Oil Families and Their Potential Sources in the Southern Gulf of Suez, Egypt

Four oil families are identified in the southern Gulf of Suez, through high-resolution geochemical studies including gas chromatography, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and carbon isotope analyses. Biological features characterize oils in family 1a, suggesting tertiary carbonate source rocks for these oils, rich in type II organic matter and deposited under anoxic depositional environment. Family 1b oil shows minor variations in the source of organic matter and the depositional environment, as it was derived from carbonate source rock with more algal and bacterial contribution and minor input of terrestrial organic sources, deposited under less saline condition compared to family 1a oil. Family 2 oil, although genetically related to family 1a oil, has some distinctive features, such as diasterane to sterane and pristane to phytane ratios, which suggest clay-rich source rocks and a more oxic depositional environment. Also, the lack of oleanane indicates pre-tertiary source rocks for this oil. In contrast, family 3 oil is of mixed sources (marine and non-marine), generated from low sulfur and clay-rich source rock of tertiary and/or younger age. Family 4 oil seems to be mixed from family 1b and family 3 oils, sourced mainly from carbonate source rocks rich in clay minerals with algal and bacterial contributions. Family 4 oil is highly mature, family 1b oil lies within equilibrium values (peak oil generation stage), while the other families are more or less near equilibrium.     

Oil Families and Their Potential Sources in the Southern Gulf of Suez,Egypt

Abstract

Four oil families are identified in the southern Gulf of Suez, through high-resolution geochemical studies including gas chromatography, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, and carbon isotope analyses. Biological features characterize oils in family 1a, suggesting tertiary carbonate source rocks for these oils, rich in type II organic matter and deposited under anoxic depositional environment. Family 1b oil shows minor variations in the source of organic matter and the depositional environment, as it was derived from carbonate source rock with more algal and bacterial contribution and minor input of terrestrial organic sources, deposited under less saline condition compared to family 1a oil. Family 2 oil, although genetically related to family 1a oil, has some distinctive features, such as diasterane to sterane and pristane to phytane ratios, which suggest clay-rich source rocks and a more oxic depositional environment. Also, the lack of oleanane indicates pre-tertiary source rocks for this oil. In contrast, family 3 oil is of mixed sources (marine and non-marine), generated from low sulfur and clay-rich source rock of tertiary and/or younger age. Family 4 oil seems to be mixed from family 1b and family 3 oils, sourced mainly from carbonate source rocks rich in clay minerals with algal and bacterial contributions. Family 4 oil is highly mature, family 1b oil lies within equilibrium values (peak oil generation stage), while the other families are more or less near equilibrium.     

Geochemical Characterization of Offshore Western Niger Delta Source Rock

Abstract

A geochemical characterization of rock samples obtained from three offshore fields, MJ, MF, and ML, was carried out. Offshore oil and onshore oil samples were also studied for correlation. The gas chromatographic data showed that the three offshore fields studied exhibited different and unique geochemical signatures. Most rock samples from the MJ field have moderate thermal maturity; n-alkane and their isoprenoid hydrocarbon distribution indicated predominant mixed organic matter with some terrestrial organic matter. The organic matters were deposited in alternating oxic and anoxic environments. In the MF field, sedimentation of the organic matter in the shallow depths was under reducing environments, whereas that of the deeper depth horizons was under oxidizing environments. The rock samples in the field had predominant input from marine organic matter with moderate thermal maturity. In the ML field, the geochemical data indicated that oxic conditions prevailed during sedimentation of the organic matter. About half of the rock samples from this field are thermally mature, with almost equal distribution of marine and terrestrial organic facies. Marine organic matter was prevalent in the shallow depth horizons, whereas terrestrial organic matter was prevalent in deeper depth horizons. The offshore oil samples and offshore rock extracts are also correlative. This study indicates that there are two petroleum systems in the offshore western Niger Delta—marine and terrigenous petroleum systems—though the terrigeonous system is more pervasive.     

