Petroleum potentiality of the Balambo Formation in Bekhme and Razan sections, Kurdistan region, northeastern Iraq

Abstract

Balambo Formation (Early Cretaceous) had been studied in Razan and Bekhme sections, Erbil Governorate, Kurdistan Region-Iraq, to determine the hydrocarbon generation potentiality for the studied rocks. The samples were analyzed for TOC, Rock Eval pyrolysis and GC-MS technique. The Balambo Formation’s TOC wt. % content is relatively high, ranging between 0.95 to 7.59 wt.% (average 2.91 wt.%). The Formation has the potentiality to generate gas and oil owing to its suboxic-anoxic depositional environment, marine origin organisms, suitable maturity level, and the type of kerogen is predominantly types III and subordinate amount of mixed type II-III according to the Rock-Eval pyrolysis data and isoprenoid/n-alkane. The C27%, C28% and C29% regular steranes distribution suggested the studied formation is deposited in marine environment. The samples were proven to be mature based on the ratios of the Tmax, steranes 20S/ (20S+20R)C29 to ββS/(ββS+ααR)C29 steranes and C32 22S/(22S+22R) hopane. Although the Ts/(Ts+Tm) ratio data point to an early mature stage, vitrinite reflectance predictions ranged from 0.55 to 0.75%, once more pointing to a mature stage.