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Shale oil and gas prospectivity of the northern Western Desert, Egypt

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Egyptian Journal of Geology, v. 63, 2019, p. 83-99

SHALE OIL AND GAS PROSPECTIVITY OF THE NORTHERN WESTERN DESERT,

EGYPT
Amgad Soliman1, Mohamed Yousef2, Yasser El Safori2
1 Ieoc, Eni-Egypt branch
2 Ain Shams University, Faculty of Science, Geology Department, Cairo, Egypt
ABSTRACT
Since the first hydrocarbon discovery in the Western Desert in 1969, several papers were published
focusing on the conventional petroleum system elements. The entire stratigraphic section was studied to
define the source rocks, seals and reservoirs. The present work focuses on screening the available dataset
and re-using the geological information to assess the possible unconventional hydrocarbon resources.
Geochemical analyses of the hydrocarbon rich stratigraphic intervals could lead to define and rank the
shale oil and gas plays in terms of their presence, type, quality and lateral extension. Both major source
rocks(Abu Roash and Khatatba formations) went through many geological and geochemical studies that
proved their efficiency and ability to produce oil, gas, and condensate in different localities based on their
maturation, total organic content, hydrogen index and kerogen type. Preliminary screening of the
stratigraphy and geochemistry of the Western Desert source rocks indicated the shale gas and oil potential
of the Abu Roash source rock in the Abu Gharadig Basin. The parameters required to assess the shale
oil/gas plays are depth, thickness, lithological content, total organic content and maturation. In this paper,
the available geochemical data were collected, screened and plotted to indicate the possible
unconventional hydrocarbon plays.
Keywords: Unconventional, Shale oil, Shale gas, source rocks, Western Desert, Abu Gharadig Basin.