Organic geochemistry investigations of crude oils from Bayoot oilfield in the Masila Basin,east Yemen and their implication for origin of organic matter and source-related type

Thirteen crude oil samples from fractured basement reservoir rocks in the Bayoot oilfield, Masila Basin were studied to describe oil characteristics and to provide information on the source of organic matter input and the genetic link between oils and their potential source rock in the basin. The bulk geochemical results of whole oil and gasoline hydrocarbons indicate that the Bayoot oils are normal crude oil, with high hydrocarbons of more than 60%. The hydrocarbons are dominated by normal, branched and cyclic alkanes a substantial of the light aromatic compounds, suggesting aliphatic oil-prone kerogen. The high abundant of normal, branched and cyclic alkanes also indicate that the Bayoot oils are not biodegradation oils.The biomarker distributions of isoprenoid, hopane, aromatic and sterane and their cross and triangular plots suggest that the Bayoot oils are grouped into one genetic family and were generated from marine clay-rich source rock that received mixed organic matter and deposited under suboxic conditions. The biomarker distributions of the Bayoot oils are consistent with those of the Late Jurassic Madbi source rock in the basin. Biomarker maturity and oil compositions data also indicate that the Bayoot oils were generated from mature source rock with peak oil-window maturity.     

SOURCE ROCK EVALUATION AND PETROLEUM GEOCHEMISTRY, OFFSHORE SW IRAN

Mesozoic and Tertiary source rocks and crude oils from six oilfields in the Persian (Arabian) Gulf (Hendijan, Bahrgansar, Abouzar, Nowruz, Dorood and Foroozan) were studied using a variety of organic-geochemical techniques. Biomarker characteristics were combined with other geochemical data to identify the source rocks which generated the oil in these fields and to reconstruct their depositional environments, and also to characterize the diagenetic and catagenic processes which have occurred. The analyzed oils show a wide range of densities (19 to 39° API) and high sulphur contents. They were generated by Type II-S organic matter; they are not biodegraded and their maturity level is generally low.
Two main oil groups were identified from statistical analysis and can be correlated with different source rocks using age-specific biomarkers and isotope data. Group 1 oils include those from the Hendijan, Bahrgansar and Abouzar fields and were probably generated by a mid-Cretaceous argillaceous source rock. Group 2 oils include those from the Nowruz, Dorood and Foroozan fields, and originated from Jurassic to Early Cretaceous carbonate-rich source rocks.     

川东北地区烃源岩与沥青生物标志物特征及古油藏油源辨识

川东北地区是我国重要的天然气产区,古油藏原油裂解成气是该区天然气的主要来源。针对该区古油藏油源研究存在的争议,对古生界—中生界主要烃源岩层系和长兴组—嘉陵江组储层沥青的生物标志物特征进行了分析和对比。结果表明：烃源岩有机质母源下古生界以水生生物为主;上古生界具有水生生物与高等植物混源的特征,以水生生物为主;中生界以高等植物为主,兼有水生生物。烃源岩沉积水体古生界主要为咸水,中生界主要为淡水。烃源岩沉积环境古生界以弱还原—还原环境为主,中生界以弱氧化—弱还原环境为主。生物标志物特征表明,上二叠统龙潭组烃源岩为长兴组—嘉陵江组古油藏主力烃源岩,下二叠统梁山组烃源岩也有一定的贡献。     

Biomarkers and isotopic characteristics of crude oils from a central Niger delta depobelt field,Nigeria

Twelve crude oils samples from a field in the central depobelt in the Niger delta, Nigeria were analyzed for their biomarkers and isotopic composition by Gas chromatography–Mass spectrometry and Isotope mass spectrometry. The percentage C_27, C₂₈ and C₂₉ steranes in the oils ranged from 35.80 to 39.9, 28.1 to 30.8 and 29.9 to 35.0, respectively. The distribution of molecular biomarkers and isotopic composition in the oils indicated that they were formed from source rocks of a mixed source (marine and terrestrial kerogen) but with greater input from marine organic matter. The Pr/Ph ratios of the oil samples ranged from 1.2 to 2.3 and this indicated organic matter deposited under suboxic conditions. The vitrinite reflectance (%VRc) values calculated from methylphenanthrene index-1 (MPI-1) parameter ranged from 0.89 to 1.07 indicating oils generated at the peak of oil window.     

