Geothermal History of Hydrocarbon Generation of Wells in the North Western Desert, Egypt

Forty-two rock samples representing seven formations (Ras Qattara, Khatatba, Masajid, Alam El Bueib, Kharita, Baharyia, and Abu Roash) and six thermal burial history modeling of wells (Tut-1x, Kahraman-1, Yasser-1, Salam-3x, Meleiha-4x, and El-Kharita-1x) were used to characterize potential source rocks for generating capability of oil preservation in terms of hydrocarbon generation and expulsion. The results showed that Ras Qattara Formation started to generate hydrocarbons during Paleocene, Khatatba Formation during Late Cretaceous-Eocene, Masajid Formation during Late Cretaceous-Late Miocene, Alam El Bueib Formation during Late Cretaceous-Oligocene, and Kharita Formation during Miocene times. Bahariya and Abu Roash formations are still immature and do not reach the onset of hydrocarbon generation.