南黄海盆地烃源潜力比较性评价

南黄海中—新生代盆地经历了中生代印支运动以来的多期构造运动改造,凹陷分隔性强,各凹陷烃源岩发育条件差异大。利用地质调查获得的最新资料,从烃源岩有机质丰度、类型、成熟度以及成熟烃源岩体积参数等方面,重点探讨了中—新生代陆相盆地生烃条件好和较好的7个凹陷的烃源潜力及中—古生界海相烃源岩的演化特征。结果表明,北部坳陷的北部凹陷、东北凹陷以及南部坳陷的南四凹陷属于一类生烃凹陷,北部坳陷的南(西)部凹陷、南部坳陷的南五凹陷属于二类生烃凹陷,而北部坳陷的中—东部凹陷以及南部坳陷的南七凹陷为三类生烃凹陷。印支构造面之下的中—古生界海相层系是盆地内另一套重要烃源岩,其有机质热演化程度分异明显,在中—新生代凹陷间低凸起区最低,坳陷周围的隆起区最高,新生代凹陷区"基底层"内热演化程度介于上述两者之间。     

肯尼亚北部裂谷盆地类型和演化及其对烃源岩的控制作用

东非裂谷东支包含多个盆地,面积大,勘探程度低,构造演化复杂。以肯尼亚北部South Lokichar,Kerio及Turkana盆地为例,在区域构造、沉积及地球化学等资料的基础上,对裂谷盆地类型、构造演化和沉积充填及其对烃源岩的影响进行了详细分析。研究认为:South Lokichar盆地为被动裂谷,Kerio及Turkana盆地为主动裂谷。South Lokichar盆地经历了初始裂陷期、快速裂陷期及裂陷后期3个阶段,为一个完整的旋回;Kerio和Turkana盆地形成演化主要是受火山事件的控制,呈幕式拉张,此地区主要发生2期火山事件,对应着2期沉积旋回。裂谷演化控制烃源岩发育,South Lokichar盆地快速裂陷期发育大面积中深湖沉积环境,形成生烃指标优越的厚层泥岩;裂陷后期沉积地层厚度适宜,烃源岩恰处于成熟阶段,这2个阶段较好的匹配形成了优质烃源岩。Kerio和Turkana盆地2次火山事件形成中深湖沉积环境,但是持续时间短,分布面积较小,同时强烈的火山喷发使得中深湖相沉积中凝灰岩含量很高,烃源岩厚度仅为20~50m。烃源岩厚度薄是Kerio和Turkana盆地暂无发现的主要原因。     

南黄海盆地北部坳陷北部断阶带构造地质特征

南黄海盆地北部坳陷北部断阶带主要定型于古近纪末期,在2条同向正断层持续强烈活动控制下,形成一个断背斜样式的坳中隆构造,并被坳陷期新近系和第四系地层覆盖,具有烃源岩后期埋藏较深、离深凹近和双向供烃的特点。同时,局部发育断背斜圈闭、鼻状构造圈闭、超覆和不整合等,这些圈闭与生储盖组合形成了很好的空间匹配关系,有利于油气聚集。通过对该北部断阶带中—新生代断裂活动特征、局部构造活动演化和石油地质意义的研究,探讨该区的勘探意义。     

印尼西部库泰盆地沉积演化与油气勘探潜力分析

为明确库泰盆地充填演化历史与勘探方向,从库泰盆地构造演化分析出发,在明确构造演化对盆地沉积充填控制作用基础上,分析了盆地烃源岩分布和沉积演化特征,探讨了盆地油气勘探方向。研究结果如下:(1)盆地演化经历了3个构造演化阶段,断陷期(始新世)、坳陷期(渐新世—早中新世)、反转期(中中新世之后),并以中新世末为界进一步划分为快速沉积期和剥蚀改造期;(2)陆上始新统烃源岩局部发育,不发育中新统烃源岩;海上发育中新统三角洲煤系烃源岩,具有较强的生烃能力,两套烃源岩分布不同,导致海陆油气发现的差异性;(3)陆上生烃能力有限,超深水区风险较大,有利区位于中新统烃源灶60km范围内,有利区带内中中新统—上新统岩性圈闭是勘探的潜力目标。     

