Applying Sedimentological and Geophysical Techniques for Facies Analysis and Depositional History of July Member Sandstones, the Northern Area of July Oilfield, Gulf of Suez – Egypt

July oilfield is a major normal fault-bounded structural block.It is a multi-reservoir oilfield located in the central part of the Gulf of Suez.July Member sandstone (Lower Rudeis) is the main reservoir and it was deposited during the Early Miocene (Burdigalian).July Member sandstone has been studied for the interpretation of its depositional environment on the basis of the four defining parameters of: facies; lithology, sedimentary structures, fossil contents and geometry.Petrographic studies of the cored intervals and ditch cuttings description of the four wells that were used in this study have revealed that July Member sandstone has the signatures of a shallow marine environment.On the other hand, sedimentary structures were described along the cored intervals throughout incomplete cycles of Bouma sequence.Sedimentary structures confirmed rapid and below wave-base deposition.Environmental diagnosis of benthonic and planktonic foraminifera has detected the paleo-bathymetric zone of deposition to be between outer neritic and upper bathyal (about 200 m).July Member in the study area is one of the most significant syn-rift sediments; the geometry of the depositional environment of these sediments was proven to be affected by the episodic growth of normal faults bounding the area of study.This study attempted to explain the obtained interpretation contrast throughout a suggested redeposition scenario of shallow marine sediments as submarine fan turbidities into deeper marine terrain across the basin floor.The study of the characteristic gamma ray log motifs with the assist of supplementary components obtained from petrographic studies confirmed the suggested submarine fan model and highlighted its integration with a submarine channels system.