INTRODUCTION
The present paper uses the available published geochemical data to define the shale gas and oil
potential in different localities of the Western Desert of Egypt. Several publications discussed the
fundamental measurements of TOC, maturity and Kerogen type. In Shoushan Basin, Ramadan et al.
(2012) studied the geochemical analyses of wells in Tut oil field; whereas these analyses were carried out
in Salam oil field by Abdel Gawad et al. (2017). Younes (2005) conducted geochemical analyses as well
of Shoushan-1X well, while Metwalli and Pigott (2005) studied Louly well, and Shalaby et al. (2008)
studied Shams wells. In Abu Gharadig Basin, geochemical data of the wells (Sit 1-1, Sit 2-1, Sit 4-1, Sit 7-
1, BED 3-3, BED 3-4, BED 3-10 and Bed 17-1) were obtained from (Awad, 2008), Sheiba 18-1 from
(Moretti etal., 2010), Abu Gharadig1,2,3 and 4 from (Khaled, 1999), additional data for Abu Gharadig-1
from (El Nady 2016), GPT-3 (Hamed, 1999), GPT SW-7 (El Beialy, 2010).
A conventional source rock could be considered as shale oil or shale gas bearing strata if they are
partially retaining part of the generated hydrocarbons. The unconventional potential of a source rock could
be measured calculating the generated hydrocarbon volumes minus the expelled ones. If this shaly source
rocks interval still includes considerable percent of silica and carbonate grains, they are able to be
hydraulically fractured for releasing the entrapped hydrocarbons.
Several parameters have to be verified to assess the unconventional shale oil/gas play; out of them:
depth, thickness, kerogen type, TOC and maturity. Such parameters need to be compared with the
producing shale gas/oil fields in North America. The data obtained from the discovered shale plays in the
USA indicate difficulties in case of exceeding the depth of 3500 – 4000 m. Such drilling depth will face
operational problems in the drilling and hydraulic fracturing process. Furthermore, the cost will be higher
 Soliman, et al.
knowing that the shale development process requires the drilling of large number of wells (4 or 8 wells per
square mile).
Drilling of several horizontal wells from the vertical holes is mandatory to recover the gas and oil
contained in the shale rocks. Knowing that many of these strata are dipping or not laterally distributed
with minimum thicknesses of 10 m and 30 m is a must to develop the shale oil and gas strata respectively.
Such thicknesses allow the horizontal drilling (geo-steering) to track them horizontally. The lithological
contents of the shale play have a significant value for the ability of rock to make continuous permeable
network by the hydraulic fracturing process. Shale of clay content exceeding 30% is elastic and restores its
form after the fracturing process. It is favorable to have carbonate or silica content with the clay minerals
to make the rock passing successful fracturing operation.
The geochemical characterizations of a source rock are fundamental to make it a potential shale play. It
should be in the oil/condensate or gas play as per today’s thermal maturity window. Kerogen type II is
much preferred to have an active source rock with the possibility to give oil, gas and condensate. The total
organic carbon (TOC) is known as the organic richness as it gives the value of expected generated
hydrocarbon volumes. In the shale gas plays the higher TOC values have additional value as the kerogen
can adsorb the gas on its surface. The calculated hydrocarbon in place indicates basically the gas stored in
the pores of the shale. Additional volumes are adsorbed by the kerogen particles. Geological framework in
terms of stratigraphy, sedimentology and geochemistry of the Western Desert were studied and published
by the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC, 1992).The tectonostratigraphy of Abu Gharadig
and Fayum basins recognized three main depositional cycles which are the Hercynian, Late Jurassic to
Early Tertiary and from Late Cretaceous to Middle Tertiary. The study included geothermal mapping and
hydrocarbon potential for the possible source rock intervals (Awad, 1984).