南黄海盆地海相中、古生界油气资源潜力研究

在对南黄海盆地海相中、古生界烃源条件和后期保存条件研究的基础上,运用盆地模拟手段并结合前人研究成果,对海相地层烃源岩的排烃史进行了模拟,计算了海相地层油气资源量,从而进行了海相油气资源潜力的分析;同时通过对海相上构造层和下构造层两套含油气系统成藏条件的研究,预测了盆地内海相油气资源的有利运聚区,进而指出南黄海盆地海相油气勘探的有利区,为下一步南黄海盆地的勘探部署提供了依据。研究表明,南黄海盆地海相下构造层和海相上构造层栖霞组、龙潭组—大隆组烃源岩推测为好的烃源岩,海相上构造层青龙组烃源岩推测为中等—好的烃源岩;盆地海相地层具有一定的油气资源潜力,油气资源总量为35.37×10^8t,且在纵向上,油气资源主要来自海相下构造层烃源岩系,在平面上主要分布于南部坳陷;盆地海相地层存在两类油气资源勘探有利区,其中,最有利区位于中部隆起区南部、南部坳陷区和勿南沙隆起区北部。     

南海海域新生代沉积盆地的油气资源

南海新生代经历过大陆张裂与分离、海底扩张和地块碰撞等构造演化历史,南海北部为被动大陆边缘,南部是碰撞挤压边缘,东部为俯冲聚敛边缘,西部是走滑边缘。在这种构造体制下,形成了许多沉积盆地。北部和西部边缘上发育着张性沉积盆地和走滑拉张盆地;在南部边缘上,其北部发育着张性盆地,南部为挤压环境下形成的盆地,如前陆盆地、前孤盆地;东部边缘上发育着前孤盆地。目前油气勘探实践证明,南海南部的油气资源比北部丰富。究其原因,南海北部为被动大陆边缘,张性沉积盆地的烃源岩体积较小,而南部挤压环境下形成的沉积盆地的烃源岩体积大;北部的地热流较南部小,因此地温梯度也较小,故南部边缘烃源岩的成熟度比北部高;由于南部边缘处于挤压构造环境,在沉积盆地中形成了许多挤压构造,而北部边缘一直处于张性构造环境,形成的构造较少且较小;同时,南部边缘沉积盆地中,烃源岩生烃与构造形成在时间上搭配较好。因此,在南海南部边缘沉积盆地中形成了许多大型油气田,而南海北部边缘沉积盆地中,大型油气田较少,中小型油气田较多。     

北部湾盆地涠西南凹陷C洼烃源岩热史及成熟史模拟

北部湾盆地涠西南凹陷C洼流沙港组烃源岩热史及成熟史研究,对C洼深水油气勘探具有指导意义。在恢复涠西南凹陷C洼地史和热史的基础上,利用EASY%Ro模型计算了流沙港组烃源岩的成熟度史。研究结果表明,在涠西南凹陷发展的裂陷阶段初始期热流值较高,最大值约为77mW/m2,其后热流值逐渐减小,现今热流值约为54mW/m2;涠西南凹陷C洼流沙港组烃源岩开始生烃(Ro=0.5%)时间为51MaBP,达到生烃高峰(Ro=1%)时间为42MaBP,达到高成熟演化阶段(Ro=1.3%)时间为17MaBP;对比涠1井流沙港组烃源岩演化特征,处于C洼深水勘探区的流沙港组烃源岩成熟度较高,生烃能力较强,拥有广阔的油气勘探前景。     

