海相烃源岩二次生烃潜力定量评价新方法

烃源岩二次生烃的演化过程是残余干酪根热解演化与残留油热裂解转化两个既相互联系又完全不同的物理化学反应过程的叠加。本文利用自制高压釜热压生烃模拟实验装置,采取分阶段连续递进模拟实验方式,以海相烃源岩样品为例分别评价了残余干酪根的生烃潜力与残留可溶有机质转化油气潜力,建立了一套不同起始与终止成熟度海相烃源岩二次生烃潜力的定量评价方法,并首次明确提出了干酪根生油指数KIo、干酪根生气指数KIg、干酪根生烃指数KIh等评价烃源岩生烃潜力的参数,弥补了ROCK EVAL热解评价方法无法分别评价烃源岩在不同生烃演化阶段所生成的“油”或“烃气”潜力的不足。     

南华北地区石炭-二叠纪煤系生烃潜力与二次生烃探讨

综合运用岩石热解、有机岩石学及有机地球化学等方法,对南华北地区石炭-二叠纪煤系烃源岩有机质丰度、类型以及成熟度和热演化史进行了分析,综合评价了烃源岩的生烃潜力。评价结果表明,石炭系(太原组+本溪组)烃源岩要好于二叠系山西组、石盒子组;有机质类型以Ⅲ型干酪根为主、Ⅱ型干酪根为辅;有机质热演化程度大部分处于成熟-高成熟阶段,部分地区达到过成熟,以生气为主。文中结合构造-热演化史资料分析了煤系二次生烃的条件,指出谭庄-沈丘凹陷和倪丘集凹陷初始成熟度较低,且具有合适的埋藏史类型,并有二次生烃油气勘探前景。      

中国海相不同类型原油与沥青生气潜力研究

本文通过固体沥青、沥青砂岩及加入不同介质原油与稠油的加水密闭热压模拟实验,对比研究了海相原油与沥青的气体产率特征、生气潜力及其影响因素.结果表明原油与沥青的生气潜力除与岩性、演化程度有关外,还与其所含可溶有机质性质和组成等密切相关,H/C原子比越大,最大烃气产率越高,生烃气潜力越大.储集岩或运移途径岩石中的原油与沥青,当其再次达到成熟-高成熟阶段时,可以作为新的轻质油气或者天然气源岩.     

煤和煤系泥岩生油能力再评价

煤和分散有机质（煤系泥岩或页岩）对煤成油田的贡献大小一直没有获得统一认识,这导致煤是否具有生排油能力直到现在仍然争论不休。选择了两个典型侏罗系煤和一个煤系泥岩样品,分别进行了限定体系热解生烃模拟,结果表明热解特征较差的泥岩（H／C 0．77,IH 146mg／g）却比中等富氢煤（H／C 0．82,IH 260mg／g）的生油量高出2．7倍,是一般煤（H／C 0．75,IH 199mg／g）生油潜力的6倍。这暗示着在煤成油评价中,不能简单把煤和煤系分散有机质对等进行评价,不然会低估煤系相对分散有机质的贡献而过高估计了煤的作用。热解模拟结果与吐哈盆地台北凹陷煤系岩石中有机质含量对比结果表明,该凹陷煤成油更可能来自于煤系泥岩而不是煤本身。此外,通过分析发现煤中液态烃稳定性较差,一般在低熟阶段就开始裂解生气,因此,被国内外学者普遍采纳的,IH（或S1）随成熟度变化的趋势不能作为判断煤排油门限的有效参考。     

