Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Assessment of pore pressure in the Oligocene–Pleistocene stratigraphy of the West Delta Deep Marine, offshore Nile Delta, Egypt

  • Original Research Paper
  • Published:
Marine Geophysical Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

One of the main drilling challenges in the offshore deep-water Nile Delta is the overpressured Tertiary shales, which causes formation fluid influxes, kicks, and very narrow drilling window, thus contributes to non-productive times and enhanced drilling risk. Accurate understanding of pore pressure distribution is crucial for casing design, mud optimization and safe and successful drilling. This study presents first ever in-depth analysis of the pore pressure distribution within the 4500 m thick Oligocene-Pleistocene stratigraphy from the West Delta Deep Marine block in deep-water Nile Delta. Direct formation pressure measurements indicated around 0.06–0.1 PSI/ft (1.36–2.26 MPa/km) gas gradient in the Pliocene El Wastani and Kafr El Sheikh sandstone reservoirs, while the Miocene Qantara sandstones are water-bearing with a 0.42 PSI/ft (9.5 MPa/km) pressure gradient. Shale porosity distribution exhibited additional porosity retention within the montmorillonite and mixed clay-dominated Late Pliocene and deeper sediments and marks the onset of overpressure at the top Kafr El Sheikh Formation. Based on the loading trends and acoustic slowness-density relationship, we inferred compaction disequilibrium as the primary overpressure generating mechanism resulted from high sedimentation rate. Shale pore pressure was interpreted by utilizing wireline logs by utilizing compaction trendline-based approach and calibrated with drilling events and mudlog data. Qantara and Tineh formations are characterized by 0.75–0.77 PSI/ft (16.96–17.41 MPa/km) pore pressure gradient leaving a narrow drilling mud window of 1.7–2 PPG. Based on vertical effective stresses, two significant overpressure compartments were identified in the Late Pliocene and Early Miocene-Late Oligocene, which were separated by the Middle Miocene Sidi Salem Formation acting as a pressure seal.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

The data utilized in this study is confidential and cannot be shared publicly. Please contact the corresponding author in case of any queries.

Abbreviations

WDDM:

Western delta deep marine

Sv:

Vertical stress

Z:

Depth

TVD:

True vertical depth

ρw :

Density of sea water

ρ(Z) :

Bulk-density as a function of depth (Z)

g:

Gravitational acceleration

PP:

Pore pressure

RFT:

Repeat formation tester

NCT:

Normal compaction trend

Phyd :

Hydrostatic pore pressure

VES:

Vertical effective stress

Dt:

Acoustic slowness log

DtN:

Acoustic slowness of normally compacted shales

EDt:

Eaton’s exponent for acoustic slowness-based pore pressure estimation

R:

Resistivity log

RN:

Resistivity of normally compacted shales

ER:

Eaton’s exponent for resistivity-based pore pressure estimation

MW:

Mud weight

CG:

Connection gas

POG:

Pump-off gas

FP:

Fracture pressure

FG:

Fracture gradient

K0:

Effective stress ratio

LOT:

Leak-off test

FIT:

Formation integrity test

GWC:

Gas water contact

References

  • Abdallah MA, Greenwood JA (2006) Integrated Application of Pore Pressure/Fracture Gradient Prediction and Annulus Pressure Measurements Optimizes Drilling in the Nile Delta. Mediterranean Offshore Conference

  • Abdel Aal A, El Barkooky A, Gerrits M, Meyer H-J, Schwander M, Zaki H (2001) Tectonic evolution of the Eastern Mediterranean Basin and its significance for the hydrocarbon prospectivity of the Nile Delta deepwater area. GeoArabia 6(3):363–384

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Abuamarah BA, Nabawy BS, Shehata AM, Kassem OMK, Ghrefat H (2019) Integrated geological and petrophysical characterization of oligocene deep marine unconventional poor to tight sandstone gas reservoir. Mar Pet Geol 109:868–885

