Organic Geochemistry of Source Rocks, Condensates, and Thermal Geochemical Modeling of Miocene Sequence of Some Wells, Onshore Nile Delta, Egypt

The organic geochemical and biomarker analyses of the Miocene source rocks of some wells in the onshore Nile Delta, suggested that the Abu Madi Formation has poor immature to marginally mature source rocks of Type III Kerogen deposited under the terrestrial environment. The Sidi Salem Formation has fair-to-good mature source rocks of producing mixed oil and gas, originating mainly from marine organic sources. The Moghra Formation has mature good source rocks for Type (II/III) kerogen, derived from organic matter and rich in both terrigeneous and marine sources. The geochemistry of condensates revealed that the Abu Madi and Moghra condensates originated from marine organic matters with little input from a terrestrial source, while Sidi Salem condensate was derived from more contribution of terrestrial organic matters. Abu Madi condensate is less mature than Sidi Salem and Moghra condensate. The geochemical thermal modeling of the Miocene source rocks indicates that the Abu Madi formations are in the early stages of hydrocarbon up until the present time, while Moghra and Sidi Salem formations are in the mature stage of hydrocarbon generation up until the present time. This indicates that the studied condensates have probably migrated from deeply buried source rocks which are at a higher level of maturity rather than from less mature source rocks in the study area.     

A Review of: “Electrochemical Hydrogen Technologies”Edited by Hartmut Wendt Elsevier Science Publishers,B.v,Amsterdam, The Netherlands 1990, xx + 512 pp.

Abstract:

The organic geochemical and biomarker analyses of the Miocene source rocks of some wells in the onshore Nile Delta, suggested that the Abu Madi Formation has poor immature to marginally mature source rocks of Type III Kerogen deposited under the terrestrial environment. The Sidi Salem Formation has fair-to-good mature source rocks of producing mixed oil and gas, originating mainly from marine organic sources. The Moghra Formation has mature good source rocks for Type (II/III) kerogen, derived from organic matter and rich in both terrigeneous and marine sources. The geochemistry of condensates revealed that the Abu Madi and Moghra condensates originated from marine organic matters with little input from a terrestrial source, while Sidi Salem condensate was derived from more contribution of terrestrial organic matters. Abu Madi condensate is less mature than Sidi Salem and Moghra condensate. The geochemical thermal modeling of the Miocene source rocks indicates that the Abu Madi formations are in the early stages of hydrocarbon up until the present time, while Moghra and Sidi Salem formations are in the mature stage of hydrocarbon generation up until the present time. This indicates that the studied condensates have probably migrated from deeply buried source rocks which are at a higher level of maturity rather than from less mature source rocks in the study area.     

Isopach,lithofacies changes,and source rocks chracteristics of Khatatba and Alam El Bueib formations of some wells in North East Western Desert,Egypt

The present work deals with isopach, lithofacies changes, and source rock chracteristics of Khatatba and Alam El Bueib formations of some wells in North East Western Desert. Isopach and lithofacies changes showed that the thickness of Khatatba Formation increases toward the south western direction and decreases toward northern parts, and the sediments consisting of sandstone and shale facies indicate a shallow marine environment. Alam El-Bueib sediments increase toward the north direction, and argillaceous sandstone facies reflect terrestrial-to-shallow marine environment. The geochemical analysis showed that Khatatba Formation bears a mature source rock and has poor-to-good generating capability for both oil and gas and lie within the early generation window and oil window. Alam El Buieb Formation constitutes a mature source rock and has poor-to-good generating capability for both oil and gas. It can be stated that Khatatba and Alam El Buieb are the main source rock for hydrocarbon accumulations rich with organic sediments and could be considered as effective source rocks for generating hydrocarbons in the the studied wells.     

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.     

Evaluation of the nature,origin and potentiality of the subsurface Middle Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous source rocks in Melleiha G-1x well,North Western Desert,Egypt

The present work aims to evaluate the nature and origin of the source rock potentiality of subsurface Middle Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous source rocks in Melleiha G-1x well. This target was achieved throughout the evaluation of total organic carbon, rock Eval pyrolysis and vitrinite reflectance for fifteen cutting samples and three extract samples collected from Khatatba, Alam El Bueib and Kharita formations in the studied well. The result revealed that the main hydrocarbon of source rocks, for the Middle Jurassic (Khatatba Fm.) is mainly mature, and has good capability of producing oil and minor gas. Lower Cretaceous source rocks (Alam El Bueib Fm.) are mature, derived from mixed organic sources and have fair to good capability to generate gas and oil. Kharita Formation of immature source rocks originated from terrestrial origin and has poor to fair potential to produce gas. This indicates that Khatatba and Alam El Bueib formations take the direction of increasing maturity far away from the direction of biodegradation and can be considered as effective source potential in the Melleiha G-1x well.     

GEOCHEMICAL EVALUATION OF CRUDE OILS FROM THE CARACARA AND TIPLE AREAS,EASTERN LLANOS BASIN,COLOMBIA: PALAEO BIODEGRADATION AND OIL MIXING

This study presents an organic geochemical characterization of heavy and liquid oils from Cretaceous and Cenozoic reservoir rocks in the Tiple and Caracara blocks in the eastern Llanos Basin, Colombia. Samples of heavy oil were recovered from the Upper Eocene Mirador Formation and the C7 interval of the Oligocene – Miocene Carbonera Formation; the liquid oils came from these intervals and from the Cretaceous Guadalupe, Une and Gachetá Formations. The heavy oil and most of the liquid oils probably originated from multiple source rocks or source facies, and showed evidence of biodegradation as suggested by the coexistence of n‐alkanes and 25‐norhopanes. The results indicate a close genetic relationship between the samples in the Carbonera (C7 interval), Mirador and Guadalupe Formation reservoirs. These petroleums are interpreted to result from at least two separate oil charges. An early charge (Oligocene to Early Miocene) was derived from marine carbonate and transitional siliciclastic Cretaceous source rocks as indicated by biomarker analysis using GC/MS. This initial oil charge was biodegraded in the reservoir, and was mixed with a later charge (or charges) of fresh oil during the Late Miocene to Pliocene. A relatively high proportion of the unaltered oil charge was recorded for heavy oil samples from the Melero‐1 well in the Tiple block, and is inferred to originate from Cenozoic carbonaceous shale or coaly source rocks. Geochemical parameters suggest that oils from the Gachetá and Une Formations are similar and that they originated from a source different to that of the other oil samples. These two oils do not correlate well with extracts from transitional siliciclastic source rock from the Upper Cretaceous Gachetá Formation in the Ramiriqui‐1 well, located in the LLA 22 block to the north. By contrast, one or more organofacies of the Gachetá Formation may have generated the heavy oil and most of the liquid oil samples. The results suggest that the heavy oils may have formed as a result of biodegradation at the palaeo oil‐water contact, although deasphalting cannot entirely be dismissed.     

THE SUDANESE RED SEA: 2. NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN PETROLEUM GEOCHEMISTRY

From the limited analytical data which is available from the study area, it appears that the Mukawar and Hamait Formations, sandy facies of Upper Cretaceous and Cenozoic age, have little or no hydrocarbon source potential. However, of the twelve Sudanese Red Sea wells, only one penetrated the Mukawar Formation. and the Hamamit is only known in four wells. On the other hand, the lower to middle Miocene Rudeis. Kareem and Belayim Formations were penetrated in several wells. and may have actually generated black oil in attaining their current levels of thermal maturity. The middle to upper? Miocene Dungunab Formation, which is equivalent to thesouth Gharib Formation of the Gulf of Suez. contains thin. regionallyextensive, intra-evaporite shales. These are early-mature in coastal areas but, if developed in the deeper offshore. are likely to be post-mature and are likely to have generated hydrocarbons. The zeit Formation is of variable thickness. the maxima coniciding with areas of deltaic influence. Although information is limited, it appears that occasional thin shales units may have significam source potential. The areas of more concentrated deltaic sedimentation with in the Zeit Formation are more likely to provide gas-prone source rocks. The Plio-pleistocene Abu Shagara Group has no oil source-potential in the nearshore areas. Potential may improve further offshore. where it is possible that these marine sediments may be richer in organic matter and have been subject to higher heat flow. Hydrocarbon generation in the Sudanese Red Sea had been influenced by many factors in addition to rift-controlled subsidence. These include the high thermal conductivity of evaporites, tectonic overpressuring and, in deeper waters, significantly higher levels of heat flow. Lower to middle Miocene source rocks are likely to have generated hydrocarbons at the end of Miocene times, whereas younger source rocks could be generating hydrcarbons at the present. The source of gas in the Suakin-1 gas-condenstae and Bashayer-1 dry gas discoveries is probably in the lower part of the Zeit Formation, an organically-rich deltaic facies. The condensate at Suakin-1 is likely to have been sourced from the inter-evaporitic shales of the underlying Dungunab Formation. Black-oil shows have been recorded at several Sudanese Red Sea wells and a significant gas-condensate discovery was made at Barrqan-1 in the northern part of he Saqdi sector. It has been suggested that reserves of condensate may be as high as half a billion barrels. Oil seeps on the Dahlac and Farasan Islands in the Ethiopin and Saudi sectors provide further grounds for an optimistic view that generation of commercial volumes of oil in the Sudanese Red Sea cannot be ruled our     

珠江口盆地白云凹陷深水区珠海组烃源岩评价及储层烃来源分析

LW3-1-1井位于珠江口盆地白云凹陷东部,是我国南海东部海域深水区第一口探井。通过对LW3-1-1井珠江组、珠海组烃源岩和储层烃的地球化学研究,并结合其它井恩平组和文昌组烃源岩地球化学资料证实,在白云凹陷深水区,珠海组为有效烃源岩之一;LW3-1-1井珠江组和珠海组存在的2类储层烃均有珠海组烃源岩的贡献。     

长岭断陷火石岭组烃源岩特征及勘探远景分析

长岭断陷层油源对比研究表明,登娄库组、火石岭组地层中发现多套来自火石岭组烃源岩的油层.地化指标显示,火石岭组烃源岩有机质丰度较好.干酪根类型以Ⅱ型为主,成熟度演化处于生气的高—过成熟阶段,综合评价属中等烃源岩；平面上主要分布在前七号、北正镇和流水镇等局部地区,且厚度较大.其在沙河子组沉积时期(约140 Ma)进入生烃门限,开始持续生烃,并在登娄库组沉积末期达到生烃高峰,至嫩江组沉积早期(约80 Ma)全面进入成熟门限,之后生烃能力逐渐下降.盆地模拟计算火石岭组累积生烃量为224.46×108t,其资源贡献占整个长岭断陷层资源量的31.96％,资源贡献值仅次于沙河子组而大于营城组,具有良好的资源前景和勘探潜力.     

BURIAL HISTORY RECONSTRUCTION AND THERMAL MODELLING AT KUH-E MOND, SW IRAN

At the Kuh-e Mond anticline (Fars Province, SW Iran) and in nearby offshore structures, large volumes of natural gas are reservoired in the Permian — Early Triassic Dehram Group while heavy oil has been discovered in the Cretaceous Sarvak and Eocene Jahrum Formations. In this paper, we use data from six exploration wells and from nearby surface exposures to reconstruct the burial history at Kuh-e Mond. Regional observations show that the thick sedimentary fill in this part of the Zagros Basin was subjected to intense tectonism during the Zagros Orogeny, with a paroxysmal phase during the late Miocene and Pliocene. Thermal modelling and geochemical data from Kuh-e Mond and adjacent fields allows possible hydrocarbon generation and migration mechanisms to be identified. Maturities predicted using Lopatin's TTI model are in accordance with maturities obtained from vitrinite reflectance measurements.
We show that formations which have source potential in the nearby Dezful Embayment (including the Pabdeh, Gurpi, Gadvan and Kazhdumi Formations) have not reached the oil window in the Mond wells. Moreover, their organic carbon content is very low as they were deposited in oxic, shallow-water settings. Underlying units (including the Ordovician and Cambrian) could have reached the gas window but contain little organic matter. Silurian shales (Sarchahan Formation), which generate gas at Kuh-e Gahkum and Kuh-e Faraghan (north of Bandar Abbas) and in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere in the Middle East, are absent from the Mond structure.
The absence of source rocks suggests that the gas and heavy oil accumulations at Kuh-e Mond and at nearby fields have most probably undergone long-distance lateral migration from distant source kitchens.     

鄂西渝东地区石柱复向斜海相层系烃源研究

为研究石柱复向斜海相层系烃源条件,对该区钻井及露头样品进行了系统的有机地化分析。石柱复向斜海相层系发育多套烃源岩,各层位烃源岩TOC值差异大,其中下志留统龙马溪组下部,茅口组四段、上二叠统龙潭组TOC含量最高;各层位烃源岩有机质类型从Ⅰ型至Ⅲ型阶皆有,现今主要处于高成熟—过成熟晚期。石柱复向斜海相层系烃源条件优越,其中龙潭组、茅口组、韩家店组、龙马溪组为该区几套主力烃源层,而长兴组、栖霞组、凉山组、小河坝组、牛蹄塘组为次要烃源岩。龙潭组、龙马溪组高有机质丰度泥页岩除可为常规气藏提供充足烃源,同时自身也是页岩气的有利勘探层位。     

SOURCE ROCK POTENTIAL OF ORGANIC‐RICH SHALES IN THE TERTIARY BHUBAN AND BOKA BIL FORMATIONS,BENGAL BASIN,BANGLADESH

Sandstones in the Miocene Bhuban and Lower Pliocene Boka Bil Formations contain all of the hydrocarbons so far discovered in the Bengal Basin, Bangladesh. Organic‐rich shale intervals in these formations have source rock potential and are the focus of the present study which is based on an analysis of 36 core samples from wells in eight gasfields in the eastern Bengal Basin. Kerogen facies and thermal maturity of these shales were studied using standard organic geochemical and organic petrographic techniques. Organic matter is dominated by Type III kerogen with lesser amounts of Type II. TOC is 0.16–0.90 wt % (Bhuban Formation) and 0.15–0.55 wt % (Boka Bil Formation) and extractable organic matter (EOM) is 132–2814 ppm and 235–1458 ppm, respectively. The hydrogen index is 20–181 mg HC/g TOC in the Bhuban shales and 35–282 mg HC/ g TOC in the Boka Bil shales. Vitrinite was the dominant maceral group observed followed by liptinite and inertinite. Gas chromatographic parameters including the C/S ratio, n‐alkane CPI, Pr/Ph ratio, hopane Ts/Tm ratio and sterane distribution suggest that the organic matter in both formations is mainly derived from terrestrial sources deposited in conditions which alternated between oxic and sub‐oxic. The geochemical and petrographic results suggest that the shales analysed can be ranked as poor to fair gas‐prone source rocks. The maturity of the samples varies, and vitrinite reflectance ranges from 0.48 to 0.76 %VR_r. Geochemical parameters support a maturity range from just pre‐ oil window to mid‐ oil window.     

SOURCE‐ROCK MATURITY,HYDROCARBON POTENTIAL AND OIL – SOURCE‐ROCK CORRELATION IN WELL SHORISH‐1, ERBIL PROVINCE,KURDISTAN REGION,IRAQ

