scholarly journals Organic geochemical and palynological studies of the Maastrichtian source rock intervals in Bida Basin, Nigeria: implications for hydrocarbon prospectivity

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 3191-3206
Author(s):  
Olusola J. Ojo ◽  
Ayoola Y. Jimoh ◽  
Juliet C. Umelo ◽  
Samuel O. Akande

Abstract The Patti Formation which consists of sandstone and shale offers the best potential source beds in the Bida Basin. This inland basin is one of the basins currently being tested for hydrocarbon prospectivity in Nigeria. Fresh samples of shale from Agbaja borehole, Ahoko quarry and Geheku road cut were analysed using organic geochemical and palynological techniques to unravel their age, paleoecology, palynofacies and source bed hydrocarbon potential. Palynological data suggest Maastrichtian age for the sediments based on the abundance of microfloral assemblage; Retidiporites magdalenensis, Echitriporites trianguliformis and Buttinia andreevi. Dinocysts belonging to the Spiniferites, Deflandrea and Dinogymnium genera from some of the analysed intervals are indicative of freshwater swamp and normal sea conditions. Palynological evidence further suggests mangrove paleovegetation and humid climate. Relatively high total organic carbon TOC (0.77–8.95 wt%) was obtained for the shales which implies substantial concentration of organic matter in the source beds. Hydrocarbon source rock potential ranges from 0.19 to 0.70 mgHC/g.rock except for a certain source rock interval in the Agbaja borehole with high yield of 25.18 mgHC/g.rock. This interval also presents exceptionally high HI of 274 mgHC/g.TOC and moderate amount of amorphous organic matter. The data suggests that in spite of the favourable organic matter quantity, the thermal maturity is low as indicated by vitrinite reflectance and Tmax (0.46 to 0.48 Ro% and 413 to 475 °C, respectively). The hydrocarbon extracts show abundance of odd number alkanes C27–C33, low sterane/hopane ratio and Pr/Ph > 2. We conclude that the source rocks were terrestrially derived under oxic condition and dominated by type III kerogen. Type II organic matter with oil and gas potential is a possibility in Agbaja area of Bida Basin. Thermal maturity is low and little, or no hydrocarbon has been generated from the source rocks.

1989 ◽  
Vol 143 ◽  
pp. 47-71
Author(s):  
F.G Christiansen ◽  
H Nøhr-Hansen

The Silurian shales of central and western North Greenland form a more than 400 m thick succession which contains some potential hydrocarbon source rock intervals. Deposition of these organic-rich units was restricted in both time and space and potential source rocks only formed when and where black shales covered wide areas of sballow-water carbonates. Such deposition started in the middle Llandovery in Washington Land and continued tboughout the region in the late Llandovery. Neither the Wenlock nor the Ludlow shales contain sufficient organic matter to be considered as potential source rocks. The potential source rocks are dominated by oil-prone organic matter (large amorphous kerogen particles, mainly type Il) and typically show TOC values between 2% and 6%. The generative potential of immature to early mature samples is high with values up to 30 mg Hag rock. A drastic increase in thermal maturity of surface rocks is observed from south to north and most of the potential drainage area is thermally mature to postmature. This leaves only few chances of finding trapped hydrocarbons sourced by Silurian shales in North Greenland.


2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. SF225-SF242 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xun Sun ◽  
Quansheng Liang ◽  
Chengfu Jiang ◽  
Daniel Enriquez ◽  
Tongwei Zhang ◽  
...  

