SEDIMENTOLOGY AND SEISMIC GEOMORPHOLOGY OF THE TIDALDOMINATED ESTUARINE INCISED VALLEY FILL: LATE MIOCENE QAWASIM RESERVOIR, ONSHORE EAST NILE DELTA

The development of a tidal-dominated estuary above the Basal Messinian incision in the Lower Messinian Qawasim Formation in the onshore East Nile Delta province is interpreted from 3D seismic core, borehole images, and wireline logs data from four selected wells. Sedimentologically in terms of five facies associations of the Qawasim Formation are; tidally influenced fluvial channels, overbank muds, estuarine tidal channel, estuarine tidal bars and estuarine muds. These facies associations are building blocks for the depositional model that bounded by two incisions during the Early Messinain time. The lower cycle is called Qawasim level I which contains fluvial channel encased in overbank muds of fluvial plain. The upper cycle, Qawasim level II is characterized by estuarine tidal channel, estuarine tidal bars, and estuarine muds. The geomorphological characteristics of Qawasim Formation (lower and upper levels) can be detected using detailed seismic interpretations. The sedimentological and seismic characteristics of the Qawasim Formation in El Basant field may indicate the depositions in a tidal regime within estuary domain.