Abstract
A suite of 23 crude oil samples from the Termit Basin, Niger, were analyzed for geochemical characterization of thermal maturity and family classification. Distribution of alkylnaphthalenes, alkyl phenanthrenes, triaromatic steroids and aromatic biomarkers were reported from aromatic fractions of these oils. Oil-oil correlation suggests that these oils in Termit basin show two typical different geochemical characteristics, and can be divided into two different groups, and most of the oils belongs to family I. Methyl triaromatic steroids, and relatively higher abundance of triaromatic dinosteroids in these oils from Family I indicate a characteristics of crude oils of marine origin. Methyl triaromatic steroids and triaromatic dinosteroids were detected in the oils from Family II, and triaromatic dinosteroids are present in lower abundance relatively to methyl triaromatic steroids. The maturity values calculated by the methyl phenanthrene index (MPI-1) and trimethyl naphthalene ratio 2 (TNR-2) suggest that these oils most probably were generated by source rocks with the maturation stage of 0.6% to 1.0% (Ro). The oils from the Family II appear to have relatively higher maturity. This is the first study to report the distribution of aromatic hydrocarbons from the Termit Basin crude oils. The identification of family II in this basin can further improve the hydrocarbon play concept as well as provide new insights of hydrocarbon exploration with the Basin.
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Liu, B., Zhai, Gh., He, L., Mao, Fj., Liu, Jg. (2021). Applications of Aromatic Hydrocarbons to Assess Thermal Maturity and Families of Termit Basin Oils, Niger. In: Lin, J. (eds) Proceedings of the International Field Exploration and Development Conference 2020. IFEDC 2020. Springer Series in Geomechanics and Geoengineering. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-0761-5_5
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