Crude oil samples and well cuttings from Abu Roash-F and Khatatba formations were studied and
presented two main petroleum systems of Late Cretaceous marine shales and Jurassic- Early Cretaceous
non-marine organic-rich shales. Another third possible hydrocarbon system is a mixture of both source
rocks (El Diasty and Moldowan,2012).In addition to the previously mentioned publications the source
rock potential and the hydrocarbon generation of the northern Western Desert of Egypt were studied by
many authors, among them are: Zein El- Din and El-Hamzy (1980), Parker (1982), Shahin and Shehab
(1988), Zein El-Din et al.(1990), Abdel-Kireem et al. (1995), Ibrahim (1996), Abdel-Gawad et al.(1996),
Douban (1996),Metwalli et al. (1999), Dolson et al.(2000), Darwish et al. (2000) and Waly et al. (2001),
Maky and Ramadan (2008), Awad (2008), Moustafa (2008), El Beialy (1994, 1995), Moretti et al. (2010),
Zobaa et al. (2011).
STRATIGRAPHY
The stratigraphic succession of northern Egypt is characterized by several carbonate-clastic
alternations. Together with the enclosed secondary transgressive-regressive cycles (Fig.1), it constitutes
one of the main elements of the Mesozoic-Early Tertiary petroleum system of the Western Desert. This is
because the N-S facies zonation and vertical cyclicity brought about the interlayering of potential source,
reservoir and seal facies in the Mesozoic sequence. The other two elements, the Late Jurassic to Late
Cretaceous basin subsidence and Late Cretaceous-Paleocene deformation, contributed, respectively, to the
localization of generative basins and to trap formation (Keeley, 1989; Jenkins, 1990; Klitzsch, 1990;
Said,1990; Keeley and Wallis, 1991;Dahi and Shahin, 1992).
Paleozoic rocks (the Cambrian-Silurian Siwa Group and the Devonian-Carboniferous Faghur Group)
are the thickest in the Western part (Siwa area: 2750-3000m); mostly continental to shallow marine
sandstones, siltstones and shales, with thin intercalations of Middle-Late Jurassic sedimentary rocks
extend across North Egypt, from the exposures of North Sinai to the Western Desert subsurface. They
attain a total thickness of2000-3500m with E-W main depocenters in the east and north. The
discontinuous Early- Middle Jurassic Bahrein coarse sandstones (0-550 m) partly are a lateral equivalent
and partly disconformably overlain by the Khatatba Formation (390-1375 m). Bahrein sediments are
predominantly lagoonal in Sinai, with carbonaceous shales, coal, sandstones, marine shales, and siltstones.
Sandstones and some carbonates occur towards southwest. It is overlain by Oxfordian to Kimmeridgian
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 Shale oil and gas prospectivity of the northern Western Desert
transgressive shallow marine shelf carbonates (Masajid Formation, 200-400 m to 570-840 m in
depocenters). Early Cretaceous sandstones (mainly fine- to coarse-grained and quartzose) unconformably
onlap the eroded top of the Jurassic rocks. They are continental or deltaic-fluviatile and occasionally
contain dolomite and anhydrite beds (Alam el Bueib Formation, 500-2000m). The widespread Middle
Aptian marine transgression is represented, in the north, by the lagoonal to supratidal Alamein Dolomite
(few tens to 80 m), an excellent stratigraphic and seismic marker and locally an important reservoir in the
south and southwest (the Abu Ballas marine sands and shales (EGPC, 1992). The overlying Kharita
Formation sandstones (350 to > 800 m) are regressive. The Late Cretaceous marine cycles include the
Bahariya (300-480 m, Early Cenomanian) fine- to very fine-grained shallow marine sandstones, a
widespread oil play, and the Late Cenomanian-Turonian Abu Roash Formation, characteristically an
alternation of dolomitized limestones, shale, and sandstones (the carbonates become more abundant and
thicker northwards). The formation is subdivided into seven (A-G) members; several of these are
important reservoirs and source rocks, especially in the Abu Gharadig Basin. There, the formation, usually
250-750 m thick, attains a thickness of almost 1000m.

