Dr. Mohamed K Zobaa :: Publications:

This study focuses on the palynological investigation of the late Jurassic-early Cretaceous sediments retrieved from the Sharib-1X borehole, north Western Desert, Egypt. Diverse and well preserved palynomorphs recovered from the Masajid Formation indicate a late Jurassic age (possibly Kimmeridgian) based on the highest occurrence of Sentusidinium rioultii, Systematophora penicillata, Adnatosphaeridium caulleryi, Ctenidodinium combazii and Micrhystridium lymensis var. rigidum. An arid climate prevailed based on the abundance of well known xerophytic Corollina pollen. The Kharita Member of the Burg El Arab Formation and the lower most part of the Bahariya Formation was dated as middle to late Albian based on the presence of Cretacaeiporites densimurus in the middle Albian and the highest occurrence of Reyrea polymorpha indicates late Albian age. A warm dry climate prevailed based on the presence of elaterate – Afropollis – Cretacaeiporites association. The rest of the Bahariya Formation was dated as late Albian/early Cenomanian under the same palaeoclimatic conditions. Continental to marginal marine palaeoenvironment was suggested to the studied sediments based on the dominance of terrestrially-derived palynomorphs associated with scarce marine dinoflagellate cysts. In addition, the data gathered from the theoretically estimated vitrinite reflectance, spore/pollen colouration and visual petrographic kerogen analysis is used in defining three organic maturation levels and the source rock potentiality. Kerogen type III, gas-prone at depths from 5360-5700 ft, kerogen type II, oil-prone at depths from 5700-6020 ft and kerogen type IV, inert material at depths from 6020-6160 ft.