the basin. All samples were screened for total organic carbon (TOC) content. Selected samples
were then analyzed by Rock-Eval pyrolysis, and extracted for biomarker analyses. Visual kerogen
analysis and vitrinite reflectance measurements were also undertaken and oil - source rock
correlations were attempted. The results indicate that the thermal maturity of the samples can be
correlated closely with burial depth. Samples from the central part of the basin are more mature
than those from the west. Samples from the central part of the basin (except those from the
Albian Kharita Formation) have reached thermal maturities sufficient to generate and expel crude
oils. Extracts from the Middle Jurasic Khatatba and Early Cretaceous Alam El-Bueib Formations
can be correlated with a crude oil sample from well Ja 27-2.
In well Lotus-1 in the west of the basin, four distinct organic facies can be recognized in the
Jurassic-Cretaceous interval. One of the facies (facies 4) has a sufficiently high TOC content to
act as a source rock. Thermal maturities range from immature to peak oil generation, and the top
of the oil window occurs at approximately 8000 ft.
* Geology Department, Faculty of Science, UAE
University, Al-Ain, PO Box 17551, UAE.
+ author for correspondence, email:
esam.abdelgawad@uaeu.ac.ae
Keywords: Jurassic/Cretaceous, source rocks, Shushan
Basin, Western Desert, Egypt.
INTRODUCTION
Perhaps 90% of undiscovered oil reserves and 80%
of undiscovered gas reserves in Egypt are located in
the Western Desert (Zein El-Din et al., 2001). Recent
hydrocarbon discoveries have been made in the Abu
Gharadiq Basin (Fig. 1), and the Shushan Basin to
the NW is also thought to have significant exploration
potential although many areas are virtually untested
by the drill. Exploration here began in 1967 when
Western Egypt Petroleum Company (WEPCO) drilled
well Minqar-1, since when numerous wells have been
completed.
The NE-SW trending Shushan Basin is located
within the so-called Unstable Shelf (c.f. Said, 1962).
The basin is bounded to the north by the Umbarka
Platform and to the south by the Qattara Ridge, and
subsided in the Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous in
response to the opening of Neo-Tethys. Subsidence
and sediment deposition took place throughout most
of the Cretaceous and up to 7000 ft of Upper
Cretaceous strata were deposited. The Shushan Basin
appears to be one of a group of similar extensional
basins but may be related to a pre-existing rift; it may
therefore be a composite pull-apart basin (SSI, 1990).
The source rock potential of the Shushan Basin is
largely unexplored since the deepest wells have
generally reached only 10,000 ft, and the pre- Middle
Jurassic section is therefore poorly known. However,
the Middle Jurassic Khatatba Formation includes both
sandy reservoir intervals and organic-rich shales with
source rock potential. Potential seals include the
massive carbonates of the Upper Jurassic Masajid
Formation (EGPC, 1992).
192 Potential Jurassic/Cretaceous source rocks in the Shushan Basin, NW Egypt
Geological setting and stratigraphy
Sultan and Abdel Halim (1988) proposed that the
Mesozoic-Cenozoic succession in the northern
Western Desert (including the area of study) can be
divided into four unconformity-bound cycles (Fig. 2),
each terminated by a marine transgression. The earliest
cycle consists of Early Jurassic non-marine
siliciclastics (Ras Qattara Formation) which rest
unconformably on the Silurian basement and which
are overlain by the mid-Jurassic Wadi Natrun and
Khatatba Formations. The Khatatba Formation is
composed mainly of shales and sandstones with coal
seams and minor limestones which become more
abundant northwards. These sediments are interpreted
to have been deposited in a deltaic environment.
During the Late Callovian, shallow-marine carbonates
of the Masajid Formation were deposited and
represent the maximum Jurassic transgression. The
Masajid Formation was either eroded from, or was
not deposited on, parts of the north Qattara Ridge and
Umbarka Platform although continuous marine
sedimentation occurred in the Matrah sub-basin and
the Sidi Birrani area.
A major unconformity separates the Masajid
Formation from the overlying Alam El Bueib
Formation at the base of the second cycle, whose basal
interval is composed of Early Cretaceous shallow-
marine sandstones and carbonates (Units 6 and 5).
These are followed by a marine shale (Unit 4) and a
succession of massive fluviatile sandstones (Unit 3:
Neocomian). Individual sandbodies are separated by
marine shales. The sands are overlain by the
alternating sands, shales and shelfal carbonates of
Units 2 and 1, culminating in the Alamein Dolomite
associated with the Aptian transgression. The Dahab
Shale marks the end of this cycle.
An unconformity separates the Dahab Shale from
the Kharita Formation at the base of the third cycle,
which extends from the Middle Albian to the latest
Cretaceous. The continental and shoreline sandstones
of the Kharita Formation are overlain by the shallow-
marine and nearshore deposits of the Bahariya
Formation (Early Cenomanian). A marked deepening
of depositional conditions is indicated by the
deposition of the Abu Roash G (Late Cenomanian).
Widespread transgression occurred during the
Senonian with deposition of the Abu Roash F to
A (predominantly carbonates). The unconformably-
overlying Khoman Chalk Formation was deposited
in the northern Western Desert. The cycle is terminated
by an unconformity above which lies the Eocene
Apollonia Formation above which are the Dabaa and
Moghra Formations (marine clastics) which are
capped by the Marmarica Limestone (Zein El-Din et
al., 2001).
Structurally, the Shushan Basin is dominated by
extensional and strike slip faults, mostly of Jurassic
and Cretaceous age, which overprint the pre-existing
north-south trending Palaeozoic framework. Mesozoic
regional extension, associated with periods of dextral
and sinistral shearing, resulted in the formation of a
series of block-faulted horsts and half-grabens as a
result of which the Jurassic to Turonian section
generally dips and thickens to the north and east (Fig.
3). The section is therefore structurally elevated in
the SW of the basin, whereas the north and east form
a structural low.
The purpose of the present paper is to integrate
subsurface data from the Shushan Basin with the
results of bitumen and kerogen analyses in order to
identify organic-rich intervals which may have source
rock potential.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Geochemical analyses were performed on 180
samples (cores and cuttings) of shales and limestones
from the Khatatba, Masajid, Alam El-Bueib, Alamein,
100 km
Siwa
Oasis
Bahariya
Oasis
Birqet
Qarun
Nile
Delta
Matruh
STUDY
AREA
WESTERN DESERT
A

Y

B

I

L
T

P

Y

G

E
W E S T E R N D E S E R T
Abu Gharadig Basin
Natrun Basin
Gindi Basin
I
n
te
r
a
B -
s
in
Alamein Basin
Shushan Basin
Matruh Basin
Ghazalat Basin
Faghur Plateau
Inter-Basin
A

Y

B

I

L
26
o
28
o
30
o
30
o
28
o
Nile Delta
M E D I T E R R A N E A N S E A
Siwa Basin
T