Fig.1: Generalized stratigraphic

column of northern Western
Desert (after Moustafa et al.,
2003).

Senonian-Paleocene facies include chalk, marl, argillaceous limestone, bedded chert, often with a high
content of bituminous organic matter, representing widespread marine deposition with high sea level
stands extending southeastwards in Egypt as embayment over the present Nile Valley (EGPC, 1984). The
impact of Senonian tectonic movements is seen in thickness variations, stratigraphic gaps and
unconformable relations. Senonian beds are thin or missing on uplifts and show multiple levels of onlap
and angular unconformities. Most important are the Khoman (few tens to 1650 m) and the Apollonia
formations (Paleocene-Middle Eocene chalky to nummulitic limestones, generally ~100m, 550 to 1675 m
in depocenters). The top of the Western Desert stratigraphic sequence is mostly formed by terrigenous
clastics, the Late Eocene-Oligocene Dabaa Formation (200-400 m, max. 825 m) is formed of marine

85
 Soliman, et al.
shales, and the Late Oligocene to Early Miocene Moghra Formation (200-970 m, is mainly sandstones,
fluvio-marine, lagoonal to shallow marine upwards). Then the succession ends up with
The MarmaricaFormation (up to 150m thick alternating limestones and dolostones).
STRUCTURAL SETTING
The Western Desert can be divided into several large-scale structural provinces (Fig. 2), which
developed preferentially along pre-existing lines of weakness in the basement and in response to lateral
movements between Europe and Africa (EGPC, 1992).In general, the Western Desert is characterized by a
northwestward thickening Paleozoic section and northward thickening prism of Mesozoic and Tertiary
strata which are interrupted by the major east-west trending Sharib-Sheiba high (EGPC, 1992). This
regional uplift separates the Abu Gharadig, Natrun and Gindi basins from the coastal northernWestern
Desert basin. This basin could be divided into a group of sub-basins (EGPC, 1992). The Kattaniya High is
a horst block in the eastern part separating the Natrun Basin from the Gindi Basin (EGPC, 1992). The
Gindi Basin, at least at times, is an eastward extension of the Abu Gharadig Basin (EGPC, 1992).

Fig. 2: Western Desert’s

sedimentary basins (after
Dolson et al., 2000).