“源热共控”澳大利亚西北大陆边缘油气田有序分布

澳大利亚西北大陆边缘是全球油气最富集的区域之一,研究其油气分布规律及主控因素有助于指导下一步的油气勘探。为此,基于8个沉积盆地近60年的勘探成果资料,分析了各盆地的油气地质条件和油气分布特征,发现该区油气田呈"近岸油""远岸气"有序分布,指出这一分布模式主要是受烃源岩和热演化程度的共同控制。进一步依据"源热共控"论,深入探讨了烃源岩的成烃规律和成烃模式,并指出了下一步的勘探方向。结论认为:①北卡纳文盆地发育3套烃源岩,即中—上三叠统海陆过渡相三角洲泥岩、下—中侏罗统海相/海陆过渡相三角洲泥岩和上侏罗统—下白垩统海相泥岩,而布劳斯和波拿巴盆地主要发育2套烃源岩,即下—中侏罗统海相/海陆过渡相三角洲泥岩和上侏罗统—下白垩统海相泥岩;②该区大地热流值从近岸带向远岸带增大,局部存在异常,烃源岩热演化程度随埋深增大而增高;③从近岸带向远岸带,有机质存在从生油向生气转化的趋势,未来找油的主要领域应在近岸带,找气的主要领域在远岸带,该区天然气资源潜力巨大。     

Geochemical investigation of trace elements in crude oils from two different depobelts in the Niger Delta basin,Nigeria

The concentrations of trace elements in crude oil samples from the Northern and Central swamps depobelts in the Niger Delta basin were investigated using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometer. The origin, source facies, and depositional environment of organic matter that produced the oils were determined based on the trace elements concentrations. The concentrations of the trace elements (Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni and V) ranged from 0.04 to 5.71 ppm. Iron is the most abundant element in the samples while Cr has the least concentration. The results from trace metal geochemistry showed that the Niger Delta oils were derived predominantly from terrestrial organic matter deposited in the oxic depositional environment. The concentrations and ratios of nickel and vanadium grouped the oils into two distinct families reflecting the depobelt the oils belong. This observation indicates that the source rocks in the two depobelts were formed from organic matter of different source facies.     

SOURCE ROCK–DEPENDENT BIOMARKER PROPERTIES AND STABLE CARBON ISOTOPE COMPOSITION OF CRUDE OILS FROM WEST BAKR FIELDS,ONSHORE GULF OF SUEZ,EGYPT: A CASE STUDY

Four representative crude oil samples from three different pay zones (Ayun, Yusr and Bakr members) of Lower Miocene age from West Bakr Fields K, H and M, Gulf of Suez, Egypt were analyzed to evaluate the source rocks and their depositional environments. The saturate and aromatic fractions were subjected to a variety of organic geochemical analyses including Gas Chromatography (GC), Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), trace element analyses (V, Ni, Co, Cr, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ca and Zn) and stable carbon isotopic composition δ¹³C. The geochemical characteristics and biomarker properties of the studied crude oils show no obvious variations. All the studied crude oil samples are of naphthenic base and possess similar values of V/Ni ratio, suggest that the studied crude oils might be derived from the same source rocks. Moreover the ratios of Ts/Tm (< 1), Oleanane index (> 30%) and gammacerane index (> 20%) reflect a marine environment with minor terrestrial higher plants input from Tertiary source rocks deposited in high salinity waters with less reducing conditions. The enrichment of stable carbon isotopic composition δ¹³C to the saturate fraction ranges from (?29.1 to?29.35‰ PDB); and to the aromatic fraction ranges from (?28.35 to?28.60‰ PDB) is observed. The isotopic values together with the calculated canonical variable (CV) of the studied crude oil samples < 0.47, which further support that the crude oils of West Bakr Fields were generated from marine source environment. The achieved results obtained from the geochemical characteristics of the studied crude oils suggest marine environment with minor terrestrial higher plants input from source rocks of Tertiary age. These are likely to be interval within the Lower Miocene Rudeis shale and Eocene Thebes Formation carbonate rocks where the vertical and horizontal migration caused the oil to be entrapped within the sandstone of Lower Miocene age.     

