3D Static Reservoir Modeling of the Bahariya Reservoirs in parts of the Shushan Basin, North Western Desert, Egypt

Abstract

The Khalda Oil Field is one of the most productive in the Shushan basin; two dry wells were recently drilled in the study area's northern and southwest corners. The primary goal of this study is to assess the potential of the Bahariya reservoir in the Khalda Oil field and to express the geological, petrophysical, and structural features through maps and cross sections. The Upper and Lower Bahariya members were evaluated as hydrocarbon-bearing sandstone reservoirs using a complete set of well logs from eight wells and thirty 2D seismic lines. The NW-SE fault trend is clearly defined by the interpretation of the depth structure contour maps. The quantitative computerprocessed interpretation of petrophysical characteristics such as lithology, net pay, effective porosity (eff), the volume of shale (Vsh), water saturation (Sw), and hydrocarbon saturation (Sh) is obtained. All of these findings are represented in a 3D geological model. 3D static reservoir modelling of the Bahariya reservoirs using seismic and well data can be an important part of an overall strategy for oilfield development and locating a new drilling location. A 3D integrated reservoir model was run on eight wells to simulate the subsurface structural setting, petrophysical modelling, and facies distribution modelling of the Cretaceous Bahariya reservoir, which is the study's main oil-bearing reservoir. In the Late Albian (Lower Bahariya), Early Cenomanian, the various structural depth maps and structural cross-sections extracted from the 3D structural model show 11 dip-faults that are primarily normal faults with dominated NW-SE trends (Upper Bahariya), Facies and petrophysical cross-sections extracted from the 3D model show the lateral extension of these properties and their thickness variation through the reservoir zones. The combination of geological structures, accurate facies, and petrophysical evaluation provides an excellent framework for planning appropriate drilling campaigns for Khalda oil field exploration and development.