The sedimentary basins of the Egyptian Western Desert havebeen developed through eight tectonic and
magmatic events (Guiraud et al., 1992). These events are as follows:
a. Permo-Triassic rifting associated with Late Triassic-Early Jurassic magmatism.
b. Neocomian-Early Aptian rifting.
c. Aptian-Albian rifting (associated with the extrusion of alkaline and transitional basalts).
d. Santonian compressive event (Santonian event).
e. Cenomanian-Early Eocene sagging and basin deepening.
f. Intra-Eocene compression.
g. Late Eocene compression.
h. Neogene igneous activity.
UNCONVENTIONAL RESOURCES
Shoushan Basin
Major hydrocarbon discoveries in Shoushan Basin confirmed that shales of the Khatatba Formation are
the main source rock of the basin. Abu Roash TOC rich strata lie mainly in the immature thermal
hydrocarbon zone without significant role in the petroleum system. The Jurassic Khatatba source rock had
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 Shale oil and gas prospectivity of the northern Western Desert
charged oil and gas for the reservoirs in the entire stratigraphic section of Khatatba, Alam El Bueib,
Kharita, Bahariya and Abu Roash formations.
The studied wells in Shoushan basin (Fig. 3) are Shoushan-1, Louly-1, Shams-2, Shams NE-1, Salam-
2, Salam-5, Salam-35, Salam-52, and Tut-21-Deepwells.

Fig. 3: Reference wells

studied in Shoushan
Basin.

TOC
The ten studied wells (Figs. 4 to 8) shows TOC values for Abu Roash source rock up to 2.63 wt% in
Salam field wells(2, 5, 16, 35, and 52). TOC values for Alam El Bueib Formation are up to 6.92 Wt% in
Shmas NE-1 well, while TOC values for the Khatatba source rock are up to 8.61 wt % in Shmas NE-1
well. The data of the studied wells are shown in Table 1.
Table1. TOC limits for the studied wells in Shoushan Basin.

Values are average TOC in wt%. Values in brackets are the maximum values when available.

Fig. 4: TOC limit for

Abu Roash Formation
in Shoushan Basin.

Fig. 5: TOC
values for
Khatatba
Formation in
Shoushan Basin

87
 Soliman, et al.

Fig. 6: TOC limits (wt %)

for Abu Roash Formation
in Shoushan Basin.

Fig. 7: TOC limits

(wt%)for Alam El
Bueib Formation in
Shoushan Basin.

Fig. 8: TOC limits (wt.%)

for Khatatba Formation in
Shoushan Basin.

Thermal Maturity
The thermal maturity of organic material is a process controlled by both temperature and time (Waples,
1994). The vitrinite reflectance is used to predict hydrocarbon generation and maturation. The data of
vitrinite reflectance (Ro %) measurements for the studied wells were plotted against depth to indicate the
phases of hydrocarbon generation and expulsion based on the maturity profile. Thermal maturity was
checked in five wells located in the Shoushan Basin (Figs. 9 to13). The organic rich Abu Roash Formation
was found at depth ranging from 950 to 2200 m and its thermal maturity ranges from immature to oil
window. Meanwhile, the Alam El Bueib Formation was found at depth rangingfrom1950 to 3300mand its
thermal maturity ranges from oil to gas windows. Khatatba Formation is found at depth rangingfrom 3100
to 4500mand itsthermal maturity is mainly in the gas window.
88
 Shale oil and gas prospectivity of the northern Western Desert
Kerogen type
Kerogen types are distinguished using the hydrogen index (HI) versusoxygen index (OI) on the
modified Van Krevelen diagram originally developed to characterize kerogen types (Fig. 9). Selected
samples for Shoushan-1X well were studied by Younes (2005). The studied shale source rock intervals of
Khatatba, Alam El-Bueib, and Abu Roash-G from Shoushan-1Xwell contain mixed kerogen types II–III.
This kerogen type of mixed vitrinite-inertinite is derived from land plants and preserved remains of algae
(Peters and Cassa, 1994). Mixed kerogen type characterizes mixed environment containing admixture of
continental and marginal marine organic matter and has the ability to generate oil and gas (Hunt, 1996).

Fig. 9. Thermal maturity of Shoushan-1X well. Fig.10. Thermal maturity of Louly well.
Abu Gharadig Basin
Current understanding of the Abu Gharadig Basin confirmed two main source rock bearing intervals in
Abu Roash and Khatatba formations. The main oil-generating system is based on the Cretaceous Abu
Roash Formation source beds, which have supplied oil to reservoirs in the Kharita, Bahariya and Abu
Roash formations. Meanwhile, the older and deeper Khatatba source beds had generated oil and gas and
charged the entire younger reservoirs of Khatatba, Alam El Bueib, Kharita, Bahariya and Abu Roash
formations.

