Petroleum Systems and

Petroleum Systems and

Geochemistry of Nunavut
Geochemistry of Nunavut
Discoveries
Discoveries
Martin G. Fowler
Geological Survey of Canada
Natural Resources
Canada
Ressources naturelles
Canada
Canada
Petroleum generation
Petroleum generation
Organic-rich
Source Rock
Thermally Matured
Organic Matter
Oil
The Petroleum Systems Concept
Magoon and Dow (1994; AAPG Memoir 60)
A petroleum system is defined as a natural
system that encompasses a pod of active
source rock and all related oil and gas, and
which includes all the geologic elements and
processes that are essential if a
hydrocarbon accumulation is to exist
Four levels of petroleum investigation
SEDIMENTARY BASIN
PETROLEUM SYSTEM
PLAY
PROSPECT
Economics
VERY
important
Economics
NOT
important
After Magoon and Dow, 1994
The Petroleum Systems Concept
Essential Elements:

petroleum source rock

reservoir rock

seal rock

overburden rock
Processes

trap formation

generation-migration-accumulation of petroleum

preservation
Timing is everything!
I
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o
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1
-
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m
m

Mature hydrocarbon
source rock
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s
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Figure 5
Oil accumulation
oil-filled
pores
water-filled
pores
= sand
grains
in the rock
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Factors controlling petroleum occurrence
Factors controlling petroleum occurrence

1. Thermally mature source rock
1. Thermally mature source rock

2. Primary migration
2. Primary migration

3. Porous reservoir
3. Porous reservoir

4. Trapping configuration with seal
4. Trapping configuration with seal

5. Correct timing of trap formation
5. Correct timing of trap formation
relative to HC
relative to HC
generation/expulsion
generation/expulsion

6. Preservation from biodegradation, evaporation
6. Preservation from biodegradation, evaporation
Source Rock semantics
Source Rock semantics


PETROLEUM SOURCE ROCK PETROLEUM SOURCE ROCK


A stratigraphic interval or facies unit with a A stratigraphic interval or facies unit with a demonstrated correlation demonstrated correlation
between the between the hydrocarbon being generated in it hydrocarbon being generated in it and and petroleum in a petroleum in a
reservoir. reservoir.


POTENTIAL PETROLEUM SOURCE ROCK POTENTIAL PETROLEUM SOURCE ROCK


A stratigraphic interval or facies unit in which A stratigraphic interval or facies unit in which petroleum has been petroleum has been
generated and may have generated and may have been expelled but with which no reservoired been expelled but with which no reservoired
hydrocarbons have been correlated. hydrocarbons have been correlated.


IMMATURE POTENTIAL SOURCE ROCK IMMATURE POTENTIAL SOURCE ROCK


A stratigraphic interval or facies unit which A stratigraphic interval or facies unit which contains organic matter contains organic matter
which will yield which will yield sufficient hydrocarbons with increased sufficient hydrocarbons with increased maturation to maturation to
result in the expulsion of result in the expulsion of some of those hydrocarbons. some of those hydrocarbons.
Source Rock Parameters
Source Rock Parameters
1.
1.
Quantity
Quantity
of organic matter (e.g. % TOC)
of organic matter (e.g. % TOC)
2.
2.
Quality
Quality
i.e. Organic Matter Type (related
i.e. Organic Matter Type (related
to organic Hydrogen)
to organic Hydrogen)
3. Level of thermal alteration
3. Level of thermal alteration
(
(
maturity
maturity
)
)
TOC NEEDED FOR PETROLEUM
GENERATION

TOC >2% needed based on both empirical and
theoretical considerations

A mature source rock that has generated
hydrocarbons may have a lower TOC content

However remember that hydrocarbon generation
is a disproportionation reaction and thus only a
portion of the organic carbon will be loss
depending on the organic matter type.

i.e. >1.5% TOC in a mature interval

need less for gas

1% ?
How do we assess source rock
quality ?
Organic matter type defined on the basis of
elemental composition, i.e. Hydrogen and
Oxygen normalized to Carbon
Followed on from earlier work on coals
Organic matter
Organic matter
type: van Krevelen
type: van Krevelen
Diagram
Diagram
Hydrocarbon yield by organic matter type
Hydrocarbon yield by organic matter type

The proportion of
The proportion of

organic
organic
carbon which
carbon which

eventually is
eventually is
converted
converted

to volatile
to volatile
products
products

(oil and gas)
(oil and gas)
depends on the amount of
depends on the amount of

hydrogen in the
hydrogen in the
original
original

kerogen.
kerogen.