P

Y

G

E
MEDITERRANEAN SEA
INDEX MAP
Qattara
Depression
Fig. 1. Location map of
basins in the northern
Western Desert, Egypt
(EGPC, 1992) including
the Shushan Basin, the
focus of this paper.
193 A. S. Alsharhan and E. A. Abd El-Gawad
Kharita, Bahariya and Abu Roash Formations
collected from four wells in the Shushan Basin. The
wells were (Fig. 3a) Ja 27-2, Tarek1 and Jb 26-1,
located in the central (structurally low) part of the
basin; and Lotus-1 located in the structurally elevated
part of the basin to the west. These wells were selected
in order to investigate the effects of differential burial
on the maturity of potential source rocks in the
formations studied.
Analyses were performed by geochemical
companies including Gearhart (TOC and Pyrolysis),
Exlog (visual examination) and Stratochem (GC and
GC/MS) using standard techniques. All samples were
screened for total organic carbon (TOC) content.
Samples with a TOC greater than 0.4% were analyzed
by Rock-Eval pyrolysis. Twelve of the samples from
well Lotus-1 were selected for visual kerogen analysis
and vitrinite reflectance measurements. A further
twelve samples were extracted for bitumen analysis
and biomarker studies.
Source rock characterization was as follows. About
50 grams of each rock sample was crushed and passed
through a 20-micron sieve, accurately weighed, and
Soxhlet extracted for 16 hours with dichloromethane.
The solvent was evaporated and the residue weighed
to obtain the total organic extract. Asphaltenes were
precipitated with hexane and the soluble fraction was
separated into saturates, aromatics and resins (NSO
compounds) on a silica-alumina column by successive
elutions with hexane, benzene and benzene-methanol.
The solvents were evaporated and the weight-percent
of each component was determined. The saturate
M i o c e n e
O l i g o c e n e
E o c e n e
P a l e o c e n e
S e n o n i a n
C e n o m a n i a n
A l b i a n
A p t i a n
B a r r e m i a n
N e o c o m i a n
U p p e r
M i d d l e
L o w e r
S i l u r i a n
n


a


i


n


o


r


u


T
h


s


a


o


R






u


b


A
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
M o g h r a
D a b a a
A p o l l o n i a
K h o m a n
B a h a r i y a
K h a r i t a
D a h a b
A l a m e i n
A l a m E l B u e i b
M a s a j i d
K h a t a t b a
Ras
Qattara
K o h l a
B a s e m e n t
Bahrein Natrun
s

