Reservoir Quality and Recoverable Reserves of the Nubian Sandstone in the Saqqara Field, Gulf of Suez, Egypt: Petrophysical Insights for Mature Basin Optimization

preprint OA: closed CC-BY-4.0
📄 Open PDF Full text JSON View at publisher

Abstract

Abstract This study provides a detailed petrophysical assessment of the Nubian Sandstone reservoir in the Saqqara Field, Gulf of Suez, Egypt, integrating advanced log analysis across four key wells. The research contributes to global reservoir evaluation practices by refining methods for estimating hydrocarbon potential in mature clastic systems. Lithological interpretation, based on neutron-density cross-plots, confirms the dominance of clean sandstone with minimal clay and anhydrite cementation. Thermal analysis indicates a moderate geothermal gradient (~2.75 °C/100 m) and formation temperature (~147 °C), supporting hydrocarbon maturation. The reservoir exhibits excellent quality, with low shale volume (~0.6%), total porosity averaging 13.5%, and high hydrocarbon saturation (~78.5%). Despite variations in permeability, significant net pay zones (ranging from 108.5 to 481.5 ft) offer robust development potential. Using volumetric methods, the estimated hydrocarbons in place reach ~106 billion barrels, with ~31 billion barrels considered recoverable. These findings highlight the strategic value of the Nubian Formation in hydrocarbon planning and underline the critical role of integrated petrophysical analysis in maximizing production efficiency in mature basins.
Full text 14,513 characters · extracted from preprint-html · click to expand
Reservoir Quality and Recoverable Reserves of the Nubian Sandstone in the Saqqara Field, Gulf of Suez, Egypt: Petrophysical Insights for Mature Basin Optimization | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Article Reservoir Quality and Recoverable Reserves of the Nubian Sandstone in the Saqqara Field, Gulf of Suez, Egypt: Petrophysical Insights for Mature Basin Optimization Abdelbaset M. Abudeif, Ahmed E. Radwan, Mohammed A. Mohammed, and 1 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7113293/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 12 Sep, 2025 Read the published version in Scientific Reports → Version 1 posted 14 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract This study provides a detailed petrophysical assessment of the Nubian Sandstone reservoir in the Saqqara Field, Gulf of Suez, Egypt, integrating advanced log analysis across four key wells. The research contributes to global reservoir evaluation practices by refining methods for estimating hydrocarbon potential in mature clastic systems. Lithological interpretation, based on neutron-density cross-plots, confirms the dominance of clean sandstone with minimal clay and anhydrite cementation. Thermal analysis indicates a moderate geothermal gradient (~2.75 °C/100 m) and formation temperature (~147 °C), supporting hydrocarbon maturation. The reservoir exhibits excellent quality, with low shale volume (~0.6%), total porosity averaging 13.5%, and high hydrocarbon saturation (~78.5%). Despite variations in permeability, significant net pay zones (ranging from 108.5 to 481.5 ft) offer robust development potential. Using volumetric methods, the estimated hydrocarbons in place reach ~106 billion barrels, with ~31 billion barrels considered recoverable. These findings highlight the strategic value of the Nubian Formation in hydrocarbon planning and underline the critical role of integrated petrophysical analysis in maximizing production efficiency in mature basins. Earth and environmental sciences/Solid earth sciences Earth and environmental sciences/Solid earth sciences/Geophysics petrophysical evaluation shale volume (Vsh) reservoir quality hydrocarbon reserves Nubia formation porosity permeability recoverable hydrocarbon estimation Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 12 Sep, 2025 Read the published version in Scientific Reports → Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 25 Jul, 2025 Reviews received at journal 24 Jul, 2025 Reviews received at journal 23 Jul, 2025 Reviews received at journal 23 Jul, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 23 Jul, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 21 Jul, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 21 Jul, 2025 Reviews received at journal 20 Jul, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 17 Jul, 2025 Reviewers invited by journal 17 Jul, 2025 Editor invited by journal 17 Jul, 2025 Editor assigned by journal 16 Jul, 2025 Submission checks completed at journal 15 Jul, 2025 First submitted to journal 13 Jul, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-7113293","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":488565432,"identity":"6d044e70-cfdf-49e3-bf25-126fea1af15e","order_by":0,"name":"Abdelbaset M. Abudeif","email":"data:image/png;base64,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","orcid":"","institution":"Geology Department, Faculty of Science, Sohag University","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Abdelbaset","middleName":"M.","lastName":"Abudeif","suffix":""},{"id":488565433,"identity":"140e31b5-5827-4c01-a44a-05f79d3991f7","order_by":1,"name":"Ahmed E. Radwan","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Faculty of Geography and Geology, Institute of Geological Sciences, (Uniwersytet Jagielloński) Jagiellonian University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Ahmed","middleName":"E.","lastName":"Radwan","suffix":""},{"id":488565435,"identity":"8b9002a3-f355-4783-b620-cc99f0c02fd4","order_by":2,"name":"Mohammed A. Mohammed","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Geology Department, Faculty of Science, Sohag University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Mohammed","middleName":"A.","lastName":"Mohammed","suffix":""},{"id":488565442,"identity":"fa8484b1-2490-43c5-9883-db6f0e90a00b","order_by":3,"name":"Faten A. Tawfik","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Geology Department, Faculty of Science, Sohag University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Faten","middleName":"A.","lastName":"Tawfik","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2025-07-13 12:38:11","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7113293/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7113293/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[{"content":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-18424-w","type":"published","date":"2025-09-12T15:57:09+00:00"}],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":91359274,"identity":"7a8e1f6a-90c0-4a2c-8261-64c20fc02a6f","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-09-15 16:05:34","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":2628353,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7113293/v1_covered_efb0f2fc-4a20-4d6a-8584-10eba5af04df.