The Shorish‐1 exploration well is located in Erbil Province in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, on the outskirts of Erbil City near the dividing line between the Low Folded and High Folded Zones of the Zagros foldbelt. The well penetrated rocks which are between Miocene and Late Triassic in age. The depositional environment, source potential and maturity of organic‐rich intervals within the well succession were investigated using 38 cuttings samples. All samples were analysed for bulk geochemical parameters (i.e. total organic carbon, total carbon, sulphur, Rock‐Eval). A subset of 13 samples was selected for biomarker analysis, pyrolysis – gas chromatography and isotope investigations. In addition non‐commercial oil and oil impregnations were investigated for oil‐source correlations. Source rocks occur in the Jurassic Sargelu and Naokelekan Formations and the lowermost Cretaceous Chia Gara Formation. Analytical results suggest that these source rocks were deposited in a carbonate‐rich, anoxic environment in an intrashelf basin setting with free H₂S in the water column. Oxygen‐depleted conditions were favoured by salinity stratification. The average preserved TOC contents of the 100 m thick Sargelu Formation and the 25 m thick Naokelekan Formation are 2.2% and 4.6%, respectively. The TOC content of the Chia Gara Formation decreases upwards and averages 3.2% within its lower 40 m. Very high sulphur contents suggest the presence of kerogen Type II‐S, and that all the formations have generated sulphur‐rich hydrocarbons at relatively low maturities. In contrast to the oil impregnations within Jurassic strata, the oil and the oil impregnations within Cretaceous rocks are heavily biodegraded. Oil biomarker and isotope data indicate generation from the above‐mentioned Jurassic and Cretaceous source rock formations. As a result, generation from Triassic and Paleogene rocks can be excluded or is of negligible significance. Numerical models show that hydrocarbon generation rates from the Sargelu, Naokelekan and Chia Gara Formations peaked firstly at about 55 Ma (Paleocene/Eocene) and then again at 5 Ma before present (late Miocene/Pliocene). The first peak resulted from increased Paleocene subsidence, and the second peak was related to deep late Miocene/Pliocene burial. Hydrocarbon generation ceased during Recent uplift, during which ～2000 m of the Late Neogene succession was eroded.     

Potentiality and timing of generation of Kareem and Rudeis formations,Central Gulf of Suez

This study aims to evaluate source rock formations (Kareem and Rudeis) through quantitative and qualitative analysis of pyrolysis data from 44 ditch samples from three wells (Elkhaligue-1, Kareem-1, and El Ayune-1) at different depths in the central Gulf of Suez. From these data we concluded that Kareem and Rudeis formations are fair to good source rocks and have a generating potential fair to good to generate both oil and gas generated from mixed type II kerogene deposited under anoxic conditions, also they considered as fair to good oil sources. Both formations are mature and this conclusion is confirms by the burial histories of the three wells where Kareem Formation reached the early stage of generation at time ranges from 6 to 1.5?m.y while Rudeis Formation reached the oil window at time ranges from 18 to 6.6?m.y which considered a very good timing for excellent preservation efficiency of the hydrocarbons generated.     

惠州26-2油田油藏地球化学特征及其地质意义

采用油藏地球化学方法,初步建立了惠州26-2油田油水层的地球化学判识标准,分析了该油田油藏地球化学特征。惠州26-2油田珠江组和珠海组有来自文昌组和恩平组烃源岩生成的两期油气充注,先期充注的、来自文昌组烃源岩生成的原油在珠海组中下部遭受了中等强度的生物降解,后期又有来自恩平组烃源岩生成的油气充注。珠江组油藏中的烃类生物降解不明显。根据油藏烃类的组成差异和惠州26洼烃源岩热演化史,探讨了惠州26-2油田周边主断层的开启性及油气运移方向。     

HYDROCARBON ACCUMULATION PROCESSES IN THE YANGTAKE FOLDBELT,KUQA FORELAND BASIN,NW CHINA: INSIGHTS FROM INTEGRATED BASIN MODELLING AND FLUID INCLUSION ANALYSES

Abundant gas and condensate resources are present in the Kuqa foreland basin in the northern Tarim Basin, NW China. Most of the hydrocarbons so far discovered are located in foldbelts in the north and centre of the foreland basin, and the Southern Slope region has therefore been less studied. This paper focusses on the Yangtake area in the west of the Southern Slope. Basin modelling was integrated with fluid inclusion analyses to investigate the oil and gas charge history of the area. ID modelling at two widely spaced wells (DB‐1 and YN‐2) assessed the burial, thermal and hydrocarbon generation histories of Jurassic source rocks in the foreland basin. Results show that the source rocks began to generate hydrocarbons (R_o >0.5%) during the Miocene. In both wells, the source rocks became mature to highly mature between 12 and 1.8 Ma, and most oil and gas was generated at 5.3–1.8 Ma with peak generation at about 3 Ma. Two types of petroleum fluid inclusions were observed in Cretaceous and lower Paleocene sandstone reservoir rocks at wells YTK‐5 and YTK‐1 in the Yangtake area. The inclusions in general occur along healed microfractures in quartz grains, and have either yellowish or blueish fluorescence colours. Aqueous inclusions coexisting with both types of oil inclusions in Cretaceous sandstones in well YTK‐5 had homogenization temperatures of 96–128 °C and 115–135 °C, respectively. The integrated results of this study suggest that oil generated by the Middle Jurassic Qiakemake Formation source rocks initially charged sandstone reservoirs in the Yangtake area at about 4 Ma, forming the yellowish‐fluorescing oil inclusions. Gas, which was mainly sourced from Lower Jurassic Yangxia and Middle Jurassic Kezilenuer coaly and mudstone source rocks, initially migrated into the same reservoirs in the Yangtake area at about 3.5 Ma and interacted with the early‐formed oils forming blueish‐fluorescing oil inclusions. The migration of gas also resulted in formation of the condensate accumulations which are present at the YTK‐1 and YTK‐2 fields in the Yangtake area.     