u

o

e

c

a

t

e

r

C

e

t

a

L
s

u

o

e

c

a

t

e

r

C




y

l

r

a

E
c

i

s

s

a

r

u

J
Pre-Cambrian
PALEOZOIC
C

I



O

Z

O

S








E

M
C

I

O

Z

O

N

E

C
ERA A G E FORMATION LITHOLOGY OIL/GAS
SHOWS
SOURCE
ROCK
+ + + + + + + + + + + + +
+ + + + + + + + + + + +
Fig. 2. Composite stratigraphic column for the northern Western Desert, Egypt (EGPC, 1992).
194 Potential Jurassic/Cretaceous source rocks in the Shushan Basin, NW Egypt
Fig. 3. Structural setting of the Shushan Basin, Western Desert (structure contours at top-Khatatba
Formation). Fault pattern is inferred from seismic data.
195 A. S. Alsharhan and E. A. Abd El-Gawad
Fig.4. Plot of HI versus T
max
for well Jb26-1, central Shushan Basin. Open circles: Abu Roash G, Bahariya and
Kharita Formations, 5130-5910 ft; black circles: Abu Roash G, Bahariya and Kharita Formations, 5970-6910 ft;
open triangles: Upper Alam El-Bueib Formation, 8920-9430 ft; black triangles: Upper Alam El-Bueib
Formation, 9490-10,510 ft; open diamonds: Lower Alam El-Bueib Formation, 11,260-11,740 ft; black diamonds,
Lower Alam El-Bueib Formation, 11770-11950 ft; + Upper Khatatba Formation, 12,160-13,050 ft).
Fig. 5. Burial history profile for well Tarek-1, central Shushan Basin.
196 Potential Jurassic/Cretaceous source rocks in the Shushan Basin, NW Egypt
fraction was analyzed with a gas chromatograph fitted
with a fused silica capillary column. Analytical data
were processed with a Nelson Analytical model 3000
chromatograph data system. Standard calculations
were made including pristane / phytane ratio, carbon
preference index and other key parameters.
Computerized gas chromatography/mass
spectrometry (GC/MS) or biomarker analysis is
utilized to evaluate biologically derived compounds
in oils or rock extracts (Peters and Moldowan, 1993).
The saturate and aromatic fractions separated by liquid
chromatography from whole oils or source rock
extracts were injected into an HP5890 gas
chromatograph coupled to an HP5971A MSD. The
Selected Ion Monitoring (SIM) capabilities of the data
acquisition system permitted specific ions to be
monitored, such as tricyclic terpanes and hopanes (m/
z = 191) and steranes (m/z = 217) (Abd El-Gawad et
al., 1996).
GEOCHEMICAL RESULTS
In the following section, results of geochemical
analyses for samples from wells in the central,
structurally low part of the basin are presented
separately from results from well Lotus-1 in the
structurally elevated western part of the basin. Data
are presented in Tables 1-6 (pp 210-212).
Central Shushan Basin
The TOC of the Albian Kharita Formation ranges from
0.17-2.13% and 1.98-5.5% for the Early Cretaceous
Alam El Buieb Formation. TOC for the Middle
Jurassic Khatatba Formation ranges from 0.11-3.5 %.
Vitrinite reflectance in the basal unit of the Abu
Roash Formation (Abu Roash G Member) was 0.4%.
Ro for the Kharita Formation is 0.7-0.6%, indicating
that it is early mature for oil generation; in the
underlying Alam El Bueib Formation, Ro ranges from
0.7 to 1.3%, indicating that the formation is in the oil
window. The Middle Jurassic Khatatba Formation has
a maximum Ro of 1.45% indicating that it is in the
gas generation window.
Rock-Eval S2 values for the Kharita Formation
were 0.28 -5.2 mg HC/g rock; for the Alam El Bueib
Formation, S2 was 0.5-2.5 mg HC/g rock; and it was
3.26 to 43.26 mg HC/g rock for the Khatatba
Formation.
The Cenomanian Bahariya Formation has a Rock-
Eval T
max
of 425C, the Kharita Formation has a T
max
of 450 C, while T
max
for the Alam El Bueib Formation
ranges from 440 to 478 C. These data indicate that
the Cretaceous section in general ranges from mature
to post-mature in terms of oil generation (c.f. Hunt,
1996). T
max
in the Middle Jurassic Khatatba Formation
ranges from 440 to 490 C.
Fig. 4a and b are plots of T
max
versus Hydrogen
Index (HI) for various formations at well Jb26-1 in
the central part of the basin. The plots show that Type
I/II kerogen is present in the upper part of the Khatatba
Formation and that Type II/III kerogen occurs in the
Kharita and Alam EI-Bueib Formations and possibly
in the topmost part of the Khatatba Formation. Type
III kerogen is present in the remaining samples
including the coaly shales and thin coals in the
Khatatba Formation. Type IV kerogen was recorded
in parts of the Alam EI-Bueib Formation.
HI values range between 36 and 766 mg HC/g
TOC, and most of the analyzed samples lie within
the oil zone (Khatatba and Alam EI-Bueib
Formations). Some samples plot within the gas zone
(Khatatba and Alam EI-Bueib Formations), and others
plot at the margin between the mature oil zone and
the immature zone (Kharita Formation). The
remainder of the samples (Bahariya and Abu Roash
Formations) are immature.
The S2/S3 ratio further indicates that a variety of
kerogen types are present. Thus the Abu Roash
Formation has an S2/S3 of <2.3 indicating the
presence of gas-prone kerogen, whereas S2/S3 in the
Bahariya, Alam El-Bueib and Khatatba Formations
is <2.3 to >5.0 indicating that both oil- and gas-prone
kerogen is present (c.f. Espitalie et al., 1985).
Burial history
Burial history curves (Fig. 5) indicate that the
Khatatba Formation appears to have reached the gas
generation window (Ro values >1.3) during the
Oligocene. The Lower Alam El-Bueib Formation
entered the late mature stage in the Early Miocene.
The Upper Alam El-Bueib Formation is currently at
the mid-mature stage (defined by 0.7-1.0% Ro). The
Khatatba Formation may have reached the mid-mature
stage (0.7-1.0% Ro) as early as the Cenomanian.
B. Well Lotus-1, Western Shushan Basin
At this location, four lithofacies are present and can
be distinguished in terms of the quantity, quality and
maturity of the component organic matter. Facies 1
comprises the sandstones and shales in the Bahariya,
Kharita, and Alam El Bueib Formations, whose TOCs
are generally 0.4%-1.0 %. Rock-Eval pyrolysis results
(S2: generally less than 2 mg HC/g rock; Hydrogen
Indices: 100-150 mg HC/g TOC) indicate that the
lithofacies has little capacity to generate gas. Facies
2 (dolomites in the Alamein Formation) and facies 3
(limestones in the Masajid Formation likewise have
low TOC contents (< 0.5%), indicating low source-
rock potential.
Facies 4 comprises organic-rich intervals in the
Middle Jurassic Khatatba Formation, in which TOC
values are up to 6.4% (generally 1-2%). Rock-Eval
197 A. S. Alsharhan and E. A. Abd El-Gawad
S2 ranges from 10.1 to 12.6 mg/g. Hydrogen Indices
are relatively low (generally 100-200) but indicate that
there is some remaining potential to generate gas. The
rocks are approximately at the stage of peak oil
generation (Fig. 6) and therefore some of their original
generating capacity has been exhausted. As pyrolysis
yields prior to maturation are likely to have been higher
(with Hydrogen Indices of the richest samples possibly
as high as 300), the organic matter was probably capable
of generating oil as well as gas (c.f. Berglund et al.,
1994). Visual examination (Plate 1) shows that kerogen
is composed predominantly of amorphous material (80-
90%), with minor vitrinite (10-15%) and exinite (up to
5%). Much of the amorphous material is probably
degraded vitrinite together with alginite and liptinite.
The occasional high S1 values recorded are interpreted
to reflect hydrocarbons generated in situ and not
migrated oil. Analyses of bitumen extracts indicate
the compositional differences between these
indigenous hydrocarbons and the migrated oil
present in facies 1 and 3.
Maturity Assessment
Assessment of the maturity of the studied interval
comprising the Khatatba, Masajid, Alam El-Bueib,
Alamein, Kharita, Bahariya and Abu Roash
Formations at the Lotus-1 location was made using
kerogen-related parameters such as vitrinite
reflectance, TAI and pyrolysis T
max
, together with
indicators related to C
15+
bitumen extracts. Based
on the high quality of the vitrinite histograms (>50
particles for each reading), comparison with the T
max
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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e
n
o
r
P
s
a
G
x
i
M
r
u
t
a
m
m
I
e
l
i
O
e
n
o
r
P
l
i
O
e
n
o
r
P
l
i
O
s
a
G
Very High
HYDROGEN
INDEX
S2/S3 S2 (mg/g) T.O.C. (Wt%)
SOURCE BED POTENTIAL
LITHOLOGY FORMATION
)
.
t
f
(
H
T
P
E
D
MATURITY
HYDROCARBON
INDICATION
S1
S1+S2
S1
(mg/g)
Good-
Very Good
410 440 470 500
1 2 3 4 5 10 20 30 2.5 5.0 7.5 100 300 500 1 2 3 4 0.3 0.6 1.0 1.4 3.0
1 2 0.2 0.6 1.0
BAHARIYA
KHARITA
ALAMEIN
ALAM
EL BUEIB
MASAJID
KHATATBA
13000
12500
12000
11500
11000
10500
10000
9500
9000
8500
8000
7500
7000
6500
6000
Sandstone
Coal
Shale and Siltstone
Limestone
Dolomite
Chert
Halite
S1: Free hydrocarbons present in rock
S2: Hydrocarbons from kerogen pyrolysis
S3: CO from kerogen pyrolysis
Hydrogen index=S2/TOC
2
. . . . . . . .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
. . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
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.
. . . . . . .
E
G
A
S
U
O
E
C
A
T
E
R
C
C
I
S
S
A
R
U
J
Fig. 6. Geochemical log of well Lotus-1, western Shushan Basin.
198 Potential Jurassic/Cretaceous source rocks in the Shushan Basin, NW Egypt
data and the high level of maturity indicated by the
bitumen extracts in the deepest section of the well,
the Ro data are considered to be more reliable than
the TAI data (Khalid, 1991; 1999).
In the deeper parts of the section, amorphous
kerogen is fluorescent, consistent with most of the
penetrated section being at maturity levels below 1.0%
Ro. At deeper levels, samples show only trace
fluorescence as a result of increased maturation. In
Fig. 7, Ro values between 6160 ft and 12,550 ft range
from 0.53% to 0.88%, and the oil window (defined
by an Ro value of 0.6%) is entered at approximately
8000 ft. Measured Ro values do not increase
significantly below 10,350 ft, and the level of maturity
may be slightly higher between 10,350 and 13,000 ft
than as indicated by Ro values.
Pyrolysis T
max
values are reasonably consistent
with Ro data. T
max
values of 450-455
o
C in the deepest
part of the section are equivalent to Ro values of about
0.8-0.9%. Between 6160 and 10,650 ft, TAI values of
2.0 to 2.4 are in general in agreement with Ro and
T
max
values. At 12,550 ft, the agreement between these
parameters is good but at depths of 11,090 and 11,788
ft, the TAI value of 2.2 implies lower maturities than
the Ro values (Halim et al., 1996).
Vitrinite-reflectance histograms (Fig. 7) confirm
the reliability of these data. Ro values in the section
below 10,350 ft show little increase with depth. The
Ro value of 0.51% at 12,950 ft is too low accurately
to reflect the maturity of the rocks at this depth. This
0.0 0.0 0.5 0.5 1.0 1.0 1.5 1.5
Reflectance (%Ro)
100
80
60
40
20
0
100
80
60
40
20
0
100
80
60
40
20
0
100
80
60
40
20
0
100
80
60
40
20
0
100
80
60
40
20
0
y
c
n
e
u
q
e
r
F
e
v
i
t
a
l
e
R
Bahariya Formation
Sample No. 1
Depth : 6160 ft
Pop. N Mean Ro
(1) 37 0.53
(2) 23 0.73
Alam El-Bueib
Formation
Sample No. 9
Depth : 10350 ft
Pop. N Mean Ro
(1) 6 0.51
(2) 54 0.79*
Kharita Formation
Sample No. 3
Depth : 6810 ft
Pop. N Mean Ro
(1) 60 0.55*
Alam El-Bueib
Formation
Sample No. 10
Depth : 10650 ft
Pop. N Mean Ro
(1) 60 0.82*
Kharita Formation
Sample No. 4
Depth : 7260 ft
Pop. N Mean Ro
(1) 55 0.59*
(2) 5 0.79
Alam El-Bueib
Formation
Sample No. 11
Depth : 11090 ft
Pop. N Mean Ro
(1) 10 0.50
(2) 50 0.82*
11% 10%
17% 11%
15% 10%
Masajid Formation
Sample No. 13
Depth : 11788 ft
Pop. N Mean Ro
(1) 11 0.75* (?)
Khatatba
Formation
Sample No. 15
Depth : 12550 ft
Pop. N Mean Ro
(1) 58 0.88*
(2) 2 1.17
Khatatba Formation
Sample No. 17
Depth : 12950 ft
Pop. N Mean Ro
(1) 60 0.51
N/A
10%
14%
Alam El-Bueib
Formation
Sample No. 6
Depth : 8450 ft
Pop. N Mean Ro
(1) 58 0.64*
(2) 2 0.86
Alam El-Bueib
Formation
Sample No. 7
Depth : 8950 ft
Pop. N Mean Ro
(1) 60 0.63*
Alam El-Bueib
Formation
Sample No. 8
Depth : 6160 ft
Pop. N Mean Ro
(1) 37 0.53
(2) 23 0.73
13%
10%
15%
Denotes vitrinite population interpreted as indigenous
Denotes vitrinite population interpreted as migrated
Fig. 7.Vitrinite reflectance histograms for the studied source rocks, well Lotus-1, western Shushan Basin.
199 A. S. Alsharhan and E. A. Abd El-Gawad
Plate 1. Photomicrographs (A-F) showing organic matter in the Khatatba Formation from well Lotus-1,
western Shushan Basin. The kerogen present is composed of cuticles, and plant tissues range in colour
from dark brown to orange, and in size from very fine to coarse; palynomorphs are represented by pollen
grains.
may due to post-deformation changes in maturity
(Pittion and Gouadain, 1985) or to Ro suppression
(e.g. Price and Barker, 1985).
Maturities in the well sections in Fig. 7 range from
immature at approximately 6000 ft to levels
approaching peak oil generation below 11,000-12,000
ft. The oil window is entered at approximately 8000
ft. Bitumen extract data from below 12,000 ft further
indicate that maturity levels necessary for substantial
generation of hydrocarbons have been reached.
Two Lopatin-type burial-history reconstructions
were made for well Lotus-1 (Figs. 8a and 8b).
Applying the present-day geothermal gradient for the
Meleiha area (0.93
o
C/100 ft: Parker, 1982) to the
period from the Middle Jurassic to the present day,
the calculated maturities are much higher than those
indicated by the measured data (Fig. 9a). Since the
rocks are not at the high levels of maturity predicted
by the modelling, the simple model must be modified,
for example to take account of the fact that the present-
day geothermal gradient in the Meleiha area is higher
than the regional gradient in the Western Desert
(Mosca and Aboul Gadayel, 1992; Abdel Aziz, 1994).
In order to find a better fit between measured and
calculated maturities, a lower geothermal gradient in
the past was assumed and a second burial-history
reconstruction was made (Fig. 9b). The present-day
geothermal gradient of 0.93
o
C/ 100 ft was used for
200 Potential Jurassic/Cretaceous source rocks in the Shushan Basin, NW Egypt
only the past 3 million years; before this, a gradient
of 0.64
o
C/100 ft was used. This model results in a
better agreement between measured and calculated
maturities (Fig. 8b). Using this revised model, the
maturation plot shows that oil generation in the
potential source rocks of the Khatatba Formation
probably began at about 40-55 Ma and has continued
to the present day.
Extract characterization
i. Kharita extracts
Extracts from the Kharita Formation have greater
quantities of C
25+
n-alkane waxy component than
extracts from the Khatatba and Alam El-Bueib
Formations. Pristane /nC
17
is higher than phytane/nC
18
(Fig. 9), which suggests a predominantly terrestrial
organic matter input and low thermal maturities
(samples 6, 9, and 10 are shifted towards the top-right
of the plot). There are strong odd carbon number
preferences between nC
25
and nC
35
, and the Carbon
Preference Index (CPI) values are high (1.472.05)
which also indicate a high input of terrestrial organic
matter and low thermal maturities (Bray and Evans,
1961).
In the terpane distribution (m/z 191) of the Kharita
extracts, the low tricyclic indices (= tricyclics / 17-
hopanes), the high to very high C
19
/C
23
tricyclic
terpane ratios, the very high Tm/Ts ratios and C
30
30 C
o
40 C
o
50 C
o
60 C
o
70 C
o
80 C
o
90 C
o
100 C
o
110 C
o
120 C
o
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
8000
9000
10000
11000
12000
13000
14000
15000
Immature Oil Gas
150 100 50
TTI Gradient
Data Gradient
R %
T
TAI
Oil Window
o
max
Geothermal Gradients
0 MYBP: surface temperature = 25 C, dT/dZ = 0.93 C/100 ft
3
o o
MYBP: surface temperature = 25 C dT/dZ = 0.93 C 100 ft
3 MYBP: surface temperature = 25 C dT/dZ = 0.64 C 100 ft
170 MYBP: surface temperature = 25 C dT/dZ = 0.64 C/100 ft
o , o /
o , o /
o , o
30 C
o
40 C
o
50 C
o
60 C
o
70 C
o
80 C
o
90 C
o
100 C
o
110 C
o
120 C
o
130 C
o
140 C
o
150 C
o
160 C
o
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
8000
9000
10000
11000
12000
13000
14000
15000
1.4
1.4
1.8
1.8
0.4
0.4
420
420
1
1
2.2
2.2
0.6
0.6
440
440
10
10
0.8
0.8
2.8
2.8
1.0
1.0
460
460
100
100
3.2
3.2
1.4
1.4
480
480
3.6
3.6
2.0
2.0
500
500
1000
1000
Immature Oil Gas
THERMAL MATURITY
THERMAL MATURITY
GEOLOGIC TIME
GEOLOGIC TIME
CENOZOIC
CENOZOIC
TERTIARY
TERTIARY
A G E
A G E
JURASSIC
JURASSIC
MESOZOIC
MESOZOIC
CRETACEOUS
CRETACEOUS
150 100 50
TTI Gradient
Data Gradient
R %
T
TAI
Oil Window
o
max
R % o
R % o
Tmax
Tmax
TTI
TTI
TAI
TAI
)
t
f
(
H
T
P
E
D
)
t
f
(
H
T
P
E
D
Geothermal Gradients
0 MYBP: surface temperature = 25 C, dT/dZ = 0.93 C/100 ft
170
o o
MYBP: surface temperature = 25 C dT/dZ = 0.93 C 100 ft
o , o /
Fig. 8. Burial history curves and maturation plot for well Lotus-1, (A) using the present-day geothermal
gradient; (B) assuming a lower geothermal gradient in the past (see text for details).
201 A. S. Alsharhan and E. A. Abd El-Gawad
moretane /C
30
hopane ratios, and the very low C
23
tricyclic/C
30
hopane ratios all indicate predominantly
bacterial and terrestrial organic matter with minor
algal material (Peters and Moldowan, 1991). The very
high Tm/Ts and C
30
moretane /C
30
hopane ratios are
also consistent with low thermal maturities. The low
C
35
homohopane indices suggest mildly anoxic or
slightly oxic conditions. The sterane distribution (m/
z 217) of the studied samples shows much higher
concentrations of C
29
(20R) steranes than C27
aaa (20R) steranes, indicating a high terrestrial organic
matter contribution relative to algal material (Peters
and Moldowan, 1993). On a plot of 20S/ (20S+20R)
versus the ratio /(+) for C29 steranes, the
Kharita samples plot in the immature to low maturity
fields (Fig. 10).
Alam El-Bueib Formation extracts
Extracts from the Alam El Bueib Members 3 and 5 in
general have similar n-alkane distributions to Khatatba
Formation extract (see below), except for samples
from the 4437-4440 m depth interval in well Jb26-1.
The two Alam El-Bueib extracts have lower maturities
than the Khatatba extracts as indicated by biomarker-
derived maturity indices (Fig.10). The two Alam El
Bueib extracts show minor differences; the Member
5 extract from well Ja 27-2 appears to be more mature,
and perhaps has a more terrestrial character, than the
Member 3 extract from well Jb 26-1. Hopane and
sterane isomerisation ratios (Tables 1-6) for the
Member 5 sample from well Ja 27-2 (Figs. 11 and
12) indicate maturity close to peak oil generation
(0.80%Ro) (Mackenzie and Maxwell, 1981).
Khatatba Formation extracts
Except for samples from the interval 44374440 m in
well Jb 26-1 (sample 5), Khatatba extracts show
general similarities in terms of C
16+
n-alkane (nC
16
-
nC
35
) contents and isoprenoid distributions. C
25+
n-
alkanes are present in significant proportions relative
to C
<25
n-alkanes. Pristane/phytane ratios are moderate
to high (1.4-2.2) indicating oxidizing conditions. A
plot of pristane/nC
l7
versus phytane/nC
l8
suggests a
mixed organic facies and highly mature extracts (Fig.
9) (Shanmugam, 1985).
The sample from the 44374440 m depth interval
in well Jb 26-1 has a low extract quality and a low
pristane/phytane ratio (0.7). This suggests a relatively
higher algal and lower terrestrial organic matter
contribution and more anoxic conditions compared
to the other samples. This is also indicated in the
terpane distribution by the very high tricyclic index
(892), low C
19
tricyclic/C
23
tricylic terpane ratio (0.53),
and high C
23
tricyclic/C
24
tetracyclic terpane ratio
(6.5).
In terms of sterane distribution, the sample from
the interval 44374440 m in well Jb 26-1 well also
has the highest C
27
(20R)/C
29
(20R) sterane ratio (0.94)
of the samples analyzed. Hopanes /steranes ratio is
3.73, which indicates a greater bacterial contribution
compared to terrestrial plus algal matter (Peters and
Moldowan, 1993).
4.0
2.0
1.0
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.1
0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 0.1 2.0
M
a
t
u
r
a
t
io
n
B
io
d
e
g
r
a
d
a
t
io
n
T
e
r
r
e
s
t
r
a
i
l
O
r
g
a
n
i
c
M
a
t
t
e
r
P
e
a
t
-
C
o
a
l
E
n
v
i
r
o
n
m
e
n
t
s
M
i
x
e
d
O
r
g
a
n
i
c
S
o
u
r
c
e
s
M
a
r
i
n
e
O
r
g
a
n
i
c
M
a
t
t
e
r
(
A
l
a
g
a
l
-
R
e
d
u
c
i
n
g
)
Ph / n-C
18
C
-
n


