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Oil:Oil Correlation for Some Oil Fields in the North Western Part of the Western Desert, Egypt
Fatma S. D. Harba; Mohamed M. El Nadya; Janette S. Bastaa a Egyptian Petroleum Research Institute, Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt Online publication date: 08 June 2003

To cite this Article Harb, Fatma S. D. , Nady, Mohamed M. El and Basta, Janette S.(2003) 'Oil:Oil Correlation for Some Oil

Fields in the North Western Part of the Western Desert, Egypt', Petroleum Science and Technology, 21: 9, 1583 1600 To link to this Article: DOI: 10.1081/LFT-120023240 URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1081/LFT-120023240

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Oil:Oil Correlation for Some Oil Fields in the North Western Part of the Western Desert, Egypt
Fatma S. D. Harb, Mohamed M. El Nady,* and Janette S. Basta
Egyptian Petroleum Research Institute, Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt

ABSTRACT
Physical and specic geochemical analyses are used in detail for the petroleum geochemical studies to permit the correlation of six crude oil samples from Western Desert Egypt. Dierent analytical techniques, including liquid chromatographic separation, gas chromatography, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), were used to characterize the oil samples. The oils were identied using oil characterization parameters including specic gravity ( API), sulfur content, distribution of n-alkanes, carbon preference index (CPI), pristane/phytane ratio, isoprenoid/n-alkane ratios, and detailed biological marker analysis. All these parameters showed that the studied oil samples are correlated with each other,

*Correspondence: Dr. Mohamed M. El Nady, Exploration Department, Egyptian Petroleum Research Institute, Zaker Hussein, Nasr City, Cairo, 1127 Egypt; Fax: (202) 2747433; E-mail: research@epri.sci.eg. 1583
DOI: 10.1081/LFT-120023240 Copyright & 2003 by Marcel Dekker, Inc. 1091-6466 (Print); 1532-2459 (Online) www.dekker.com

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Harb, El Nady, and Basta where they are similar in their oil type maturation and source depositional environments. Key Words: Physical analysis; Geochemical analysis; Crude oil.

1. INTRODUCTION Geochemical correlation between dierent oils depends on the physical and chemical similarities or dierences of the oils in the their reservoirs (Tissot and Welte, 1984). The ability to establish oil: oil correlation is based on the processes that aect on the separated hydrocarbons, as migration, thermal maturation, biodegradation, and water washing (Waples, 1985). Such correlation depends on the geochemical properties of the oils, which are classied into bulk properties and molecular properties. The former describes the properties of the whole oil samples and the later concerned with the geochemical characterization of the specic fractions. These specic properties are very helpful in predicting the depositional paleoenvironments and maturation (Peters and Moldowan, 1993; Waples and Machihara, 1992). Geochemical evaluation of the Northern Western Desert oil elds was described in detail by many authors, but a few of them studied the correlation between these oils by using biomarker parameters. Metwalli and Abd El Hady (1975a) stated that Umbarka oil eld produced waxy oil of 44 API, from Aptian clastics. They also added that the variation of crude oil gravities, in the Western Desert, reected dierent stages of oil migration and accumulation. Metwalli and Abd El Hady (1975b) suggested three dierent cycles of oil generation and accumulation in the northern part of the Western Desert. The rst one was in Jurassic and underlying formations, the second was in Cretaceous formations while the last cycle was for Tertiary hydrocarbon. Taher et al. (1988) classied the crude oils of the North Western Desert into two oil families, originated from terrestrial source. Zein El Din et al. (1990) reported that two oil groups namely: Umbarka and Abu Gharadig, were derived mainly from nonmarine and marine origin respectively. Mosca and Aboul Gadayel (1992) showed that there is a good correlation between the extracted oil of Khatatba Formation and the oil produced from Kanayes area. Matbouly (1993) pointed out that oils of the North Western Desert are characterized by high pristane/phytane ratios, high wax content, and very low sulfur percent. Halim et al. (1996) reported that the oils of the Western Desert are originated from terrigenous organic matters. El Nady (1998) divided the oil of some oil elds of the North
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Western Desert into two types. The rst type is a waxy oil originated from nonmarine origin. The second type is nonwaxy oil sourced from carbonate source rocks. El Nady (op. cit.) showed that the Jurassic and Cretaceous oils are characterized by high API gravity, low sulfur content, rich in saturated hydrocarbon fractions and they are mature oils, belonging to normal paranic oils. Ghanem et al. (1999) reported that the produced oils from some oil elds in the North Western Desert are related to dierent sources from Khatatba, Alam El Bueib, and Bahariya formations. El Nady et al. (2002) classied the crude oils of the Meleiha oil eld into two classes namely, paranic and deltaic oils which are originated from marine and terrigenous sources.