A REVIEW OF THE COALY SOURCE ROCKS AND GENERATED PETROLEUMS IN THE DANISH NORTH SEA: AN UNDEREXPLORED MIDDLE JURASSIC PETROLEUM SYSTEM?

This paper reviews the Middle Jurassic petroleum system in the Danish Central Graben with a focus on source rock quality, fluid compositions and distributions, and the maturation and generation history. The North Sea including the Danish Central Graben is a mature oil province where the primary source rock is composed of Upper Jurassic – lowermost Cretaceous marine shales. Most of the shale‐sourced structures have been drilled and, to accommodate continued value creation, additional exploration opportunities are increasingly considered in E&P strategies. Triassic and Jurassic sandstone plays charged from coaly Middle Jurassic source rocks have proven to be economically viable in the North Sea. In the Danish‐Norwegian Søgne Basin, coal‐derived gas/condensate is produced from the Harald and Trym fields and oil from the Lulita field; the giant Culzean gas‐condensate field is under development in the UK Central North Sea; and in the Norwegian South Viking Graben, coal‐derived gas and gas‐condensate occur in several fields. The coaly source rock of the Middle Jurassic petroleum system in the greater North Sea is included in the Bryne/Lulu Formations (in Denmark), the Pentland Formation (in the UK), and the Sleipner and Hugin Formations in Norway. In the Danish Central Graben, the coal‐bearing unit is composed of coals, coaly shales and carbonaceous shales, has a regional distribution and can be mapped seismically as the ‘Coal Marker’. The coaly source rocks are primarily gas‐prone but the coals have an average Hydrogen Index value of c. 280 mg HC/g TOC and values above 300 mg HC/g TOC are not uncommon, which underpins the coals' capacity to generate liquid hydrocarbons (condensate and oil). The coal‐sourced liquids are differentiated from the common marine‐sourced oils by characteristic biomarker and isotope compositions, and in the Danish Central Graben are grouped into specific oil families composed of coal‐sourced oil and mixed oils with a significant coaly contribution. Similarly, the coal‐sourced gases are recognized by a normally heavier isotope signature and a relatively high dryness coefficient compared to oil‐associated gas derived from marine shales. The coal‐derived and mixed coaly gases are likewise assigned to well‐defined gas families. Coal‐derived liquids and gas discoveries and shows in Middle Jurassic strata suggest that the coaly Middle Jurassic petroleum system has a regional distribution. A 3D petroleum systems model was constructed covering the Danish Central Graben. The model shows that present‐day temperatures for the Middle Jurassic coal source rock ('Coal Marker') are relatively high (>150 °C) throughout most of the Danish Central Graben, and expulsion of hydrocarbons from the ‘Coal Marker’ was initiated in Late Jurassic time in the deep Tail End Graben. In the Cretaceous, the area of mature coaly source rocks expanded, and at present day nearly the whole area is mature. Hydrocarbon expulsion rates were low in the Paleocene to Late Oligocene, followed by significant expulsion in the Miocene up to the present day. High Middle Jurassic reservoir temperatures prevent biodegradation.     

