الفهرس 
Chapter One IntroductionOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
A detailed palynological and palynofacies study was carried out on 24 shale cutting samples from the Oligocene Dabaa Formation, which was penetrated in the Amana-1X well, Abu El Gharadig Basin, north Western Desert, Egypt. The investigation targeted primarily three main groups of palynological elements: phytoclasts, palynomorphs, and amorphous marine organic matter (AMOM), using transmitted light microscopy. Two major marine palynofacies were recognized: the oldest is palynofacies 1, made up mainly of AMOM (average abundance 47.5%), phytoclasts (31.6%), and palynomorphs (20.9%). A suboxic to anoxic outer shelf to upper slope paleoenvironment is suggested for this palynofacies. Palynofacies 2 is characterized by poorly preserved translucent phytoclasts (average abundance 61.2%) in addition to palynomorphs (24%), AMOM (14.8%), and opaques (<10%). This association clearly marks a paleoenvironmental shift toward a more proximal, more oxic marine facies. The overall composition of both palynofacies indicates a general progradational trend interrupted by brief transgressional episodes during the deposition of the Dabaa Formation. The kerogen composition of palynofacies 1 suggests type II–III (mostly oil prone), and palynofacies 2 constitutes type III kerogen (largely gas prone). Spore/ pollen exine colors in the studied Dabaa samples point to immature organic content of no potential for hydrocarbon production. 112 species including dinoflagellate cysts, sporomorphs, acritarchs, algae, fungal spores and foraminiferal test linings were identified. This part of succession in the Amana-1X well represents the upper part of the Dabaa Formation which is of Early Oligocene age.