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Rift domains and structural framework of the northwestern Red Sea basin, Egypt

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Abstract

The Red Sea basin is considered one of the world-class examples of continental rifting, breakup and seafloor spreading. This study focuses on the structural framework of the northwestern part of the Egyptian Red Sea margin and the identification of the different rift domains using surface and subsurface data. Subsurface mapping using 2D seismic and borehole data indicates that the northern part of this area represents the continuation of the structural style of the southern Gulf of Suez rift as the mapped structures are mainly down to the northeast main faults with southwest dipping strata. In addition, two negative flower structures have been observed and represent the southern continuation of the Gulf of Aqaba -Dead Sea left-lateral transform fault system. The NE dip of the main rift-parallel faults that characterizes most of the study area flips in the southern part of the area (south of the Duwi accommodation zone) where the fault blocks dip northeastward and the main faults dip SW. Based on the integration of the structural style, continental crust stretching factor (β) and the crustal thickness, the northwestern margin of the Red Sea can be divided into proximal domain, necking domain and potential hyper-extended domain that seems to extend southeast of the area of study and may represent the future locus for oceanic crust development in the northern Red Sea. Each domain is characterized by a distinct structural style and subsidence profiles, and variable preservation and distribution of the pre-rift and syn-rift stratigraphic units.

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Data availability

The wells and 2D seismic data that support the findings of this study are available from the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC). Restrictions apply to the availability of these data, which were used under the approval granted from EGPC to the corresponding author for PhD dissertation work.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Exploration Department at the Gulf of Suez Petroleum Company (GUPCO) and the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) for providing the data used for this study. We would also like to thank two anonymous reviewers whose suggestions have considerably improved the manuscript.

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  1. Western Hemisphere Renewal Unit- bp America, bp, 581 Westlake Park Blvd, Houston, TX, 77079, USA

    Ahmed S. Afifi

  2. Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Cairo, 11566, Egypt

    Adel R. Moustafa

  3. Independent Consultant, 40 El Akshed St, Cairo, 11451, Egypt

    Hany M. Helmy

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Afifi, A.S., Moustafa, A.R. & Helmy, H.M. Rift domains and structural framework of the northwestern Red Sea basin, Egypt. Int J Earth Sci (Geol Rundsch) 112, 2049–2064 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00531-023-02340-3

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