Integrating Thorium Normalization and Radiogenic Heat Production (RHP) for Distinguishing Reservoir and Source Rocks in Abu Roash Formation, Western Desert, Egypt.

Investigations of radioactivity in oil production have been ongoing since the early 20th century, with gamma radiation utilized for petroleum prospecting from the 1950s onwards. Accurate delineation of hydrocarbon-bearing zones is crucial for optimizing exploration processes and reducing operational risks. This research is motivated by the need to evaluate the effectiveness of radioactive-based techniques, such as thorium normalization and radiogenic heat production (RHP), as reliable alternatives or complements to conventional methods. The study explores their application to identify hydrocarbon-bearing zones and distinguish reservoir and source rocks in Abu Roash Formation at Khalda oil field in Egypt's Western Desert. RHP, derived from the breakdown processes of thorium, uranium, and potassium isotopes, is a significant contributor to surface thermal energy transfer within the Earth's outer layer. This investigation employs a thorium normalization technique to correlate and compare with conventional well log analysis. Gamma-ray spectrometry and total gamma ray (GR) logs are utilized to identify potential oil reservoirs by applying RHP calculations. Results highlight zones of hydrocarbon presence, emphasizing the efficiency of these methodologies in delineating oil-bearing regions. The agreement ratio between radioactive techniques and conventional well log analysis indicates that the radioactive logs can be used to delineate the hydrocarbon bearing zones with an ensuring percentage of 85%.