Petroleum Geology and Exploration Potential of the Nile Delta Basin

The Nile river delta basin has experienced three stages of tectonic evolution, i.e. the stage of a Paleo-Thetys passive margin from convergence to rupture, the stage of a compressive foreland basin and the stage of an activated strike-slip basin. It may be divided to the north sub-basin and the south sub-basin. In general, most of the reservoirs are rich in gas and poor in oil, and located in deep water. There are two sets of favorable source rocks, the Oligocene to Miocene Marine shale and marl, and the Upper Cretaceous black shale. Both of the source rocks are rich in organic carbon and type III of kerogen. Reservoirs are mainly consisting of Miocene deltaic sandstone and Pliocene deep sea slope channel sandstone. Structural trap dominates the basin. Petroleum migrates mainly upwards along faults and unconformities. The delta basin has well matched source-reservoir-cap assemblages and great potential for oil and gas exploration.