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ahmed MA, Hegab OA, Sabry A (2015) Early detection enhancement of the kick and near-balance drilling using mud logging warning sign. Egypt J Basic Appl Sci. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejbas.2015.09.006

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Badri MA, Sayers CM, Awad R, Graziano A (2000) A feasibility study for pore-pressure prediction using seismic velocities in the offshore Nile Delta. Egypt The Leading Edge 19:1103–1108

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Badri MA, Sayers CM, Hussein RA, Graziano A (2001) Pore Pressure Prediction Data Using Seismic Velocities and Log Data in the Offshore Nile Delta, Egypt. In: SPE Middle East Oil Show held in Bahrain, Mar 17–20, SPE-68195

  • Bowers GL (2001) Determining an appropriate pore-pressure estimation strategy. In Offshore technology conference, Houston, Texas, USA

  • Bowers GL, Katsube TJ (2002) The role of shale pore structure on the sensitivity of wire-line logs to overpressure. In: Huffman AR, Bowers GL (eds) Pressure regimes in sedimentary basins and pressure regimes in sedimentary basins and their prediction, vol 76. AAPG Memoir, Tulsa, pp 43–60

    Google Scholar 

  • Dolson JC, Boucher PJ, Siok J, Heppard PD (2005) : Key challenges to realizing full potential in an emerging giant gas province: Nile Delta/Mediterranean offshore, deepwater, Egypt. In: Dore, A.G., Vining, B.A. (Eds.), Petroleum Geology: North West Europe and Global Perspectives-Proceedings of the 6th Petroleum Geology Conference. Petroleum Geology Conferences Ltd., Geological Society, London, 607–624

  • Eaton BA (1975) The equation for geopressure prediction from well logs. In: Fall meeting of the society of petroleum engineers of AIME, Dallas, TX, USA

  • Esestime P, Hewitt A, Hodgson N (2016) Zohr - a newborn carbonate play in the levantine basin, east-Mediterranean. First Break 34:87–93

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ghassal BI, El Atfy H, Sachse V, Littke R (2016) Source rock potential of the middle jurassic to middle Pliocene, onshore Nile delta basin, Egypt. Arab J Geosci 9:744

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hemdan M, Fahmy R, Monir M, Eid R (2019) New ideas unlock old plays: Swan-East recent gas discovery, Baltim Canyon extension, West Delta Deep Marine, offshore Nile Delta, Egypt. In: AAPG Africa Region, The Eastern Mediterranean Mega-Basin: New Data, New Ideas and New Opportunities, Alexandra, Egypt, Sep 6–7. Search and Discovery Article # 11265

  • Ismail A, Ewida HF, Al-Ibiary MG, Zollo A (2020) Integrated prediction of deep-water gas channels using seismic coloured inversion and spectral decomposition attribute, West offshore, Nile Delta, Egypt. NRIAG J Astron Geophys 9(1):459–470

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Katamish HE, Steel N, Smith A, Thompson P (2005) WDDM, the Jewel of the Nile. In: SOE Europec/EAGE Annual Conference, Madrid, Spain, June 13. SPE-94123

  • Kellner A, El Khawaga H, Brink G, Brink-Larsen S, Hesham M, Saad AE, Atef H, Young A, Finlayson H (2008) B., Depositional history of the West Nile Delta - Upper Oligocene to Upper Pliocene. In: AAPG International Conference and Exhibition, Cape Town, South Africa, October 26–29. Search and Discovery Article #30092

  • Khaled KA, Attia GM, Metawalli FI, Fagelnour MS (2014) Subsurface geology and petroleum system in the Eastern Offshore Area, Nile Delta, Egypt. Egypt J Appl Sci Res 10:254–270

    Google Scholar 

  • Khattab MN, El-Sayed AA, Ashour NMH, El-Werr A-KMM, Afifi MFM (2022) Pre–drill pore pressure prediction from 1D seismic velocity profile to 3D modeling using high resolution full waveform inversion velocity (FWI): deep water offshore, West Nile Delta. Geomech. Geophys. Geo-energ. Geo-resour. 8:213

