Source Rock Characterization and Petroleum Systems in North Ghadames Basin,Southern Tunisia |
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| Authors: | Dhaou AKROUT Hassène AFFOURI Riadh AHMADI Eric MERCIER Mabrouk MONTACER |
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| Institution: | 1. Laboratory “Hydrosciences Appliquées” (06/UR/10‐03), Higher Institute of Water Sciences and Techniques, University of Gabès, Zrig, Gabès;2. Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Department of Earth Sciences, Sciences Faculty;3. Laboratory of Eau, Energy and Environment (LR3E), National School of Engineering Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia;4. Laboratory of Planetology and Geodynamics (UMR‐CNRS 6112), Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, University of Nantes, Nantes cédex, France |
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| Abstract: | This paper presents geochemical analysis of drilled cutting samples from the OMZ‐2 oil well located in southern Tunisia. A total of 35 drill‐cutting samples were analyzed for Rock‐Eval pyrolysis, total organic carbon (TOC), bitumens extraction and liquid chromatography. Most of the Ordovician, Silurian and Triassic samples contained high TOC contents, ranging from 1.00 to 4.75% with an average value of 2.07%. The amount of hydrocarbon yield (pyrolysable hydrocarbon: S2b) expelled during pyrolysis indicates a good generative potential of the source rocks. The plot of TOC versus S2b, indicates a good to very good generative potential for organic matter in the Ordovician, Silurian and Lower Triassic. However, the Upper Triassic and the Lower Jurassic samples indicate fair to good generative potential. From the Vankrevelen diagram, the organic matter in the Ordovician, Silurian and Lower Triassic samples is mainly of type II kerogen and the organic matter from the Upper Triassic and the Lower Jurassic is dominantly type III kerogen with minor contributions from Type I. The thermal maturity of the organic matter in the analyzed samples is also evaluated based on the Tmax of the S2b peak. The Ordovician and Lower Silurian formations are thermally matured. The Upper Silurian and Triassic deposits are early matured to matured. However, Jurassic formations are low in thermal maturity. The total bitumen extracts increase with depth from the interval 1800–3000 m. This enrichment indicates that the trapping in situ in the source rocks and relatively short distance vertical migration can be envisaged in the overlying reservoirs. During the vertical migration from source rocks to the reservoirs, these hydrocarbons are probably affected by natural choromatography and in lower proportion by biodegradation. |
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| Keywords: | Ghadames basin hydrocarbon potential Rock‐Eval pyrolysis saharan platform source rock total organic carbon |
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