/


r
P
7
1
O
x
i
d
a
t
i
o
n
R
e
d
u
c
i
n
g
10
6
1
9
5
11
4
3
2,18
7,8
13
12
15
14,16,17
1 Alam El-Bueib #3 Mbr.
11 Alam El-Bueib #5 Mbr.
6,9,10 Kharita Formation
2-5, 7,8 Khatatba Formation
12-18 Oil Samples
Fig. 9. Plot of pristane /nC
17
versus phytane/nC
18
for the
studied samples:
1: Alam El-Bueib #3
Member;
I1: Alam El-Bueib #5
Member;
6, 9 &10: Kharita
Formation;
2-5, 7,8: Khatatba
Formation;
12-18: oil samples.
202 Potential Jurassic/Cretaceous source rocks in the Shushan Basin, NW Egypt
Samples from 42374240 m, 42974300 m and
43574360 m in well Jb 26-1 can be grouped into a
distinct source facies containing mixed organic matter.
Within the terpane distribution (Fig. 12), the tricyclic
indices (82-383) and the C
19
tricyclic /C
23
tricyclic
terpane ratios (0.40-2.45) are moderate to high. The
Tm/Ts ratios (1.20-3.88) and the C
30
moretane/C
30
hopane ratios are moderate, which distinguishes these
samples from the Kharita samples. In the sterane
distribution (Fig. 12), these extracts show C
27

(20R)/ C29 (20R) sterane ratios between 0.55
and 0.84 which suggests a higher contribution of
terrestrial organic matter than algal organic matter.
Hopane / sterane (TT/ST) ratios are 2.63-6.99, which
indicate that input of bacterial OM was greater than
that of terrestrial plus algal OM.
The Khatatba samples from 4257-4260 m and
4304.2 m in well Ja 27-2 have low to moderate
biomarker concentrations and indicate a source facies
with mixed organic matter (Fig. 12). Compared to the
other Khatatba extracts, the source facies of samples
from well Ja 27-2 indicate less bacterial, more
terrestrial and less algal organic matter. In the terpane
distribution, the tricyclic indices are very high (1076-
1176) due to very high C
19
and C
20
tricyclic terpanes.
The C
19
tricyclic/C
23
tricyclic terpane ratios are 2.88-
16.53. The Tm/Ts ratios are 0.89-1.46, while the C
30
moretane/C30 hopane ratios are 0.21-0.27. These
ratios are comparable to those in the other Khatatba
extracts and are lower than those in Kharita samples.
The C
35
homohopane indices are zero.
In the sterane distribution (Fig. 12), Khatatba
extracts from Ja 27-2 have C
27
(20R)/C29
(20R) sterane ratios of 0.30-0.33, which are higher
than those in the Kharita samples but lower than those
in the other Khatatba extracts. Hopane / sterane (TT/
ST) ratios of the two Khatatba extracts from well Ja
27-2 are the lowest (1.71-1.79) of all the samples,
indicating the smallest contribution of bacterial
organic matter relative to terrestrial plus algal material.
On a plot of 20S / (20S+20R) C
29
steranes versus /
( + ) C
29
steranes, all the Khatatba extracts plot
in the mature field (Fig. 10)
ii. Well Lotus-1, Western Shushan Basin
C
15+
bitumen extracts from the Masajid-Bahariya
section to a depth of 11,350 ft (Fig. 6) are of little
value as maturity indicators, as they are not
indigenous. By contrast, the two extracts from the
Khatatba Formation from 12,000 and 12,650 ft provide
valuable information for assessing maturities at this
depth. The gas chromatograms of these extracts
(Fig.13) are typical of mature extracts and indicate
there has been substantial hydrocarbon generation.
0
0
C
29
/ ( + ) (%)
C
9
2
)
%
(

)
R
0
2

+

S
0
2
(


/


S
0
2
10
10
Immature
Low-Mature
Mature
10
20
30
40
50
60
20 30 40 50 60 70
9
6
2
8
11
7
3
4
5
1
1 Alam El-Bueib #3 Mbr.
11 Alam El-Bueib #5 Mbr.
6,9,10 Kharita Formation
2-5, 7,8 Khatatba Formation
12-18 Oil Samples
Fig.10. Correlation of thermal maturity parameters
based on isomerisation of asymmetric centres in
the C
29
steranes:
1: Alam El-Bueib #3 Member;
1I: Alam El-Bueib #5 Member;
6, 9 and 10: Kharita Formation;
2-5, 7,8: Khatatba Formation;
12-18: oil samples.
203 A. S. Alsharhan and E. A. Abd El-Gawad
The chromatograms show a smooth distribution of n-
alkanes with a predominance of low molecular-weight
compounds, the waxy alkanes (C
25
-C
31
) have almost
completely lost their odd-carbon preference (hence
have low CPI values), and isoprenoid/n-alkane ratios
are very low.
The six bitumen extracts analysed may be divided
into two groups. The four extracts of Group A come
from Organic Facies 3 and 1, and probably represent
petroleum that has migrated into the rocks. The second
group of extracts (Group B) from the Khatatba
Formation have a different character and are thought
to be indigenous.
Group A extracts contain high absolute quantities
of extractable bitumen (4567-13,457 ppm) and their
high extract/TOC ratios (42-70%) indicate that
hydrocarbons are not indigenous and probably
comprise migrated oil. Liquid-chromatography data
indicate that the extractable material is composed
largely of hydrocarbons (68-75%) whose high saturate
contents (46-55%) are typical of mature migrated oils.
Gas chromatograms of the four extracts are almost
identical and are characterized by a smooth n-alkane
distribution with a predominance of low-molecular-
weight compounds, and low quantities of terrestrially-
derived waxy n-alkanes. This distribution, together
with Pr/Ph ratios close to 1.0, suggest that the
migrated material is a marine-sourced oil with little
terrestrial contribution.
The two Group B extracts have high absolute
quantities of extractable bitumen (3803-5160 ppm).
The moderate extract/TOC ratios (10-18%), however,
suggest that the extracts are indigenous and that some
generation of hydrocarbons has taken place. The
30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
12000
14000
16000
18000
20000
22000
24000
26000
C
5
3
C
4
3
C
3
3
C
2
3
C
1
3
e

