Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Applications of biomarker and geochemical characterization of crude oil for Mesopotamian basin, Southern Iraq

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Modeling Earth Systems and Environment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this study, geochemistry analysis of oil and source rock extracts from different fields of Basra and Amara oil fields is implemented. Results indicate that the type of producing oil rocks are marine algae carbonate type II rocks and no contribute from terrestrial sources. These rocks are deposited under marine environment (> 150 m deep) and have normal saline and reduced conditions. No biodegradations are observed in the studied oil. The correlation of oil–oil exhibits that the oils have the same group and family and back to the same rock. On the other hand, the correlation between oil and source rock demonstrates that both of them have the same geochemical characteristics. The results of isotopic analysis of oil show so that source rocks of oil are marine mature rocks and have high sulfur content with API in range (15–48).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15
Fig. 16
Fig. 17

Modified after Tissot and Welte (1984)

Fig. 18

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bray EE, Evans ED (1961) Distribution of n-Paraffins as a Clue to recognition of Source beds. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 22:2–15

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buday T, Jassim SZ (1987) The regional geology of Iraq, Vo/.2: tectonism, magmatism and metamorphism. Publication of GEOSURV, Baghdad

    Google Scholar 

  • Connan J, Bouroulles J, Dessort D, Albrecht P (1986) The microbial input in carbonate-anhydrite facies of a sabkha palaeoenvironment from Guatemala: a molecular approach. Org Geochem 10:29–50p

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fan P, Philp RP, Lezhenxin YuX, Ying G (1991) Biomarker distributions in crude oils and source rocks from different sedimentary environments. Chem Geol 93:61–78

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fu J, Sheng G, Xu JA et al (1990) Application of biological marker in the assessment of paleoenvironments. Org Geochem 16:769–779

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grantham PJ, Wakefild LL (1988) Variations in the sterane carbon number distributions of marine source rock derived crude oils through geological time. Org Geochem 12:61–73

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holba AG, Ellis L, Dzou IL, et al (2001) Extended tricyclic terpanes as age discriminators between Triassic, early Jurassic and middle- late Jurassic oils. In: Presented at the 20th International meeting on Organic Geochemistry, 10-14 September, 2001, Nancy, France

  • Hughes WB, Holba AG, Mueller DE, Richardson JS (1985) Geochemistry of greater Ekofisk crude oils. In: Thomas BM (ed) Geochemistry in exploration of the Norwegian Shelf. Graham and Trotman, London, pp 75–92

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Katz BJ, Elrod LW (1983) Organic geochemistry of DSDP site 467, offshore California, middle Miocene to lower Pliocene strata. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 47:389–396

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li JG, Philp RP, Mengzifag et al (2005) Aromatic compounds in crude oils and source rocks and their application to oil-source rock correlations in the Tarim basin, NW china. J Asian Earth Sci 25:251–268

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mello MR, Telnaes N, Gaglianone PC et al (1988) Organic geochemical characterization of depositional paleoenvironments in Brazilian marginal basins. Org Geochem 14:529–542

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moldowan JM, Seifert WK, Gallegos EJ (1985) Relationship between petroleum composition and depositional environment of petroleum source rocks. AAPG 69:1255–1268P

    Google Scholar 

  • Moldowan JM, Sundaraman P, Scholl M (1986) Sensitivity of biomarker properties to depositional environment and/or source input in lower Toarcian of S. W. Germany. Org Geochem 10:915–926

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moldowan JM, Dahl J, Jacobson SR, Huizinga BJ, Fago FJ, Shetty R, Watt DS, Peters KE (1996) Chemostratigraphic reconstruction of biofacies; molecular evidence linking cyst-forming dinoflagellates with Pre-Triassic ancestors. Geology 24:159–162

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peters KE, Moldowan JM (1991) Effects of source, thermal maturity, and biodegradation on the distribution and isomerization of homohopanes in petroleum. Org Geochem 17:47–61

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peters KE, Walters CC, Moldowan JM (2005) The biomarker guide: biomarker and isotopes in petroleum exploration and earth history, vol 2. Cambridge University Press, pp 475–1155

    Google Scholar 

  • Philippi GT (1974) The influence of marine and terrestrial source material on the composition of petroleum. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 39:947–966

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Philp RP (2007) Petroleum and reservoir geochemistry for exploration geologists, geochemists and engineers. Elsevier Publishing House

  • Philp RP, Gilbert TD (1986) Biomarker distributions in Australian oils predominantly derived from terrigenous source material. Org Geoch 10:73–84

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Picha FJ, Peters KE (1998) Biomarker oil –to –source rock correlation in the western Carpathianes and their foreland. Czech Republic. Pet Geosci 4:289–302

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Riolo J, Hussler G, Albrecht P, Connan J (1986) Distribution of aromatic steroids in geological samples: their evaluation as geochemical Parameters. Org Geochem 10:981–990

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scalan RS, Smith JE (1970) An improved measure of the odd-to even predominance in the normal alkanes of sediment extracts and petroleum. Geochim Cosmochimica Acta 34:611–620

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seifert WK, Moldowan JM (1978) Application of steranes, terpanes, and monoaromatics to the maturation, migration and source of crude oils. Geochim Cosmochim Acla 42:77–95p

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seifert WK, Moldowan JM, Jones RW (1980) Application of biological marker chemistry to petroleum exploration. Proceedings of the Tenth world petroleum congress. Bucharest, Romania. September, 1979. Paper sp8, Heyden, pp.424-440

  • Sofer Z (1984) Stable carbon isotope compositions of crude oils: application to source depositional environments and petroleum alteration. Am Assoc Pet Geol Bull 68:31–49

    Google Scholar 

  • Subroto EA, Alexander R, Kagi RI (1991) 30-Norhopanes: their occurrence in sediments and crude oils. Chem Geol 93:179–192

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ten Haven HL, Rullkötter J (1988) The diagenetic fate of taraxer-14-ene and oleanene isomers. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 52:2543–2548

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tissot BP, Welte DH (1984) Petroleum formation and occurrence. Springer-Verlag, New York

    Book  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geology Department, Science Collage, Basra University, Basra, Iraq

    Amna M. Handhal & Muwafaq F. Al-Shahwan

  2. Oil and Gas Engineering Department, Oil and Gas Engineering College, Basra University for Oil and Gas, Basra, Iraq

    Hussein A. Chafeet

Authors
  1. Amna M. Handhal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Muwafaq F. Al-Shahwan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Hussein A. Chafeet
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hussein A. Chafeet.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Handhal, A.M., Al-Shahwan, M.F. & Chafeet, H.A. Applications of biomarker and geochemical characterization of crude oil for Mesopotamian basin, Southern Iraq. Model. Earth Syst. Environ. 6, 215–233 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40808-019-00673-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40808-019-00673-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation