This paper represents an integrated geophysical study for the Farafra area, Western desert, Egypt including a general review for the different geological data and studies carried out over this area, followed by the petrophysical analysis for Ammonite-1 well which is the nearest well for this area. An interpretation of the available seismic reflection data was carried out by picking four different sequence boundaries and tying them with the well data. The available data were in the form of : well logs for an offset well (Ammonite-1) and 20 reprocessed seismic lines distributed over the study area.
The paper covers the geological setting of the study area including the stratigraphic sequence and the dominating structures through a review for the previous geological studies. It also discusses the log interpretation data of Ammonite-1 well and builds up the formation rock model so that at each depth the volume of shale, matrix, water and hydrocarbon can be determined. This model provides direct method for the quantitative interpretation of the petrophysical parameters such as: shale, porosity and saturations (Sw and Sh), which are the most important for the geologists, geophysicists, petrophysicists, and engineers.
Finally, the interpretation of the seismic reflection data over the study area where four different sequence boundaries are picked and a synthetic seismogram was created for Ammonite-1 well to tie between the well data and the seismic lines. Two way time (TWT) maps for each boundary were the average velocity was used for the depth conversion to draw the depth maps. Finally the new leads are determined for drilling the new wells.
Till this moment, there is no clear petroleum system that could work in this area unless the Silurian and Devonian shales could be proved in the area. They represented in situ petroleum system and that leads to make the Paleozoic play the only chance like in Libya, Algeria, Saudi Arabia and Jordan which will be discussed by this paper.