The other product is residual carbon.
The other product is residual carbon.

Although this
Although this
is often referred to as
is often referred to as

graphite, it is seldom that
graphite, it is seldom that
well
well

structured.
structured.
OM TYPE
Type I
Type II
Type III
Conversion
80%
50-60%
10-30%
Geological
Geological
Organic
Organic
Matter
Matter
af t er Ti ssot and Wel t e, 1984
Humin
Kerogen
Biopolymers
Biochemical
degradation
Polycondensation
Insolubilization
Geopolymer
Thermal
degradation
Carbonization
Carbon
residue
l
o
g
(
d
e
p
t
h
)
How do we assess source rock properties ?
One of the most common techniques is using
Rock-Eval type analysis
A convenient way of obtaining quantity (%
TOC), quality (HI, OI) and maturity (Tmax)
relatively quickly and cheaply
400 450 500
TMAX
0 1/2 1
S1/(S1+S2)
0 5 10
S2/S3
0 5 10
S1+S2
0 5 10
ORGANIC C
0 300 600
HI
D
E
P
T
H
(
M
)
700
1100
1500
1900
2300
2700
3100
3500
3900
4300
Hekja M-71
S.E. Baffin
Shelf
Cartwright Fm
Kenamu Fm.
TOC rich
intervals in
Eocene-Lower
Paleocene section
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
0 100 200
Type I
Type II
Type III
Hekja M-71
Vitrinite Reflectance

most common maturity
parameter

a measure of the
proportion of incident
light which is reflected
from a polished surface of
OM

increases with
increasing maturity

derived from higher land
plant tissues

other OM can be used

bitumen, graptolites, etc.
but different reflectance
properties must be
accounted for.
y =2980.6Ln(x) +5099.6
R
2
=0.88
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
3500
4000
4500
5000
0.1 1
Vitrinite %Ro
D
e
p
t
h

(
m
)
Gas & condensate
discovery
Hekja O-72
0.55% Ro
DIAGENESIS
CATAGENESIS
METAGENESIS
Kerogen
Kerogen
Kerogen
Kerogen
Ro=0.5%
Ro=1.2%
~150C
Ro=2.0%
~190C
Biogenic Dry Gas
Oil + Wet Gas
Oil
Condensate + Dry Gas
Dry Gas
onset of oil generation
oil phase out zone
GENERATION OF HYDROCARBONS
WITH INCREASING MATURITY
Nb. Kerogen becoming more H depleted with increasing maturity
~80C
How is Natural Gas Formed ?

During diagenesis through microbial action-

biogenic gas

During catagenesis, some gas will form directly
from kerogen at same time as petroleum formation

At the end of catagenesis, if the source rock is
buried even deeper, gas will be generated from the
kerogen during metagenesis

Gas can also form due to disproportionation of oil
in reservoirs that are deeply buried i.e.
Oil Gas + pyrobitumen
Can we determine the origin of Natural Gas ?
Not easy as natural gas has a simple composition
Only data:

are composition of the gases, e.g. % CH
4

, C
2

H
6

,
CO2 etc

Isotopic values e.g. C
13
, D
This often allows us to determine at what stage of
thermal evolution the gas was generated but
usually not its source rock.
Geochemical Correlations
How do we know which oils are genetically related (oil-oil
correlation), and which source rock they were derived from (oil-

source rock correlation)?
Mainly based on Biological Marker (Biomarker) Analysis but can
(and should) use other fractions and methods as well
What is a Biomarker?
Biomarkers are molecules found in the geosphere whose carbon
skeleton can be related to a precursor compound that was
originally synthesized by an organism
Examples of biomarkers
Examples of biomarkers
--
--
cholesterol
cholesterol
bacteriohopanetetrol
pentakishomohopane
cholesterol cholestane
Terra Nova K-08
Oil DST3
C
27
Terra Nova K-08
Egret Member
C
27
C
28
C
29
C
28
C
29
C
30
C
30
C
35
C
35
C
23

tri
C
23

tri
Tm
Ts
Ts
Tm
C
27

D
C
27

D
4Me
4Me
Terra Nova K-08
Oil DST3
Terra Nova K-08
Egret Member
OIL-SOURCE CORRELATION from
Jeanne dArc Basin. Offshore eastern Canada
Migration
SECONDARY MIGRATION

Movement of petroleum within permeable beds to
the reservoir

Occurs over distances from a few km to 100s km

Migration fairways (rivers of oil) along a few
zones of high oil saturation

Geologically rapid: up to >10
3
km per million
years
Reservoir Sandstone
Good Porosity = Lots of Space for Petroleum
Pores
(blue)
Need porosity and permeability, i.e. understanding of
diagenesis -

all I am going to say on reservoirs
Hydrocarbon Trap Types
Hydrocarbon Trap Types
American Petroleum Institute,
1986
Salt
Dome
Fault
Unconformity
Pinchout
Anticline
All I am going to say about traps
SEALS

Trapping can be thought of as occurring
when a rock unit impedes 2

migration

Oil builds up behind the seal until capillary
pressures are overcome
SEALS cont.

