Radiometric Age Dating of Petroleum and Source Units from Kuwait Using the Rhenium-Osmium Geochronometer

A. Finlay¹, R. Klischies¹, N. Al-Jabari², and A.F. Al Khamiss³

Abstract

This paper demonstrates the application of rhenium-osmium (Re-Os) isotopic dating techniques to further the understanding of petroleum systems from Kuwait. Three sets of shale samples were analysed for their Re-Os isotopic and elemental composition without their known age being released to test the accuracy of the Re-Os geochronometer. Because drill core is a precious commodity and Re-Os analysis necessitates powdering and digesting the rock in acid, instead of being spaced closely together (e.g., one sample for every inch of core), each sample was spread over ~50 foot of core to test if feasible Re-Os ages could be produced and also to protect the core for future analysis.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90188 ©GEO-2014, 11th Middle East Geosciences Conference and Exhibition, 10-12 March 2014, Manama, Bahrain