Bulletin of the Geological Society of Malaysia, Volume 71, May 2021, pp. 125 – 138

Organic geochemistry of the Middle to Upper Jurassic source rocks succession in Balad-1 Well, Balad Oil Field, Central Iraq

Fawzi M.O. Albeyati¹, Rzger A. Abdula^2,3,*, Rushdy S. Othman²

1 Technical College of Kirkuk, North Technical University, Iraq
2 Department of Petroleum Geoscience, Soran University, Erbil, Kurdistan Region-Iraq
3 Petroleum and Mining Engineering Department, Tishik University, Erbil, Kurdistan Region-Iraq
* Corresponding author email address: rzger.abdulkarim@tiu.edu.iq

Abstract: Thirty four cuttings samples from the Jurassic rock succession in well Balad-1 in the Balad Oil Field, Central Iraq have been collected. Using various organic geochemical techniques, the organic matter’s quantity, quality, maturity, and their source rock’s depositional setting were determined. The samples were evaluated to determine the amount of their organic matter content, type of organic matter, δ13C carbon isotopes abundance for both saturated and aromatic, and molecular properties. The results of organic geochemistry analysis show that Sargelu, Gotnia, and Chia Gara formations contain fair to decent amounts of organic matter. Naokelekan Formation encompasses fair to excellent organic matter, while Najmah Formation comprises very high to exceptional organic matter. The analyzed samples revealed the existence of kerogen types III and II/III mainly within oil window. Thermal maturity related biomarkers are in a good agreement with Rock-Eval parameters, but did not reach equilibrium phase. Source related biomarkers show that these rock units rich in organic matter were mainly deposited in an anoxic marine depositional setting which consists of carbonate influenced by terrestrial input.

Keywords: Kerogen type, maturity, biomarker, carbon isotope, Balad Oil Field, Iraq

DOI: https://doi.org/10.7186/bgsm71202111