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Possibility of intrusive igneous body beneath the Cretaceous sequence in Abu Gharadig Basin, Egypt: integration of geophysical data interpretations

  • S. I. SCJGE-1 2019
  • Published:
Arabian Journal of Geosciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Based on the explanation of seismic data covering the middle part of Abu Gharadig Basin in northern Western Desert, a diapiric structure has been detected eastward of the study area. The resolution of this diapiric feature has been enhanced using different five seismic volume attributes including instantaneous bandwidth, reflection strength, instantaneous frequency and reflection intensity. The interpreted diapiric feature exhibits discordant, nearly vertical, almost symmetric and mounded structure with uplifted overburden and upturned host rocks. The magnetic map for the study area represents high anomaly directly above the interpreted diapiric feature in the eastern part of the area of study confirming the high density of the intrusive body. The area of study also delineated on a temperature gradient map for the northern Western Desert showing high temperature gradient over the interpreted diapiric feature towards the eastern portion of the study area. This suggests that the examined body is a subsurface source for high temperature. Accordingly, the detected diapiric feature has been interpreted to be large body of igneous intrusion forming domal masses beneath the Cretaceous succession in the study area. This igneous intrusion is expected to have positive or negative effect on the hydrocarbon potential in Abu Gharadig Basin.

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Acknowledgements

Many thanks for the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation and Khalda Petroleum Company for providing the data existing in this paper. The author is grateful to Dr Essam Aboud, the associate professor of Applied Geophysics at King Abdulaziz University for helping in obtaining the magnetic map presented in this work and for the fruitful discussion.

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  1. Geology Department, Faculty of Science, Damietta University, New Damietta City, 34517, Egypt

    Mohammad Abdelfattah Sarhan

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Correspondence to Mohammad Abdelfattah Sarhan.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Current Advances in Geological Research of Egypt

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Sarhan, M.A. Possibility of intrusive igneous body beneath the Cretaceous sequence in Abu Gharadig Basin, Egypt: integration of geophysical data interpretations. Arab J Geosci 13, 445 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-020-05436-1

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