Geochemical Investigation of the Cretaceous Crude Oil Reservoirs and Source Rock Samples in One of the Abadan Plain Oilfields, SW Iran

Crude oil and source rock samples from one of the main oilfields of the Abadan Plain, Zagros, Iran were analyzed geochemically. Rock-Eval pyrolysis was conducted on Kazhdumi (Upper Cretaceous) and Gadvan (Lower Cretaceous) formations, which are the probable source rocks for the oil in the region. The results indicated that the Kazhdumi Formation can be classified as a fair-to-excellent source rock, while the Gadvan Formation can be identified as having poor-to-good source rock in the basin. Based on the cross-plots of HI versus OI and S2 versus TOC, types II and III kerogen were identified from studied source samples in the area. Determination of the main fraction percentages of the Sarvak and Fahliyan crude oils represented that the oils from the Sarvak reservoir are paraffinic-naphthenic and aromatic-intermediate, whilst that from the Fahliyan reservoir is paraffinic and paraffinic-naphthenic. Biomarker ratios of the saturated fractions of oil from both reservoirs indicate that the source rocks formed in reducing marine environments with carbonate-shale lithology. Furthermore, biomarker data helped to distinguish the degree of biodegradation in the studied oils. According to geochemical analysis, oil samples from the Fahliyan reservoir were generated at a higher thermal maturity than the Sarvak reservoir samples.