Journal of Petroleum and Mining Engineering In Press. DOI: 10.21608/jpme.2021.76044.

1082

Journal of Petroleum and Mining Engineering

Oil Characteristics and Source Rock Potential of Abu Rudeis-Abu Zenima

Area, Central Province, Gulf of Suez, Egypt
Elmaadawy, K. G.
Geology Department, Faculty of Science, Menoufia University
*Corresponding author e-mail: kelmaadawy@yahoo.com

Article Info Abstract

The Gulf of Suez region is one of the most important petroleum provinces in Egypt and the
Received 11 may. 2021
Abu Rudeis-Abu Zenima area (ARAZ) located in the central province of the Suez Gulf on the
Revised 02 Jun. 2021
eastern side. The scope of the current work is to evaluate the oils in the ARAZ area to
Accepted 05 Jun. 2021
identify oils characteristics and source rock potential using the data of whole oil gas
chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), in addition to
stable carbon isotope analysis and vanadium and nickel contents. The bulk oils composition
in ARAZ area characterized by moderate saturates and aromatics contents, high sulfur and
NSO &asphaltene contents and heavy and normal API gravity. The composition of oils
differs primarily due to their degree of thermal maturity. The oils generated from algal
Keywords marine material with little terrestrial materials deposited under anoxic depositional
conditions suggested by a low Pristane/Phytane (Pr/Ph) ratio. Moreover, the oils generated
Oil characteristics; Source from carbonate source rocks of Thebes and Duwi rock units indicated by high C 31-C35
rock potential; Abu Rudeis- Hopanes (45-50%) and C35/C34 extended Hopane ratio (0.99 – 1.12). The oils reached the
Abu Zenima area; Gulf of peak-oil generation stage (0.85% Ro) indicated by the sterane isomerization ratio (20S %
Suez C29) that is less than 55 %. The oils of ARAZ area are matched the oils of the Gulf of Suez.

Introduction
Abu Rudeis-Abu Zenima area (ARAZ) is located in rocks potential. Moreover, study the impact of the oils
the central province of the Gulf of Suez on the eastern geochemistry on the hydrocarbon migration and
side. October Field and Ras Budran Field surrounded entrapment and determining if the oils geochemistry
the ARAZ from the west and north directions in the ARAZ area consistent or not with the oils of the
respectively (Fig.1). Gulf of Suez basin.
Many authors studied the characteristics of oils
and source rocks in the Gulf of Suez and they Geological and tectonic setting
concluded that the source rocks of Duwi and Thebes The interplay of Arabian and African plates during
formations characterized by good to excellent organic Late Oligocene - Early Eocene resulted in the Suez rift
content and kerogen of type II and mixed II/III with in Northwest-southeast direction (Garfunkel and
maturity ranging from immature to peak oil window Bartov 1977 13). Large-scale zones of normal faults
(%Ro < 0.9) based on the analyzed pyrolysis data. surrounded both margins of the Suez rift and the rift
Based on the carbon isotopes of biomarker data, the subdivided into three main tectonic domains
source rocks deposited under anoxic conditions with attributed to the polarity changing of the block faults
mainly marine organic matter and minor terrigenous (Patton et al. 1994 14; Moustafa, 1996 15; Younes
higher plants. The chemical composition of the Gulf and McClay 2002 16). Three main basins of northern
oils are variable in API gravity and sulfur contents Darag, central Belayim and southern Amal-Ziet
mainly due to different thermal maturity levels recognized with a Zaafarana accommodation zone
(Alsharhan and Salah 1997 1; Wever, 1999 2, 2000 between northern and central basins and a Morgan
3; Alsharhan 2003 4; Younes and Philip, 2005 5; accommodation zone between central and southern
El Nady and Mohamed, 2016 6; Mohamed and El basins (Colletta et al. 1988 17).These
Nady, 2016 7; El Nady et al., 2016 8; Younes et al, accommodations resulted from half grabens and
2017 9; Mohamed and El Nady, 2019 10; El Diasty horsts related to large-scale normal faults (Bosworth
et al., 2020 11, Elmaadawy et al, 2021 12). 199518, 2015 19; Bosworth and Durocher 2017
Little published works studied the oil 20).
characteristics and source rock potential of the Abu Lithostratigraphically, the Suez rift basin
Rudeis-Abu Zenima (ARAZ), therefore, the current encompasses pre rift, syn rift and post rift major
work aims to assess the oils of selected wells in the sedimentary sequences (Patton et al. 1994 14;
ARAZ area to recognize the oil characteristics, organic Bosworth et al. 1998 21; Khalil and McClay 2001
matter types, depositional environments and source 22) (Fig. 2) and Peijs et al (2012) 23 classified the

