Geomechanical assessment of the Lower Turonian AR-F limestone Member, Abu Gharadig Field, Egypt: Implications for unconventional resource development

Abstract

This study evaluates the unconventional reservoir geomechanical characteristics of the Lower Turonian Abu Roash-F (AR-F) carbonates from the Abu Gharadig field, onshore Egypt, which has not been attempted before. The interval dominantly consists of planktic foraminifera and micrite matrix. The AR-F marine carbonate is organic-rich (0.59–3.57 wt% total organic carbon), thermally mature (435–441°C Tmax) and falls within the oil generation window. The studied interval is very tight with up to 2.6% porosity and 0.0016–0.0033 mD permeability with the wireline log-based brittleness index ranging between 0.39–0.72 which indicates a less brittle to brittle nature. AR-F exhibits a hydrostatic pore pressure gradient with minimum horizontal stress (Shmin) varying between 0.66–0.76 PSI/ft. Safe wellbore trajectory analysis was performed for deviated and horizontal wells to infer the mud pressure gradients required to avoid wellbore instabilities. Based on the inferred in-stress magnitudes and considering an NNE regional maximum horizontal stress orientation, none of the fractures are found to be critically stressed at present day. To produce from the AR-F, hydraulic fracturing is necessary, and we infer a minimum pore pressure increment threshold of 1390 PSI by fluid injection to reactivate the vertical fractures parallel to regional minimum horizontal stress azimuth.

Estimating Total Organic Carbon (TOC) Content and Porosity of the Ranikot Formation in the Central Indus Basin, Pakistan, Using Seismic Inversion and Well Log Analysis

“…Recent studies provide references but have many parameters that are difficult to evaluate accurately [10][11][12][13]. It is also very important to incorporate the core-based results and geophysical logs for detailed characterization of the rock properties for any lithology of interest [14,15].…”

Editorial: Advanced techniques and applications for characterizing the hydrocarbon potential in carbonate reservoirs

“…Editorial on the Research Topic Advanced techniques and applications for characterizing the hydrocarbon potential in carbonate reservoirs s Even though carbonate rocks account for approximately half of the world's hydrocarbon reservoirs (Harbaugh, 1967) in the form of conventional and unconventional reservoirs (Sarhan, 2020;Sarhan, 2021;Farouk et al, 2022a;Farouk et al, 2022b), many questions remain about their function as intervals that contain hydrocarbons. The complex interaction between pore systems and rock fabric, as well as the variety of facies and deformational styles that carbonate rocks display, are the main causes of the complexity.…”