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klaja J, Dudek L (2016) Geological interpretation of spectral gamma ray (SGR) logging in selected boreholes. Nafta-Gaz 72:3–14

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lahann RW (2017) Gulf of Mexico overpressure and clay diagenesis without unloading: an anomaly? AAPG Bull 101:1859–1877

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lahann RW, Swarbrick RE (2011) Overpressure generation by load transfer following shale framework weakening due to smectite diagenesis. Geofluids 11:362–375

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li C, Luo X, Zhang L, Fan C, Xu C, Liu A, Li H, Li J, Lei Y (2022) New understanding of overpressure responses and pore pressure prediction: insights from the effect of clay mineral transformations on mudstone compaction. Eng Geol 297:106493

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marten R, Shann M, Mika J, Rothe S, Quist Y (2004) Seismic challenges of developing the pre-pliocene Akhen Field offshore Nile Delta. Lead Edge 23:314–320

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Matthews WR, Kelly J (1967) How to predict formation pressure and fracture gradient. Oil Gas J 65(8):92–106

    Google Scholar 

  • Mazzoni R, Wahdan T, Bassem A, Ward CD (1997) Real-time pore and fracture pressure prediction with FEWD in the Nile Delta. In: SPE/IADC Drilling Conference, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Mar 4–6. SPE/IADC-37669

  • Mokhtar M, Saad M, Selim S (2016) Reservoir architecture of deep marine slope channel, Scarab field, offshore Nile Delta, Egypt: application of reservoir characterization. Egyptian J Petroleum 25:495–508

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nabawy BS, Shehata AM (2010) Reservoir characterization of a deep target stratigraphic-structural trap using 3-D seismic, AVO and RFT, Nile delta, Egypt. J Appl Geophys 9(1):239–253

    Google Scholar 

  • Nashaat M (1998) Abnormally high fluid pressure and seal impacts on hydrocarbon accumulations in the Nile Delta and North Sinai Basins, Egypt. In: Law BE, Ulmishek GF, Slavin VI (eds) Abnormal pressures in hydrocarbon environments, vol 70. AAPG Memoir, Tulsa, pp 161–180

    Google Scholar 

  • O’Conner S, Swarbrick RE, Lahann RW (2011) Geologically driven pore fluid pressure models and their implications for petroleum exploration. Introd Themat Set: Geofluids 11:343–348

    Google Scholar 

  • Osborne MJ, Swarbrick RE (1995) A review of mechanisms for generating overpressure in sedimentary basins. GeoPop - Geosciences into Overpressure, 2nd Six Monthly Report, 5–42

  • Othman A, Fathy M, Mohamed IA (2021) Application of Artificial neural network in seismic reservoir characterization: a case study from Offshore Nile Delta. Earth Sci Inf 14:669–676

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rio D, Sprovieri R, Thunell R (1991) Pliocene-lower pleistocene chronostratigraphy: a re-evaluation of Mediterranean type sections. GSA Bull 93:1049–1058

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Salah W, Mohammed IA, Mohamed AA (2018) Time-Lapse Prestack Seismic Inversion to Delineate Undrained Reservoirs – Simian Field, Offshore Nile Delta, Egypt. In: GEO 2018 13th Middle East Geosciences Conference and Exhibition, Manama, Bahrain, March 5–8, Search and Discovery Article #20428

  • Samuel A, Kneller B, Raslan S, Sharp A, Parsons C (2003) Prolofic deep marine slope channels of the Nile Delta, Egypt. In: AAPG International Conference, Barcelona, Spain, Sept 21–24. Search and Discovery Article #9001

  • Sarhan MA (2015) High resolution sequence stratigraphic analysis of the late Miocene Abu Madi formation, Northern Nile Delta Basin. NRIAG J Astron Geophys 4(2):298–306