渤中地区不同热解实验条件下的烃源岩生烃动力学研究

为了对比不同类型烃源岩样品在不同的热解模拟实验条件下生油和生气的活化能,选取渤中地区多个湖相泥质烃源岩原岩和干酪根样品进行了开放体系无水热解和封闭体系加水热解实验,烃源岩样品取自不同的洼陷和烃源层位,具有不同的有机质丰度、类型和成熟度。对比结果表明,有机质类型和成熟度对烃源岩生油活化能有重要影响,平均生油活化能随有机质类型变差和成熟度增大而增大。不同的洼陷、烃源层位和样品类型对平均生油活化能无明显影响,而样品类型则影响活化能的分布,原岩活化能分布相比干酪根更加集中。处于成熟阶段烃源岩的生气活化能比处于低熟阶段烃源岩的生油活化能高11~17kJ/mol。相对于开放体系无水热解实验,封闭体系加水热解实验活化能分布集中且能够包含初次裂解和二次裂解过程。本研究应用封闭体系加水热解模拟实验,分别选择低熟烃源岩原岩样品和成熟烃源岩干酪根样品进行生油和生气活化能研究,取得了良好的效果。     

准噶尔盆地南缘侏罗系煤岩生烃动力学研究

应用金管-高压釜装置对采自准噶尔盆地南缘西部煤样JC25和东部煤样JC41进行生烃动力学模拟实验,获取生油、生气量和生烃动力学参数.升温速率分别为2℃/h和20℃/h,实验压力为50 MPa.实验得到两个煤样JC25和JC41最大生油量(以下单位mg/g均表示每克有机碳的生成量)分别为126 mg/g和68.5 mg/g,计算的排油量分别为88.8 mg/g和29.5 mg/g,表明侏罗系煤岩在南缘西部四棵树凹陷较其他区域具有较大的生油潜力.两个煤样最大生气量(∑C1–5)分别为121.6 mg/g和112 mg/g,差异相对较小.煤样JC25和JC41的H/C原子比值分别为0.85和0.77,类脂组含量分别约为8％和6％,岩石热解(Rock-Eval)参数氢指数(IH)分别为155 mg/g和156 mg/g.实验结果表明,H/C原子比值、类脂组含量比IH能更好地反映煤岩的初始生油、生气潜力.依据生烃动力学参数模拟了地质条件下(升温速率5℃/Ma)的生油和生气过程.煤样主要生、排油阶段的Ro,Easy介于0.80％～1.20％之间.在半开放条件下(发生排油),两个煤样的生气速率比较接近.在Ro,Easy=1.50％时生气转化率分别为23％和18％,煤岩主要生气过程发生在高过成熟阶段(Ro,Easy>1.50％).侏罗系烃源岩在霍玛吐背斜带中部成熟度较高,较其他区域具有更大的天然气勘探潜力.     

贵州水城煤中基质镜质体生烃潜力、烃类组成及生烃模式

基质镜质体是华南晚二叠世煤中的主要组分之一,其在煤中含量的多少、生烃潜力的大小、生烃特性等直接影响到该区煤成油气资源的评价。采用岩石热解、热解气相色谱以及开放体系下热模拟等方法,对贵州水城晚二叠世(P21)龙潭组煤中基质镜质体的生烃潜力、烃类组成特征、生烃模式进行了研究。结果表明:本区基质镜质体的生烃潜力、氢指数分别为191.99mg/g和250mg/gTOC,远高于丝质体的生烃潜力(26.17mg/g)和氢指数(35mg/gTOC),而小于树皮体的生烃潜力(297mg/g)和氢指数(491mg/gTOC);基质镜质体热解烃类组成中以轻质烃为主,湿气次之,可见本区基质镜质体不但能生成气态烃,而且能生成一定量的液态烃,这归因于其中所含大量的超微类脂体;基质镜质体“生油窗”温度范围为375～475℃,主要生烃温度区间为400～450℃,其中415～430℃为生烃高峰期,420℃处产烃率最高。基质镜质体这种在高成熟度下(大于VRo1.0%)大量生烃的特点对在成熟度普遍较高的华南地区寻找油气田具有重要的意义。     