Almost all seals

are not really seals over
geological time

Cap rocks almost always show evidence of
hydrocarbon seepage

Salt is a possible exception

USGS paraphrased

90% of the worlds conventional oil has been
generated during the Cenozoic; 90% of the
remaining10% has salt as a seal
METEORIC WATER
DEASPHALTING
ASPHALTENE
GAS
WASHING
ACCUMULATED
ORIGINAL OIL
D
I
S
P
R
O
P
O
R
T
I
O
N
A
T
I
O
N
LIGHT OILS
PYROBITUMEN
SOLID
RESERVOIR
BITUMEN
WATER
WASHING
+ ?WATER WASHING
CH
4
TSR
ANHYDRITE
WATER
H
2
S
BIODEGRADATION
I
N
C
R
E
A
S
I
N
G
D
E
P
T
H
INCREASING API GRAVITY
HEAVY
OIL
NEAR SURFACE
EVAPORATION
OXIDATION
BACTERIA
BACTERIA
WATER
WATER
TEMPERATURE
TEMPERATURE
DESTRUCTION & ALTERATION
OF PETROLEUM (impacting preservation)
Generation Migration
Accumulation
and Preservation
Petroleum System: Timing is Critical
Processes:
Elements:
Source
Rock
Migration
Avenue
Reservoir
and Seal
Trap Must Be Available Before/During Migration
From AAPG Website
400 300 200 100
Geologic Time
Scale
Petroleum
System Events
Rock Units
Source Rock
Reservoir Rock
Seal Rock
Trap Formation
Overburden Rock
Gen/Migration/Accum
Preservation
Critical Moment
Paleozoic Mesozoic Cenozoic
D M P P T
R
J K P N
E
l
e
m
e
n
t
s
P
r
o
c
e
s
s
e
s
Magoon and
Dow, 1994
Petroleum System Events Chart
Timing of Elements and Processes
Critical Moment
Time of Expulsion and Migration. (Trap must already exist)
From AAPG Website
BasinMod Burial History Diagram

Age (my)
D
e
p
t
h

(
m
)
Fm
0 50 100 150 200
0
2000
4000
6000
7000
t =0
Paskapoo
Belly River
Wapiabi
Cardium
Blackstone
Viking
Cadomin - Mnvlle
Nordegg-Fernie
Debolt-Kiskatinaw
Exshaw-Banff
Wabamun
Winterburn
Duvernay
Watt Mtn
CMP= FM;TH= THF;MAT= LL
TG= 1;TI= 1;EXP= Sat;PRM= MKC
DI= 500
Off Reef
1.75 km erosion
Critical point in
W. Canada i.e.
Laramide Orogeny
Spill Point
Spill Point
Seal Rock
(Mudstone)
Reservoir Rock
(Sandstone)
Migration from
Kitchen
1) Early Generation
2) Late Generation
Gas displaces all
oil
Gas beginning to
displace oil
Displaced oil
accumulates
Petroleum System
A Dynamic Entity
From AAPG Website
NUNAVUT PETROLEUM SYSTEMS
Bent Horn
Sverdrup
Basin
Hekja
Sverdrup Basin oil and gas fields
NUNAVUT SOURCE ROCKS - PROVEN

Schei Point Group Triassic, Sverdrup Basin

Powell, 1978; Brooks et al. 1992: Goodarzi et al., 1989; Curiale, 1992

Various members (Eden Bay, Murray Harbour) are organic-

rich (TOC up to 10%) and contain Type marine II-I OM

Correlated to oils in Triassic

Jurassic reservoirs

Nb oils show wide range in maturity, even between nearby reservoirs
suggesting complicated filling history also in some areas there is a
disconnect between maturity of underlying Schei Point and oils thought to
be derived from it

Thought also to be source of Bent Horn oils by Curiale
(suspect), and Melville Island gas and tar sands (neither
proven)
NUNAVUT SOURCE ROCKS - PROBABLE

