Seismic facies analysis of thin sandstone reservoirs, North Western Desert, Egypt

The detection of thin sandstone reservoirs on seismic sections is a matter of seismic resolution and bed thickness. Usually, layers thinner than 50ft. thick are difficult to visualize on vertical seismic sections. The problem is observed in the northwestern desert of Egypt, where several thin oil-bearing sandstone reservoirs are located, among them Qasr Field which produces oil from the Lower Cretaceous Alam El Bueib Formation, specially unit AEB-3D (D2). The aim is to follow unit (D2) sandstone channels using available horizontal and vertical seismic sections coupled with other well logs and well data. The analytical method includes interpreting lithostratigraphic units from wells logs, mapping sandstone channels, generating synthetic seismograms and correlation with stratigraphy from wells, and finally to detect channels on seismic sections using positive and negative amplitudes with proper time slice. Finally, results show that, although unit AEB-3D (D2) sandstone is +/- 50ft. thick, it can be detected using seismic modeling and well data with some efficiency.