Geochemical and petrological characterization of the early eocene carbonaceous shales: Implications for oil and gas exploration in the Barmer Basin, Northwest India
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
11-29-2022
Abstract
Carbonaceous shales of the Early Eocene Dharvi/ Dunger Formation in the onshore Barmer Basin, northwest India were studied for the first time by integrating geochemical and organic petrological analyses. The carbonaceous shales of the Early Eocene Dharvi/Dunger Formation are characterized by a higher organic carbon content (TOC) of >10 wt % and consist mainly of a mixture of organic matter of types II and III kerogen, with exhibited hydrogen index values ranging between 202 and 292 mg HC/g TOC. The dominance of such kerogen is confirmed by the high amounts of huminite and fluorescent liptinite macerals. Consequently, the carbonaceous shales of the Early Eocene Dharvi/Dunger Formation are promising source rocks for both oil and gas generation potential, with oils of high wax contents, according to pyrolysis-gas chromatography results. The chemical and optical maturity results such as low values huminite/vitrinite reflectance, production index, and Tmax show that most of the examined carbonaceous shale rocks from the outcrop section of the Kapurdi mine have entered the low maturity stage of oil generation, exhibiting a range of immature to the very early-mature. Therefore, as highlighted in this study, the substantial abundance in hydrocarbon generation potential from these carbonaceous shales in the Dharvi/Dunger Formation may represent future conventional petroleum exploration in the southern part of the Barmer Basin, where the Dharvi/Dunger Formation has reached deeper burial depths.
Keywords
Hydrocarbon generation, Organic-matter, Tertiary coals, Pyrolysis, Asphaltenes, Enrichment, Rajasthan, Sediments, Kerogens, Sulfur
Divisions
GEOLOGY
Funders
Postdoctorate fellowship scheme under the University of Malaya (Grant No: IF064-2019)
Publication Title
ACS Omega
Volume
7
Issue
47
Publisher
American Chemical Society
Publisher Location
1155 16TH ST, NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20036 USA