89
 Soliman, et al.
The used dataset of Abu Gharadig Basin (Fig. 15) includes Abu Gharadig-1, Abu Gharadig-2, Abu
Gharadig-3, Abu Gharadig-4, BED17, BED3-3, BED 3-10, Sitra 17-1, Sitra 1-1, Sitra 5-1, Sitra 4-1,
Sitra7-1, GPT-3, and GPT SW-7 wells.

Fig.11: Thermal maturity of Shams-2 well. Fig.12: Thermal maturity of Shams NE-1 well.

TOC
Fourteen wells were investigated (Figs. 16 to 20) and found TOC values for Abu Roash source rock up
to 3.17 Wt% in GPT SW-7 well. TOC for Alam El Bueib Formation has values up to 2.43 wt% in Sheiba-
18 well. Measurements of TOC in Khatatba source rock are up to 4.97 wt % in SIT 4-1 well. Table 2
shows the studied wells.

90
 Shale oil and gas prospectivity of the northern Western Desert
Table 2. TOC limits for the studied wells in Abu Gharadig Basin.

Values are average TOC in wt%. Values in brackets are the maximum values when available.

Fig.13: Thermal maturity of

Tut 21-Deep well.

91
 Soliman, et al.

Fig. 14: Kerogen types of different

source rock intervals in Shoushan-
1X (after Younes, 2005).

Fig. 15: Reference

wells studied in
Abu Gharadig
Basin.

Fig.16: TOC
limits for Abu
Roash
Formation in
Abu Gharadig
Basin.

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 Shale oil and gas prospectivity of the northern Western Desert

Fig. 17: TOC limits for Abu Roash-E member in Abu Gharadig Basin.

Fig. 18: TOC limits for Abu Roash-F member in Abu Gharadig Basin.

Fig.19: TOC limits for Abu Roash-G member in Abu Gharadig Basin.

Fig. 20: TOC limits for Khatatba Formation in Abu Gharadig Basin.
93
 Soliman, et al.
Maturity
Thermal maturity was checked in nine wells located in the Abu Gharadig Basin (Figs. 21to 23). The
organic rich Abu Roash Formation was found at depth ranging from 2200 to 3400mand its thermal
maturity ranges from immature to oil or gas windows. Extrapolation of the maturity data downwards
shows that the Alam El Bueib and Khatatba source rocks are located at depth ranging from gas to over-
mature windows.
Kerogen analyses
Elemental analysis of samples from the Abu Roash E and G members done by Khaled (1999) gave
H/C (Hydrogen/Carbon) ratios ranging from 0.73 to 1.06, and O/C (oxygen/Carbon) ratio between 0.038
and 0.060. This indicates a sapropelic oil-prone type II kerogen, of high oil source potential (Baskin,
1997), which is in the principal zone of oil generation. Optical analysis showed that the organic matter is
mainly composed of marine amorphous sapropelic material (about 70%), together with structured liptinite
(exinite) macerals (about 30%).

Fig. 21: Thermal maturity combining Abu Gharadig1, 2,

Fig. 22: Thermal maturity of BED3-3 well.
and 3 wells.
94
 Shale oil and gas prospectivity of the northern Western Desert

Fig. 23: Thermal maturity of selected well

samples in Abu Gharadig Basin.

The liptinite macerals mostly consist of fresh or brackish water algal phytoclasts (20%), with 10%
marine dinocysts (classifications are based on Stach et al. (1975) and Bostick (1979)). The relative
abundance of these algal phytoclasts indicates fluvial to shallow marine depositional environments. This is
consistent with the conclusions of Bayoumi (1994), who suggested that the Abu Roash-E Member is made
up of prograding, fluvially-supplied mouth bars deposited in a bay or lagoon.
The maceral group is equivalent to the keroginite (liptikeroginite) and liptinite (autochthonous and
detrital) phytoclast groups of Massoud and Kinghorn (1985), i.e. mesoliptinite kerogens with oil and gas
source potential of Rahman and Kinghorn (1995). These phytoclasts, which consist of phytoplanktonics
(particularly algae), makeup the main organic components of types I and II kerogens and accumulate in
marine, lacustrine, lagoonal and terrestrial environments. They are characterized by intermediate H and O
contents and have a high oil and gas potential. This potential was confirmed by the results of Rock-
Evalpyrolysis; the hydrogen index (HI) ranges from 201 to 337 mg HC/g TOC (Fig. 24), and the genetic
potential (Pg) varies from 3.76 to 6.59 kg HC/ton rock, indicating a good and effective source rock.