贵州水城煤中基质镜质体生烃潜力、烃类组成及生烃模式

基质镜质体是华南晚二叠世煤中的主要组分之一,其在煤中含量的多少、生烃潜力的大小、生烃特性等直接影响到该区煤成油气资源的评价。采用岩石热解、热解气相色谱以及开放体系下热模拟等方法,对贵州水城晚二叠世(R12)龙潭组煤中基质镜质体的生烃潜力、烃类组成特征、生烃模式进行了研究。结果表明：本区基质镜质体的生烃潜力、氢指数分别为191.99mg/g和250mg／gTOC,远高于丝质体的生烃潜力(26.17mg/g)和氢指数(35mg／gTOC),而小于树皮体的生烃潜力(297mg/g)和氢指数(491mg/gTOC);基质镜质体热解烃类组成中以轻质烃为主,湿气次之,可见本区基质镜质体不但能生成气态烃,而且能生成一定量的液态烃,这归因于其中所含大量的超微类脂体;基质镜质体“生油窗”温度范围为375～475℃,主要生烃温度区间为400～450℃,其中415～430℃为生烃高峰期,420℃处产烃率最高。基质镜质体这种在高成熟度下(大于VRo1.0％)大量生烃的特点对在成熟度普遍较高的华南地区寻找油气田具有重要的意义。     

内蒙古扎鲁特地区鲁D2井林西组烃源岩 有机地球化学特征

烃源岩生烃潜力的定量评价是研究盆地油气勘探潜力的重要手段.采用有机质丰度、类型、成熟度和沉积环境指标定量或定性评价了鲁D2井暗色泥岩的生烃潜力.有机碳定量评价表明,林西组泥岩为中等有机质丰度烃源岩.依据Pr/nC17、Ph/nC18散点图揭示林西组有机质类型以Ⅱ1型为主;伽玛蜡烷指数指示有机质形成于半咸水、还原环境,有利于有机质的保存.伊利石结晶度分析表明,烃源岩演化进入过成熟阶段.结果表明,扎鲁特盆地林西组泥岩为中等丰度、Ⅱ型干酪根、过成熟烃源岩,具有良好的页岩气勘探前景.     

海相烃源岩有机质类型的“双重属性”初探——以安徽南陵——无为地区浅水台地相碳酸盐岩为例

普遍认为海相烃源岩的生烃母质以菌藻类为主,有机质类型好,其生烃潜力也高。新的研究认为这一观点有待商榷。南陵—无为地区上古生界和中生界海相地层烃源岩有机质表现出"双重属性":反映母质来源的评价指标干酪根镜下鉴定和碳同位素组成显示为腐泥型特征,有机质类型好;而反映生烃能力的评价指标干酪根元素比和岩石热解等参数则表现出其生烃潜力整体只相当于Ⅲ型有机母质的水平。对于海相烃源岩不能一概以生源优劣来直接代替有机质的生烃能力。认识到腐泥型的有机质成烃降解率并不总是很高,这对于客观地评价浅水台地环境沉积的碳酸盐岩生烃潜力是非常重要的。     

Geochemical Evaluation of the Permian Ecca Shale in Eastern Cape Province,South Africa: Implications for Shale Gas Potential

Shale gas has been the exploration focus for future energy supply in South Africa in recent time. Specifically, the Permian black shales of the Prince Albert, Whitehill, Collingham, Ripon and Fort Brown Formations are considered to be most prospective rocks for shale gas exploration. In this study,outcrop and core samples from the Ecca Group were analyzed to assess their total organic carbon(TOC), organic matter type, thermal maturity and hydrocarbon generation potential. These rocks have TOC ranging from 0.11 to 7.35 wt%. The genetic potential values vary from 0.09 to 0.53 mg HC/g,suggesting poor hydrocarbon generative potential. Most of the samples have Hydrogen Index(HI) values of less than 50 mg HC/g TOC, thus suggesting Type-Ⅳ kerogen. Tmax values range from 318℃ to601℃, perhaps indicating immature to over-maturity of the samples. The vitrinite reflectance values range from 2.22% to 3.93%, indicating over-maturity of samples. Binary plots of HI against Oxygen Index(OI), and HI versus Tmax show that the shales are of Type II and mixed Type Ⅱ-Ⅲ kerogen.Based on the geochemical data, the potential source rocks are inferred as immature to over-matured and having present-day potential to produce gas.     

Analysis and characterization of samples from sedimentary strata with correlations to indicate the potential for hydrocarbons

The Rock-Eval pyrolysis and TOC analysis have been widely used to evaluate the source rock quality. The atomic H/C ratio of kerogen, however, has been overlooked in source rock evaluation. In this study, coal and carbonaceous samples, including 26 from northwestern Taiwan, 12 from China, and 4 from the United States were analyzed, and integrated with 157 published data, to explore the significance of atomic H/C ratio as a parameter of source rock evaluation. Two different linear trends were observed in the cross-plot of S ₁ versus S ₂. Field outcropped shale or C-shale exhibits a steeper slope compared to that of coal samples which can be attributed to the compositional difference in their organic material. A rather strong positive correlation for H% versus S ₂ illustrates the contribution of H-containing macerals, especially exinite. Organic matters in the samples studied are of type II/III kerogen based on the relationship between HI and T _max. The H/C ratio, as well as the HI, S ₁, and S ₂, generally decreases with the maturity increasing. The H/C ratio decreases slightly from 1.1 to 0.7 with the maturity increasing from R _o 0.55 to 0.85%. Samples with H/C ratio in this range show significant change in certain other geochemical parameters (e.g. HI, S ₁, S ₂, S ₁ + S ₂, S ₁/(S ₁ + S ₂), S ₁/TOC, (S ₁ + S ₂)/TOC, T _max). The (S ₁ + S ₂)/TOC ratio (defined as QI) was used as an indicator of the hydrocarbon potential. The QI, HI, and H/C ratio show a certain correlation, all increasing accordingly. The QI of the samples analyzed in this study is approximately 100–380 (mgHC/gTOC), similar to that of most humic coals for oil and gas generation. Samples with R _o value lower than 0.55% always show significant variation in their HI, ranging from 80 to 520 mgHC/gTOC. It is inferred that hydrocarbon potential started from R _o 0.55% and atomic H/C ratio 1.1 in this study.     

A chemical and thermodynamic model of oil generation in hydrocarbon source rocks

Thermodynamic calculations and Gibbs free energy minimization computer experiments strongly support the hypothesis that kerogen maturation and oil generation are inevitable consequences of oxidation/reduction disproportionation reactions caused by prograde metamorphism of hydrocarbon source rocks with increasing depth of burial.These experiments indicate that oxygen and hydrogen are conserved in the process.Accordingly, if water is stable and present in the source rock at temperatures ?25 but ?100 °C along a typical US Gulf Coast geotherm, immature (reduced) kerogen with a given atomic hydrogen to carbon ratio (H/C) melts incongruently with increasing temperature and depth of burial to produce a metastable equilibrium phase assemblage consisting of naphthenic/biomarker-rich crude oil, a type-II/III kerogen with an atomic hydrogen/carbon ratio (H/C) of ∼1, and water. Hence, this incongruent melting process promotes diagenetic reaction of detritus in the source rock to form authigenic mineral assemblages.However, in the water-absent region of the system CHO (which is extensive), any water initially present or subsequently entering the source rock is consumed by reaction with the most mature kerogen with the lowest H/C it encounters to form CO₂ gas and a new kerogen with higher H/C and O/C, both of which are in metastable equilibrium with one another.This hydrolytic disproportionation process progressively increases both the concentration of the solute in the aqueous phase, and the oil generation potential of the source rock; i.e., the new kerogen can then produce more crude oil.Petroleum is generated with increasing temperature and depth of burial of hydrocarbon source rocks in which water is not stable in the system CHO by a series of irreversible disproportionation reactions in which kerogens with higher (H/C)s melt incongruently to produce metastable equilibrium assemblages consisting of crude oil, CO₂ gas, and a more mature (oxidized) kerogen with a lower H/C which in turn melts incongruently with further burial to produce more crude oil, CO₂ gas, and a kerogen with a lower H/C and so forth.The petroleum generated in the process progresses from heavy naphthenic crude oils at low temperatures to mature petroleum at ∼150 °C. For example, the results of Computer Experiment 27 (see below) indicate that the overall incongruent melting reaction in the water-absent region of the system C-H-O at 150 °C and a depth of ∼4.3 km of an immature type-II/III kerogen with a bulk composition represented by C₂₉₂H₂₈₈O_12(c) to produce a mature (oxidized) kerogen represented by C₁₂₈H₆₈O_7(c), together with a typical crude oil with an average metastable equilibrium composition corresponding to C_8.8H_16.9 (C_8.8H_16.9(l)) and CO₂ gas (CO_2(g)) can be described by writing

(A)     

封闭体系有机质与有机碳氢氮恢复动力学研究

在封闭体系的条件下,对典型的Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ型干酪根在热演化过程中的损失进行生烃动力学研究,获得了Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ型干酪根的总量、有机碳、氢以及氮质量损失动力学参数。用Kinetics软件计算了封闭体系干酪根有机碳丰度、氢碳原子比和氮碳原子比的恢复系数。认为在对高成熟—过成熟干酪根进行生烃评价时,Ⅰ、Ⅲ型干酪根残余有机碳丰度需要进行恢复,而Ⅱ型干酪根残余有机碳丰度不需要恢复。三种类型干酪根的氢碳原子比均需要进行恢复。     

珠江口盆地番禺低隆起-白云凹陷北坡干酪根热演化模拟与生烃

通过密封金管-高压釜体系对珠江口盆地番禺低隆起-白云凹陷北坡恩平组炭质泥岩的干酪根(PY),在24.1 MPa压力、20℃/hr(373.5~526℃)和2℃/h(343~489.2℃)两个升温速率条件下进行热模拟生烃实验,分析气态烃(C1 5)和液态烃(C6 14和C14+)的产率,以及沥青质和残余有机质碳同位素组成。同时与Green River页岩(GR)和Woodford泥岩(WF)的干酪根,分别代表典型的I型和II型干酪根进行对比研究。结果显示PY热演化产物中总油气量明显低于GR和WF干酪根,且气态烃(C1 5)最高产率是液态烃的1.5倍,揭示恩平组炭质泥岩主要以形成气态烃为主。在热演化过程中,有机质成熟度和母质类型是控制油气比的主要因素,气态烃和轻烃的产率比值主要受热演化成熟度的影响。干酪根残余有机质碳同位素和沥青质碳同位素在热演化过程中受有机质成熟度的影响较小,δ13C残余和δ13C沥青质可以间接反映原始母质的特征,为高演化烃源岩油气生成提供依据。     

Hydrocarbon Generation Characteristics of Source Rocks from Different Saline Environments in the Dongpu Depression,Bohai Bay Basin,China

The Dongpu Depression is a secondary salt-bearing tectonic unit in the Bohai Bay Basin, eastern China. The depositional environment of this depression regarding its Paleogene strata is clearly different in plane, including the saltwater environment(SE) in the north, the freshwater environment(FE) in the south and the brackish water environment(BE) in the middle. The result of oil and gas exploration in the Dongpu Depression shows that more than 90% of the proven oil reserves are distributed in the northern saltwater environment. Previous studies indicate that the organic geochemistry characteristics and the hydrocarbon generation capacity of the source rocks are very clearly diverse under different environments, which results in the significant differences in the proved reserves between the north and the south. In order to further explore the differences in the hydrocarbon generation capacity of the source rocks under distinct depositional environments and the mechanism of their occurrence, three samples from different depositional environments(W18-5 for SE, H7-18 for BE, CH9 for FE) were used for confined gold tube pyrolysis experiments. The results show that the CH4 yields of W18-5, H7-18 and CH9 increase with increasing temperature, the maximum yields being 405.62 mg/g TOC, 388.56 mg/g TOC and 367.89 mg/g TOC, respectively. The liquid hydrocarbon yields of W18-5, H7-18 and CH9 firstly increase with increasing temperature and then decrease after the critical temperatures. The maximum yields of C6-14 are 149.54 mg/g TOC, 140.18 mg/g TOC and 116.94 mg/g TOC, the maximum yields of C14+ being 852.4 mg/g TOC, 652.6 mg/g TOC and 596.41 mg/g TOC, respectively for W18-5, H7-18 and CH9. To summarize, the order of hydrocarbon potential from high to low is W18-5, H7-18 and CH9. On this basis, through analyzing the influencing factors of hydrocarbon differences, this paper reveals that the saltwater environment is characterized by 4 factors: higher salinity, halophilic algae, high paleo-productivity and a strongly reducing environment, which are beneficial to the enrichment of organic matter and lead to the formation of high levels of sapropelite and exinite. According to the variation of oil and gas components in the pyrolysis experiments, the hydrocarbon generation process is divided into three stages: kerogen cracking, oil cracking and C2-5 cracking. Combined with hydrocarbon generation characteristics and stages, the evolutionary model of hydrocarbon generation for source rocks under different environments is established.     

Primary alteration—oxidation of marine algal organic matter from oil source rocks of the North Sea and Norwegian Arctic: new findings

The presence of partially oxidized algal organic matter in oil-prone marine source rocks, is the rule rather than the exception. Partially oxidized, algal kerogen can still act as a significant source of liquid hydrocarbons. However, the corresponding peak of C₁₂ + hydrocarbon generation is shifted to a considerably lower maturity level compared with that of the classical Type II kerogen. The extent of primary alteration-oxidation of marine algal kerogen is monitored by means of solid state microfluorescence spectroscopy. A new parameter, the Primary Alteration Factor (PAF) is established, and the relationships between PAF and H/C, O/C, HI, TOC and between PAF and %₀δ¹³C are determined. The present data show large variations in the bulk chemistry of immature marine algal kerogens, and reveal evidence for gradational dehydrogenation/oxidation of the source organic matter. This contrasts with the recently proposed mechanism for kerogen formation. SEM analysis reveals a relationship between the physical breakdown of algal organic matter and the formation of liptodetrinite. FTIR analysis shows that the incorporation of primary oxygen in the kerogen macromolecules is not in the form of carbonyl or carboxyl functionalities. The presence of highly unreactive, stable oxygen, associated with aromatic structures in partially oxidized algal kerogen, is suggested by resistance of the kerogen to graphitization. The FTIR data also suggest the presence of aryl ether oxygen. The present findings raise fundamental questions regarding the mechanisms of kerogen cracking and kerogen formation, and have important implications for petroleum exploration.     

TG/plus—a pyrolysis method for following maturation of oil and gas generation zones using Tmax of methane

Thermogravimetric Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (TG-FTIR) analyses were carried out on two sets of isolated kerogens covering a wide maturity range from low mature (0.46% R_o) through the end of oil and gas generation (maximum R_{o = 5.32%}). Data onweight percent and T_max for evolution of methane, volatile tars, ethylene, SO₂, NH₃, CO₂, and CO are reported. The T_max of methane shows the most consistent response to increasing maturation in both sets of samples. Results are comparable to those of whole rocks from an Alaskan North Slope well analyzed previously. The collective data for both whole rocks and isolated kerogens shows a generally linear correlation between %R_o and T_max of methane, with the exception of R_o of about 2.0% where a dip in the curve occurs. The slope of the correlation line was steeper for the predominantly terrigenous Wilcox kerogen than for more marine Colorado kerogen or for the Alaskan North Slope whole rock samples, probably reflecting differences in the chemical nature of various kerogen sets, which is also reflected by differences in the shapes of the pyrolysis curves of SO₂, CO₂, CO, H₂O, and ethylene. These preliminary data indicate that T_max of methane is a good maturation indicator for whole rocks and isolated kerogens up to an R_o of about 4%, which includes all of the wet gas and a considerable portion of the dry gas generation zones. This correlation was also observed for samples containing migrated bitumen, where it was not possible to obtain a reliable T_max for the volatile tar (S2) peak. The more terrigenous Wilcox kerogens also showed a good correlation of the T_max of ethylene with %R_o. T_max of ammonia evolution did not correlate with maturity and occurred 100–200°C lower than previously found for whole rocks, consistent with a whole-rock source of pyrolytic ammonia for Alaskan whole rock samples. HI and OI indices were calculated in several ways and plotted to reflect kerogen type as well as both the residual oil and gas generation potential. The ratio of pyrolyzable to combustible sulfur (evolved as SO₂) was independent of maturity and showed a clear difference between the more terrigenous Wilcox kerogens and the more marine Colorado kerogens.     

Hydrocarbon source rock potential evaluation of the Late Paleocene Patala Formation,Salt Range,Pakistan: Organic geochemical and palynofacies approach

Organic geochemical and palynofacies analyses were carried out on shale intervals of the Late Paleocene Patala Formation at Nammal Gorge Section, western Salt Range, Pakistan. The total organic carbon content and Rock-Eval pyrolysis results indicated that the formation is dominated by type II and type III kerogens. Rock-Eval \({T}_{\mathrm{max}}\) vs. hydrogen index (HI) and thermal alteration index indicated that the analysed shale intervals present in the formation are thermally mature. \(S_{1}\) and \(S_{2}\) yields showed poor source rock potential for the formation. Three palynofacies assemblages including palynofacies-1, palynofacies-2 and palynofacies-3 were identified, which are prone to dry gas, wet gas and oil generation, respectively. The palynofacies assessment revealed the presence of oil/gas and gas prone type II and type III kerogens in the formation and their deposition on proximal shelf with suboxic to anoxic conditions. The kerogen macerals are dominated by vitrinite and amorphinite with minor inertinite and liptinite. The kerogen macerals are of both marine and terrestrial origin, deposited on a shallow shelf. Overall, the dark black carbonaceous shales present within the formation act as a source rock for hydrocarbons with poor-to-moderate source rock quality, while the grey shales act as a poor source rock for hydrocarbon generation.     

Source rock potential of selected Cretaceous shales,Orange Basin,South Africa

Twenty Cretaceous shale samples from two wells in the Orange Basin of South Africa were evaluated for their source rock potential. They were sampled from within a 1400 m-thick sequence in boreholes drilled through Lower to Upper Cretaceous sediments. The samples exhibit total organic carbon (TOC) content of 1.06–2.17%; Rock-Eval S2 values of 0.08–2.27 mg HC/g; and petroleum source potential (SP), which is the sum of S1 and S2, of 0.10–2.61 mg HC/g, all indicating the presence of poor to fair hydrocarbon generative potential. Hydrogen index (HI) values vary from 7 to 128 mg HC/g organic carbon and oxygen index (OI) ranges from 37 to 195 mg CO₂/g organic carbon, indicating predominantly Type III kerogen with perhaps minor amounts of Type IV kerogen. The maturity of the samples, as indicated by T _max values of 428–446°C, ranges from immature to thermally mature with respect to oil generation. Measured vitrinite reflectance values (%Ro) of representative samples indicate that these samples vary from immature to mature, consistent with the thermal alteration index (TAI) (spore colour) and fluorescence data for these samples. Organic petrographic analysis also shows that amorphous organic matter is dominant in these samples. Framboidal pyrite is abundant and may be indicative of a marine influence during deposition. Although our Rock-Eval pyrolysis data indicate that gas-prone source rocks are prevalent in this part of the Orange Basin, the geochemical characteristics of samples from an Aptian unit at 3318 m in one of the wells suggest that better quality source rocks may exist deeper, in more distal depositional parts of the basin.