Seven crude oils representing the different petroleum-bearing basins in the Western Desert were characterized by a variety of biomarker and nonbiomarker parameters. For comparison, one crude oil from the Gulf of Suez region has also been studied. The oils have been analyzed for geochemical biomarkers using GC and GC-MS techniques. The results reveal significant differences within the oils that suggest five oil types. Type 1 oils from the Gulf of Suez show C-29/C-30 17alpha(H) hopane ratio >1, high C-35 homohopane index, and the presence of considerable amounts of gammacerane indicating a marine saline carbonate or evaporite source rock and highly reducing (low Eh) conditions. Type 2 oils from Matruh basin and type 3 oils from Shushan basin are very similar and show relatively high Pr/Ph ratios, low sulfur and metal contents, paucity Of C-30 steranes and the presence of high relative abundance of 17alpha(H) diahopane (C-30*) suggesting that they probably originated from source rocks containing a significant proportion of higher plant material. Another related feature of these oils is the absence of 18alpha(H)-oleanane which suggests a source age older than Cretaceous. Type 4 oils from Abu-Elgharadig basin show terpane distribution dominated by C-24 tricyclic, absence Of C-30*-diahopane and medium diasterane/sterane ratios which reflect generation from marine siliciclastic source rocks. Type 5 oils from Alamein basin possess source biomarkers indicating a mixed contribution of terrestrial and marine sources. The presence of measurable amounts of oleanane in this type of oils suggests source rocks deposited in deltaic or near shore environment in Post-Cretaceous basin. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.