Fig. 24. Kerogen type

of different source rock
intervals in Abu
Gharadig Basin.

CONCLUSIONS
Screening of the geochemical data for Abu Roash source rock bearing interval in Shoushan and Abu
Gharadig basins shows fair to high TOC values and kerogen type II and III. The strata lie in the immature
to oil window in Shoushan Basin, whereas in Abu Gharadig Basin they lie in the oil/gas window. The
Khatatba source rock has higher TOC values, sometimes up to 7-8 wt%, with kerogen type II/III. In
Shoushan Basin, it lies in a range from gas window to overmature window, meanwhile in Abu Gharadig
Basin, it lies mainly in the overmature window and in some localities in the gas window.

95
 Soliman, et al.
Considering the higher price of oil rather than gas, source rocks of kerogen type II in the oil
hydrocarbon window are mostly preferred than being located in the gas window. Source rocks of kerogen
type III are less preferred for their lower productivity and the possibility to generate just gas when being
matured.
Out of the studied dataset, Abu Roash Formation in Abu Gharadig Basin has higher potential as a shale
oil and gas hydrocarbon play. Additional special analyses are required to reanalyze well cuttings
geochemically and lithologically. To carry out the detailed Rock Eval pyrolysis for well cuttings, it should
not be contaminated with the oil-base mud. Mechanical analysis will show intervals with the best clay
content that will identify the successful intervals for the hydraulic fracturing process.
As the route work in the shale oil and gas exploration, the available data were studied and defined the
Abu Roash Formation in Abu Gharadig Basin as possible shale oil and gas sweet spot. The proposed next
action is to drill a vertical well in the defined area. Then, to drill several horizontal wells from the same
vertical entry. Then, applying the hydraulic fracturing process for the best-defined intervals. Production
tests for the gas, oil and condensate will define the economic value of the play and its way ahead.
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 ‫‪Shale oil and gas prospectivity of the northern Western Desert‬‬
‫اﺣﺗﻣﺎﻻت اﻟزﻳت واﻟﻐﺎز اﻟﺻﺧري ﺑﺷﻣﺎﻝ اﻟﺻﺣراء اﻟﻐرﺑﻳﺔ‪ ،‬ﻣﺻر‬
‫أﻣﺟد ﺳﻠﻳﻣﺎن*‪ ،‬ﻣﺣﻣد ﻳوﺳف**‪ ،‬ﻳﺎﺳر اﻟﺻﺎﻓوري**‬
‫* اﻳوك ﺑرودﻛﺷن – اﻳﻧﻲ ﻓرع ﻣﺻر‬
‫** ﻗﺳم اﻟﺟﻳوﻟوﺟﻳﺎ‪ ،‬ﺟﺎﻣﻌﺔ ﻋﻳن ﺷﻣس‪ ،‬اﻟﻘﺎھرة ‪ ،١١٥٦٦‬ﻣﺻر‬
‫اﻟﺧﻼﺻﺔ‬
‫ﺣظﻳت اﻟﺻﺣراء اﻟﻐرﺑﻳﺔ ﺑﺎﻟﻌدﻳد ﻣن اﻟدراﺳﺎت واﻷﺑﺣﺎث اﻟﺟﻳوﻟوﺟﻳﺔ ﻣﻧذ ﺗﺣﻘﻳق أوﻝ اﻛﺗﺷﺎف ﺑﺗروﻟﻲ ﻋﺎم ‪ ١٩٦٩‬وﺣﺗﻰ اﻵن‪،‬‬
‫وﺑﺎﻟرﻏم ﻣن ذﻟك ﻓﻘد ﺗﻣرﻛزت أﻏﻠب ﻫذﻩ اﻷﺑﺣﺎث ﺣوﻝ ﻋﻧﺎﺻر اﻟﻧظم اﻟﺑﺗروﻟﻳﺔ اﻟﺗﻘﻠﻳدﻳﺔ ﻣن ﺣﻳث ﺻﺧور اﻟﻣﺻدر واﻟﺻﺧور‬
‫اﻟﺣﺎﺟزة واﻟﺧزاﻧﺎت‪ ،‬إﻻ أن ﻫذا اﻟﺑﺣث ﻳﺷﻣﻝ إﻋﺎدة ﺗﻘﻳﻳم ﻟﻠﻌدﻳد ﻣن اﻟﻧطﺎﻗﺎت اﻟﺟﻳوﻟوﺟﻳﺔ واﻷﺣواض اﻟﺗرﻛﻳﺑﻳﺔ ﻣن ﻣﻧظور اﻟﻧظم‬
‫اﻟﺑﺗروﻟﻳﺔ ﻏﻳر اﻟﺗﻘﻠﻳدﻳﺔ واﺣﺗﻣﺎﻻت ﺗواﺟدﻫﺎ ﻣن ﺣﻳث ﺗوزﻳﻊ واﻧﺗﺷﺎر اﻟﻣﺎدة اﻟﻐﻧﻳﺔ ﺑﺎﻟﻣﺣﺗوي اﻟﻌﺿوي‪ ،‬وﻗد وﺟد أن اﻟﺻﺧور‬
‫اﻟﻣﻣﻳزة ﻟوﺣدات اﻟﺧطﺎطﺑﺔ وأﺑو رواش ﺗﺣﻣﻝ اﻟﺻﻔﺎت اﻟﻣﻧﺎﺳﺑﺔ ﻹﻧﺗﺎج اﻟزﻳت و اﻟﻐﺎز و اﻟﻣﺗﻛﺛﻔﺎت ﻓﻲ أﻣﺎﻛن ﻣﺧﺗﻠﻔﺔ ﺑﺄﺣواض‬
‫اﻟﺗرﺳﻳب ﻟﻠﺻﺣراء اﻟﻐرﺑﻳﺔ ﺑﻧﺎء ﻋﻠﻲ ﻣﺣﺗواﻫﺎ اﻟﻌﺿوي وﻧوع اﻟﻛﻳروﺟﻳن و درﺟﺔ ﻧﺿﺟﻬﺎ اﻟﺣراري‪ ،‬و ﻗد ﺗم ﻋرض اﻟرﺳم اﻟﺑﻳﺎﻧﻲ‬
‫و اﻟﺧراﺋط اﻟﻣوﺿﺣﺔ ﻟﺗوزﻳﻌﺎت ﻫذﻩ اﻟﻌواﻣﻝ ﻓﻲ ﺣوﺿﻲ أﺑو اﻟﻐرادﻳق و ﺷوﺷﺎن‪ ،‬وﻗد ﺧﻠص اﻟﺑﺣث إﻟﻲ ﺟﺎﻫزﻳﺔ ﺣوض أﺑو‬
‫اﻟﻐرادﻳق ﻹﻧﺗﺎج اﻟزﻳت واﻟﻐﺎز اﻟﺻﺧري ﻣن ﺻﺧور اﻟطﻔﻠﺔ اﻟﻣﻣﻳزة ﻟﻣﺗﻛون أﺑو رواش‪.‬‬
‫اﻟﻛﻠﻣﺎت اﻟداﻟﺔ‪ :‬ﻏﻳر ﺗﻘﻠﻳدي‪ ،‬زﻳت ﺻﺧري‪ ،‬ﻏﺎز ﺻﺧري‪ ،‬ﺻﺧور اﻟﻣﺻدر‪ ،‬اﻟﺻﺣراء اﻟﻐرﺑﻳﺔ‪ ،‬ﺣﻘﻝ أﺑو اﻟﻐرادﻳق‪ ،‬ﻣﺗﻛون أﺑو‬
‫رواش‪.‬‬

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