الفهرس 
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Abstract
conclusions
Integration of the foramineferal and calcareous nannofossil zonations are applied on four wells distributed in different tectonic provinces of the Gulf of Suez to reach to accurate and high resolution biostratigraphy as a tool in development and more oriented exploration for hydrocarbons in Gulf of Suez area. 13 foraminiferal zones are distinguished. Of them, 1 is of middle Eocene age and 12 are of early to middle Miocene ages. The foraminiferal zonal scheme adopted here is a technical scheme applied in the Gulf of Suez for many decades and includes a planktonic foraminiferal zones in the planktonic including horizons, intercalated with benthonic and ostracode zones in the barren intervals of planktonic foraminifera. 7 calcareous nannofossil zones are distinguished. Of these, 2 are of middle Eocene age and 5 of early to middle Miocene ages. These nannofossil zones adopted the zonal scheme of Martini (1971), Okada and Bukry (1980) and Perch-Nielsen (1985).
For the first time, 3 nannofossil zones: NN3, NN4 and NN5 subdivided into 8 calcareous nannofossil subzones, these subzones have been recorded and established in the studied wells.
For the first time, 21 nannofossil bioevents are distinguished in our investigated area which have been played an essential role fore more verification to the high resolution biostratigraphy work. Of them, Reticulofenestra lockeri bioevent, is recorded within NN4c subzone and is recommended to be used to delineate the Burdigalian/Langhian boundary. It coincides with the Preorbulina datum, which is defined by the first occurrence of Preaorbulina glomerosa curva in the Gulf of Suez region.
The upper part of the Aquitanian and the most basal part of the Burdigalian has been lumped and placed at the top of the calcareous nannofossilss NN2 Zone, as a result of the FOs of Spenolithus belmnos and Helicosphaera ampliaperta were recorded variably around the LO of Triquetrorhabdulus carinatus which define the the top of the calcareous nannofossil NN2 Zone (also we could not determine their FO accurately due to caving problem). In addition the LO of the foraminiferal Paragloborotalia kugleri not recorded in our investigated wells.
In terms of calcareous nannofossils the Early /Middle Miocene boundary (Burdigalian/Langhian) falls within the upper part of the calcareous nannofossils NN4 Zone, almost below the LO of Helicosphaera ampliaperta, in agreement with (Fornaciari et al., 1997).
Reticulofenestra lockeri bioevent as the outcome of the high resolution biostratigraphgy work has been played an important role to approximate the Early /Middle Miocene boundary, where it coincides with the first evolutionary appearance of the foraminiferal Preorbulina glomerosa and the LO of foraminiferal Eggrellal propinqua and falls nearly below the LO of Helicosphaera ampliaperta, accordingally it can be used to delineate the Burdigalian/Langhian boundary along with the previous widely used marker of FO Preorbulina glomerosa.
The LO of Helicosphaera waltrans which is used to define NN5b subzone in this study can temporarily be considered as a good candidate to approximate the Langhian/Serravallian boundary. It is assigned to the FO of Helicoshaera walberdorfensis (14 Ma), which is used by Di Stefano et al., 2008 to delineate the base of the Serravillian age.
The integrated high resolution analysis of the foraminifera and calcareous nannofossill content from the 4 offshore wells that cover the the Burdigallian to the Serravillian age , results in improving the biostratigraphic resolution of the zonal schemes currently used in the Gulf of Suez area.