1.1. Objectives In the present study, the authors attempt to assess the correlation between some crude oil samples, which were recovered from some oil elds of the western part in the North Western Desert. This target was made through out the study in detail for the analytical results of six oil samples collected from six oil elds in the North Western Desert (Fig. 1) namely: Umbarka-10, Umbarka-14, Umbarka-20, Khepri-3x, Sethos-3x, and Kalabsha-1x. Some analyses include sulfur content, API gravity, gas chromatography, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for the saturated hydrocarbon fractions. Triterpanes and steranes were used in detail as a biological marker compound to characterize and relate the oil suites. The geologic informations and the organo geochemical analyses of the studied oils are listed in Table 1.

2. EXPERIMENTALS 1. 2. API gravity: is a measure of crude oils density at 15.6 C (60 F) and is calculated according to Waples (1985). Sulfur content: was determined by X-Ray Sulfur Meter Model RX-500 S according to ASTM D-42914 procedure, and the results expressed as weight percent. The soluble organic fraction of crude oils were deasphalted by precipitation in n-heptane according to IP 143/78 standard method. The deasphalted residue of crude oils was separated into saturates, aromatics, and resins including NSO compounds by column chromatography. The column was packed with 1:1

3.

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Figure 1.

Location map showing the investigated oil wells.

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Table 1. Wells Khepri-2x Bahariya 6850 22.35 00.51 77.46 12.06 14.36 10.48 19.81 57.65 03.80 01.20 03.17 00.13 00.18 00.98 01.12 00.82 Bahariya 6820 25.16 00.47 74.48 12.09 16.21 13.43 20.11 54.37 04.10 01.30 03.15 00.21 00.19 01.12 01.26 00.64 Alam El Bueib 10524 28.42 00.54 66.44 25.51 12.37 08.05 12.98 53.46 01.21 00.79 01.53 00.28 00.29 01.01 10.80 00.56 Alam El Bueib 10650 31.46 00.58 85.27 10.83 06.79 03.90 22.87 62.40 04.00 03.00 01.30 00.29 00.46 01.00 00.87 01.98 Bhariya 6400 30.11 00.62 76.91 14.53 12.58 08.56 25.10 51.80 05.10 01.50 03.40 00.19 00.22 00.91 00.92 01.23 Sethos-3x Umbarka-10 Umbarka-14 Umbarka-20

Geologic information and organo geochemical analyses of studied crude oil samples.

Oil:Oil Correlation in Egypt Kalabsha-1x Khatatba 11230 18.29 00.48 81.99 15.01 07.22 03.00 23.68 58.31 01.02 00.84 01.21 00.18 00.31 01.12 01.31 00.88

Data

Reservoir Depth (m)  API Sulfur (%) Saturates (%) Aromatics (%) Asphaltenes (%) NSO comp. (%) Naphthenes (%) Parans (%) Pristance Phytane pr/ph Pristane/n-C17 Phytane/nC18 a CPI b Ts/Tm C35/C34

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CPI: Carbon preference index odd carbon atom/even carbon atom (Waples, 1985). Ts/Tm: Tisnorhopanes/trisnorneohopanes ratio.

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4.
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5.