s

n

o

p

s

e

R
C
0
3
C
9
2
C
0
3
C
9
2
s
T
m
T
C
9
2
C
8
2
C
6
2
C
5
2
C
4
2
C
3
2
C
2
2
C
1
2
C
0
2
C
9
1
Hopanes
Isomers
Isomers
17 (H)-diahopane
Olenane
M/Z = 191
28000
C
7
2
0
130
C
4
2
c
i
l
c
y
c
a
r
t
e
T

Tricyclic Terpanes
e

s

n

o

p

s

e

R
62
1000
64 66 68 70 72 74 76 78 80 82 84
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
86
C
27
Steranes (20S)
Steranes (20R)
M/Z = 217
C
8
2
s
e
n
a
r
e
t
s
a
i
d
C
27
diasteranes
C
9
2
s
e
n
a
r
e
t
s
a
i
d
H
C
9
2
s
e
n
a
r
e
t
s
a
i
d
C
8
2
s
e
n
a
r
e
t
s
a
i
d
C
28
C
29
Fig. 11. Triterpanes and sterane fingerprints of the saturate fraction from an extract sample from the Alam El-
Bueib Member 5 (sample 11, well Ja 27-2, depth 3588.9 m).
204 Potential Jurassic/Cretaceous source rocks in the Shushan Basin, NW Egypt
extractable material in both samples is composed of
hydrocarbons comprising 16-17% saturates, 29%
aromatics and 36% asphaltene.
The gas chromatograms display a smooth n-alkane
profile with a predominance of low molecular weight
compounds. They differ from the Group A extracts in
that they also show a moderate amount of terrestrially-
derived longer-chain n-alkanes (C
25
-C
31
), have higher
Pr/Ph ratios (1.69-1.78), and much lower isoprenoid/
n-alkane ratios. The Pr/Ph ratios and presence of some
waxy n-alkanes suggest a normal oxidizing
environment with significant terrestrial contribution.
The low isoprenoid/n-alkane ratios, low CPI values
and predominance of low molecular weight
compounds are a result of maturation.
The GC/MS data further differentiate the extracts
from Groups A and B, and provide additional support
for the Group A extracts represent the same migrated
material.
The m/z 217 sterane mass chromatograms (Fig.
14) of the Group A extracts are closely similar,
particularly in terms of the C
27
diasteranes and the
C
27
and C
29
regular steranes. The two Group B extracts
show lower quantities of steranes, but differ slightly
in their relative abundances of various compounds.
For example, the sample from 12,650 ft is dominated
by C
29
diasteranes and regular steranes, consistent with
the greater influence of terrestrial material in this
sample.
The triterpane distributions of the two groups are
relatively similar; however, the m/z 191 mass
chromatograms display a number of differences which
can be used to distinguish between the two groups.
The Group A extracts show substantial amounts of
the C
23
and C
24
tricyclics, whereas in the Group B
extracts, the C
26
tricyclic is more evident. Also present
in Group B extracts is a peak eluting at approximately
39.3 mins (C
30
17 (H) diahopane) which is absent
R e t e n t i o n T i m e
e

s

n

o

p

s

e

R
M/Z = 217
62
1000
64 66 68 70 72 74 76 78 80 82 84 86
1400
1800
2200
2600
3000
3400
3800
30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
12000
14000
16000
18000
20000
22000
24000
26000
e

s

n

o

p

s

e

R
M/Z = 191
28000
0
130
M/Z = 217
62
600
64 66 68 70 72 74 76 78 80 82 84
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
3000
86
2000
2200
2400
2600
2800
400
30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120
R e t e n t i o n T i m e
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
12000
14000
e

s

n

o

p

s

e

R
M/Z = 191
16000
130
Fig. 12
Formation: Alam El-Bueib#3
Well: Jb 26-1 Sample: 1
Depth: 3237-3240 m
62
R e t e n t i o n T i m e
500
e

s

n

o

p

s

e

R
64 66 68 70 72 74 76 78 80 82 84
600
700
800
900
1000
1100
1200
86
M/Z = 217
Formation: Khatatba
Well: Ja 27-2 Sample: 7
Depth: 4257-4260m
Formation: Khatatba
Well: Jb 26-1 Sample: 4
Depth: 4357-4360 m
Formation: Alam El-Bueib#3
Well: Jb 26-1 Sample: 1
Depth: 3237-3240 m
Formation: Khatatba
Well: Jb 26-1 Sample: 4
Depth: 4357-4360 m
Fig. 12. Triterpane and sterane fingerprints of extracts from wells Jb 26-1 and Ja 27-2, central Shushan Basin.
205 A. S. Alsharhan and E. A. Abd El-Gawad
Fig. 13. Gas chromatographs of C
15+
saturated hydrocarbons in extracts from well Lotus-1, western Shushan
Basin.
206 Potential Jurassic/Cretaceous source rocks in the Shushan Basin, NW Egypt
Fig. 14. Sterane fingerprints of extracts from well Lotus-1.
207 A. S. Alsharhan and E. A. Abd El-Gawad
Fig. 15. Triterpane fingerprints of extracts from well Lotus-1.
208 Potential Jurassic/Cretaceous source rocks in the Shushan Basin, NW Egypt
from Group A extracts. This peak is evident on the m/
z 191 mass chromatogram (Fig. 15) of the sample from
12,650 ft, and confirms the high terrestrial input to
that sample (c.f. Peters and Moldowan, 1993).
Although the two groups of extracts are very
similar compositionally, the Group A extracts show
minor differences in peak abundances related to
maturity. The m/z 191 mass chromatogram of the
sample from 6650 ft shows significant amounts of the
C
29
and C
30
moretanes, compounds usually absent in
mature samples. Another sign of relative immaturity
in this sample is the dominance of the 14 form of
the C
29
regular sterane 20R over the 14 form (see m/
z 217 mass chromatogram). By comparison, a
predominance of the 14 form of the C
29
regular
steranes and lesser amounts of moretanes indicate that
the other samples in Group A are more mature. Thus,
this sample may be influenced by immature indigenous
material.
The same biomarker maturity parameters can be
used to illustrate the advanced state of maturity of
Group B extracts. Moretanes are present in only very
minor amounts and the 14 forms of the C
29
regular
steranes are dominant over the 14 forms.
CONCLUSIONS
This paper reports on the organic geochemical
characteristics and source rock potential of Jurassic-
Cretaceous units in the Shushan Basin, Northern
Western Desert, Egypt. Main conclusions are as
follows:
1. In general, the thermal maturity of the potential
source rocks analysed can be correlated with burial
depth. Source rocks in the central structurally-low part
of the Shushan Basin were more mature than those in
the western (structurally elevated) part.
2. With the exception of the Albian Kharita
Formation, the source rocks from the central part of
the Shushan Basin have the potential to generate liquid
hydrocarbons where they have reached sufficient
thermal maturities. However, only the Middle Jurassic
Khatatba Formation had a high enough TOC content
to serve as a potential rock in the western part of the
basin.
3. Gas chromatography and GC/MS data indicates
that the Khatatba Formation is not the source for the
migrated material in the upper part of the studied
section, and therefore a second, more marine-
influenced source rock is assumed to be present.
4. With the exception of the extracts from the
Middle Jurassic Khatatba Formation from the depth
interval 44374440 m in well Jb 26-1 in the west of
the Shushan Basin, all the source rock extracts
analysed in general have a terrestrial signature to
varying degrees. Extracts from the Kharita Foramation
appear to be the most terrestrially dominated. Extracts
from the Alam El Bueib Formation can be grouped
with extracts from the Khatatba Formation from well
Jb 26-1 and are probably the least terrestrially
dominated source rocks in the central part of the basin.
5. Extracts from the Khatatba Formation from well
Ja 27-2 appear to be the most mature and contain more
terrestrial organic matter than the other Khatatba
extracts. However, the Khatatba extract from the
interval 44374440 m in well Jb 26-1 appears to
represent a unique source facies with the lowest
contribution of terrestrial organic matter.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors thank the Egyptian General Petroleum
Corporation for providing the raw data upon which
the present work is based. Reviews by S. Luning and
an anonymous referee on a previous version of the
manuscript are acknowledged with thanks.
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210 Potential Jurassic/Cretaceous source rocks in the Shushan Basin, NW Egypt
Sample
No.
Well Name Interval (m RKB) Formation API Pr/Ph Pr/nCl8 Ph / nC18
1 Ja 28 - I DST #1 4420.6-4426.6 Khatatba 38 3.1 0.26 0.09
2 Ja 28 - I DST #l 4420.6-4426.6 Khatatba 39.5 3 0.31 0.1
3 Ja 28 - 1 DST #2 4396.7-4415.7 Khatatba 50 4.4 0.28 0.06
4 li 28 - 1 DST #2 4290.5-4297.0 Khatatba 43 4.2 0.21 0.05
5 Jb 26 - 1 DST #1 4448.9-4456.9 Khatatba 50.2 3.4 0.28 0.08
6 Jb 26 - I DST #3 4171.1-4185.1 Khatatba 46 3.5 0.28 0.08
7 Ja27-2 DST #1 Khatatba 50 1.4 0.16 0.07
BIOMARKER
(m/z 217}
Regular steranes TOTAL % TOTAL %
C
27 27.83 26.66
C
28 14.29 10.65
C
29 18.44 22.1
Total 60.56 59.41
Diasteranes
C
27 18.78 13.1
C
28 11.53 8.7
C
29 9.14 18.79
Total 39.44 40.59
Normalized %
C
27 40.67 50.37
C
28 35.75 0
C
29 23.58 49.63
Normalized %
C
27 40.72 30.72
C
28 25.02 14.43
C
29 34.25 54.85
Ratio
Diasterane Index 92.5 101.58
Diasterane / regular steranes n/a 0.68
C
27
C
29 1.73 1.01
C
27 29
C
1.95 0.81
C
29 29 1.45 0.87
20S / (20S + 20R) C
29 66.13 44.81
27
sterane (%)
46.87 48.97
27
sterane (%) n/a 76.31
Hopanes / Steranes (TT / ST) 2.55 0.37
(Steranes+Diasteranes) / C27-C30
hopanes
n/a 3.1
Ja 28-1
DST#1
Jb 26-1
DST#3
(20R)
(20R)
(20R)
sterane %
(20R) /
(20S) /
/ ( + )
(20R) /
( + )
(20R)
(20R)
(20R)
(20R + 20S)
(20R + 20S)
(20R + 20S)
C
C
C
BIOMARKER Ja 28-1 Jb26-1
(m/z 191) DST#1 DST#3
Tricyclic Terpanes TOTAL % TOTAL %
C19-C29 63.97 31.74
C30-C36 2.05 0
Pentacvclic Terpanes
Hopanes 26.8 51.64
Non-Hopanes 2.82 0
RATIO
Tricyclic Index 1209.49 498.8
C19 Tricyclic / C23 Tricyclic n/a 0
C23 Tricyclic / C24 Tetracyclic 4.09 0.76
Tm/Ts 0.69 0.72
C28 Hopane / C29 Hopane 0.17 0
C28 Hopane / C30 Hopane 0.19 0
C28 Hopane/ (C28 + C30 Hopane) n/a 0
C29 Hopane / C30 Hopane 1.11 1.01
C30 Moretane / C30 Hopane 0 1.06
C30 Oleanane / C30 Hopane 0.53 0
Gammacerane Index 0 0
22S/ (22S+22R) C31Hopane (%) n/a n/a
22S / (22S+22R) C32 Hopane (%) 61.77 n/a
C35 / C34 Extended Hopanes n/a n/a
Tricyclic / 17aH - Hopane Ratio n/a 0
C35-Homohopane Index. (%) 6.02 n/a
Table 3. Results of biomarker analyses for the studied oils, wells Ja 28-1 and Jb 26-1, central Shushan Basin.
Table 2. Results of GC whole oil analyses, Khatatba Formation, Central Shushan Basin.
Well
Name
1 Jb 26 - I 3237-3240 AEB # 3 642 2.20' 0.48 0.25 1.16
2 Jb 26 - 1 4237-4240 Khalatba 721 1.4 0.15 0.1 1
3 Jb 26 - 1 4297-4300 Khatatba 860 1.7 0.17 0.11 0.97
4 Jb 26 - 1 4357-4360 Khalatba 716 1.9 0.2 0.13 1.01
5 Jb 26 - 1 4437-4440 Khatatba 516 0.7 0.36 0.42 1.05
6 Jb 26 - 1 2397-2400 Kharita 1128 3 1.2 0.41 2.05
7 Ja27-2 4257-4260 Khatatba 4714 1.8 0.07 0.04 1.01
8 Ja 27- 2 4304.2 Khatatba 2938 2.1 0.04 0.02 0.99
9 Ja 27 - 2 2297-2300 Kharita 1400 2.6 0.99 0.41 1.47
10 Ja27-2 2477-2480 Kharita 3765 5.6 3.17 0.76 1.76
11 Ja27-2 Core Extract 3588.9 AEB # 5 443 2.6 0.31 0.12 1.1
Pr / Ph Pr/nC17 Ph / nC18 CPI
Sample
No.
Interval (m) Formation
Extract
(ppm)
Table 1. Results of bitumen analyses for the studied source rocks, wells JB 26-1 and Ja 27-2, central Shushan Basin.
211 A. S. Alsharhan and E. A. Abd El-Gawad
Jb26-1 2397-
2400 m
Ja27
Ja27-2
4304.2m
Ja27-2297-
2300m m
Ja27-2477-
2480 m
Jb26-1 3237-
3240m
Jb26-1 4237-
4240m
Jb26-1 4297-
4300m
Jb26-1 4357-
4360m
Jb26-1 4437-
4440m
Biomarker / well 4257-4260m
Tricyclic Terpanes
TOTAL% COMPOSITION
C19-C29 17.16 68.38 69.72 3.73 12.37 18.21 45.99 13.47 42.69 61.9
C30-C36 0.52 0 0 0.48 0.5 1.33 2.01 11.7 3.32 0.52
Pentacyclic Terpanes
Hopanes 81.29 28.65 27.72 95.03 86.25 77 .47 48.1 69.85 50.74 35.11
Non-Hopanes 0.15 0 0 0 0 0 0.46 3.66 1.08 0.41
RATIO
Tricyclic Index 127.63 1075.81 1158.5 25.92 95.14 121.95 490.97 82.33 382.81 892.22
C19 Tricyclic / C23 Tricyclic 6.08 2.88 16.53 1.05 13.16 2.45 0.54 0.4 1.04 0.53
C23 Tricyclic / C24 Tetracyclic 1.34 2.76 1.15 0.72 0.45 0.9 2.93 1.39 3.42 6.5
Tm /Ts 35.45 0.89 1.46 46.68 53.88 3.88 1.2 1.49 1.35 1.85
C28 Hopane / C29 Hopane 0.06 0 0 0.03 0.03 0.05 0.11 0.22 0.13 0.09
C28 Hopane / C30 Hopane 0.05 0 0 0.03 0.03 0.05 0.09 0.14 0.11 0.08
C28 Hopane /(C28 + C30 Hopanes)
0.05 0 0 0.02 0.03 0.05 0.09 0.13 0.1 0.07
C29 Hopane / C30 Hopane 0.87 0.81 0.75 0.96 1 1.09 0.87 0.67 0.78 0.88
C30 Moretane / C30 Hopane 0.65 0.21 0.27 0.63 0.53 0.27 0.19 0.21 0.17 0.19
C30 Oleanane / C30 Hopane 0.01 0 0 0 0 0 0.05 0.22 0.1 0.06
Gammacerane Index 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
22S/(22S + 22R) C31 Hopane (%) 57.75 47.73 56.79 58.81 58.08 60.1 48.6 55.19 52.08 53.82
22S/(22S + 22R)C32 Hopane (%) 51.08 57.48 59.9 52.15 54.12 59.32 62.91 59.71 60.06 61.12
C35 / C34 Extended Hopanes 0.53 n/a n/a 0.49 0.42 0.64 0.71 0.76 0.96 0.91
Tricyclic / 17aH - Hopane Ratio 0.03 0.21 0.15 0.01 0.01 0.02 0.25 0.11 0.15 0.12
C35-Homohopane Index (%) 1.89 0 0 1.22 1.53 4.82 7.01 7.54 8.71 7.87
Regular steranes
C27 26.16 27.53 23.49 26.4 28.7 18.88 18.13 15.34 15.66 15.21
C28 12.71 16.77 13.2 14.43 15.43 12.52 22.65 23.79 23.87 17.97
C29 27.83 24.83 22.52 27.64 22.83 44.06 32.59 30.68 39.5 48.39
Total 66.7 69.13 59.21 68.47 66.97 75.47 73.37 69.81 79.02 81.56
Rearranged (diasteranes)
C27 13.27 15.9 18.1 12.7 16.64 4.34 7.33 12.95 6.24 3.75
C28 9.19 7.65 11.56 9.75 6.25 6.54 10.68 10.13 7.75 2.2
C29 10.84 7.32 11.13 9.08 10.13 13.65 8.62 7.12 6.99 12.49
Total 33.3 30.87 40.79 31.53 33.03 24.53 26.63 30.19 20.98 18.44
NORMALIZED %
C27 (20R) 27.09 31.05 31.37 41.21 34.86 8.85 15.51 16.77 10.68 5.39
C28 (20R) 24.1 26.97 30.61 9.94 27.87 19.79 37.15 27.82 35.67 20.24
C29 (20R) 48.82 41.98 38.02 48.85 37.27 71.36 47.35 55.42 53.65 74.37
NORMALIZED %
C27 (20R + 20S) 30.75 34.52 34.49 38.16 38.54 11.93 18.58 15.63 14.15 7.73
C28 (20R + 20S) 18.46 22.16 22.31 14.29 22.47 17.82 32.91 37.83 31.58 17.42
C29 (20R + 20S) 50.79 43.32. 43.2 47.55 38.99 70.25 48.51 46.55 54.27 74.85
RATIO
Diasterane index 102.58 140.92 66.45 92.91 102.58 44.56 90 128.47 52.87 70.62
Diasteranes / regular steranes 0.5 0.45 0.69 0.46 0.49 0.33 0.36 0.43 0.27 0.23
C27(20R) / C29(20R) 0.55 0.74 0.83 0.84 0.94 0.12 0.33 0.3 0.2 0.07
C29 (20S) / C29 (20R) 0.87 0.87 1.06 1.09 0.87 0.23 1.03 0.97 0.3 0.36
C29 (20R) / C29 (20R) 0. 85 0.98 1.16 1.21 0.81 0.02 1.19 1.04 0.2 0.17
20S/(20S+20R)C29 sterane(%) 46.55 46.55 51.57 52.13 46.58 18.48 50.69 49.3 23.37 26.63
/ (+ ) C29 sterane (%) 45.64 50.21 50.51 51.79 46.68 22.01 52.58 51.3 26.58 27.47
/ ( +) C27 sterane (%) 65 64.2 62.12 59.5 58.07 69.09 67.35 67.31 51.7 76.15
Hopanes/Steranes.(TT/ST) 6.99 2.63 3.68 3.31 3.73 9.96 1.71 1.79 32.43 12.36
(Steranes+Diasteranes)/C27-C30hop. 0.26 0.73 0.48 0.55 0.5 0.2 0.93 0.86 0.07 0.17
Table 4. Results of biomarker analyses for the studied source rocks, central Shushan Basin.
212 Potential Jurassic/Cretaceous source rocks in the Shushan Basin, NW Egypt
Pr/ Ph/
nC
17
nC
18
SAT. ARO.
12000 18.3 1.14 1.69 0.25 0.16 27.4 24.8
12600-12650 10.45 1.1 1.78 0.24 0.15 26.2 24.3
9400 41.92 1.12 1.16 0.6 0.55 27.3 26
11240-11350 51.78 1.09 1 0.64 0.66 27.5 26.8
Lotus-1 (MD-1X Khar. 7400-7450 70.46 1.11 1.07 0.67 0.62 26.9 26.5
Lotus-1 (MD-1X Baha. 6600-6650 47.32 1.1 1.17 0.64 0.58 27.3 26.3
Lotus-1 (MD-1X AEB
CPI Pr/Ph
CIR
Lotus-1 (MD-1X) Khat.
WELL Fm. DEPTH
EXTRACT
/TOC%
Table 5. Results of GC analyses for the studied source rock extracts, well Lotus-1, western Shushan Basin.
Table 6. Results of GC/MS analyses for the studied source rock extracts, well Lotus-1, western Shushan Basin.
12990-
13020
0.62 44.4 12.3 14.1 42 59 42 22 36
13020-
13040
0.64 50.3 10.3 12 42 60 41 22 37
13280-
13320
0.47 51.8 12.2 10 41 58 41 20 39
12000 0.66 39.3 10.9 9.5 45 57 41 27 32
12600-
12650
1.08 26.4 11.3 10.3 47 58 33 26 42
9400 0.7 32.6 16.8 19.3 45 59 46 22 32
11240-
11350
0.85 32 12.2 17.6 45 56 47 21 32
Lotus-1
(MD-1X)
Khar. 7400-7450 0.88 32.8 13.2 15.3 45 57 40 24 26
Lotus-1
(MD-1X)
Baha. 6600-6650 0.66 34.5 18.7 15.4 34 50 40 24 36
Lotus-1
(MD-1X)
AEB
WELL Fm.
%

C
2
9

S
t
e
r
a
n
e
Lotus-1
(MD-1X)
Khat.
Lotus-1
(MD-1X)
Khat.
DEPTH
%

2
0
S

C
2
9

S
t
e
r
a
n
e
%


B
B

C
2
9

S
t
e
r
a
n
e
%

C
2
7

S
t
e
r
a
n
e
%

C
2
8

S
t
e
r
a
n
e
T
s

/

T
m
%


H
o
p
a
n
e
%


C
3
0
M
%


T
r
i