Depositional History of the West Nile Delta - Upper Oligocene to Upper Pliocene

Depositional History of the West Nile Delta - Upper Oligocene to Upper Pliocene*

Axel Kellner1, Hamsa El Khawaga1, Gerhard Brink2, Stiig Brink-Larsen2, Maksoud Hesham1, Hesham Abu El Saad1, Alaa Atef1, Helen Young1, and Bruce Finlayson2

Search and Discovery Article #30092 (2009)

Posted June 9, 2009 *Adapted from oral presentation at AAPG International Conference and Exhibition, Cape Town, South Africa, October 26-29, 2008 1Exploration, RWE Dea, Cairo, Egypt (mailto:[email protected]) 2Consultant, Cairo, Egypt

Abstract Several Nile Delta publications in recent years have used very good quality data to illustrate and discuss depositional systems in great detail. The data presented in this study adds regional context to the common understanding. Recently acquired 3D seismic surveys in the onshore, offshore and transition zone were interpreted as part of a Nile Delta Prospectivity Study. Well data from more than 40 years of hydrocarbon exploration were intergrated. These data provided the basis for a regional understanding of the sedimentary and structural evolution during the past 30 million years.

A robust biostratigraphic zonation scheme was adopted and consistently implemented to more than 60 wells throughout the study area. Integration of seismic surfaces and facies analysis using a variety of seismic attribute extractions and sedimentary facies, calibrated by well data and stacking pattern analysis, were done on a sequence by sequence level. A seismic facies catalogue was generated for different depositional environments.

Paleo-depositional systems maps were constructed and serve as snapshots, mostly of lowstand systems, for each timeframe. These maps illustrate the regional depositional history for the West Nile Delta. They reflect, for instance, the relation between lowstand prograding deltas and relict shelf breaks at type one unconformities to the generally more distal and productive offshore slope settings. The different positions of the mapped relict shelfbreak and facies distribution in different sequences reflects the evolution of the deltaic geometry over the timeframe investigated as well as the sedimentary response to regional tectonic events at the time of

Copyright © AAPG. Serial rights given by author. For all other rights contact author directly.

Depositional History of the West Nile Delta –Upper Oligocene to Upper Pliocene

Kellner A., G.J. Brink, H. El-Khawaga, S. Brink-Larsen,H. Maksoud, H. Abu El Saad, A. Atef, H. Young and B. Finlayson

Location Map and current plate tectonic setting of the study area

> Bathymetry and DEM data after: IOC, IHO and BODC, 2003. Centenary Edition of the GEBCO Digital Atlas, published on CD-ROM on behalf of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission and the International Hydrographic Organization as part of g g p y g p g pthe General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans, British Oceanographic Data Centre, Liverpool, U.K.

Base Pliocene Depth Map throughout the study area

Regional Cross Sections within the study area

Flood Basalts

Ersosional RemnantsHinge Line

Flood Basalts

Hinge Line Rosetta Fault

Timing of Tectonic Events and relative Sea Level Changes in WND

Biostratigraphical zonation scheme for the Eastern Mediterranean

NN21

NN20 CN14b

CN15MNN21b

MNN21a

MNN20

H. inversaGephyrocapsa oceanica

MEDITERRANEAN ZONATIONS (WEST NILE DELTA VERSION)STANDARDZONATION

BLOW(1969)

N23

PLANKTONIC FORAMINIFERA DINOCYST INDEX EVENTS(WILLIAMS et al. 2004)

NST

AGE

SERI

ES

AG

E[M

a] STANDARDZONATIONS

MARTINI1971

Okada &Bukry 1980

Forniaca & Rio(1996) Forniaci

et al. (1996)Present Work

NANNOFOSSILS

Map

ped

Sequ

e nce

sSB

=R E

D ;M

FS=

B LU

E

NN20

NN19

CN14b

CN14a

CN13b

CN13a

MNN20

MNN19f

MNN19e

MNN19d

MNN19c

MNN19b

Pseudoemiliania lacunosa

Acme Gephyrocapsaspp. <4 microns

H. sellii

C. macintyrei

N22

Globorotalia truncatulinoides

Globorotalia tosaensisGloborotalia ronda

Globorotalia acostaensis (dextral)Globorotalia inflata acme

ION

I AN

P LE I

S TO

CENE

CA L

ABRI

AN

1.0

1.561.40

0.8

NN18

NN17

NN16

CN13a

CN12d

CN12c

CN12

CN12b

MNN19a

MNN18

MNN17

MNN16b

MNN16a

D. brouweri

D. pentaradiatus

D. asymmetricusD. tamalis

D. variabilis

H. sellii acme

R. minutula / minuta

N21

Globigerinoides extremus

Globorotalia crassaformis acme

Globorotalia bononiensis

Globorotalia miocenica

Globoquadrina altispiraSphaeroidinellopsis seminulina

Sphaeroidinella dehiscens immatura

S. dionaeacysta, T. glorianum

A. umbracula, A. confusum, I. tabulata,S. drugii, C. harlandii, O ? eirikianum

E. sexispinosa

GEL

ASI A

N

L ATE

P LIO

CENE

E NZI

AN

2.0

3.0

3.21

2.76

2.55

2.09

NN15

CN12a

NN14

NN13

CN11b

CN11a

CN10c

MNN15

MNN14

MNN13

D. variabilis

S. abiesR. pseudoumbilicus

D. asymmetricus increase

S. verensis

A. tricorniculatus

N20N19

Globorotalia punticulataGloborotalia margaritae

Globogerina nepenthes

Sphaeroidinella dehiscens immatura

PIAC

E

P LIO

CENE

CLI

AN4.0

4.37

3.95

NN

12

b

a

CN10c

CN10b

MNN12 Triquetrorhabdulus rugosus

N18

Orbulina bilobata acme

Sphaeroidinellopsis spp. acme

Ammonia beccarii acme

B. evangelineae,S. armageddonensis

R. actinocoronata

E ARL

Y

Z ANC

5.0

MES

S IN

I AN

6.0

7.0

NE

NN11

CN9

CN9bC*

CN9bA*

CN9bB*

BARRENINTERVAL

MNN11c

MNN11b

N17

N16

Globorotalia continuosa,Globorotalia acostaensis (sinistral)

G. etruscaH. floripes,H. tenuispinosum

BARRENINTERVAL? D. quinqueramus

D. toralus

H. orientalisR. rotaria

6.98

6.10

5.73

8.0

9.0

10

11

TORT

ON

I AN

L ATE

MIO

CEN

NN7

NN8

NN9

NN10

CN5b

CN6

CN7

CN8

CN7aCN7bCN8a

CN8b

CN9a MNN11a

MNN10b

MNN10aMN

N10

MNN9

MNN

8

MNN8b

MNN8a

N7

MNN7c**

MNN7b**

N15

N14

N13

Globorotalia siakensis

Globigerinoides subquadratusGloborotalia mayeri

P. striatogranulosum

G. verriculaN. downieiC. poulsenii, C. passio

C. aubryae

M. robustumS. soucouyantiae

H. stalisH. stalis

S. moriformisH. walberdorfensisD. bollii

C. miopelagicus (CP19)

D. kugleri (LCO)11.7

9.26

Page 6

12

13

14

15

MID

DLE

MIO

CENE

SER

RAVA

LLIA

NL A

NG

HI A

N

NN5

NN6

CN4

CN5a

CN5 M

NN

MNN7a**

MNN

6 MNN6b

MNN6a

MNN

5

MNN5b

MNN5a

N12

N11

N10N9

N8

Praeorbulina glomerosa circularisGlobigerinoides diminutus,Praeorbulina glomerosa glomerosa,Globigerinoides sicanus,Praeorbulina transitoria,Globorotalia acrostoma

Globorotalia peripherorondaAmmoniabeccariiacme

Orbulina universa

yU. aquaeductum

E. burdigalensis

H. tenuispinosum

P. fairhavenensisH. ampliaperta

D. kugleri (FCO)

C. preamacintyrei

C. floridanus (LCO) (CP15b)H. intermedia, ? H. euphratisS. heteromorphusH. waltrans

14.8

13.6

12.7

MEDITERRANEAN ZONATIONS (WEST NILE DELTA VERSION)STANDARDZONATION

AG

E

RIE

S

E[ M

a] STANDARDZONATIONS

F i & Riappe

dqu

e nce

s=

RED

;S

=B L

U E

Biostratigraphical zonation scheme for the Eastern Mediterranean

17

18

19

CEN

E BUR

DIG

ALI

AN

NN3

NN4

CN2

CN3

MNN4b

MNN4a

MNN3b

MNN3a

N7

N6

H. cinctum

H. reductum, C. cantharellus

M? picenaGlobigerinoides primordius,Catapasdryx dissimilis

S. conicusD. deflandrei (LCO)

S. disbelemnos (LCO+LO)S. calyculus

H. ampliaperta (LCO)

S. heteromorphus absence zone

BLOW(1969) PLANKTONIC FORAMINIFERA

DINOCYST INDEX EVENTS(WILLIAMS et al. 2004)ST

A

SER

AGE

MARTINI1971

Okada &Bukry 1980

Forniaca & Rio(1996) Forniaci

et al. (1996)Present Work

NANNOFOSSILS

Ma

Seq

SB MFS

19.5

18.7

17.3

16.4

20

21

22

23

EAR

LYM

IOC

AQU

ITA

NIA

N

NN1

NN2 CN1c

CN1bCN1a

CN1

MNN2b

MNN2a

MNN

1

MNN1d

MNN1c

MNN1bMNN1a

N5

N4

L. italicum

Globorotalia kugleri

D. apennicumD. phosphoritica

S. perforatum

H. pusillumDeflandrea abundance

C. bisceta (LCO)

S. delphix

MNP25b

S. disbelemnosS. disbelemnos

H. euphratis (acme event)

H. ampliapertaH. recta

23.8

22.2

20.52

Zygrhablithus bijugatusH. truncata

Chiasmolithus altus

P22

A. alcicornu

O. divergens, S. armata Chiropteridiniumabundances

Chiropteridiniumabundances


26

27

EO

LIG

OCE

NE

CHA

TTIA

N25

24

NP25

CP19b

MNP25a

CN1a

S. pansum

C. galeap

H. pseudooceanicum, D. biffliS. capricornotusS. ciperoensis (CP19a)C. bisceta (LCO)MNP25b

27 49

25.38

NP24 CP19a

Markalius hirsutus

H. compacta, H. bramletteiP21

Globorotalia opima


W. gochtii

S. cooksoniae abundance

A. semicirculata

P. amoenumE. pectiniformis, G. conopeum

R. dracoE partridgei

S. distentus

S. predistentus

28

29

30

LATE

C

29.4

28.5

27.49

NP23CP18

CP17

Chiasmolithus oamaruensis

R. umbilica

P20P19

P18

Globorotalia cerroazulensi,Hantkenia

E. partridgeiC. incompositum, L. serrataS. kakanuiensis, S. ornata

G. semitecta, O. divergens

M. pseudorecurvatumA. diktyoplokum, R. Perforatum,D. colligerumA. biformoides, H. semilunifeR. porosum, A? distinctum

31

32

33

34 EARL

YO

LIG

OC

E NE

RUP

E LIA

N

33.7

32.0

> Age of major sequence stratigraphic units after WORNARDT (1999); RWE Dea inhouse work by JUTSON D., YOUNG H. & KELLNER A. (2006).

Seismic Cross Section as Example

SW NE

TWT

(mse

c)

10 km

Facies Interpretation using Seismic & Borehole Data

980

MD (m)

980

Lithology MarkerTWT

(ms)GR (gAPI)

0 150 140 40 0.2 200DT (us/ft) ILM (ohmm)

MFS 2.21

1020

10001000

SB 2.30

> Type log modified after KRYSTINIK (pers. comm. 2007) and BALSLEY & PARKER (1983).

Thickness and Attribute Extraction of Correlative Intervals

Facies Map for the Lowstand & Transgressive Depositional Systems

Seismic facies catalogue for depositional facies interpretation

Gross Depositional Environment Map for SB 29.4


Relict Shelf Break at SB 27.49

Gross Depositional Environment Map for SB 19.5BASALT

Oli Ch lOligocene Channels

Gross Depositional Environment Map for MFS 4.0


Relict Shelf Break at SB 3.21

Conclusion & Lookout

Major tectonic events influence depositional patterns at a higher order scale.

Miocene deltaic deposition was interrupted by late Tortonian and Messinian hinterland erosion and deposition.

Pliocene deltaic deposition commences subsequent to major transgression at base Pliocene.

Proven “genetic” methodology approach enables reservoir / seal and migration prediction for successful gas exploration.

Results will be complemented by ongoing investigation of infill areas.

Selected References

Balsley, J.K. and L.R. Parker, 1983, Cretaceous wave-dominated delta, barrier island, and submarine fan depositional systems: Book Cliffs, east central Utah: A field guide: AAPG, 1 volume, irregular pagination. GEBCO Digital Atlas, 2003, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission and International Hydrographic Organization, part of the General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans: British oceanographic Data Centre, Liverpool, U.K.: CD-ROM. Haq, B.U., J. Hardenbol, P.R. Vail, 1987, The new chronostratigraphic basis of Cenozoic and Mesozoic sea level cycles: Special Publications Cushman Foundation for Foraminiferal Research, v. 24, p. 7-13. Haq, B.U., J. Hardenbol, and P.R. Vail, 1987, Chronology of fluctuating sea levels since the Triassic: Science, v. 235/4793, p. 1156-1167.

Depositional History of the West Nile Delta - Upper Oligocene to Upper Pliocene

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