Burial and thermal history simulation of the subsurface Paleozoic source rocks in Faghur basin, north Western Desert, Egypt: Implication for hydrocarbon generation and expulsion history

Abstract Paleozoic Zeitoun, Desouqy and Dhiffah formations represent source rocks to hydrocarbon in Faghur basin, north Western Desert, Egypt. They are characterized by sufficient amount of organic matter belonging to kerogen type III and mixed type II/III, which are in maturation stage. A 1D-basin modeling was performed by using geological and geochemical data of the Paleozoic source rocks from five wells in Faghur basin, north Western Desert, Egypt. These data used in 1D basin modeling for constructing and understanding of burial and thermal geo-histories of Faghur basin and for simulating and predicting the timing of petroleum and expulsion for the Paleozoic source rocks in the studied wells. Burial and thermal history models indicate that the Zeitoun Formation entered onset of oil generation in the studied wells during Late Cretaceous (100.10–91.65 my) with transformation ratio (TR) 10–25, peak oil during Late Cretaceous (91.65–79.30 my) with TR 25–50 and late oil stage at Late Cretaceous (79.30 my-0) to present day with TR 50–60.45. Desouqy Formation entered onset of oil generation also during Late Cretaceous (94.43–73.60 my) with TR 10–25 in the studied wells, peak oil during Late cretaceous (73.60–62.40 my) with TR 25–50 and Late oil stage during Late Cretaceous to present day (62.40 my-0) with TR 50–61.82. Dhiffah Formation entered onset of oil generation in the studied wells during Early to Late cretaceous (102.11–92.27 my) with TR 10–25, peak oil during Late Cretaceous (92.27–86.40 my) with TR 25–50 and late oil stage at Late Cretaceous to present day (86.40 my-0) with TR 50–67.27. No cracking oil to gas in the studied Paleozoic source rocks in the studied wells. These basin modeling results also suggest that the Paleozoic source rocks act as an effective source rocks where significant amount of petroleum is expected to be generated and expelled to any nearby prospect reservoir rocks in the Faghur basin.