Abu Gharadiq

Commentary

While the Basin remains attractive, political uncertainty remains a drag on further exploration. Nevertheless, there are signs emerging that the current uncertainty could be reversed.

Updated

August 17, 2023

Location

Description

The Abu Gharadiq Basin in the Western Desert (NW Egypt) is a mature hydrocarbon province with over 95% of the oil and gas fields in the Upper Cretaceous Abu Roash, Bahariyah and Kharita sandstone reservoirs. Many wells had penetrated the thick Lower Cretaceous Alam el Bueib sandstone reservoir but no significant discoveries were made. This led most operators to believe that there was very little prospectivity at deeper levels, in particular in the Jurassic Safa sandstones overlying the Palaeozoic basement.

Summary

Exploration successes have been limited up to 2002, which has meant that the Basin is still relatively under explored. However, exploration successes post-2002 have provided renewed impetus to the basin's competition for acreage.