Reconnaissance study of organic geochemistry and petrology of Paleozoic-Cenozoic potential hydrocarbon source rocks from the New Siberian Islands, Arctic Russia

authored by: Peter Sobolev, Dieter Franke, Christoph Gaedicke, Jolanta Kus, Georg Scheeder, Karsten Piepjohn, Christian Brandes, Martin Blumenberg, Benoit Mouly
Abstract: A reconnaissance study of potential hydrocarbon source rocks of Paleozoic to Cenozoic age from the highly remote New Siberian Islands Archipelago (Russian Arctic) was carried out. 101 samples were collected from outcrops representing the principal Paleozoic-Cenozoic units across the entire archipelago. Organic petrological and geochemical analyses (vitrinite reflectance measurements, Rock-Eval pyrolysis, GC-MS) were undertaken in order to screen the maturity, quality and quantity of the organic matter in the outcrop samples. The lithology varies from continental sedimentary rocks with coal particles to shallow marine carbonates and deep marine black shales. Several organic-rich intervals were identified in the Upper Paleozoic to Lower Cenozoic succession. Lower Devonian shales were found to have the highest source rock potential of all Paleozoic units. Middle Carboniferous-Permian and Triassic units appear to have a good potential for natural gas formation. Late Mesozoic (Cretaceous) and Cenozoic low-rank coals, lignites, and coal-bearing sandstones also display a potential for gas generation. Kerogen type III (humic, gas-prone) dominates in most of the samples, and indicates deposition in lacustrine to coastal paleoenvironments. Most of the samples (except some of Cretaceous and Paleogene age) reached oil window maturities, whereas the Devonian to Carboniferous units shared a maturity mainly within the gas window.
Organisation(s): Institute of Geology
External Organisation(s): Russian Geological Research Institute (VSEGEI)
Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR)
TOTAL SA
Type: Article
Journal: Marine and petroleum geology
Volume: 78
Pages: 30-47
No. of pages: 18
ISSN: 0264-8172
Publication date: 12.2016
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Oceanography, Geophysics, Geology, Economic Geology, Stratigraphy
Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 14 - Life Below Water
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2016.09.005 (Access: Closed)