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HYDROCARBON POTENTIAL OF THE EASTERN ALBORZ REGION, NE IRAN
Author(s) -
Rad F. K.
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
journal of petroleum geology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.725
H-Index - 42
eISSN - 1747-5457
pISSN - 0141-6421
DOI - 10.1111/j.1747-5457.1982.tb00552.x
Subject(s) - outcrop , geology , kerogen , source rock , maturity (psychological) , geochemistry , hydrocarbon , fossil fuel , paleontology , psychology , developmental psychology , ecology , chemistry , organic chemistry , structural basin , biology
The Lower‐Middle Jurassic Shemshak Formation is widely distributed in North, Central and East Iran. Being of great thickness and regional extent, the Formation is a significant source rock in the Eastern Alborz region and is considered as the most probable source for the Khangiran gas (NE Iran) as well as for the eastern Caspian oilfields in Russian Turkmenistan. A detailed geochemical analysis of outcrop samples from this Formation shows that it is an immature source rock, containing dominantly type III kerogen of terrestrial origin. Nevertheless, the depth of burial of the Shemshak Formation in the Dasht‐e Gorgan and the southern Caspian depression suggests that it might have reached the level of thermal maturity required for the generation of hydrocarbons. It is concluded that although the hydrocarbon‐generating potential of the sediments is relatively low, under favourable conditions this Formation is capable of generating enough crude oil and gas to supply a giant field.