Relation between hydrocarbon saturation and pore pressure evaluation for the Amal Field area, Gulf of Suez, Egypt

Abstract The study area is located between latitudes 28° 4′ 12″ to 28° 4′ 50″ N and longitudes 33° 35′ 12″ to 33° 35′ 34″ E mainly in the Amal Field, the offshore southern Gulf of Suez basin. Kareem Formation which is subdivided into Shagar and Markha members is the object of study through integrating the subsurface geologic studies, well log evaluation and the petrophysical laboratory measurements in order to better understand hydrocarbon potentialities of Kareem Formation in Amal Field, using ten wells (Amal-5, Amal-9, Amal-10AST, Amal-11, Amal-12, Amal-13ST, Amal-15ST, Amal-17ST, Amal-18, and Amal-19) different types of open hole well logs for petrophysical parameters (shale content, porosity and fluid saturation) determination. Also the porosities were determined by using the available sonic, density and neutron logs. Four wells (Amal-15 ST, Amal-17 ST, Amal-18 and Amal-19) have been selected for evaluating the pore pressure for Kareem Formation based on corrected drilling exponent (Dxc) calculation, flow line temperature data, background gases, mud density, hole configuration data and wireline logs. A matching was observed between pore pressure values and hydrocarbon saturation in the studied area.