A comparison of the rates of hydrocarbon generation from Lodgepole, False Bakken, and Bakken formation petroleum source rocks, Williston Basin, USA

Journal Article · Sat Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1996 · AAPG Bulletin

OSTI ID:272624

Jarvie, D M; Elsinger, R J ^[1]; Inden, R F ^[2]; Palacas, J G ^[3]

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1. Humble Geochemical Services Division, TX (United States)
2. Lithologic & Stratigraphic Solutions, Denver, CO (United States)
3. Lakewood, CO (United States)

Recent successes in the Lodgepole Waulsortian Mound play have resulted in the reevaluation of the Williston Basin petroleum systems. It has been postulated that hydrocarbons were generated from organic-rich Bakken Formation source rocks in the Williston Basin. However, Canadian geoscientists have indicated that the Lodgepole Formation is responsible for oil entrapped in Lodgepole Formation and other Madison traps in portions of the Canadian Williston Basin. Furthermore, geoscientists in the U.S. have recently shown oils from mid-Madison conventional reservoirs in the U.S. Williston Basin were not derived from Bakken Formation source rocks. Kinetic data showing the rate of hydrocarbon formation from petroleum source rocks were measured on source rocks from the Lodgepole, False Bakken, and Bakken Formations. These results show a wide range of values in the rate of hydrocarbon generation. Oil prone facies within the Lodgepole Formation tend to generate hydrocarbons earlier than the oil prone facies in the Bakken Formation and mixed oil/gas prone and gas prone facies in the Lodgepole Formation. A comparison of these source rocks using a geological model of hydrocarbon generation reveals differences in the timing of generation and the required level of maturity to generate significant amounts of hydrocarbons.

• OSTI ID: 272624
• Report Number(s): CONF-9607116--
• Journal Information: AAPG Bulletin, Journal Name: AAPG Bulletin Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 80; ISSN 0149-1423; ISSN AABUD2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
GEOLOGIC TRAPS
HYDROCARBONS
OIL FIELDS
ORIGIN
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
PRODUCTION
SOURCE ROCKS
STRATIGRAPHY
WILLISTON BASIN