中国近海海域烃源岩和油气的分带性

中国近海海域烃源岩和油气分布具有明显的分带性。烃源岩的分带性表现为"内带腐泥,外带腐殖":内带主要为腐泥型的中—深湖相烃源岩,有机质主要来源于水生低等生物,陆生高等植物的贡献很少;外带烃源岩类型较复杂,有海陆过渡相煤系烃源岩、海相烃源岩和湖相烃源岩,以前二者为主,有机质主要来源于陆生高等植物,以腐殖型烃源岩为主。油气的分带性表现为"内油外气":腐泥型烃源岩具有倾油性,因而内带以油为主,天然气主要为油伴生气;腐殖型烃源岩具有倾气性,因而外带以天然气为主,天然气主要为煤型气和凝析油伴生气,部分盆地或凹陷存在数量有限的原油。南海北部深水区处于外带,是天然气勘探的重要领域。     

Fingerprinting of biomarker characteristics of some Egyptian crude oils in Northern Western Desert as evidence for organic matter input and maturity level assessment

This study describes the fingerprinting of crude oils from different Egyptian oil formations using gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The samples were obtained from Gindi, Abu El gharadig, south deep Abu El gharadig, Dahab- Merier and Faghur basins from Western Desert. Diagnostic biomarkers parameters applied in this study provide evidences about the source of organic matter, the depositional environment and maturity of the studied oils. The results showed that the crude oils of Faghur basin are believed to be originated from mixed source predominately terrestrial with chief contribution of clastic rocks deposited under oxic conditions. However, the crude oils from Gindi, Abu El gharadig, South deep Abu El gharadig and Dahab- Merier basins were generated from marine carbonate source rock deposited under anoxic depositional environment.     

BIOMARKER GEOCHEMISTRY OF CRUDE OILS FROM THE QAIDAM BASIN, NW CHINA

A suite of 16 crude oil samples from 13 oilfields in the Qaidam Basin were analyzed using techniques including gas chromatography and gas chromatography - mass spectrometry. Biomarker compositions and parameters were used to investigate the palaeoenvironmental and depositional conditions and to correlate the oils with eachother. Oils from the western Qaidam Basin have pristane/phytane (Pr/Ph) ratios of less than 0.7, and contain abundant gammacerane, C₂₇ steranes, 4-methyl steranes and long-chain tricyclic terpanes. C₂₉ sterane 20S/(20S+20R) and ββ/(ββ+αα) ratios show that the western Qaidam oils have variable maturities ranging from immature to mature. Oils from the northern Qaidam Basin, by contrast, have Pr/Ph ratios greater than 3, low gammacerane contents, and relatively abundant C₂₉ steranes, bicyclic terpanes and alkylcyclohexanes. C₂₉ sterane 20S/(20S+20R) and ββ/(ββ+αα) ratios indicate that the northern Qaidam oils are mature.
δ¹³C values, which range from -25.4‰ to -28.3‰ with the exception of one oil from the north (-3l.6‰), are similar for oils from both the northern and western parts of the Qaidam Basin. The oils'carbon isotope compositions are similar to those of the organic matter in potential source rocks.
The western Qaidam oils are inferred to have originated from Tertiary source rocks deposited under anoxic and saline-hypersaline lacustrine conditions with dominant algal organic matter. The northern Qaidam oils are interpreted to be derived from Jurassic source rocks which were deposited in a freshwater lacustrine environment and which are dominated by terrigenous organic matter.     

GEOCHEMICAL CORRELATION OF OILS AND SOURCE ROCKS FROM CENTRAL AND NE SYRIA

Eighteen crude oils and seven source rock samples from the Mesopotamian foredeep, NE Syria, and from the NE Palmyrides in the centre of the country have been characterized by geochemical techniques. The presence of two oil families ("A" and "B") generated by different source rock types of different ages has been established on the basis of biomarker and carbon isotopic analyses. The data indicates that Groups A and B oils were generated by marine clastic and marine carbonate-evaporitic source rocks, respectively. Group A oils, occurring in Middle Triassic, Middle Jurassic and Upper Cretaceous reservoir rocks in the NE Palmyride area, are geochemically similar to extracts from the Lower Triassic Amanus Shale Formation. Group B oils, which are present in Middle Triassic, Middle Jurassic and Upper Cretaceous reservoirs in the Mesopotamian foredeep, are geochemically similar to extracts of the Middle Triassic Kurra Chine Dolomite and Upper Cretaceous Shiranish Formations.     

