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Understanding Petroleum Source Rocks

Petroleum source rock is defined as fine-grained sediment containing sufficient organic matter that can generate hydrocarbons to form commercial oil or gas accumulations. Source rocks are commonly shales and lime mudstones with significant organic matter. Source rocks are classified as immature if they have not generated hydrocarbons, mature if they are currently generating hydrocarbons, or post-mature if they have generated all hydrocarbon types. The quantity and quality of organic matter, as well as its thermal maturation and generation capability are used to evaluate a source rock's hydrocarbon potential.

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119 views1 page

Understanding Petroleum Source Rocks

Petroleum source rock is defined as fine-grained sediment containing sufficient organic matter that can generate hydrocarbons to form commercial oil or gas accumulations. Source rocks are commonly shales and lime mudstones with significant organic matter. Source rocks are classified as immature if they have not generated hydrocarbons, mature if they are currently generating hydrocarbons, or post-mature if they have generated all hydrocarbon types. The quantity and quality of organic matter, as well as its thermal maturation and generation capability are used to evaluate a source rock's hydrocarbon potential.

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lydiaqwerty1234
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SOURCE ROCK

Petroleum source rock is defined as the fine-grained sediment with sufficient


amount of organic matter, which can generate and release enough hydrocarbons
to form a commercial accumulation of oil or gas . Source rocks are commonly
shales and lime mudstones, which contain significant amount of organic matter A
petroleum source rock is defined as any rock that has the capability to generate
and expel enough hydrocarbons to form an accumulation of oil or gas.
Source rocks are classified according to oil generation into three classes , as
follows:

1. Immature source rocks that have not yet generated hydrocarbons.

2. Mature source rocks that are in generation phase.

3. Post mature source rocks are those which have already generated all crude oil type
hydrocarbons.

The hydrocarbon source evaluation is generally based on the organic matter


quantity (organic richness), quality (kerogen type), and the thermal maturation
generation capability and of the organic matter disseminated in the rock.

The source rock evaluation within any study area involved the recognition of
petroleum source, which depends on the determination of its proportion of organic
matter (organic matter quantity), which is usually expressed as total organic carbon
(TOC wt%). It also depends on the type (or quality) of organic matter (kerogen)
preserved in the petroleum source. The geochemical data such as total organic
carbon (TOC wt%), rock-eval pyrolysis data, bitumen extraction, and vitrinite
reflectance are presented and discussed for the proposed Upper Jurassic and Lower
Cretaceous rock units in the Saltpond basin in the western province. The total
organic carbon, S2 and genetic potential from rock-eval pyrolysis and extractable
organic matter (bitumen) from selected rock samples were used to identify the
source-richness in terms of quantity and generation potential. Plots of Tmax (C°)
against hydrogen index (HI mgHC/gm of TOC) and hydrogen index (HI) against
oxygen index (OI) from rock-eval pyrolysis are used to identify the kerogen type
(quality) and depositional environment. Rock-eval Tmax (C°) was used to evaluate
source rock maturity stage, in conjunction with vitrinite reflectance pattern as a
maturity tool.

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