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 Journal of Petroleum and Mining Engineering In Press. DOI: 10.21608/jpme.2021.76044.1082

Figure 1 Location map of the Gulf of Suez and the well location map of Abu Rudeis-Abu Zenima area of the studied wells.

sedimentary cover into five major tectono- carbonates (Abu Zenima) to sandstones (Nukhul,
sedimentary sequences. The pre-rift succession Upper South Gharib and Zeit) and evaporites (Belayim
bottomed with shallow marine to fluvial clastics of and Lower South Gharib) and shale (Rudeis and
Nubia sandstones with age extending from Cambrian Kareem) (Scott and Govean, 1985 32; Smale et al.,
to Early Cretaceous. In subsurface, the Nubia 1988 33; Rouchy et al., 1995 34; Richardson and
Formation classified into units of A, B, C and D (Klitzsch Arthur, 1988 35; Rohais et al., 2016 36).
and Squyres, 1990 24; Klitzsch, 1990 25). These The pre Miocene source rocks of Duwi and Thebes
unites are cross-bedded sandstones with shale formations have average TOC contents of 3.63 wt%
interbeds (Darwish and El-Araby, 1993 26; Khalil and and 3.28 wt% respectively suggesting very good to
McClay 200122). An unconformity surface separates excellent potential and favorable conditions for the
the Nubia Formation from the overlying Cretaceous organic matter preservation during Late Cretaceous
deposits of Raha, Wata, Matulla, Duwi and Sudr Campanian and Late Eocene times (Robinson and
formations with an age extending from Cenomanian Engel 199337; El Diasty et al. 2014 38; El-Shafeiy et
to Maastrichtian composed of marine siliciclastics and al. 2017 39).
carbonate deposits (EGPC, 1964 27; Issawi, 1973
28; Webster, 1982 29; Sellwood and Netherwood, Dataset and methodology
1984 30; Alsharhan, 2003 4). The Paleocene
Geochemical and biomarker data
represented by the Esna Formation composed of
shale deposits and Eocene represented by the Thebes Seven oils from different reservoir intervals
and Mokattam formations composed of carbonate analyzed by the whole oil gas chromatography and gas
deposits (McClay et al. 1998 31). The syn-rift chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The
succession represented by seven formations of Abu geochemical data of six wells of AZSE-1, ARN-2, AR-8,
Zenima, Nukhul, Rudeis, Kareem, Belayim, South ARS-1, ARS-3 and S-9. The oils came from different
Gharib and Zeit with age extending from Early reservoir intervals at different elevations such Nubia-
Miocene (Aquitanian) to Late Miocene Messinian. The A, Matulla, Thebes and Nukhul reservoirs (Table 1).
lithology of the syn-rift deposits varies from

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 Journal of Petroleum and Mining Engineering In Press. DOI: 10.21608/jpme.2021.76044.1082

Figure 2 Lithostratigraphic column of the study area based on the available studied wells.

Table 1. Wells of oil samples and their reservoir intervals.

No. Well Label Reservoir Depth intervals (m)

1 Abu Rudeis-8 AR-8 Nukhul 2519-2647
2 Abu Rudeis S-3 ARS-3 Nubia-A 3391-3395
3 Abu Zenima SE-1 AZSE-1 Matulla 3753-3770
4 Abu Rudeis S-1 ARS-1 Matulla 3177-3198
5 Abu Rudeis N-2 ARN-2 Matulla 3787-3838
7 Sidri-9 S-9 Matulla 3492-3606

The data of bulk oil composition include saturates % data comprise triterpenes (m/z 191) and steranes
and aromatics %, NSO % compounds, asphaltene %, (m/z 217) distributions, biomarker isomerization,
API gravity and sulphur % content (Table 2). Whole oil organic facies and depositional environment ratios
gas chromatography data of Normal alkane (Tables 3 & 4). In addition to stable carbon isotope
distribution (n-C18-C38), Pristane/Phytane (Pr/Ph) analysis of saturate and aromatic fractions with
ratio and C7-derived expulsion temperature. GC-MS vanadium and nickel contents for well Sidri-9 (Fig.3).

