Hydrocarbon generation potential of Chichali Formation, Kohat Basin, Pakistan: A case study

The Chichali Formation encountered in Chanda 01 well, located in the Shakardara Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistan has been studied in detail as a source for hydrocarbon. Nine drill cuttings of the formation were subjected to geochemical analyses and organic petrography. Various screening techniques including TOC analysis by using Leco-CS analyzer, Rock Eval pyrolysis and organic petrography were used to determine the quality, quantity, maturity and depositional environment of the organic matter. The total organic carbon (TOC) of samples from Chichali Formation ranging from 0.47 to 2.76 wt% indicate fair to very good source rock. Pyrolysis parameters resulted in S1values ranging from 0.21 to 0.83 mg/g of rock, S2 0.44 to 0.61 mg/g rock, PI 0.32–0.51 and Tmax 442–448 °C. The Tmax and vitrinite reflectance data (0.72–0.84 Ro %) indicate that Chichali Formation is effective source rock and is in the process of generating hydrocarbons and falls within oil window. Geochemical parameters Hydrogen index (HI), Oxygen index (OI), Tmax along with organic petrography analyses (maceral) are used for kerogen type evaluation. The calculated HI ranges between 31 and 54 mg HC/g TOC and OI 30–96 mg O2/g TOC. Using modified Van Krevlen diagram between HI vs OI of Rock Eval pyrolysis and maceral analyses, kerogen type II/III and transition between anoxic to oxic depositional environments is interpreted for the studied Chichali Formation.