Evaluating CO ₂ Storage Potential in a Paleozoic Shifah Sandstone Reservoir Using 3D Modeling, Shushan Basin, Western Desert, Egypt

ABSTRACT

This study evaluates the Paleozoic Shifah Sand reservoir, Western Desert, Egypt, as a potential geological storage site for CO ₂ sequestration to support national decarbonization and global carbon management strategies. An integrated workflow incorporating 3D geological modeling, petrophysical characterization, seismic interpretation, and geomechanical analysis was to assess reservoir quality, storage capacity, and containment integrity. The Shifah Sand reservoir exhibits favorable petrophysical properties, with effective porosity ranging from 7% to 21% and permeability up to 900 mD, indicating excellent injectivity potential. Formation MicroImager (FMI) data reveal laterally continuous clean sandstone intervals with interconnected pore systems and stress‐aligned fractures that may further enhance fluid flow. The reservoir is effectively sealed by the overlying Zahra and Upper Safa formations, which are characterized by negligible porosity, very low permeability, and the absence of pervasive open fractures with a stable compressional to shear wave ratio, confirming strong caprock integrity. Structural trapping associated with fault‐bounded closures is the principal CO ₂ storage mechanism. Estimated storage capacities for the most prospective compartments range from 12.9 to 78.8 million tons (Mt) CO ₂ , with a total storage capacity of approximately 122.9 Mt CO ₂ . The Ptah field is identified as the most suitable pilot injection site because of its relatively shallow depth and favorable economic conditions. Under the proposed injection scenario, annual CO ₂ storage could offset approximately 3.2% of Egypt's projected future emissions, demonstrating the technical feasibility of large‐scale geological CO ₂ sequestration in the Western Desert.