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Title: Silurian shale origin for light oil, condensate, and gas in Algeria and the Middle East

Abstract

Two of the largest gas fields in the world, Hasi R'Mel, Algeria and North Dome, Qatar, also contain substantial condensate and light oil reserves. Gas to source rock geochemical correlation is difficult due to the paucity of molecular parameters in the former although stable isotope composition is invaluable. However, by correlating source rocks with light oils and condensates associated with gas production using traditional geochemical parameters such as biomarkers and isotopes, a better understanding of the origin of the gas is achieved. Much of the crude oil in the Ghadames/Illizi Basins of Algeria has long been thought to have been generated from Silurian shales. New light oil discoveries in Saudi Arabia have also been shown to originate in basal euxinic Silurian shales. Key sterane and terpane biomarkers as well as the stable carbon isotopic compositions of the C15+ saturate and aromatic hydrocarbon fractions allow for the typing of Silurian-sourced, thermally mature light oils in Algeria and the Middle East. Even though biomarkers are often absent due to advanced thermal maturity, condensates can be correlated to the light oils using (1) carbon isotopes of the residual heavy hydrocarbon fractions, (2) light hydrocarbon distributions (e.g., C7 composition), and (3) compound specific carbonmore » isotopic composition of the light hydrocarbons. The carbon isotopes of the C2-C4 gas components ran then be compared to the associated condensate and light oil isotopic composition.« less

Authors:
 [1]
  1. GeoMark Research Inc., Houston, TX (United States)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
6582129
Report Number(s):
CONF-960527-
Journal ID: ISSN 0149-1423; CODEN: AABUD2
Resource Type:
Conference
Journal Name:
AAPG Bulletin
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 5; Conference: Annual convention of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Inc. and the Society for Sedimentary Geology: global exploration and geotechnology, San Diego, CA (United States), 19-22 May 1996; Journal ID: ISSN 0149-1423
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
03 NATURAL GAS; 02 PETROLEUM; 58 GEOSCIENCES; ALGERIA; GAS CONDENSATE FIELDS; NATURAL GAS FIELDS; GEOCHEMISTRY; QATAR; GAS CONDENSATES; PETROLEUM DEPOSITS; SILURIAN PERIOD; SOURCE ROCKS; AFRICA; ARAB COUNTRIES; ASIA; CHEMISTRY; CONDENSATES; DEVELOPING COUNTRIES; FLUIDS; GEOLOGIC AGES; GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS; LIQUIDS; MIDDLE EAST; MINERAL RESOURCES; NATURAL GAS DEPOSITS; NATURAL GAS LIQUIDS; PALEOZOIC ERA; RESOURCES; 030200* - Natural Gas- Reserves, Geology, & Exploration; 020200 - Petroleum- Reserves, Geology, & Exploration; 580000 - Geosciences

Citation Formats

Zumberge, J E, and Macko, S. Silurian shale origin for light oil, condensate, and gas in Algeria and the Middle East. United States: N. p., 1996. Web.
Zumberge, J E, & Macko, S. Silurian shale origin for light oil, condensate, and gas in Algeria and the Middle East. United States.
Zumberge, J E, and Macko, S. 1996. "Silurian shale origin for light oil, condensate, and gas in Algeria and the Middle East". United States.
@article{osti_6582129,
title = {Silurian shale origin for light oil, condensate, and gas in Algeria and the Middle East},
author = {Zumberge, J E and Macko, S.},
abstractNote = {Two of the largest gas fields in the world, Hasi R'Mel, Algeria and North Dome, Qatar, also contain substantial condensate and light oil reserves. Gas to source rock geochemical correlation is difficult due to the paucity of molecular parameters in the former although stable isotope composition is invaluable. However, by correlating source rocks with light oils and condensates associated with gas production using traditional geochemical parameters such as biomarkers and isotopes, a better understanding of the origin of the gas is achieved. Much of the crude oil in the Ghadames/Illizi Basins of Algeria has long been thought to have been generated from Silurian shales. New light oil discoveries in Saudi Arabia have also been shown to originate in basal euxinic Silurian shales. Key sterane and terpane biomarkers as well as the stable carbon isotopic compositions of the C15+ saturate and aromatic hydrocarbon fractions allow for the typing of Silurian-sourced, thermally mature light oils in Algeria and the Middle East. Even though biomarkers are often absent due to advanced thermal maturity, condensates can be correlated to the light oils using (1) carbon isotopes of the residual heavy hydrocarbon fractions, (2) light hydrocarbon distributions (e.g., C7 composition), and (3) compound specific carbon isotopic composition of the light hydrocarbons. The carbon isotopes of the C2-C4 gas components ran then be compared to the associated condensate and light oil isotopic composition.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6582129}, journal = {AAPG Bulletin},
issn = {0149-1423},
number = ,
volume = 5,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1996},
month = {Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1996}
}

Conference:
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