CRUDE OIL GEOCHEMISTRY AND SOURCE ROCK POTENTIAL OF THE UPPER CRETACEOUS – EOCENE SUCCESSION IN THE BELAYIM OILFIELDS,CENTRAL GULF OF SUEZ,EGYPT

This study evaluates the petroleum potential of source rocks in the pre‐rift Upper Cretaceous – Eocene succession at the Belayim oilfields in the central Gulf of Suez Basin. Organic geochemical and palynofacies investigations were carried out on 65 cuttings samples collected from the Thebes, Brown Limestone and Matulla Formations. Analytical methods included Rock‐Eval pyrolysis, Liquid Chromatography, Gas Chromatography and Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry. Four crude oil samples from producing wells were characterised using C₇ light hydrocarbons, stable carbon isotopes and biomarker characteristics. The results showed that the studied source rocks are composed of marine carbonates with organic matter dominated by algae and bacteria with minimal terrigenous input, deposited under reducing conditions. This conclusion was supported by n‐alkane distributions, pristane/ phytane ratios, homohopane and gammacerane indices, high concentrations of cholestane, the presence of C₃₀ n‐propylcholestanes, and low diasterane ratios. The source rocks ranged from immature to marginally mature based on the Rock‐Eval T_max together with biomarker maturity parameters. The analysed crude oil samples are interpreted to have been derived from source rock intervals within the Eocene Thebes Formation and the Upper Cretaceous Brown Limestone. The similarity in the geochemical characteristics of the crude oils suggests that there was little variation in the organofacies of the source rocks from which they were derived.     

Source Rocks Evaluation of Sidi Salem-1 Well in the Onshore Nile Delta,Egypt

Abstract

Ten core samples representing the subsurface formation of Sidi Salem well No. 1, in the onshore Nile Delta, Egypt. The samples were subjected to comprehensive organic geochemical studies (such as rock-eval pyrolysis, gas chromatograph [GC] and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry [GC-MS]) aiming to evaluate potential source rocks, organic matters types, depositional environments, and maturation. The results revealed that the source rocks in the drilled sections are marginally mature to mature zone and have fair to good potential for generating oil and gas. These rocks are dominated by organic matter derived mainly from mixed organic matters (marine and terrestrial) with contributions from algae and bacteria deposited under anoxic to suboxic saline environments.     

PETROLEUM GEOLOGY OF THE NOGAL BASIN AND SURROUNDING AREA,NORTHERN SOMALIA,PART 2: HYDROCARBON POTENTIAL

Seismic reflection profiles and well data show that the Nogal Basin, northern Somalia, has a structure and stratigraphy suitable for the generation and trapping of hydrocarbons. However, the data suggest that the Upper Jurassic Bihendula Group, which is the main source rock elsewhere in northern Somalia, is largely absent from the basin or is present only in the western part. The high geothermal gradient (～35–49 °C/km) and rapid increase of vitrinite reflectance with depth in the Upper Cretaceous succession indicate that the Gumburo Formation shales may locally have reached oil window maturity close to plutonic bodies. The Gumburo and Jesomma Formations include high quality reservoir sandstones and are sealed by transgressive mudstones and carbonates. ID petroleum systems modelling was performed at wells Nogal‐1 and Kalis‐1, with 2D modelling along seismic lines CS‐155 and CS‐229 which pass through the wells. Two source rock models (Bihendula and lower Gumburo) were considered at the Nogal‐1 well because the well did not penetrate the sequences below the Gumburo Formation. The two models generated significant hydrocarbon accumulations in tilted fault blocks within the Adigrat and Gumburo Formations. However, the model along the Kalis‐1 well generated only negligible volumes of hydrocarbons, implying that the hydrocarbon potential is higher in the western part of the Nogal Basin than in the east. Potential traps in the basin are rotated fault blocks and roll‐over anticlines which were mainly developed during Oligocene–Miocene rifting. The main exploration risks in the basin are the lack of the Upper Jurassic source and reservoirs rocks, and the uncertain maturity of the Upper Cretaceous Gumburo and Jesomma shales. In addition, Oligocene‐Miocene rift‐related deformation has resulted in trap breaching and the reactivation of Late Cretaceous faults.