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sarhan MA, Safa MG (2019) 2D seismic interpretation and hydrocarbon prospects for the Neogene-Qaternary succession in the Temsah Field, offshore Nile Delta Basin, Egypt. J Afr Earth Sc 155:1–12

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Swarbrick RE, Osborne MJ (1998) Mechanisms that generate abnormal pressures: an overview. In: Law BE, Ulmishek GF, Slavin UI (eds) Abnormal pressures in hydrocarbon environments, vol 70. AAPG Memoir, Tulsa, pp 13–34

    Google Scholar 

  • Swarbrick RE, Osborne MJ, Yardley GS (2002) Comparison of overpressure magnitude resulting from the main generating mechanisms. In: Huffman AR, Bowers GL (eds) Pressure regimes in sedimentary basins and their prediction, vol 76. AAPG Memoir, Tulsa, pp 1–12

    Google Scholar 

  • Tingay M, Hillis RR, Swarbrick RE, Morley CK, Damit AR (2009) Origin of overpressure and pore pressure prediction in the Baram Delta Province, Brunei. AAPG Bull 93:51–74

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tingay M, Hillis RR, Swarbrick RE, Morley CK, Damit AR (2011a) Origin of overpressure and pore pressure prediction in the Baram Delta Province, Brunei. Search and Discovery Article #40709

  • Tingay M, Bentham P, De Feyter A, Kellner A (2011b) Present-day stress-field rotations associated with evaporites in the offshore Nile Delta. GSA Bull 123(5/6):1171–1180

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang J, Yin S (2017) Real-time pore pressure indicators and improved methods. Geofluids 1:1–12

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Authors express their sincere gratitude to Hector Marin Moreno (Editor) for the excellent editorial handling and the two anonymous reviewers for their constructive reviews which benefited the manuscript. Authors acknowledge Egyptian General Petroleum Company (EGPC) for providing the dataset used in this study and permission to publish this work. Khaled Al-Kahtany acknowledges the Research Supporting Project Number RSP2024R139, King Saud University (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia).

Funding

No funding was received for conducting this study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Exploration Department, Egyptian Petroleum Research Institute (EPRI), 1 Ahmed El-Zomor Street, Nasr City, Cairo, 11727, Egypt

    Sherif Farouk

  2. Reservoir Technical Services (RTS) - Geomechanics, Baker Hughes, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

    Souvik Sen

  3. Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Prince El-Hassan Bin Talal Faculty for Natural Resources and Environment, The Hashemite University, Zarqa, Jordan

    Fayez Ahmad

  4. Geology and Geophysics Department, College of Science, King Saud University, 11362, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Khaled Al-Kahtany

  5. Reservoir Technical Services (RTS), Baker Hughes, Dubai, UAE

    Salim Benmamar

  6. Faculty of Earth Science and Engineering, University of Miskolc, Miskolc, Hungary

    Ahmed Abdeldaim

  7. GeologyDepartment, Faculty of Science, South Valley University, Qena, 83523, Egypt

    Ahmed Abdeldaim

Authors
  1. Sherif Farouk
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Souvik Sen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Fayez Ahmad
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Khaled Al-Kahtany
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Salim Benmamar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Ahmed Abdeldaim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

SS conceptualized the study, performed the formal analysis, and prepared the first draft of manuscript. All authors contributed to the data collection and curation, literature review, project management, review, and revision of the manuscript at various stages.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Sherif Farouk or Souvik Sen.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Ethics approval and consent to participate

We certify that this manuscript reflects our own research and has never been published before and not being considered for publication anywhere.

Consent for publication

Here, we give our consent to publish this manuscript in this journal after the acceptance.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Farouk, S., Sen, S., Ahmad, F. et al. Assessment of pore pressure in the Oligocene–Pleistocene stratigraphy of the West Delta Deep Marine, offshore Nile Delta, Egypt. Mar Geophys Res 45, 6 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11001-023-09536-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11001-023-09536-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation