Abstract
The Middle Jurassic Sargelu Formation is evaluated for its hydrocarbon generation potential in three wells near Duhok Governorate, Northern Iraq using ten borehole cutting samples analyzed by Rock-Evil pyrolysis, gas chromatography coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (MSS) and stable isotope. The results showed that the total organic carbon and genetic potential of the formation ranges from 0.5 to 11.6 wt.% and 1.7 to 66.3 mg HC/g of rock, respectively indicating fair to excellent source rock petroleum potential, with hydrogen index values between 270 to 555 mg HC/g TOC. The results also show kerogen Types II and mixed II/III reflecting thermal maturity within the oil generation zone. The estimated ratios of Pr/Ph, Pr/n-C17 and Ph/n-C18 from the extracted bitumen reveal primary accumulations of marine organic matter under reducing conditions. The δ13CSat and δ13CAro for the extracted bitumen range from -29.5 to -27.5‰ and -28.4 to -27.2‰, respectively. The biomarkers results indicate a significant contribution of marine organic matters preserved under relatively anoxic conditions.
Highlights
The northern part of Iraq is characterized by multiple source rocks, one of these is rocks Sargelu Formation (Pitman et al, 2004)
Al-Atroshi et al The identification of a petroleum source rock can be established by determination of organic matter richness, type of kerogen and eventually, the maturity of source rock (Tissot and Welte, 1984, Waples, 1985 and Hunt, 1996)
This study is mainly based on the analyses of cutting samples collected from shales, argillaceous limestone, and dolomite fraction selected from wells in the northwestern part of Iraqi Kurdistan Region (Fig. 3)
Summary
The northern part of Iraq is characterized by multiple source rocks, one of these is rocks Sargelu Formation (Pitman et al, 2004). The Middle Jurassic deposits have been considered as potential source rocks for hydrocarbons deposited under the euxinic environment in the Middle East (Murris, 1980 and Beydoun, 1986) and in the Kurdistan Region of Northern Iraq (Al-Ameri et al, 2014, English et al, 2015 and Hakimi & Najaf, 2016). Biomarkers studies are very helpful because they can provide information on the organic matter (OM) in the source like environmental conditions during its deposition and thermal maturity experienced by rock or oil (catagenesis), the degree of biodegradation along with some aspects of source rock with deposition environment, and age (Peters & Moldowan, 1993)
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