Rock-Eval pyrolysis data

Rock-Eval pyrolysis data such S1, S2, S3, Tmax, reflectance (Ro %), for the pre-Miocene source rocks
hydrogen index (HI), oxygen index (OI), production (Table 5).
index (PI), total organic carbon (TOC %) and vitrinite

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 Journal of Petroleum and Mining Engineering In Press. DOI: 10.21608/jpme.2021.76044.1082

Table 2. Bulk composition data for the studied wells.

Well AR-8 ARS-3 AZSE-1 ARS-1 ARN-2 S-9

API Gravity 19.3 17.3 25.3 21.1 12.8 16.81
Sulfur wt. % 2.5 3.7 2.8 3.5 1.4 2.54
Saturates % 54.8 45.8 44.1 44.2 42.1 36.9
Aromatics % 20.7 28 24.7 27.6 22.8 25.8
NSO % 11.2 8.9 8.1 9.1 10/2 12.3
Asphaltene % 13.3 17.3 23.1 19.1 24.9 25
Pr/Ph 0.73 0.69 0.73 0.71 0.66 0.68
Pr/n-C17 0.56 0.68 0,59 0.60 0.54 0.62
Ph/n-18 0.79 1.03 0.89 0.93 0.87 0.93

Table 3. Biomarker and maturity dependent ratios.

Well AR-8 ARS-3 AZSE-1 ARS-1 ARN-2 S-9

% 20S C29 Steranes 52.80 51/30 54.64 51.20 51.60 49.4
% αββ C29 Steranes 57.10 55.20 54.82 55.20 54.80 53.6
% 22S C31 Hopane 59.80 60/00 56.93 59.80 59.10 58.6
% 22S C32 Hopane 60.80 60.30 58.02 60.50 60.30 60.4
Tm/Ts 3.43 4.36 4.30 4.30 4.25 -
C29 Neohopane/C29 Norhopane 0.11 0.11 - 0.10 0.10 0.10
% short chain steranes 10.20 6.70 - 7.60 8.80 8.7

Table 4. Organic facies and depositional environment ratios

Well AR-8 ARS-3 AZSE-1 ARS-1 ARN-2 S-9

C19+ C20 tricyclic / C23 tricyclic 0.27 0.21 0.25 0.20 0.23 0.25
C23 tricyclic / C24 tetracyclic 3.90 4.48 3.99 4.40 3.67
C24 tetracyclic / C26 tricyclic 0.68 0.58 0.69 0.59 0.68 0.69
C25 tricyclic / C26 tricyclic 1.25 1.28 1.40 1.26 1.24 1.22
C29 Norhopane / C30 Hopane 0.89 0.75 0.88 0.81 0.87 0.78
C30 Oleanane / C30 Hopane 0.05 0.03 0.03 0.04 0.03 0.03
Gammacerane / C30 Hopane 0.09 0.11 0.11 0.12 0.11 0.11
Extended Hopanes 29.37 37.69 32.72 34.84 34.73
C35 / C34 Extended Hopanes 0.99 1.12 1.09 1.09 1/06 1.41
Tricyclic Terpanes / Hopanes 0.50 0.35 0.48 0.40 0.39 -
Hopanes / Steranes 1.50 1.79 3.13 2.17 2.73 2.62
C27 ααα20R / C29 ααα20R 1.32 1.34 1.81 1.19 1.40 -

Figure 3. Carbon isotope compositions of aromatics versus saturates for Sidri-9 well (Modified after Sofer, 1984 44).

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 Journal of Petroleum and Mining Engineering In Press. DOI: 10.21608/jpme.2021.76044.1082

Table 5. Average maturity parameters for the pre-Miocene source rocks in Rudeis Field (Mostafa, 1993).

Source rocks TOC% S1 S2 S3 Tmax HI OI PI

Sudr 0.68 - 2.7 - - 397 - -
Duwi 3.2 5.07 4.5 - - - - 0.53
Matulla 2.52 1.7 17.6 0.34 422 698 13.5 0.09

Results and Discussion

Oils characterization saturates and aromatics are 29.2 and 28.7
Whole oil gas chromatograms (Fig. 4) show that the respectively for well S-9 suggesting good correlation
light hydrocarbon composition of oils indicates a high with the Gulf of oils (Fig.3).
n-Heptane (1.5-2.1) attributed to water washing or
Terpanes and Steranes distributions
maturation based on the plot of heptane versus
isoheptane indices of Thomson (1987 40 ) (Fig.5 a) The biomarker ratios attributed to terpanes and
and the shallow oil of AR-8 well is less affected (1.2) steranes are important in identifying the organic
than those of the deep oils. The bulk composition of matter origins, depositional conditions, thermal
the most oils characterized by a medium saturates maturity level and the age of the source rock (Hunt
and aromatics (54.7-73.8 wt %), relatively high NSO 1996 46; Peters et al. 2005 47). The terpanes (m /
&asphaltene contents (24.5 -35.1 wt %) (Fig.5 b), a z 191) distribution suggests the oils mainly derived
heavy API gravity (API > 12.8 and <25.3) and a from algal organic matter and from minor terrestrial
relatively high sulfur content (1.4-3.7 wt %) (Table 2). organic matter that indicated by the low C19 tricyclic
In contrast, AR-8 well marked by the highest / C23 tricyclic terpanes, high hopane and high C23
saturate/aromatics ratio (2.6) and the lowest NSO & tricyclic / C24 tetracyclic terpane (Fig. 6). Moreover,
asphaltene contents (24.5 wt %). In addition, the two the source rocks deposited under anoxic conditions
oils of wells ARS-3 and ARS-1 have lower NSO & indicated by high C35 homohopane.
asphaltene contents (26.2-28.2 wt %) than those of The sterane (m / z 217) distribution suggests the
AZSE-1 and ARN-2 (31.2-35.1 wt %)-suggesting minor organic matter mainly are algal with little amounts of
compositional differences among the oils in the ARAZ terrestrial indicated by high C27 ααα (20R) / C29 ααα
area. (20R) sterane, C27, C28 & C29 ααα (20R) sterane and
The variations in bulk oils composition not primarily C27, C28 & C29 regular sterane (Fig.7). The oils
related to the API gravity and sulfur contents. derived from Kerogen type  with the organic matter
However, the oils of wells ARS-1 and ARS-3 of bacterial-algal with minor terrigenous organic
characterized by the highest sulfur content (3.5-3.7%) matter.
are relatively heavier than the other oils and have
medium NSO and Asphaltene contents, whereas the Maturity related biomarker ratios
oil of AZSE-1 well has a high API gravity content
(25.3). The oil of well ARN-2 has the lowest contents The chromatograms of the whole oil-gas show a
of API gravity content (12.8) and sulfur content (1.4 normal alkane distribution in the range of n-C10 to n-
%), while the oil of AZSE-1 well has the highest API C38 except the AR-8 oil of shallow reservoir indicating
value (25.3) with a relatively high sulfur content a slightly higher maturity than that of deeper
(2.9%). The oil of AR-8 well has moderate contents of reservoirs. Thebes and Duwi source rocks
sulfur (2.5%) and API (21.1), while the rest of oils characterized by low Pr/Ph ratio indicating algal and
have low NSO & asphaltene contents and a high terrigenous organic matter deposited under reducing
saturate-aromatics ratio. conditions (Mostafa, 1993 48). In ARAZ area, the
The results of the bulk oils composition in ARAZ Pristane/Phytane (Pr/Ph) ratio is low and ranging
area matched the results of the Gulf of Suez in that between 0.66 and 0.73 in wells ARN-2 and AR-8
the API gravity values vary from heavy to moderate respectively suggesting a marine organic material
and are inversely proportional to the sulfur contents. deposited under moderate reducing depositional
The API increases from north to south attributed to conditions (Fig. 8). Pr/n- C17 and Ph/n-C18 ratios are
the increasing of thermal maturity of the source rocks useful in recognizing organic material types, maturity
in the same direction (Clark and Philp 1989 41; level and biodegradation (Connan and Cassou 1980
Subroto et al. 1991 42; Alsharhan and Salah 1997 49; Peters et al. 1999 50).The oils were come from
43; Alsharhan 2003 4, El Diasty et al., 2020 11). nearly the same origin of marine organic material
Stable carbon isotopes for saturates and aromatics suggested by small variations in Pr/Ph, Pr/n-C17 and
range between (30.20-24.50) and (29.40 -22.60) Ph/n- C18 ratios. These oils have low moderate
respectively, which indicate that the oils of the Gulf of maturity (Ro  0.8%) suggesting by low Pr/n-C17 (0.5)
Suez mainly generated from marine organic materials and Ph/n- C18 (0.9) values, in addition to low ranging
with minor terrestrial contribution (Sofer, 1984 44; between 110 and 115 ℃ and AR-8 oil has the lowest
Collister and Wavrek 1996 45; El Diasty et al. 2020 C7-derived expulsion temperature of 103 ℃ (Fig.9).
11). In ARAZ area, the stable carbon isotopes for
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 Journal of Petroleum and Mining Engineering In Press. DOI: 10.21608/jpme.2021.76044.1082

Figure 4 Whole oil gas chromatograms in ARAZ area.

Figure 5 Thomson alteration plot for heptane versus isoheptane (a) and bulk oil composition (b).

The 20S % C29 sterane isomerization ratio as a maturity with different thermal maturity levels for oils (Moldowan
indicator is lower than 55% indicating that the oils reach et al. 1986 51; Hunt 1996 46; El Diasty and Peters 2014
approximately to the peak oil generation stage (0.85% Ro), 38).
which consistent to the maturity derived from C7 (0.7-0.8
% Ro). Organic facies and depositional environment

Trace elements Vanadium and nickel contents in in well GC-MS biomarker parameters for oils of the ARAZ area
S-9 oils are 96.4 ppm and 41.5 and the Vanadium / nickel indicate organic facies, thermal maturity and alteration
ratio is 2.32. These results suggest different source rocks degree (tables 3 &4).

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 Journal of Petroleum and Mining Engineering In Press. DOI: 10.21608/jpme.2021.76044.1082

Figure 6 Triterpanes (m / z191) in ARAZ area.

A, C19 Tricyclic; B, C20 Tricyclic; C, C21 Tricyclic; D, C22 Tricyclic; E, C23 Tricyclic; F, C24 Tricyclic; G, C25 Tricyclic-1&2; H, C24
Tetracyclic; I, C26 Tricyclic 1&2; J, C28 Tricyclic 1&2; K, C29 Tricyclic 1&2; L, 18αH-Trisnorhopane (Ts); M, 17αH-Trisnorhopane
(Tm); N, C30 Tricyclic 1&2; O, 17αH, 18αH, 21βH- Bisnorhopane; P, C31Tricyclic 1&2; Q, 17αH, 21βH-Norhopane; R, 17βH,
21αH-Normoretane; S, 18αH, 18βH-Oleanane; T, 17αH, 21βH-Hopane; U, 17βH, 21αH-Moretane; V, C33
Tricyclic1&2;W,17αH,21βH-Homohopane(22S);X,17αH,21βH-Homohopane (22R); Y, Gammacerane; Z, C34 Tricyclic 1&2; a,
17αH, 21βH-Bishomohopane (22S); b, 17αH, 21βH-Bishomohopane (22R); c, C35 Tricyclic 1&2; d, 17αH, 21βH-
Trishomohopane (22S); e, 17αH, 21βH-Trishomohopane (22R); f, C36 Tricyclic 1&2; g, 17αH, 21βH-Tetrahomohopane (22S);
h, 17αH, 21βH-Tetrahomohopane (22R); i,17H, 21βH-Tetrahomohopane(22S); j,17αH,21βH-Tetrahomohopane (22R).

