Evaluation of the Hydrocarbon Potential of the Upper Jurassic Barserin Formation Using Biomarkers, Kirkuk and Taq Taq Oil Fields, Northern Iraq

Dler Hussain Baban* and Shadan Mahmood Ahmed
Sulaimaniya University, Iraq
*[email protected]

The source rocks from the Jurassic Barserine Formation were studied from two wells in Kirkuk and Taq Taq oil fields in northern Iraq. The GC, saturate GC/MS, and saturate and aromatic carbon isotopes (d¹³ C) of 12 extracts and two oil samples were evaluated for oil-source rock and oil-oil correlations. The GC, biomarkers and isotope data of the extracts and oil indicate and they were all derived from marine carbonate source rocks, composed of predominantly algal-bacterial organic matter deposited under anoxic condition. Very minor variations in biomarkers characteristics are present among the extracts and between the extracts and oils, which may be due by minor variations in organic facies and depositional condition (relative anoxicity) within the Jurassic source rock unit. The sterane maturity ratios suggest both the rocks and oils have comparable maturities and are moderately mature; the Taq Taq oil is exceptional having a slightly higher maturity. The estimated maturation of the Tertiary Kirkuk oil and the extracts are within the 0.70–0.80% Ro range. The maturity of the oil from the Cretaceous of Taq Taq could be about 0.85–0.90% Ro. The somewhat higher maturity of the Taq Taq oil is also shown by the GC data (Pristane/n C17 versus Phytane/n C18 relationship).

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90077©2008 GEO 2008 Middle East Conference and Exhibition, Manama, Bahrain