Herodotus Basin spatial-Temporal Evolution and Tectonostratigraphic Framework, Implications for Potential Plays

The Herodotus Basin, located offshore northwestern Egypt, is an exploration frontier. A detailed regional seismic interpretation characterises the Mesozoic-Cenozoic stratigraphic sequences and their distribution across the different basin areas. Six stratigraphic sequences are described with their separating unconformities and regional correlations with the neighboring basins. The Mesozoic sequences demonstrate shelf-basinal evolution controlled by the Neo-Tethyan realm, with a sediment source and feeder systems evolved from the North Western Desert domain.

The Matruh-Kanayes canyon is recognised as a major clastic delivery system that controlled the character and distribution of sediments from the Late Jurassic to the Early Cretaceous time. In the Matruh-Kanayes Canyon, the localised shale detachment deformations are triggered by both the transform displacements and the tectonic movement reversals from extensional to compressional that occurred in Late Cretaceous (Santonian) time.

The Cenozoic sequences in the Mediterranean realm were mainly sourced from the eastern Nile Delta domain to the deep Herodotus Basin. The Oligocene rivers and canyons, as well as the Miocene-Holocene Nile River phases, represent the Cenozoic clastic delivery systems. These giant feeder systems point to the superior economic potential of the Herodotus Basin, as it embraces Mesozoic and Cenozoic opportunities similar to the successful, prolific basins in the region.