Source-rock samples from the Upper Triassic Yanchang Formation in the Ordos Basin of China were geochemically characterized to determine variations in depositional environments, organic-matter (OM) source, and thermal maturity. Total organic carbon (TOC) content varies from 4 wt% to 10 wt% in the Chang 7, Chang 8, and Chang 9 members — the three OM-rich shale intervals. The Chang 7 has the highest TOC and hydrogen index values, and it is considered the best source rock in the formation. Geochemical evidence indicates that the main sources of OM in the Yanchang Formation are freshwater lacustrine phytoplanktons, aquatic macrophytes, aquatic organisms, and land plants deposited under a weakly reducing to suboxic depositional environment. The elevated [Formula: see text] sterane concentration and depleted [Formula: see text] values of OM in the middle of the Chang 7 may indicate the presence of freshwater cyanobacteria blooms that corresponds to a period of maximum lake expansion. The OM deposited in deeper parts of the lake is dominated by oil-prone type I or type II kerogen or a mixture of both. The OM deposited in shallower settings is characterized by increased terrestrial input with a mixture of types II and III kerogen. These source rocks are in the oil window, with maturity increasing with burial depth. The measured solid-bitumen reflectance and calculated vitrinite reflectance from the temperature at maximum release of hydrocarbons occurs during Rock-Eval pyrolysis ([Formula: see text]) and the methylphenanthrene index (MPI-1) chemical maturity parameters range from 0.8 to [Formula: see text]. Because the thermal labilities of OM are associated with the kerogen type, the required thermal stress for oil generation from types I and II mixed kerogen has a higher and narrower range of temperature for hydrocarbon generation than that of OM dominated by type II kerogen or types II and III mixed kerogen deposited in the prodelta and delta front.


2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 937-951 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sajjad Ahmad ◽  
Faizan Ahmad ◽  
Abd Ullah ◽  
Muhammad Eisa ◽  
Farman Ullah ◽  
...  

Abstract The present study details the hydrocarbon source rock geochemistry and organic petrography of the outcrop and subsurface samples of the Middle Jurassic Chiltan Formation and the Lower Cretaceous Sembar Formation from the Sann #1 well Central and Southern Indus Basin, Pakistan. The total organic carbon (TOC), Rock–Eval pyrolysis, vitrinite reflectance (Ro) % and Maceral analysis techniques were used and various geochemical plots were constructed to know the quality of source rock, type of kerogen, level of maturity and migration history of the hydrocarbons. The outcrop and Sann #1 well data on the Sembar Formation reveals poor, fair, good and very good quality of the TOC, type II–III kerogen, immature–mature organic matter and an indigenous hydrocarbon generation potential. The outcrop and Sann #1 well data on the Chiltan Formation show a poor–good quality of TOC, type II–III kerogen, immature–mature source rock quality and having an indigenous hydrocarbon generation potential. The vitrinite reflectance [Ro (%)] values and Maceral types [fluorescent amorphous organic matter, exinite, alginite and inertnite] demonstrate that maturity in both Sembar and the Chiltan formation at surface and subsurface fall in the oil and gas generation zone to cracking of oil to gas condensate zone. Recurrence of organic rich and poor intervals within the Sembar and Chiltan formation are controlled by the Late Jurassic thermal uplift preceding the Indo-Madagascar separation from the Afro-Arabian Plate and Early Cretaceous local transgressive–regressive cycles. From the current study, it is concluded that both Sembar and Chiltan formation can act as a potential hydrocarbon source rock in the study area.


2012 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 335-342 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paweł Kosakowski ◽  
Magdalena Wróbel

Burial history, thermal history and hydrocarbon generation modelling of the Jurassic source rocks in the basement of the Polish Carpathian Foredeep and Outer Carpathians (SE Poland)Burial history, thermal maturity, and timing of hydrocarbon generation were modelled for the Jurassic source rocks in the basement of the Carpathian Foredeep and marginal part of the Outer Carpathians. The area of investigation was bounded to the west by Kraków, to the east by Rzeszów. The modelling was carried out in profiles of wells: Będzienica 2, Dębica 10K, Góra Ropczycka 1K, Goleszów 5, Nawsie 1, Pławowice E1 and Pilzno 40. The organic matter, containing gas-prone Type III kerogen with an admixture of Type II kerogen, is immature or at most, early mature to 0.7 % in the vitrinite reflectance scale. The highest thermal maturity is recorded in the south-eastern part of the study area, where the Jurassic strata are buried deeper. The thermal modelling showed that the obtained organic matter maturity in the initial phase of the "oil window" is connected with the stage of the Carpathian overthrusting. The numerical modelling indicated that the onset of hydrocarbon generation from the Middle Jurassic source rocks was also connected with the Carpathian thrust belt. The peak of hydrocarbon generation took place in the orogenic stage of the overthrusting. The amount of generated hydrocarbons is generally small, which is a consequence of the low maturity and low transformation degree of kerogen. The generated hydrocarbons were not expelled from their source rock. An analysis of maturity distribution and transformation degree of the Jurassic organic matter shows that the best conditions for hydrocarbon generation occurred most probably in areas deeply buried under the Outer Carpathians. It is most probable that the "generation kitchen" should be searched for there.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Aboglila S

Drill cutting samples (n = 92) from the Devonian Awaynat Wanin Formation and Silurian Tanezzuft Formation, sampled from three wells F1, G1 and H1, locate in the northern edge of the Murzuq basin (approximately 700 kilometers south of Tripoli). The studied samples were analyzed in the objective of their organic geochemical assessment such as the type of organic matter, depositional conditions and thermal maturity level. A bulk geochemical parameters and precise biomarkers were estimated, using chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to reveal a diversity of their geochemical characterizations. The rock formations are having varied organic matter contents, ranged from fair to excellent. The total organic carbon (TOC) reached about 9.1 wt%, ranging from 0.6 to 2.93 wt% (Awaynat Wanin), 0.5 to 2.54 wt% (Tanezzuft) and 0.52 to 9.1 wt% (Hot Shale). The cutting samples are ranged oil-prone organic matter (OM) of hydrogen index (HI) ranged between 98 –396 mg HC/g TOC, related kerogen types are type II and II/III, with oxygen index (OI): 6 - 190 with one sample have value of 366 mg CO2/g. Thermal maturity of these source rocks is different, ranging from immature to mature and oil window in the most of Tanezzuft Formation and Hot Shale samples, as reflected from the production index data (PI: 0.08 - 034). Tmax and vitrinite reflectance Ro% data (Tmax: 435 – 454 & Ro%: 0.46 - 1.38) for the Awaynat Wanin. Biomarker ratios of specific hydrocarbons extracted from represented samples (n = 9), were moreover used to study thermal maturity level and depositional environments. Pristine/Phytane (Pr/Ph) ratios of 1.65 - 2.23 indicated anoxic to suboxic conditions of depositional marine shale and lacustrine source rock.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 3663-3688
Author(s):  
Amin Tavakoli

AbstractThe aim of this study is to provide a better understanding of the type of source input, quality, quantity, the condition of depositional environment and thermal maturity of the organic matter from Bukit Song, Sarawak, which has not been extensively studied for hydrocarbon generation potential. Petrological and geochemical analyses were performed on 13 outcrop samples of the study location. Two samples, having type III and mixed kerogen, showed very-good-to-excellent petroleum potential based on bitumen extraction and data from Rock–Eval analysis. The rest of the samples are inert—kerogen type IV. In terms of thermal maturity based on vitrinite reflectance, the results of this paper are akin to previous studies done in the nearby region reported as either immature or early mature. Ph/n-C18 versus Pr/n-C17 data showed that the major concentration of samples is within peat coal environment, whilst two samples were associated with anoxic marine depositional environment, confirmed by maceral content as well. Macerals mainly indicated terrestrial precursors and, overall, a dominance of vitrinite. Quality of the source rock based on TOC parameter indicated above 2 wt. % content for the majority of samples. However, consideration of TOC and S2 together showed only two samples to have better source rocks. Existence of cutinite, sporinite and greenish fluorescing resinite macerals corroborated with the immaturity of the analysed coaly samples. Varying degrees of the bitumen staining existed in a few samples. Kaolinite and illite were the major clays based on XRD analysis, which potentially indicate low porosity. This study revealed that hydrocarbon-generating potential of Bukit Song in Sarawak is low.


2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 972-980
Author(s):  
Ting Wang ◽  
Jacobi David

Abstract The Devonian Woodford Shale in the Anadarko Basin is a highly organic, hydrocarbon source rock. Accurate values of vitrinite reflectance (Ro) present in the Woodford Shale penetrated by 52 control wells were measured directly. These vitrinite reflectance values, when plotted against borehole resistivity for the middle member of the Woodford Shale in the wells, display a rarely reported finding that deep resistivity readings decrease as Ro increases when Ro is greater than 0.90%. This phenomenon may be attributed to that aromatic and resin compounds containing conjugated pi bonds generated within source rocks are more electrically conductive than aliphatic compounds. And aromatic and resin fractions were generated more than aliphatic fraction when source rock maturity further increases beyond oil peak. The finding of the relationship between deep resistivity and Ro may re-investigate the previously found linear relationship between source rock formation and aid to unconventional play exploration.


2008 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
pp. 1-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henrik I. Petersen ◽  
Lars H. Nielsen ◽  
Jørgen A. Bojesen-Koefoed ◽  
Anders Mathiesen ◽  
Lars Kristensen ◽  
...  

The quality, thermal maturity and distribution of potential source rocks within the Palaeozoic–Mesozoic succession of the Danish part of the Norwegian-Danish Basin have been evaluated on the basis of screening data from over 4000 samples from the pre-Upper Cretaceous succession in 33 wells. The Lower Palaeozoic in the basin is overmature and the Upper Cretaceous – Cenozoic strata have no petroleum generation potential, but the Toarcian marine shales of the Lower Jurassic Fjerritslev Formation (F-III, F-IV members) and the uppermost Jurassic – lowermost Cretaceous shales of the Frederikshavn Formation may qualify as potential source rocks in parts of the basin. Neither of these potential source rocks has a basinwide distribution; the present occurrence of the Lower Jurassic shales was primarily determined by regional early Middle Jurassic uplift and erosion. The generation potential of these source rocks is highly variable. The F-III and F-IV members show significant lateral changes in generation capacity, the best-developed source rocks occurring in the basin centre. The combined F-III and F-IV members in the Haldager-1, Kvols-1 and Rønde-1 wells contain 'net source-rock' thicknesses (cumulative thickness of intervals with Hydrogen Index (HI)> 200 mg HC/g TOC) of 40 m, 83 m, and 92 m, respectively, displaying average HI values of 294, 369 and 404 mg HC/g TOC. The Mors-1 well contains 123 m of 'net source rock' with an average HI of 221 mg HC/g TOC. Parts of the Frederikshavn Formation possess a petroleum generation potential in the Hyllebjerg-1, Skagen-2, Voldum-1 and Terne-1 wells, the latter well containing a c. 160 m thick highly oil-prone interval with an average HI of 478 mg HC/g TOC and maximum HI values> 500 mg HC/g TOC.The source-rock evaluation suggests that a Mesozoic petroleum system is the most likely in the study area. Two primary plays are possible: (1) the Upper Triassic – lowermost Jurassic Gassum play, and (2) the Middle Jurassic Haldager Sand play. Potential trap structures are widely distributed in the basin, most commonly associated with the flanks of salt diapirs. The plays rely on charge from the Lower Jurassic (Toarcian) or uppermost Jurassic – lowermost Cretaceous shales. Both plays have been tested with negative results, however, and failure is typically attributed to insufficient maturation (burial depth) of the source rocks. This maturation question has been investigated by analysis of vitrinite reflectance data from the study area, corrected for post-Early Cretaceous uplift. A likely depth to the top of the oil window (vitrinite reflectance = 0.6%Ro) is c. 3050–3100 m based on regional coalification curves. The Frederikshavn Formation had not been buried to this depth prior to post-Early Cretaceous exhumation, and the potential source rocks of the formation are thermally immature in terms of hydrocarbon generation. The potential source rocks of the Fjerritslev Formation are generally immature to very early mature. Mature source rocks in the Danish part of the Norwegian–Danish Basin are thus dependent on local, deeper burial to reach the required thermal maturity for oil generation. Such potential kitchen areas with mature Fjerritslev Formation source rocks may occur in the central part of the study area (central–northern Jylland), and a few places offshore. These inferred petroleum kitchens are areally restricted, mainly associated with salt structures and local grabens (such as the Fjerritslev Trough and the Himmerland Graben).


1985 ◽  
Vol 125 ◽  
pp. 17-21
Author(s):  
F.G Christiansen ◽  
F Rolle

The project 'Nordolie' was initiated under the Danish Ministry of Energy's Research Programme 1983. The aim of the project is to obtain general knowledge about the source rock geology of central North Greenland. Similar investigations have previously been carried out in eastern North Greenland (Rolle, 1981; Rolle & Wrang, 1981). The main purpose of the project is to study the presence and distribution of potential hydrocarbon source rocks in the region and to evaluate the thermal maturity pattern. Studies of reservoir properties, trapping possibilities, and other aspects of petroleum geology will accordingly have a much lower priority.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document