Hydrocarbon generation modeling and source rock characterization have been carried out on rock samples of the Taratu Formation in the Great South Basin, New Zealand. The Paleocene and Late Cretaceous Taratu Formation samples from Tara-1 well are utilized for geochemical studies. Rock-Eval pyrolysis results show that Taratu formation accommodates organic matter of excellent quantity and quality, with proliferous kerogen type II-III (oil and gas prone) and minor kerogen type III (gas prone). Hydrogen index (HI) of this formation ranges from 165.0 to 327.5 mg HC/g TOC and only Late Cretaceous source rock samples are thermally mature, with maximum pyrolysis temperature (T max ) up to 459 °C and vitrinite reflectance (% R o ) from 0.40 to 1.15% R o . One-dimensional basin modeling shows a best fit in a calibration of measured and modeled temperatures and vitrinite reflectance. The top of oil window was encountered 51 Ma ago at 3100 m and gas generation took place at 4132 m in 8 Ma ago.
This research aims to conduct source rock characterization on the Narimba Formation in the Bass Basin, Australia, which is made of mostly sandstone, shale and coal. The geochemical characteristics and depositional environments have been investigated through a variety of data such as rock–eval pyrolysis, TOC, organic petrography and biomarkers. Total organic carbon (TOC) values indicated good to excellent organic richness with values ranging from 1.1 to 79.2%. Kerogen typing of the examined samples from the Narimba Formation indicates that the formation contains organic matter capable of generating kerogen Type-III, Type-II-III and Type-II which is gas prone, oil–gas prone and oil prone, respectively. Pyrolysis maturity parameters (Tmax, PI), in combination with vitrinite reflectance and some biomarkers, all confirm that all samples are at early mature to mature and are in the oil and wet gas windows. The biomarkers data (the isoprenoids (Pr/Ph), CPI, isoprenoids/n-alkanes distribution (Pr/nC17 and Ph/nC18), in addition to the regular sterane biomarkers (C27, C28 and C29) are mainly used to evaluate the paleodepositional environment, maturity and biodegradation. It has been interpreted that the Narimba Formation was found to be deposited in non-marine (oxygen-rich) depositional environment with a dominance of terrestrial plant sources. All the analyzed samples show clear indication to be considered at the early mature to mature oil window with some indication of biodegradation.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.