Rock-eval pyrolysis results from the Bijeel 1 well, Kurdistan region, Iraq

Abstract EN

We used Rock-Eval pyrolysis to examine the petroleum source potential of rock samples from the Bijeel 1 Well in Kurdistan Region of northern Iraq.

The results show that Sargelu and Sehkaniyan marine Type IIS kerogen are potential sources of hydrocarbons and are thermally mature with respect to the oil window.

In the samples that we studied, carbonate are more organic-rich and more oil-prone than carbonaceous shales and silty mudstones, which appear to be potential sources of natural gas.

The Paleocene rocks from Bijeel 1 Well are thermally immature.

Lithologically similar rocks may be present in the deeper parts of the subsurface of Iraqi Kurdistan located south of the Bijeel 1 Well, where they may have been buried deeply enough to generate oil and (or) gas.

The Tertiary rocks are sparsely examined and mostly unexplored and no commercial production of hydrocarbons has been obtained.

However, the existence of potential source rocks of oil and gas, as shown by our Rock-Eval results, suggests that undiscovered petroleum accumulations may be present in the area.