塔里木盆地西部油源初步探讨

塔里木盆地是一个中间地块型沉积盆地,经历了两个发展阶段,形成古生界和中、新生界两套沉积盖层。塔里木盆地西部,指库尔勒与和田一线以西地区,多处见油,柯克亚构造获得高产油、气流。本文对它们的油源问题作一初步探讨。     

Origin and occurrence of crude oil in the Niger delta, Nigeria

Ten crude oils samples from onshore and offshore Niger delta were characterized based on their biomarkers and isotopic composition by Gas chromatography–Mass spectrometry and Isotope mass spectrometry. Abundance of pentacyclic triterpanes of hopane and oleanane skeletons and C₂₇–C₂₉ steranes in the oils indicates that they were formed from a mixed source (marine and terrestrial kerogen). The oleanane concentrations permit source grouping of the oils into three families.Various maturity parameters computed for the oils, especially those of aromatic biomarkers and aromatic sulfur compounds (thiophenes) to some extent reveal an increasing thermal maturity with increasing reservoir depths. The carbon isotope values lacked sufficient variation to distinguish maturity differences in the oils. This observation is quite revealing in that oils whose associate gases had earlier revealed a consistent increase in maturity with increasing depths, also have similar maturity values.The implication of this is that the oils and associated gases might have been formed at different levels of thermal maturity before being pooled together during migration into their present habitat.     

ORGANIC GEOCHEMISTRY OF OIL AND NATURAL GAS IN THE WEST DIKIRNIS AND EL‐TAMAD FIELDS,ONSHORE NILE DELTA,EGYPT: INTERPRETATION OF POTENTIAL SOURCE ROCKS

Crude oil in the West Dikirnis field in the northern onshore Nile Delta, Egypt, occurs in the poorly‐sorted Miocene sandstones of the Qawasim Formation. The geochemical composition and source of this oil is investigated in this paper. The reservoir sandstones are overlain by mudstones in the upper part of the Qawasim Formation and in the overlying Pliocene Kafr El‐Sheikh Formation. However TOC and Rock‐Eval analyses of these mudstones indicate that they have little potential to generate hydrocarbons, and mudstone extracts show little similarity in terms of biomarker compositions to the reservoired oils. The oils at West Dikirnis are interpreted to have been derived from an Upper Cretaceous – Lower Tertiary terrigenous, clay‐rich source rock, and to have migrated up along steeply‐dipping faults to the Qawasim sandstones reservoir. This interpretation is supported by the high C₂₉/C₂₇ sterane, diasterane/sterane, hopane/sterane and oleanane/C₃₀ hopane ratios in the oils. Biomarker‐based maturity indicators (Ts/Tm, moretanes/hopanes and C₃₂ homohopanes S/S+R) suggest that oil expulsion occurred before the source rock reached peak maturity. Previous studies have shown that the Upper Cretaceous – Lower Tertiary source rock is widely distributed throughout the on‐ and offshore Nile Delta. A wet gas sample from the Messinian sandstones at El‐Tamad field, located near to West Dikirnis, was analysed to determine its molecular and isotopic composition. The presence of isotopically heavy δ¹³ methane, ethane and propane indicates a thermogenic origin for the gas which was cracked directly from a humic kerogen. A preliminary burial and thermal history model suggests that wet gas window maturities in the study area occur within the Jurassic succession, and the gas at El‐Tamad may therefore be derived from a source rock of Jurassic age.     

Oil: Source rock correlations of Al Baraka oil field,Komombo basin,South Egypt: An implication from biomarkers characteristics

The objectives of this study are the correlation between the oil samples recovered from the Lower Cretaceous reservoirs and Lower and Upper Cretaceous source rocks. The investigated biomarkers of five oils indicated the oils were derived from mixed marine and terrigenous (lacustrine) organic matter and deposited under suboxic to anoxic conditions. These oils were also generated from source rocks of high thermal maturity at the peak oil window. So, based on the molecular indicators of organic source input,depositional environment and maturity parameters of oils and extracts, we can conclude that the oil recovered from Al Baraka oil field were derived from Lower Cretaceous source rocks especially KomOmbo (B) source rocks where it reached the oil window. Furthermore, we can indicate that the other lower Cretaceous formations as Abu Ballas Formation will have the opportunity to generate and expel oil at the deeper part of the basin as shown in the eastern part of the basin.     

