Oils, Shows and Source Rocks of Iraq: Source Rock and Oil Character, Biomarker Correlations and Exploration Implications

Contents Summary

This report provides biomarker correlations between potential source rocks and reservoired oils and shows.

24 oils and shows and 27 source rock solvent extracts have been analysed in this study by gas chromatography (gc) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (gc-ms.)

The aims of the study are:

• To characterise the oils and significant shows of Iraq, for which samples are available in the University of Reading Middle East Archive, by identification of biomarkers.
• To analyse solvent extracts from significant source rock horizons to determine the biomarker character of each source and then to suggest oil-source correlations.
• To present and discuss the results with particular emphasis on the results which appear significant for acreage evaluations and exploration assessments.

Completed: 1993

Price: £30,000

Authors: Petroleum Geological Analysis Ltd, Quantock Geolgical Services, Saker Geolgical Services, The University of Reading

Introduction

In this project, extracts from potential source rocks, extracts of oil residues from productive reservoirs, and extracts from significant shows have been analysed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Biomarker and other data generated were used to evaluate the depositional environments and maturity of the extracts and to correlate between the source rock extracts and the reservoired oils and shows. The source rock intervals were also selectively analysed to assess source quality by standard TOC + Rock-Eval pyrolysis and pyrolysis-gas chromatography.

Intervals for analysis were chosen to characterise oils from the main productive reservoirs for which samples are available in the University of Reading Archive. In addition, significant shows noted during the course of the facies-stratigraphic studies, and shows noted in the IPC well records were also selectively analysed. These were chosen to help investigate new plays, particularly in the Jurassic and Triassic section, which has great potential, but little established production in Iraq. The source rocks were selected based on intervals with significant organic richness identified in the original source rocks geochemistry project and the facies-stratigraphic projects.

Report Contents

The report is provided as five PDF report volumes with associated numeric data in Excel spreadsheets. Volume 1 presents results and interpretations in their regional context, and discusses implications for future exploration in Iraq. Volumes 2-5 present the results and interpretations of individual samples on a well-by-well basis.

Volume 1 Synthesis and Interpretation of Results

Introduction
Summary of analytical results for source rock extracts
Summary of analytical results for oil residues
Discussion of results: Conclusions, correlations and exploration implications
References
Appendices
1 - Analytical techniques
2 - Test results from study wells and fields
3 - Oil field data summary sheets for Iraq

Volume 2 Results from Anah-2, Atshan-1, Bai Hassan-6, Fallujah-1 and Injana-5

Volume 3 Results from Kirkuk-87, Kirkuk-109, Kirkuk-116, Makhul-2 and Mileh Tharthar-1

Volume 4 Results from Nahr Umr-2, Pulkhana-5, Qalian-1 and Ratawi-1

Volume 5 Results from Rumaila-1, Rumaila-4, Rumaila-20, Samawa-1, Zubair-2, Zubair-3, Zubair-18, Zubair-24 and Zubair-29. Notes to accompany the digital data base and diskette.

Digital Data

The results of the geochemical analysis are presented in digital form as Excel spreadsheets.

These include the numeric results of TOC, Rock-Eval analyses, significant peak heights/areas and ratios from the GC, GCMS ad PYGC analyses. The GC, GCMS and PYGC traces are provided as raster images in the PDF report files.

Location Map