Petroleum potentiality of the Balambo Formation in Bekhme and Razan sections, Kurdistan region, northeastern Iraq

• Published in: Tikrit Journal of Pure Science Vol. 29; no. 2; pp. 20 - 29
• Main Authors: Srood F. Naqshabandi, Mamaseni, Wrya, Bzhar A. Delizy, Goran F. Hasan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Tikrit University 25.04.2024
• Subjects: Balambo; Bekhme; mature; Razan; type II-III
• ISSN: 1813-1662; 2415-1726
• DOI: 10.25130/tjps.v29i2.1541

Balambo Formation (Early Cretaceous) had been studied in Razan and Bekhme sections, Erbil Governorate, Kurdistan Region-Iraq, to determine the hydrocarbon generation potentiality for the studied rocks. The samples were analyzed for TOC, Rock Eval pyrolysis and GC-MS technique. The Balambo Formation’s TOC wt. % content is relatively high, ranging between 0.95 to 7.59 wt.% (average 2.91 wt.%). The Formation has the potentiality to generate gas and oil owing to its suboxic-anoxic depositional environment, marine origin organisms, suitable maturity level, and the type of kerogen is predominantly types III and subordinate amount of mixed type II-III according to the Rock-Eval pyrolysis data and isoprenoid/n-alkane. The C27%, C28% and C29% regular steranes distribution suggested the studied formation is deposited in marine environment. The samples were proven to be mature based on the ratios of the Tmax, steranes 20S/ (20S+20R)C29 to ββS/(ββS+ααR)C29 steranes and C32 22S/(22S+22R) hopane. Although the Ts/(Ts+Tm) ratio data point to an early mature stage, vitrinite reflectance predictions ranged from 0.55 to 0.75%, once more pointing to a mature stage.