Geochemical characterization and origin of crude oils in the Oriente basin, Ecuador, South America

Abstract

The Cretaceous oil reservoir located in eastern slope belt of the Oriente basin accounts for most of the discoveries in last decade in Ecuador, which makes the Oriente basin one of the most important oil exploration targets in South America. Crude oil samples (n = 31) in 31 wells together with mudstone and limestone source rocks (n = 18) from Cretaceous Napo Formation in 16 wells were analyzed to evaluate the geochemical characteristics of the oil reservoir oil.Geochemical analyses included measurements of total organic carbon (TOC) content, Rock-Eval Pyrolysis, gas chromatography (GC), and gas chromatography-mass-spectrometry (GC-MS).All the oil samples have pre-uimodal n-alkane distribution dominated by lower molecular weight components (peak at C15–C17) with a small peak at C25–C30. The carbon preference index (CPI) and odd-over-even predominance (OEP) values range between 1.0 and 1.34, and 1.0–1.21 respectively; Pr/Ph ratios range from 0.67 to 1.16; high Pr/n-C17 (0.80–3.47) and Ph/n-C18 ratios (0.82–7.86) values and dominate C27 regular steranes, all these biomarkers show that the oil derived from marine algal material. Furthermore, all oils have similar Terpanes and Steranes distribution shape, peak at C23TT, and low at C22TT (TT = tricyclic terpanes), relative low C22/C21, C24/C23 and C26/C25 tricyclic terpane ratios, higher C27R (R = regular steranes) content than C29R and C28R. These biomarkers demonstrate that all the oils are from same genetic family although they came from different zones. There are two kinds of source rocks in the Oriente basin, shale and argillaceous bioclastic limestone of Napo Formation. These rocks are good-excellent mature according to TOC and Rock-Eval assessment. The two source rocks show obvious different Terpanes and Steranes distribution shape in mz191 and mz217 maps. The Oil-Source correlation analysis demonstrates that the crude oils have similar Terpane and Steranes distribution shape and biomarker value, especially the C27R–C28R–C29R ratio, with argillaceous bioclastic limestone of Napo Formation. This new geochemical data suggests that the argillaceous bioclastic limestone is the major source rock in the Oriente basin. Thus, distribution of this stratigraphic unit should be the key point for future exploration.