Oil generation in the michigan basin: A biological marker and carbon isotope approach

Abstract

Palaeozoic strata in the Michigan Basin produced crude oils which, despite their rather small volume and economic value, are interesting because of the considerable age of the basin and because of the opportunity to study generation and migration of oils within a relatively simple but ancient geological setting. Based on n-alkane profiles, biological marker distributions and carbon isotope ratios, the oils belong to three main families of different genetic origin and a few less important mixed types. Silurian oils from Salina and Niagara Limestones have broad n-alkane distributions and abundant isoprenoid hydrocarbons. A strong phytane-over-pristane predominance and the lack of diasteranes indicate a carbonate source for these oils. Chemical maturity parameters show that they are more mature than the oils from the other main families from which they are also clearly distinguished by carbon isotope ratios of hydrocarbon fractions and single n-alkanes. Oils found in the calcareous Ordovician Trenton formation contain n-alkane, cyclohexylalkane and alkyl phenanthrene distributions typical of immature oils. Many oils from the Devonian Dundee reservoirs are very similar in overall composition to the Trenton oils. Devonian Traverse oils are considered to be mainly from a Devonian source with some contribution of Ordovician-type oil and are of intermediate maturity. Based on calculations using kinetic parameters of biological marker reactions, considerably deeper subsidence of the Devonian source rock in the past is implied.