(by weight) alumina overlying silica gel such that the weight of the sample (asphaltenes free) was about 2% of the combined weight of the packed materials. Successive elution petroleum ether (4060), toluene, and chloroform yielded saturates, aromatics and resins with NSO component fractions, respectively. The obtained fractions were free from solvents by evaporation. The results are expressed as weight percent to the whole oil. Gas chromatographic analysis for the saturated hydrocarbon fractions for oils were carried out by Perkin Elmer Instrument Model 8700, provided with a ame ionization detector (FID). Oven temperature was programmed for 100 to 320 C at 5 C/ min. Parans and naphthenes ratios for saturate were calculated by the GC chromatogram draft. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis was carried out by using a 50 m 0.25 mm fused silica capillary column of bonded SE 54 installed with a nnigan MAT TSQ-70 combined gas chromatography/quadrupole mass spectrometer. The column oven was programmed from 100 to 310 C at 4 C/min.

These analyses were done in the laboratories of the Egyptian Petroleum Research Institute (EPRI) and central laboratory of National Research Center (NRC).

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 3.1. Oil Correlation Based on Bulk Parameters Table 1 lists the compositional measurements of the studied crude oils. API gravity of the crude oils is considered as an indicator for the level of maturity (Tissot and Welte, 1984; Waples, 1985). Therefore the oil samples under investigation have been chosen to cover a wide range of maturation since API gravity ranges from 22.35 31.46 (mature oils), except oil from Kalabsha-1x well (18.19 ) Table 1. Sulfur content can be used as indicative parameters for the source origin (Moldowan et al., 1985; Waples, 1985). Crude oil with high sulfur content (more than 0.5%) is indicated of marine origin. This is similar to the conclusion that was reported by Gransh and Posthuma (1974), who suggested that high sulfur content reects paucity of detrital clays to the source rock depositional environment and may be generated from calcareous shale or carbonate lithofacies. Crude oils with low sulfur content (less than 0.50%) have been taken as nonmarine sources.

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It is obvious from Table 1 that the oil samples have sulfur content ranging between 0.47 and 0.62%, which reect that those samples were sourced mainly from marine origin. The bulk composition of residual fraction (over 200 C) has been considered in order to minimize the eect of sample collection and storage which can result in depletion of low molecular range components (Rohrback, 1983). The gross chemical composition of the crude oils fraction (saturate, aromatic, and NSO compounds) of the residual fraction over 200 C of the studied oils are shown in Table 1. These data suggested that the studied oil samples are belonging to normal oils, originated mainly from marine source (Waples, 1985). On the other hand, the structural group analysis of the deasphalted fraction (Table 1), indicates the predominance of parans (51.80 to 62.40) relative to other hydrocarbon types as naphthenes and aromatics (12.98 to 25.10 and 10.63 to 25.51, respectively). According to these results; the crude oil samples can be classied as paranic oils (Tissot and Welte, 1984).

3.2. Oil Correlation Based on Specic Parameters Specic geochemical parameters have been assessed by the aid of gas chromatography and gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analyses of the saturated fractions of the crude oil samples. The parameters include carbon preference index (CPI) of normal parans, pristane/ phytane ratios, isoprenoids/n-alkanes ratio (pr/n-C17 and ph/n-C18), triterpanes, and steranes of some selected oils (Table 1 and Figs. 2 to 8). Geochemical correlation is based on the ability to recognize the distinct similarities or variations in the analytical parameters of the studied crude oils.

3.2.1. Gas Chromatographic Analysis The representative models of the gas chromatograms (Fig. 2) show a predominance of normal parans. Accordingly, the mode distribution of n-parans is used to shed light on the genetic origin of oils (Tissot and Welte, 1984 and Waples 1985). It is known that the amorphous sapropelic organic matter is characterized with a maximum peak concentration of C15-C25, reecting marine organic sources (Waples,

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Figure 2. Representative gas chromatograms of the saturated hydrocarbon fractions of some oil samples.

1985). Further more, the organic matters which were derived from remains of higher vascular plants (terrestrial) are characterized by a maximum concentration of n-parans at n-C25-C29 (Hunt, 1979 and Tissot and Welte, 1984). The distribution curves of n-parans of the studied oil samples are shown in Fig. 3. It is clear that the maximum in all samples appears at C15-C25, reecting marine origin of the studied oils.