The oils show little higher land plant and high sources of Duwi and Thebes limestones. Rohrback (1983
algal/bacterial derived organic material indicated by 52) stated that the oils of the Gulf of Suez approximately
triterpanes distributions showing a high Hopane content have the same origin and the variations in chemical
(64-72 %), low C19 and C20 Tricyclics / C23 Tricyclics ratios composition attributed to the level of maturity. API
(0.20-0.27) and low C27, C28 & C29 sterane (Fig. 10). The gravity, asphaltene and NSO contents of the oils
Hopane/steranes ratio is low ranging from 1.5 to 3.1 approximately are similar, while AZSE-1 and ARN-2 oils
suggesting that the algal source contribution is more than have higher asphaltene content increasing the viscosity of
the microbial contribution, while the bacterial both wells than the other wells. The maturity of oils is
contribution is greater in the oils of wells ARS-3 and ARN. relatively similar and with the depth, the oils are
The organic facies deposited under marine conditions progressively heavier and richer in asphaltene fraction
indicated by the C30 sterane (5%) and the high amount of (Fig. 11), which consequently is affecting on the
C31-C35 Hopanes (45-50%) and the relatively high hydrocarbon migration. The oils rich in NSO and
C35/C34 extended Hopane ratio (0.99 – 1.12) suggesting asphaltene fractions are heavy and migrate difficulty,
that the source rocks are carbonates. while the oils rich in saturates and aromatics migrate more
easily. The oils of northern AZSE-1 and ARN-2 wells are
The impact of oils characterization on hydrocarbon heavier than the other wells indicating low maturity level,
migration deep reservoirs and short migration path (Fig. 12).

The oils of the ARAZ area are low-moderately mature,

sour derived from pre-Miocene marine, carbonate rich
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 Journal of Petroleum and Mining Engineering In Press. DOI: 10.21608/jpme.2021.76044.1082

Figure 7 Steranes (m / z 217) in ARAZ area.

A, C and D, βα diasteranes (20S); B & D, C27 βα diasteranes (20R); E, C28 βα diasteranes (20S); F, C28 βα diasteranes (20R);
G, C27 ααα (20S) + C28 αβ dia- (20S); H, C27 ααα (20R) + C29 αβ dia- (20S); I, C27 ααα (20S) + C28 αβ dia- (20R); J, C27 sterane
(20R); K, C29 βα diasterane (20S); L, C29 diasterane (20S); M, C28 ααα sterane (20S); N, C28 αββ sterane (20R); O, C28 αββ
sterane (20S); P, C28 ααα sterane (20R); Q, C29 ααα sterane (20S); R, C29 αββ sterane (20R); S, C29 αββ sterane (20S); T,
C29 ααα sterane (20R).

Figure 8 Plot of Pr/n-C17 versus Ph/n-C18 in ARAZ area.

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 Journal of Petroleum and Mining Engineering In Press. DOI: 10.21608/jpme.2021.76044.1082

Figure 9 Expulsion temperature based on C7 components.

Figure 10 Ternary plots showing relative abundance of C27, C28 and C29 steranes.

Figure 11 API gravity versus depth (a) and viscosity versus depth (b).

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 Journal of Petroleum and Mining Engineering In Press. DOI: 10.21608/jpme.2021.76044.1082

Figure 12 Regional geological cross-section through Abu Rudeis-Abu Zenima area.

Conclusions

In ARAZ area, the geochemical and biomarker data are

available for seven wells AZSE-1, ARN-2, AR-8, ARS-1, ARS- Conflicts of interest
3, ARS-6 and S-9. ARS-6 and AZSE-1 wells are similar in the
geochemical analysis, and AZSE-1 well selected to There are no conflicts to declare.
represent both wells. Seven oils collected from different
reservoir intervals such Nubia-A, Matulla, Thebes and Acknowledgment
Nukhul reservoirs. The bulk composition of the most oils
The author would like to express gratitude to the Egyptian
characterized by a medium saturates and aromatics (54.7-
Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) and Petrobel Company for
73.8 wt %), relatively high NSO &asphaltene contents
providing the data for this study.
(24.5 -35.1 wt %), a heavy API gravity (API > 12.8 and
<25.3) and a relatively high sulfur content. The variations
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