“源热共控”中国海油气田“近岸油、远岸气”有序分布

中国海及邻区自中生代末以来经历5期成盆,形成多个新生代盆地。该区烃源岩形成期分古新世、始新世、渐新世和中新世4期。烃源岩类型有陆相、海陆过渡相和海相,其中陆相有半深湖相、湖沼相泥岩;海陆过渡相包括煤系三角洲与浅海相,主要为煤层、碳质泥岩和暗色泥岩;海相分陆源海相和海源海相。中国东部海域、南海北部海域和南海西部海域均具有近岸带以陆相半深湖相烃源岩为主、远岸带以海陆过渡相—海相烃源岩为主的特征;南海南部近岸带和远岸带都是海陆过渡相—海相烃源岩。中国海及邻区大地热流具有自近岸带向远岸带增高的趋势,烃源岩上覆层有自近岸带向远岸带增厚的趋势。因源热耦合作用,中国海及邻区形成以生油为主的近岸带和以生气为主的远岸带。近岸带从渤海盆地,经南黄海盆地、珠江口盆地北部坳陷带、北部湾盆地、莺歌海盆地河内凹陷、中建南盆地西部、万安盆地西部、湄公盆地、曾母盆地巴林坚坳陷、文莱—沙巴盆地中南部,向东北方向延伸到巴拉望盆地东部,是巨型石油生成区,已发现石油储量上百亿吨。远岸带包括东海盆地、台西盆地、台西南盆地、珠江口盆地南部、琼东南盆地、莺歌海盆地莺中坳陷、中建南盆地东南部、万安盆地东南部、曾母盆地康西坳陷、文莱—沙巴盆地北部、巴拉望盆地西部,是巨型天然气分布区,累计发现天然气储量数万亿立方米。目前中国海主要在成熟区的构造圈闭领域、特别是中浅层构造圈闭领域和生物礁领域勘探,复合圈闭和岩性圈闭的勘探刚刚起步,勘探新层系和新类型广阔;中国海勘探新区较多,尚有一批极具资源潜力、勘探程度很低的盆地或凹陷,特别是远岸带的深水区,预测其勘探潜力巨大。     

OIL FAMILY TYPING,BIODEGRADATION AND SOURCE ROCK AFFINITY OF LIQUID PETROLEUM IN THE DANISH NORTH SEA

Variations in liquid petroleum compositions in the Danish Central Graben and Siri Fairway, North Sea, demonstrate the presence of several active source rock facies. To address this issue in detail, a total of 213 samples of liquid petroleum from the Danish Central Graben and the Siri Fairway were typed to eight main oil families and three sub‐families based on characteristic geochemical properties and principal component analysis (PCA). Comparison with source rock extract data made it possible to suggest correlative source rocks for each oil family together with the source rock depositional environments. The main oil families are: 1(B), 2(B), 3a(B), 3b(B), 4(B‐D/E), 5(D/E‐B), 6(D/E‐F) and 7(A), where the capital letters in brackets refer to the organofacies types of Pepper and Corvi (1995), thus directly linking the oil family type to the source rock facies. Oil families 1(B), 2(B), 3a(B) and 3b(B) were charged from marine shales (principally the Upper Jurassic Farsund Formation); oil families 4(B‐D/E) and 5(D/E‐B) are mixed petroleums with both terrigenous and marine components; oil family 6(D/E‐F) was charged from Middle Jurassic coaly units; whereas oil family 7(A) was charged from a carbonate source (Zechstein dolomites). Family 7(A) has only been documented in the form of oil stains. The most widespread oil family is 3a(B), sourced from Upper Jurassic marine shales. Charging from different organofacies is indicated by oil family 3b(B), which was derived from parts of the same shale succession which were more terrigenous‐influenced and possibly slightly more oxic; and families 2(B) and 1(B), which were sourced from more organic‐rich, anoxic parts of the shales. Mildly biodegraded oils (Level 1 to 2) appear mainly to occur in the central to southern parts of the Danish Central Graben.