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Reservoir Quality and Recoverable Reserves of the Nubian Sandstone in the Saqqara Field, Gulf of Suez, Egypt: Petrophysical Insights for Mature Basin Optimization","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":true,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"scientific-reports","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"scirep","sideBox":"Learn more about [Scientific Reports](http://www.nature.com/srep/)","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"","title":"Scientific Reports","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Scientific Reports","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"petrophysical evaluation, shale volume (Vsh), reservoir quality, hydrocarbon reserves, Nubia formation, porosity, permeability, recoverable hydrocarbon estimation","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7113293/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7113293/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eThis study provides a detailed petrophysical assessment of the Nubian Sandstone reservoir in the Saqqara Field, Gulf of Suez, Egypt, integrating advanced log analysis across four key wells. The research contributes to global reservoir evaluation practices by refining methods for estimating hydrocarbon potential in mature clastic systems. Lithological interpretation, based on neutron-density cross-plots, confirms the dominance of clean sandstone with minimal clay and anhydrite cementation. Thermal analysis indicates a moderate geothermal gradient (~2.75 °C/100 m) and formation temperature (~147 °C), supporting hydrocarbon maturation. The reservoir exhibits excellent quality, with low shale volume (~0.6%), total porosity averaging 13.5%, and high hydrocarbon saturation (~78.5%). Despite variations in permeability, significant net pay zones (ranging from 108.5 to 481.5 ft) offer robust development potential. Using volumetric methods, the estimated hydrocarbons in place reach ~106 billion barrels, with ~31 billion barrels considered recoverable. These findings highlight the strategic value of the Nubian Formation in hydrocarbon planning and underline the critical role of integrated petrophysical analysis in maximizing production efficiency in mature basins.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Reservoir Quality and Recoverable Reserves of the Nubian Sandstone in the Saqqara Field, Gulf of Suez, Egypt: Petrophysical Insights for Mature Basin Optimization","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-07-22 05:10:27","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7113293/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"decision","content":"Revision requested","date":"2025-07-25T14:53:56+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-07-24T11:22:45+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-07-23T21:32:57+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-07-23T18:11:08+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"296923095180532009903078623283874295766","date":"2025-07-23T17:15:10+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"175305734518010678977956497428934753603","date":"2025-07-21T12:35:06+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"107948013439942095747169778465608526279","date":"2025-07-21T08:52:07+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-07-20T08:22:42+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"201479380452933912725653737625258581346","date":"2025-07-17T11:11:41+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2025-07-17T10:10:53+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvited","content":"","date":"2025-07-17T06:58:14+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2025-07-16T04:52:08+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2025-07-15T09:08:49+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Scientific Reports","date":"2025-07-13T12:29:51+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"scientific-reports","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"scirep","sideBox":"Learn more about [Scientific Reports](http://www.nature.com/srep/)","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"","title":"Scientific Reports","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Scientific Reports","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"4382d74f-71a7-4b12-b62c-d5676035b794","owner":[],"postedDate":"July 22nd, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"published-in-journal","subjectAreas":[{"id":51862962,"name":"Earth and environmental sciences/Solid earth sciences"},{"id":51862963,"name":"Earth and environmental sciences/Solid earth sciences/Geophysics"}],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2025-09-15T16:04:37+00:00","versionOfRecord":{"articleIdentity":"rs-7113293","link":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-18424-w","journal":{"identity":"scientific-reports","isVorOnly":false,"title":"Scientific Reports"},"publishedOn":"2025-09-12 15:57:09","publishedOnDateReadable":"September 12th, 2025"},"versionCreatedAt":"2025-07-22 05:10:27","video":"","vorDoi":"10.1038/s41598-025-18424-w","vorDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-18424-w","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-7113293","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-7113293","identity":"rs-7113293","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}

Text is read by the "Ask this paper" AI Q&A widget below. Extraction quality varies by source — PMC NXML preserves structure cleanly, OA-HTML may include some navigation residue, and OA-PDF can have broken hyphenation. The publisher copy (via DOI) is the canonical version.

My notes (saved in your browser only)

Ask this paper AI returns verbatim quotes from the full text · source: preprint-html

Answers must be backed by verbatim quotes from this paper's full text. Hallucinated quotes are dropped automatically; if no verbatim passage answers the question, we say so. How this works

Citation neighborhood (no data yet)

We don't have any in-corpus citations linked to this paper yet. This is a recent paper (2025) — citers typically take a year or two to land, and the OpenAlex reference graph may still be filling in.

Source provenance

europepmc
last seen: 2026-05-20T01:45:00.602351+00:00
unpaywall
last seen: 2026-05-22T02:00:06.705733+00:00
License: CC-BY-4.0