Abstract
Crude oil and rock samples in the Békés basin were analyzed to determine the genetic relationships of crude oils, estimate thermal conditions under which the oils were generated, establish crude oil-source rock correlations and infer secondary migration routes in the basin. The aim of the study was to provide a geochemical underpinning which could be used to predict the occurrence of undiscovered oil accumulations.
Organic geochemical characterization of the crude oils revealed that three major genetic oil-types or “oil-families” are present in the basin. This finding implies the existence of three effective source rocks, possibly different faciès within the same age rock unit. The first oil type is typified by very high saturated hydrocarbon content (mostly 90%), commonly a predominance of odd-carbon-numbered n-alkanes in the C25+ fraction, and generally high pristane/phytane ratios. In contrast, the second oil type is characterized by relatively higher contents of aromatic hydrocarbons, predominances of even-carbon-numbered n-alkanes, and lower pristane/phytane ratios. A third oil-group includes oils which contain relatively more nonhydrocarbons (resins + asphaltenes). Biological marker distributions are also useful in determining genetic relationships among the oils. Oleanane/hopane, moretane/hopane, Tm/Ts, and norhopane/hopane ratios are all useful in distinguishing genetic oil groups. Some of the oils contain marker distributions of more than one type; this may indicate that oils derived from more than one source were mixed.
Thermal maturities of the oils are variable. API gravities (26° to 55°) and maturation-sensitive geochemical parameters (biological marker distributions and n-alkane odd-even-carbon preferences) indicate that oils were expelled over a range of thermal maturities. The least-thermally altered oils have been derived from source rocks with thermal maturities corresponding to present-day burial depths of approximately 2000–3000 m [vitrinite reflectance (Ro) <0.4–0.6%]. More mature oils and condensates have maturities corresponding to present-day depths for the source rock burial of about 3000–4000 m (Ro > 0.6–0.9+%).
Middle Miocene rocks, containing as much as 5 weight (wt.) % organic carbon, are the major source rocks in the basin. Rocks in the lower part of the Pannonian (late Miocene-Pliocene) section also contain sufficient organic matter (as much as about 2 wt. % organic carbon) to be possible source rocks. Substantial secondary migration has occurred, resulting in oils from more than one source (and different thermal histories) occurring in a single field or producing structure.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Benshan, W., Shanfa, F., Fenfang, X., Shanchun, J., and Jiamo, F., 1984, A preliminary organic geochemical study of the Fushan depression — a Tertiary basin of Eastern China; in Schenck, P.A., de Leeuw, J.W. and Lijmbach, G.W.M. (eds.), Advances in Organic Geochemistry 1983; Org. Geochem, 6, 108–113.
Clayton, J.L. and Koncz, I., Geochemistry of natural gas and carbon dioxide in the Békés Basin — Implications for Exploration, this volume, 187-199.
Clayton, J.L., Spencer, C.W., Koncz, I., and Szalay, A., 1990, Generation and migration of hydrocarbon gas and carbon dioxide in the Békés basin, southeastern Hungary: Org. Geochem, 15(3), 233–247.
Cooles, G.P., Mackenzie, A.S., and Quigley, T.M., 1986, Calculation of petroleum masses generated and expelled from source rocks; in Leythaeuser, D. and Rullkötter, J. (eds.), Org. Geochem., 10, 235–246.
Daly, A. and Edman, J.D., 1987, Loss of organic carbon from source rocks during thermal maturation: Amer. Assoc. Petrol. Geol. Bull., 71, 546.
Dövényi, P. and Horváth, F., 1988, A review of temperature, thermal conductivity, and heat flow data for the Pannonian Basin; in Royden, L.H. and Horváth, F. (eds.), The Pannonian Basin, a study in basin evolution; Amer. Assoc. Petrol. Geol. Mem. 45, Tulsa, 195–233.
Ekweozor, C.M., Okogun, J.I., Ekong, D.E.U, and Maxwell, J.R., 1979a, Preliminary organic geochemical studies of samples from the Niger Delta (Nigeria) I: Analyses of crude oils for triterpanes; Chem. Geol., 27, 11–28.
Ekweozor, CM, Okogon, J.I., Ekong, D.E.U, and Maxwell, J.R., 1979b, Preliminary organic geochemical studies of samples from the Niger Delta (Nigeria) II: Analysis of shale for triterpenoid derivatives: Chem. Geol, 27, 29–37.
Espitalié, J., Madec, N., Tissot, P., Merrwig, J., and Leplat, P., 1977, Source rock characterization method for petroleum exploration; Proc, Offshore Technology Conference. Houston, Texas, 439-444.