东非海岸构造演化及其对南、北主要富油气盆地控藏作用对比

东非海岸主要含油气盆地属典型大陆裂谷层序和被动陆缘层序叠合的断坳型盆地,是在冈瓦纳大陆裂解及印度洋扩张的区域构造演化背景下形成的,均经历了卡鲁裂谷期、马达加斯加漂移期和被动大陆边缘期三期构造演化。但是,南、北盆地在构造及沉积演化特征及石油地质条件、油气分布上存在较大差异,北部盆地早期受特提斯洋海侵影响,沉积发育了侏罗系潟湖相盐岩、浅海相泥页岩,而南部盆地处于强烈火山作用区,二者油气富集规律存在差异,烃源岩、储盖组合由北向南年代逐渐变新,目前北部油气发现明显更为丰富。初步分析认为,构造环境不同使得烃源岩发育北富南贫,断裂及塑性岩体作用形成的通源断层和有利圈闭存在差异,导致了东非大陆边缘南、北部盆地油气成藏上的不同。     

地震属性分析在南黄海盆地北部坳陷白垩系油气地质特征研究中的应用

以多道反射地震剖面和钻井资料为基础,采用合成地震记录和地震属性分析的方法,开展南黄海盆地北部坳陷白垩系地层沉积及油气地质特征的研究。研究结果表明,白垩系地层在坳陷内保存较完整,厚度较稳定,斜坡部位变形微弱,连续性好,坳陷沉积中心变形强烈,小断层发育、密集,连续性较差,各层组厚度变化不大,可在全坳陷追踪对比。泰州组为良好的烃源岩,赤山组下部和浦口组为良好的储集层,泰州组和赤山组上部构成区域性盖层。白垩系内部及上、下地层之间形成了多类型的油气生-储-盖组合关系。断裂构造发育的凹陷深部是油气聚集的有利场所。采用三维地震资料进一步开展本项研究工作对南黄海前新生界油气勘探具有重要意义。     

北部湾盆地北部坳陷构造——沉积特征及其演化

在二维和三维地震资料解释基础上,对北部湾盆地北部坳陷地层分布及断裂系统进行了研究,建立了坳陷断裂分布格局及构造样式;结合地层和钻井资料分析了断裂活动期次和特征,揭示古近纪坳陷构造演化经历了三期幕式断陷活动：古新世,初期拉张裂陷阶段,形成狭小的半地堑;始新世早中期,第二期强烈拉张裂陷阶段,形成统一的湖盆,发育两个沉积中心;渐新世,断坳转换期,涠西南低凸起和3号断裂强烈活动,沉积中心迁移至海中凹陷.这为进一步油气勘探工作提供了有价值的参考.     

Source rock characteristics and hydrocarbon generation modelling of Upper Cretaceous Mukalla Formation in the Jiza-Qamar Basin,Eastern Yemen

The Upper Cretaceous Mukalla coals and other organic-rich sediments which are widely exposed in the Jiza-Qamar Basin and believed to be a major source rocks, were analysed using organic geochemistry and petrology. The total organic carbon (TOC) contents of the Mukalla source rocks range from 0.72 to 79.90% with an average TOC value of 21.50%. The coals and coaly shale sediments are relatively higher in organic richness, consistent with source rocks generative potential. The samples analysed have vitrinite reflectance in the range of 0.84–1.10 %Ro and pyrolysis T_max in the range of 432–454 °C indicate that the Mukalla source rocks contain mature to late mature organic matter. Good oil-generating potential is anticipated from the coals and coaly shale sediments with high hydrogen indices (250–449 mg HC/g TOC). This is supported by their significant amounts of oil-liptinite macerals are present in these coals and coaly shale sediments and Py-GC (S₂) pyrograms with n-alkane/alkene doublets extending beyond nC₃₀. The shales are dominated by Type III kerogen (HI < 200 mg HC/g TOC), and are thus considered to be gas-prone.One-dimensional basin modelling was performed to analysis the hydrocarbon generation and expulsion history of the Mukalla source rocks in the Jiza-Qamar Basin based on the reconstruction of the burial/thermal maturity histories in order to improve our understanding of the of hydrocarbon generation potential of the Mukalla source rocks. Calibration of the model with measured vitrinite reflectance (Ro) and borehole temperature data indicates that the present-day heat flow in the Jiza-Qamar Basin varies from 45.0 mW/m² to 70.0 mW/m² and the paleo-heat flow increased from 80 Ma to 25 Ma, reached a peak heat-flow values of approximately 70.0 mW/m² at 25 Ma and then decreased exponentially from 25 Ma to present-day. The peak paleo-heat flow is explained by the Gulf of Aden and Red Sea Tertiary rifting during Oligocene-Middle Miocene, which has a considerable influence on the thermal maturity of the Mukalla source rocks. The source rocks of the Mukalla Formation are presently in a stage of oil and condensate generation with maturity from 0.50% to 1.10% Ro. Oil generation (0.5% Ro) in the Mukalla source rocks began from about 61 Ma to 54 Ma and the peak hydrocarbon generation (1.0% Ro) occurred approximately from 25 Ma to 20 Ma. The modelled hydrocarbon expulsion evolution suggested that the timing of hydrocarbon expulsion from the Mukalla source rocks began from 15 Ma to present-day.     

南海北部珠江口盆地深水区荔湾凹陷构造-热演化

The Liwan Sag, with an area of 4 000 km~2, is one of the deepwater sags in the Zhujiang River(Pearl River) Mouth Basin, northern South China Sea. Inspired by the exploration success in oil and gas resources in the deepwater sags worldwide, we conducted the thermal modeling to investigate the tectono-thermal history of the Liwan Sag,which has been widely thought to be important to understand tectonic activities as well as hydrocarbon potential of a basin. Using the multi-stage finite stretching model, the tectonic subsidence history and the thermal history have been obtained for 12 artificial wells, which were constructed on basis of one seismic profile newly acquired in the study area. Two stages of rifting during the time periods of 49–33.9 Ma and 33.9–23 Ma can be recognized from the tectonic subsidence pattern, and there are two phases of heating processes corresponding to the rifting.The reconstructed average basal paleo-heat flow values at the end of the rifting events are ~70.5 and ~94.2 mW/m~2 respectively. Following the heating periods, the study area has undergone a persistent thermal attenuation phase since 23 Ma and the basal heat flow cooled down to ~71.8–82.5 mW/m~2 at present.     

Hydrocarbon Potential of Pre-cenozoic Strata in the North Yellow Sea Basin

The North Yellow Sea Basin ( NYSB ), which was developed on the basement of North China (Huabei) continental block, is a typical continental Mesozoic Cenozoic sedimentary basin in the sea area. Its Mesozoic basin is a residual basin, below which there is probably a larger Paleozoic sedimentary basin. The North Yellow Sea Basin comprises four sags and three uplifts. Of them, the eastern sag is a Mesozoic Cenozoic sedimentary sag in NYSB and has the biggest sediment thickness; the current Korean drilling wells are concentrated in the eastern sag. This sag is comparatively rich in oil and gas resources and thus has a relatively good petroleum prospect in the sea. The central sag has also accommodated thick Mesozoic-Cenozoic sediments. The latest research results show that there are three series of hydrocarbon source rocks in the North Yellow Sea Basin, namely, black shales of the Paleogene, Jurassic and Cretaceous. The principal hydrocarbon source rocks in NYSB are the Mesozoic black shale. According to the drilling data of Korea, the black shales of the Paleogene, Jurassic and Cretaceous have all come up to the standards of good and mature source rocks. The NYSB owns an intact system of oil generation, reservoir and capping rocks that can help hydrocarbon to form in the basin and thus it has the great potential of oil and gas. The vertical distribution of the hydrocarbon resources is mainly considered to be in the Cretaceous and then in the Jurassic.     

Cross-section restoration and one-dimensional basin modeling of the Central Subbasin in the southern Kunsan Basin,Yellow Sea

The petroleum system of the Kunsan Basin in the Northern South Yellow Sea Basin is not well known, compared to other continental rift basins in the Yellow Sea, despite its substantial hydrocarbon potential. Restoration of two depth-converted seismic profiles across the Central Subbasin in the southern Kunsan Basin shows that extension was interrupted by inversions in the Late Oligocene-Middle Miocene that created anticlinal structures. One-dimensional basin modeling of the IIH-1Xa well suggests that hydrocarbon expulsion in the northeastern margin of the depocenter of the Central Subbasin peaked in the Early Oligocene, predating the inversions. Hydrocarbon generation at the dummy well location in the depocenter of the subbasin began in the Late Paleocene. Most source rocks in the depocenter passed the main expulsion phase except for the shallowest source rocks. Hydrocarbons generated from the depocenter are likely to have migrated southward toward the anticlinal structure and faults away from the traps along the northern and northeastern margins of the depocenter because the basin-fill strata are dipping north. Faulting that continued during the rift phase (∼ Middle Miocene) of the subbasin probably acted as conduits for the escape of hydrocarbons. Thus, the anticlinal structure and associated faults to the south of the dummy well may trap hydrocarbons that have been charged from the shallow source rocks in the depocenter since the Middle Miocene.     

Geochemical characteristics and hydrocarbon generation modeling of the Jurassic source rocks in the Shoushan Basin, north Western Desert, Egypt

The Shoushan Basin is an important hydrocarbon province in the Western Desert, Egypt, but the origin of the hydrocarbons is not fully understood. In this study, organic matter content, type and maturity of the Jurassic source rocks exposed in the Shoushan Basin have been evaluated and integrated with the results of basin modeling to improve our understanding of burial history and timing of hydrocarbon generation. The Jurassic source rock succession comprises the Ras Qattara and Khatatba Formations, which are composed mainly of shales and sandstones with coal seams. The TOC contents are high and reached a maximum up to 50%. The TOC values of the Ras Qattara Formation range from 2 to 54 wt.%, while Khatatba Formation has TOC values in the range 1-47 wt.%. The Ras Qattara and Khatatba Formations have HI values ranging from 90 to 261 mgHC/gTOC, suggesting Types II-III and III kerogen. Vitrinite reflectance values range between 0.79 and 1.12 VRr %. Rock−Eval T_max values in the range 438-458 °C indicate a thermal maturity level sufficient for hydrocarbon generation. Thermal and burial history models indicate that the Jurassic source rocks entered the mature to late mature stage for hydrocarbon generation in the Late Cretaceous to Tertiary. Hydrocarbon generation began in the Late Cretaceous and maximum rates of oil with significant gas have been generated during the early Tertiary (Paleogene). The peak gas generation occurred during the late Tertiary (Neogene).     

Basin modeling of the Late Miocene Zeit source rock in the Sudanese portion of Red Sea Basin: Implication for hydrocarbon generation and expulsion history

The Late Miocene Zeit Formation is exposed in the Red Sea Basin of Sudan and represents an important oil-source rock. In this study, five (5) exploratory wells along Red Sea Basin of Sudan are used to model the petroleum generation and expulsion history of the Zeit Formation. Burial/thermal models illustrate that the Red Sea is an extensional rift basin and initially developed during the Late Eocene to Oligocene. Heat flow models show that the present-day heat flow values in the area are between 60 and 109 mW/m². The variation in values of the heat flow can be linked to the raise in the geothermal gradient from margins of the basin towards offshore basin. The offshore basin is an axial area with thick burial depth, which is the principal heat flow source.The paleo-heat flow values of the basin are approximately from 95 to 260 mW/m², increased from Oligocene to Early Pliocene and then decreased exponentially prior to Late Pliocene. This high paleo-heat flow had a considerable effect on the source rock maturation and cooking of the organic matter. The maturity history models indicate that the Zeit Formation source rock passed the late oil-window and converted the oil generated to gas during the Late Miocene.The basin models also indicate that the petroleum was expelled from the Zeit source rock during the Late Miocene (>7 Ma) and it continues to present-day, with transformation ratio of more than 50%. Therefore, the Zeit Formation acts as an effective source rock where significant amounts of petroleum are expected to be generated in the Red Sea Basin.     

Influence of fault reactivation during multiphase rifting: The Oseberg area,northern North Sea rift

Multiphase rifts tend to produce fault populations that evolve by the formation of new faults and reactivation of earlier faults. The resulting fault patterns tend to be complex and difficult to decipher. In this work we use seismic reflection data to examine the evolution of a normal fault network in the Oseberg Fault Block in the northern North Sea Rift System – a rift system that experienced Permian – Early Triassic and Middle Jurassic – Early Cretaceous rifting and exhibits N-S, NW-SE and NE-SW oriented faults.Both N-S- and NW-SE-striking faults were established during the Permian – Early Triassic rifting, as indicated by Triassic growth packages in their hanging walls. In contrast, the NE-SW-striking faults are younger, as they show no evidence of Permian – Early Triassic growth, and offset several N-S- and NW-SE-striking faults. Structural analysis show that a new population of NW-SE-striking faults formed in the Lower – Middle Jurassic (inter-rift period) together with reactivation of N-S-striking Permian – Early Triassic faults, indicating a NE-SW inter-rift extension direction.During the Middle Jurassic – Early Cretaceous rifting, faults of all orientations (N-S, NW-SE and NE-SW) were active. However, faults initiated during the Middle Jurassic – Early Cretaceous rifting show mainly N-S orientation, indicating E-W extension during this phase. These observations suggest a reorientation of the stress field from E-W during the Permian – Early Triassic rift phase to NE-SW during inter-rift fault growth and back to E-W during the Middle Jurassic – Early Cretaceous rift phase in the Oseberg area. Hence, the current study demonstrates that rift activity between established rift phases can locally develop faults with new orientations that add to the geometric and kinematic complexity of the final fault population.     

Cenozoic sedimentary evolution of deepwater sags in the Pearl River Mouth Basin, northern South China Sea

Recent exploration revealed the high potential for hydrocarbon in the deepwater sags, Pearl River Mouth Basin, northern South China Sea. This paper reports its Cenozoic sedimentary evolution through backstripping of high precision depth data of interpreted sequence boundaries. Local backstripping parameters were mapped based on well and geophysical data. Sensitivity analysis indicates that the reliability of decompaction results were largely improved by using the local porosity parameters and the lithological parameters that vary with grid nodes. Maps of sedimentation rates of 17 sequences from 65 Ma to the present were constructed, showing the spatial–temporal variation of the sedimentation rate. Three rapid depositional stages, 65–32, 29–23.3, 18.5–10.5 Ma, and three slow depositional stages, 32–29, 23.3–18.5, 10.5–0 Ma, were identified with abrupt changes of sedimentary patterns. The three rapid depositional stages were in accord with syn-rifting stage, the first post-rifting depositional stage, and the second post-rifting depositional stage, respectively. And the three slow depositional stages were in keeping with three tectonic events respectively. Several significant sedimentary discontinuities at 32, 23.3 and 10.5 Ma were observed and discussed. The comparison between the study area and the ODP Site 1148 at 32–23.3 Ma indicates that before ~29 Ma the ODP Site 1148 was at similar sedimentation regime as that in the Baiyun and Liwan sags, but significant diversity appeared after ~29 Ma, when a large quantity of terrigenous sediments was trapped by strong post-rifting subsidence in the Baiyun and Liwan sags and could not reach the lower slope areas. Study revealed that the most rapid accumulation from 18.5 to 17.5 Ma might be mainly owing to the large sediment supply during this strong monsoon period.     

琼东南盆地深水区构造热演化特征及其影响因素分析

To reveal the tectonic thermal evolution and influence factors on the present heat flow distribution, based on 154 heat flow data, the present heat flow distribution features of the main tectonic units are first analyzed in detail, then the tectonic thermal evolution histories of 20 profiles are reestablished crossing the main deep-water sags with a structural, thermal and sedimentary coupled numerical model. On the basis of the present geothermal features, the Qiongdongnan Basin could be divided into three regions: the northern shelf and upper slope region with a heat flow of 50–70 m W/m2, most of the central depression zone of 70–85 m W/m2, and a NE trending high heat flow zone of 85–105 m W/m2 lying in the eastern basin. Numerical modeling shows that during the syn-rift phase, the heat flow increases generally with time, and is higher in basement high area than in its adjacent sags. At the end of the syn-rift phase, the heat flow in the deepwater sags was in a range of 60–85 m W/m2, while in the basement high area, it was in a range of 75–100 m W/m2. During the post-rift phase, the heat flow decreased gradually, and tended to be more uniform in the basement highs and sags. However, an extensive magmatism, which equivalently happened at around 5 Ma, has greatly increased the heat flow values, and the relict heat still contributes about 10–25 m W/m2 to the present surface heat flow in the central depression zone and the southern uplift zone. Further analyses suggested that the present high heat flow in the deep-water Qiongdongnan Basin is a combined result of the thermal anomaly in the upper mantle, highly thinning of the lithosphere, and the recent extensive magmatism. Other secondary factors might have affected the heat flow distribution features in some local regions. These factors include basement and seafloor topography, sediment heat generation, thermal blanketing, local magmatic injecting and hydrothermal activities related to faulting and overpressure.     

Thermal maturity history and petroleum generation modelling for the Lower Cretaceous Abu Gabra Formation in the Fula Sub-basin,Muglad Basin,Sudan

Two petroleum source rock intervals of the Lower Cretaceous Abu Gabra Formation at six locations within the Fula Sub-basin, Muglad Basin, Sudan, were selected for comprehensive modelling of burial history, petroleum maturation and expulsion of the generated hydrocarbons throughout the Fula Sub-basin. Locations (of wells) selected include three in the deepest parts of the area (Keyi oilfield); and three at relatively shallow locations (Moga oilfield). The chosen wells were drilled to depths that penetrated a significant part of the geological section of interest, where samples were available for geochemical and source rock analysis. Vitrinite reflectances (Ro %) were measured to aid in calibrating the developed maturation models.The Abu Gabra Formation of the Muglad Basin is stratigraphically subdivided into three units (Abu Gabra-lower, Abu Gabra-middle and Abu Gabra-upper, from the oldest to youngest). The lower and upper Abu Gabra are believed to be the major source rocks in the province and generally contain more than 2.0 wt% TOC; thus indicating a very good to excellent hydrocarbon generative potential. They mainly contain Type I kerogen. Vitrinite reflectance values range from 0.59 to 0.76% Ro, indicating the oil window has just been reached. In general, the thermal maturity of the Abu Gabra source rocks is highest in the Abu Gabra-lower (deep western part) of the Keyi area and decreases to the east toward the Moga oilfied at the Fula Sub-basin.Maturity and hydrocarbon generation modelling indicates that, in the Abu Gabra-Lower, early oil generation began from the Middle- Late Cretaceous to late Paleocene time (82.0–58Ma). Main oil generation started about 58 Ma ago and continues until the present day. In the Abu Gabra-upper, oil generation began from the end of the Cretaceous to early Eocene time (66.0–52Ma). Only in one location (Keyi-N1 well) did the Abu Gabra-upper reach the main oil stage. Oil expulsion has occurred only from the Abu Gabra-lower unit at Keyi-N1 during the early Miocene (>50% transformation ratio TR) continuing to present-day (20.0–0.0 Ma). Neither unit has generated gas. Oil generation and expulsion from the Abu Gabra source rocks occurred after the deposition of seal rocks of the Aradeiba Formation.