3.2.2. Carbon Preference Index (CPI) Carbon preference index obtained from the distribution of n-alkanes is aected by both source and maturity of the crude oils (Tissot

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Figure 3.

Carbon number distributions of n-alkanes in some studied oil samples.

and Welte, 1984). The CPI values of the studied crude oils, which are calculated according to the formula of Waples (1985), are listed in Table 1. It is clear that the oil samples have CPI values close to unity, ranging from (0.91 to 1.12). These values indicate most probably marine origin of mature crude oils.

3.2.3. Pristane/Phytane Ratios (pr/ph) A pristane/phytane ratio seems to be useful as correlation parameters, because it is believed to be sensitive to diagenetic conditions. Pr/ph ratios substantially below unity could be taken as an indicator of highly reducing depositional environments. Very high pr/ph ratios (more than 3) are associated with terrestrial sediments, including coals. Pr/ph ratios ranging between 1 and 3 reect oxidizing depositional environments. In the present work, the values of pr/ph ratio of oil samples, Khepri-3x, Sethos-3x, and Umbarka-20 wells are almost 3.17, 3.15, and 3.40, respectively, (Table 1) and samples Umbarka-10, Umbarka-14, and Kalabsha-1x are some what more than unity (1.53, 1.30, and 1.21, respectively, Table 1). This reects most probably oxidizing depositional environments of these crude oil samples.

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Figure 4. Cross Plot of pristane/n-C17 vs. phytane/n-C18, showing origin of the studied oil samples (Shungunam, 1985, modied after Peters et al., 2000).

Figure 5. Relation between pristane/phytane ratios and pristane/n-C17 of the studied oil samples (Zumberge, 1993).

3.2.4. Isopreniod/n-Alkanes Ratios Isopreniod/n-alkanes ratios obtained from gas chromatogram of the saturated hydrocarbons (Fig. 4) provide valuable information on biodegradation, maturation, and diagenetic conditions (Waples, 1985). pr/n-C17 and ph/n-C18 ratios are chosen because each pair of compounds elutes almost simultaneously from the gas chromatography

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Figure 6. Representative mass spectrometric analysis of the saturated hydrocarbon fractions Umarka-14 oil.

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Figure 7. Representative mass spectrometric analysis of the saturated hydrocarbon fractions of Sethos-3x oil.

(Fig. 2). pr/n-C17 and ph/n-C18 ratios of the studied crude oils are given in Table 1 and Fig. 4. Waples (1985) stated that by increasing maturity, n-alkanes are generated faster than iosprenoids, in contrast biodegradation. From Fig. 4 it is evident that the investigated oil samples are mostly mature oil, originated mainly from marine organic

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Figure 8. Distribution of C27, C28, and C29 regular steranes, showing organic facles of the studied oil samples (Huang and Meinschein, 1979).

sources, deposited under reducing environment. This result is established also by plotting of pr/ph vs. pr/n-C17 (Fig. 5). It is clear that as the pr/ph ratio increases, the pr/n-C17 ratio decreases. These reect that the oil samples are located toward the increase of maturation trend.

3.2.5. Gas Chromatographic-Mass Spectrometric Analysis (GC-MS) Gas Chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis of the saturated hydrocarbon fractions of the crude oils were carried out to detect number of biomarkers. In this study, triterpanes and steranes were detected as a measure of the biological marker for the oil samples, are complied in Table 1 and shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

3.2.5.1. Hopanes The C30 hopanes are considered as the largest component in the series C27-C33 in the all studied samples (Fig. 6(A,B)). This indicates

