Ras Fanar

Profile for Ras Fanar Oil and Gas Field

Location

The Ras Fanar Oil and Gas Field is located offshore on the western side of the Gulf of Suez, Egypt. Specifically, it is situated approximately 3.5 km east of the Ras Gharib shoreline, within the Belayim dip province, and falls between latitudes 28° 13ʹ and 28° 18ʹ to the north, and longitudes 33° 11ʹ and 33° 17ʹ to the east.

Geology and Stratigraphy

The field is part of the Gulf of Suez rift basin, which is one of the most prolific hydrocarbon provinces in Egypt. The sedimentary succession in the Ras Fanar area ranges from Paleozoic to recent times. The syn-rift succession is represented by the Belayim formation at the base, the South Gharib formation in the middle, and the Zeit formation at the top. The main oil-producing unit in the field is the Middle Miocene Nullipore reservoir, which is equivalent to the Hammam Faraun Member of the Belayim Formation. This reservoir is characterized by bioclastic limestone with frequent occurrences of reefs, corals, and algae.

Discovery and Production

The Ras Fanar Oil Field was discovered in 1978 by drilling the well KK 84-1. The field is operated by the Suez Oil Company (SUCO), and the owner is Wintershall DEA with a 100% stake.

The field's structure is an elongated horst block trending northwest-southeast and tilted to the northeast, dissected by some Aquaba trending cross faults. The pre-Miocene strata were uplifted, faulted, and deeply eroded during Oligocene times, resulting in a complex geological setup.

Reserves and Production

The Ras Fanar field has significant oil reserves, with an estimated 143 million barrels of oil equivalent (boe) in recoverable reserves as of 1996. The field produces approximately 4.38 million barrels of oil per year as of 2015.

The Nullipore reservoir, the main carbonate reservoir unit, contributes to about half of the field's production. The field is crucial for Egypt's oil production, accounting for a substantial portion of the country's total oil output, with the Gulf of Suez rift basin contributing 80% of Egypt's oil reserves and 75% of its oil production.

Reservoir Characteristics

The reservoirs in Ras Fanar involve complex carbonate formations. The Middle Miocene Nullipore reservoir is heterogeneous, requiring detailed microzonation models to understand its performance. These models integrate geological, petrophysical, and core data to predict permeability and other reservoir properties. Machine learning algorithms have been applied to improve the accuracy of these predictions.

The field's reservoirs are characterized by several stacked pay zones, and the reservoir performance is challenging to understand due to the lack of detailed sedimentological and paleontological data, as well as poor seismic data quality.

Operational Details

The field is currently operating, with Suez Oil Company (SUCO) as the operator. The exact start year of production is not specified, but the field has been active since its discovery in 1978.

Technical Approaches

Advanced technical approaches, including 3D simulation models and microzonation modeling, are used to manage the field's production. These models help in understanding fluid movement and optimizing reservoir performance. The integration of core and well log data with machine learning algorithms is a key aspect of reservoir management in Ras Fanar.

In summary, the Ras Fanar Oil and Gas Field is a significant oil-producing asset in Egypt, characterized by complex geology, substantial oil reserves, and the use of advanced technical approaches for reservoir management.