Subsurface Imaging of the Jurassic–Cretaceous Reservoir Sequence in Pepi Field Using Seismic Attributes

Abstract

ABSTRACT The main target of the present study is to map the subsurface structure and elucidate trapped hydrocarbon accumulation. This has been achieved in terms of structure and stratigraphy using 2D seismic data in SEG‐Y format with velocity and some borehole information of the Jurassic–Cretaceous reservoirs in the Pepi Field. The Pepi Field is a main hydrocarbon‐producing field lying in the Shushan Basin, which is among the largest coastal sedimentary basins in the Northwestern Desert of Egypt. The present study was carried out primarily by interpreting seismic profiles, transforming them into time and depth structural contour maps, and after that building 3D structural models and profiles. Interpreting the resulted maps, model, and computed seismic attributes shows the presence of three master faults. The first major fault extends from NE to SW, and the second major fault extends E–W at the eastern portion of the studied area, resulting probably from Jurassic rifting associated with plate motions. The third main fault is an anti‐master fault extending from NW to SE, probably associated with the Cretaceous rifting of North Africa. Interpreting the computed seismic attributes (second derivative and tuning effect) shows the presence of a large channel sand lens in the Lower Safa reservoir, which appeared in the central portion of the study area. Three‐way dip structural closure around faults and horst blocks represents the most productive sites for new prospect wells in the Pepi Field and similar settings elsewhere to increase the production. The applied workflow can be extended to other analogous prolific structures in the Northwestern Desert and to other structural analogues in similar basins elsewhere, particularly in NE African basins.