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that the organic materials in these oils were originated from saline and hypersaline environments (Ten Haven et al., 1988, Peters and Moldowan, 1993). The extended hopanes are available as paleoenvironmental indicator (Waples and Machihara, 1992). The unusual large amounts of C35 extended hopanes seem to be associated with marine sources (Moldowan et al., 1985). This phenomenon can be displayed conveniently as the ratio of C35/C34 extended hopanes (Jones and Philip, 1990). From Table 1, the oil samples of Khepri-3x, Sethos-3x, Umbarka-10, and Kalabsha-1x have C35/C34 values ranging from 0.56 to 0.88 indicating mature oils (Peters and Moldowan, 1993) originated from carbonate source but with more contribution from fresh water and lacustrine environment (Philip et al., 1989). While, the C35/C34 ratios of Umbarka-14 and Umbarka-20 oil ranging from 1.23 to 1.98 (Table 1) reecting source rock rich in more carbonate materials. Riva et al. (1989) and Hunt (1996) found that Ts/Tm ratio (Trisnorhopane/ Trisnoneohopane) increases as the portion of shale in calcareous facies decreases. Van Grass (1990) stated that Ts/Tm ratio began to decrease quite late during maturation. Ts/Tm values for the studied oil samples (Table 1) show that the oils of Khepri-3x, Sethos-3x, Umbarka-10, and Kalabsha-1x wells have Ts/Tm values which are more than 0.9. This suggested that carbonate rocks are slightly shally oils. The high concentration of C29 norhopane in the samples (Fig. (5A and B)) conrms that these samples were generated from organic materials rich in carbonates and evaporites (Connan et al., 1986). These data indicate that the organic matter of Khepri-3x, Sethos-3x, Umbarka-10, and Kalabsha-1x oils are associated with mature source rock, deposited under fresh water and lacustrine environments more than Umbarka-14 and Umbarka-20 oils.

3.2.5.2. Steranes The C27 diasteranes, C28 and C29 regular steranes are most comman regular steranes biological marker (Volkman et al., 1983 and Petersen 1998). The representative model of the steranes of the studied oil samples is shown in Fig. 7(A, B). This gure shows that the steranes distribution is characterized by the predominance of C29 over C27 regular steranes, suggesting terrestrial source rock with more contribution of marine organic sources. However, C29 steranes may be originated from blue-green algae and marine diatoms (Fowler and Douglas, 1987 and Obermajer et al., 1999). The high diasteranes concentration compared to regular steranes (Fig. 7(A and )), suggests a clay rich source rock,

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because the clay is required to catalyze the steroids transformation to diasteranes (Peters and Moldowan, 1991). Also the relative high concentration of C27 regular steranes (Fig. 7(A)), may indicate input of marine organic sources. On the other hand, the abundance of C27, C28, and C29 regular steranes (Fig. 8) suggests that the source of the studied oil samples seams to be mainly more contributed from marine organic origin.
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CONCLUSIONS Six oil samples were collected from six oil elds in the North Western Desert namely: Umbarka-10, Umbarka-14, Umbarka-20, Khepri-3x, Sethos-3x, and Kalabsha-1x wells. These oil samples were subjected to some geochemical analysis such as sulfur content, API gravity, gas chromatography, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The results showed that: 1. 2. API gravity and sulfur content indicate that the crude oils have high mature level of marine origin. Distribution of n-paran CPI, pr/ph and isoprenoide/n-alkanes ratio reects that the oil samples are originated mainly from marine organic sources deposited in reducing environment. The biological markers (hopanes, Ts/Tm, C35/C34, and steranes distributions), suggested that the oil samples are mature, derived mainly from source rock rich in marine organic matters. This indicates that the investigated oil samples are correlated with each other.

3.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The authors gratefully acknowledge support of Prof. Dr. Maher El-Souckary, the Director of Egyptian Petroleum Research Institute (EPRI). Many thanks to the Exploration Department of Khalda Petroleum Company for providing the crude oil samples, needed for the completion of this work. Deepest gratitude to Prof. Dr. Mahmoud M. Kholeif (EPRI) for his sincere encouragement. Many thanks to Prof. Dr. Mahmoud H. Hammad, Exploration Department in EPRI for critically reading and reviewing this mansucript. Many thanks to Prof. Dr. Samy Faramaway for many helpful analysis.

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