Application of the principal component analysis for hydrocarbons - source rocks correlation in the Nile Delta Basin, Egypt

Abstract

Summary In this work, the principal components analysis was applied along with a correlation heatmap to determine the relationship between liquid hydrocarbons samples and source rock samples in the Nile Delta Basin. The principal component analysis made it possible to display oil samples with source rock samples in a single space, and the correlation heatmap helped to determine geological factors that stand for axes of this plot. Based on the results of the study, it was possible to determine the characteristics of source rocks for hydrocarbons which are consist of kerogen type III and have an initial hydrogen Index of less than 200 mg HC/g TOC, that produced liquid hydrocarbons at the early and main stages of oil window. The Miocene source rocks are the closest to the studied oils in terms of depositional environment.