Seismic Synthetic Generation and Seismic Structural Interpretation for Hydrocarbon Trapping in the Upper Cretaceous Reservoirs, El‐Gindi Basin, Egypt

Abstract

The Silah field, located within El‐Gindi rift basin, is a structurally complex yet underexplored province with significant hydrocarbon potential. This is due to limited well control and complex structural geometries that hinder accurate reservoir characterization. This study integrates 2D seismic reflection profiles (20 inlines, 10 crosslines), five wireline logs, synthetic seismograms, and check‐shot‐constrained velocity modeling using a field‐calibrated 35 Hz Ricker wavelet in Petrel v2017.4 to refine reservoir characterization and reduce exploration risk. The interpretation delineates nine major faults and their associated splays, organized into three principal orientations (E–W/ENE, NW–SE, and NE–SW) that record a multiphase tectonic evolution comprising Cretaceous rifting, strike‐slip reactivation, and Oligocene–Miocene inversion. Isochore maps reveal pronounced lateral thickness variability across the Abu Roash succession, with the F and G members reaching maximum thickness and structural relief in the NW and SW sectors. These intervals, in proximity to mature source rocks, constitute the primary reservoir targets. Depth conversion, calibrated with check‐shot‐constrained velocity modeling, indicates depths ranging from ∼3500 ft in southern sectors to ∼8000 ft in the NNW depocenter. Integrating velocity calibration, thickness trends, and 3D structural modeling yields a transferable workflow for de‐risking hydrocarbon exploration in rift‐related basins and identifies Abu Roash F and G as the primary reservoir targets within fault‐bounded closures and releasing‐bend geometries. These results highlight the critical role of multiphase deformation in controlling reservoir distribution, trap integrity, and charge efficiency and offer new insights into hydrocarbon prospectivity in the Silah field and comparable basins of the Western Desert.