Grantham, P.J., Posthuma, J., and Baak, A., 1984, Triterpanes in a number of Far-Eastern Crude oils; in Schenck, P.A., de Leeuw, J.W. and Lijmbach, G.W.M. (eds.), Advances in Organic Geochemistry 1983; Org. Geochem, 6, 675–683.
ten Haven, H.L., de Leeuw, J.W., Rullkötter, J., and Sinninghe Damasté, J. S, 1987, Restricted utility of the pristane/phytane ratio as a paleo-environmental indicator; Nature, 330, 641–643.
ten Haven, H.L. and Rullkötter, J., 1988, The diagenetic fate of taraxer-14-ene and oleanene isomers; Geochim. et Cosmochim. Acta, 52, 2543–2548.
Horváth, F., Dövényi, P., Szalay, Á, and Royden, L. H, 1988, Subsidence, thermal, and maturation history of the Great Hungarian plain; in L. H. Royden and F. Horváth, (eds.), The Pannonian Basin, A Study in Basin Evolution; Am. Assoc. Petrol. Geol. Mem. 45, 355–372.
Mackenzie, A.S., 1984. Applications of biological markers in petroleum geochemistry; in Brooks, J. and Weite, D. (eds.), Advances in Petroleum Geochemistry, 1, 115–214.
Mattick, R.E., Rumpler, J., Ujfalusy, A., Szanyi, B., Nagy, I., Sequence Stratigraphy of the Békés Basin, this volume, 39-65.
Molenaar, CM, Révész, 1, Bérczi, I., Kovács, A., Juhász, Gy.K, Gajdos, I. and Szanyi, B., Stratigraphic framework and sandstone faciès distribution of the Pannonian sequence in the Békés Basin, this volume, 99-110.
Palmer, S.E., 1984, Hydrocarbon source potential of organic facies of the lacustrine Elks Formation (Eocene/Oligocene), northeast Nevada; in Woodward,), Meissner, F.F. and Clayton, J. (eds.), Hydrocarbon source rocks of the Greater Rocky Mountain Region; 491-512.
Powell, T.G. and McKirdy, D.M., 1973, Relationship between ratio of pristane to phytane, crude oil composition and geological environment in Australia; Nature, 243, 37–39.
Riva, A., Salvatori, T., Cavaliere, R., Richuito, T., and Novelli, L., 1986, Origin of oils in Po Basin, northern Italy; in Leythaeuser, D. and Rullkötter. J. (eds.), Advances in Organic Geochemistry 1985; Org. Geochem, 10, 391–400.
Sajgó, Cs, 1984, Organic geochemistry of crude oils from south-east Hungary; in Schenck, P.A., De Leew, J.W. and Lijmbach, G.W.M. (eds.), Advances in Org. Geochem, 6, 569–578.
Sajgó, Cs, Horváth, Z. A, and Lefler, J., 1988, An organic maturation study of the Hód-1 borehole (Pannonian Basin); in Royden, L.H. and Horváth, F. (eds.), The Pannonian Basin — a study in basin evolution, Amer. Assoc. Petrol. Geol. Mem. 45, 297–309.
Scalan, R.S. and Smith, J.E., 1970, An improved measure of the odd-even predominance in the normal alkanes of sediment extracts and petroleum; Geochim. et Cosmochim. Acta, 34, 611–620.
Schoell, M., Teschner, M. and Wehner, H., 1984, Maturity related biomarker and stable isotope variations and their application to oil/source rock correlation in the Mahakam Delta Kalimantan; in Schenk, P.A., de Leeuw, J.W. and Lijmbach, G.W.M. (eds.), Advances in Organic Geochemistry 1983; Org. Geochem.. 6, 156–163.
Spencer, C.W., Szalay, Á. and Tatar, É., Abnormal pressure and hydrocarbon migration in the Békés basin, this volume, 201-219.
Szalay, A., 1988. Maturation and migration of hydrocarbons in the southeastern Pannonian Basin; in Royden, L.H. and Horváth. F. (eds.). The Pannonian Basin — a study in basin evolution; Amer. Assoc. Petrol. Geol. Mem. 45. 347–354.
Tissot, B., Durand, B., Espitalié, J., and Combaz, A., 1974, Influence of nature and diagenesis of organic matter in formation of petroleum; Amer. Assoc. Petrol. Geol. Bull., 58, 499–506.
Venkatesan, M.I. and Kapkan, I.R., 1982, Distribution and transport of hydrocarbons in surface sediments of the Alaskan Outer Continental Shelf; Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 46, 2135–2149.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1994 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Clayton, J.L., Koncz, I., King, J.D., Tatár, E. (1994). Organic Geochemistry of Crude Oils and Source Rocks, Békés Basin. In: Teleki, P.G., Mattick, R.E., Kókai, J. (eds) Basin Analysis in Petroleum Exploration. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-0954-3_8
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-0954-3_8
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-010-4412-7
Online ISBN: 978-94-011-0954-3
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive