Abstract
Shale sample from Bokh Formation, Ogaden basin, Ethiopia was assessed for their petroleum potential by Rock-Eval pyrolysis. The Total Organic Carbon (TOC) values range from 0.76 to 0.86 wt%. These values exceed the minimum value of 0.5 wt% required for potential petroleum source rocks. The genetic potential (GP) and hydrogen index (HI) values range from 0.09 to 0.5 mg/g and 8 - 32 mgHC/gTOC, respectively. These values are generally lower than the minimal 2 mg/g GP and 200 mgHC/g HI required for a potential source rock. Several plots from the Rock-Eval pyrolysis data classify the samples as type IV kerogen with no potential to generate hydrocarbons. The Tmax and Production Index (PI) values range from 388°C to 453°C and 0.28 to 0.46, respectively. These values indicate that the shales are thermally matured. These results show that the shales from the Bokh Formation in Ogaden basin have no potential to generate hydrocarbons mainly crude oil, but are thermally matured and may generate natural gas.
Highlights
The sedimentary regions of Ethiopia cover a large portion of the country and comprise five distinct sedimentary basins namely; the Ogaden, Abay (Blue Nile), Mekele, Gambela and Southern Rift Basins [1] [2] [3] [4]
Shale sample from Bokh Formation, Ogaden basin, Ethiopia was assessed for their petroleum potential by Rock-Eval pyrolysis
These results show that the shales from the Bokh Formation in Ogaden basin have no potential to generate hydrocarbons mainly crude oil, but are thermally matured and may generate natural gas
Summary
The sedimentary regions of Ethiopia cover a large portion of the country and comprise five distinct sedimentary basins namely; the Ogaden, Abay (Blue Nile), Mekele, Gambela and Southern Rift Basins [1] [2] [3] [4]. The Ogaden, Abay and Mekele basins are presumed to be intracontinental rift basins formed as a result of extensional stresses induced by the break-up of Gondwanaland in Upper Paleozoic [5]. The search for commercial hydrocarbon deposits (oil/gas) in the Ogaden basin has remained a real concern especially to oil companies and many researchers. Previous exploration activities in search for economically viable hydrocarbon reservoirs were focused on the regional geology [5] [6] [7] [8] basin evolution as well as biostratigraphy [2] [9] of the basin with little information about the hydrocarbon potential [2] [9] and thermal maturity [2]. Such study will be good to increase value to exploration and researches
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