Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology (Jun 2017)
Source rock characteristics of the Early Cretaceous Garau and Gadvan formations in the western Zagros Basin–southwest Iran
Abstract
Abstract Cretaceous source succession in the Zagros Basin comprises the Garau, Gadvan, and Kazhdumi formations, which have probably generated most of the oil and associated gas in the region. In the following study, the generation potential as well as maturity, molecular, and isotopic characteristics of the Early Cretaceous source rocks (Garau and Gadvan formations) in southwest Iran were investigated. One hundred and forty core and cutting samples of Early Cretaceous sediments were obtained from 24 wells in 12 oil fields from the northern Dezful Embayment and Abadan plain. Geochemical measurements such as Rock–Eval pyrolysis, vitrinite reflectance, GC, GC–MS, and isotopic studies were conducted on selected samples. The results have shown that the Gadvan Formation, with an average TOC of 0.65 wt% and HI values of 122 mgHC/g TOC, can be classified as poor source rock, while the Garau Formation, with TOC and HI values of up to 5.72 wt% and 413 mgHC/g TOC, respectively, can be considered as having good to excellent source potential. Kerogen in the Gadvan Formation belongs to Type III/II, while kerogen in the Garau Formation belongs to Type II. Samples from the Gadvan Formation are at the beginning of oil generation, while the current maturity of the Garau samples is already in the peak oil generation stage. Maturity in the studied samples increases eastward toward the Dezful Embayment. GC, GC–MS and isotopic values for the Gadvan Formation indicate high land plant contribution, low maturity, and oxic to sub-oxic depositional environment of the organic matter. In contrast, the Garau Formation shows an advanced level of maturity and marine depositional environment. Considering the results of this study, the Garau Formation, with excellent production potential and a high level of maturity, can be regarded as a source of a huge amount of oil and gas in the region.
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