Cape Phillips Formation, Upper Ordovician to Upper
Silurian, Sverdrup Basin

Stasiuk and Fowler, 1994; Selby et al., 2005; Dewing unpub data

Type II-I marine derived OM

Potential source of some gas (including Melville Island) and
some high maturity oils/condensates

not proven

Needs modern geochemical techniques that utilize light compounds for
correlation

Source of bitumen at Polaris ? (not proven because of
biodegradation)

Problems: Preservation (much of its potential thought to have
been realized in Paleozoic)
Scott Inlet
Hekja
HOPEDALE BASIN
SAGLEK BASIN
L
A
B
R
A
D
O
R
B
A
F
F
I
N

I
S
L
A
N
D
E. NUNAVUT OFFSHORE OIL SHOWS
NUNAVUT SOURCE ROCKS - PROBABLE
(Fowler et al, 2005)
Hekja gas/condensate (54 API) , Saglek Basin, S.E.
Baffin Shelf in Paleocene reservoir

Probable source rocks in Cartwright (Paleocene) and Kenamu
(Eocene) formations

Coaly siliclastics and coals containing Type III and
occasionally liptinite-enriched Type III-II OM

SRs at Hekja of much lower maturity than oil suggesting
significant migration

Scott Inlet oil seep, N.E. Baffin Island

Highly biodegraded oil, possible Upper Cretaceous
source (cf. W. Greenland)
SFGC
m/z 191
m/z 217
Scott Inlet
Scott Inlet
Scott Inlet
C30
C28
NUNAVUT SOURCE ROCKS - POSSIBLE I
not yet correlated to migrated hydrocarbons

Upper Ordovician, Hudson Bay/Foxe Basin
very organic rich (TOC up to 30+%) with Type II OM
Could generate large quantities of oil +/or gas
Problem: lack of maturity

Middle and Upper Devonian Coals , W. Melville
Island suggested by Powell as a possible source of
Bent Horn Oils
Coals do have more liquid potential than normal for
coals (i.e. have higher HI values) but are not
volumetrically significant
NUNAVUT SOURCE ROCKS POSSIBLE II
not yet correlated to migrated hydrocarbons

Lower Carboniferous Emma Fiord Formation
Sverdrup basin, Type I lacustrine OM (also Type III coals)
Grinnell Peninsula, Devon Island immature
Kleybolte Peninsula, N.W. Ellesmere Island,
overmature
If other SR occurrences occur in between, possibility of
petroleum
Nb. This type of SR tends to be localized
NUNAVUT SOURCE ROCKS POSSIBLE III
not yet correlated to migrated hydrocarbons

Late Permian (e.g. Antionette Fm) organic-rich
shales can have intervals with TOC contents up to
4% but these intervals tend to be thin

Ringnes Formation (Late Jurassic), Sverdrup
Basin, thick organic-rich shales (TOC up to
10+%) but Type III-II mostly terrestrially
derived OM- could be a significant gas/condensate
source where sufficiently mature
Permian
Antionette
Formation,
N. Ellesmere
Island
2-3% TOC
Upper
Jurassic
Ringnes Fm
black shale,
N. Ellesmere
Island
TOC 6.06%
NUNAVUT SOURCE ROCKS POSSIBLE IV
not yet correlated to migrated hydrocarbons

Late Cretaceous Kanguk Formation, Sverdrup
Basin (e.g. Axel Heiberg, Ellesmere Is)

organic-rich shales, especially in lower part (TOC up to
9%), and HI up to 500, although OM generally Type II to
Type III

If mature , may have some oil potential and greater gas
potential

Would be equivalent to the suspected SR for the Hekja
discovery
NUNAVUT PETROLEUM
SYSTEMS SUMMARY I

To date only one major proven petroleum system,
Triassic Schei Point which is the major source of
Sverdrup Basin oils

Some evidence to suggest Silurian Cape Phillips,
may be also be a significant source of gas and
light oil in some parts of Sverdrup Basin

Probable Late Cretaceous and Early Tertiary
source rocks in the offshore of Baffin Island
NUNAVUT PETROLEUM
SYSTEMS SUMMARY II

Several other possible good potential source
rocks, especially for gas in the Sverdrup such as
Late Jurassic Ringnes and Late Cretaceous
Kanguk and the Late Ordovician for oil in the
Hudson Bay/Foxe Basin if sufficiently mature

Most important message is that there has
been very little petroleum systems work in
Nunavut and that there could be some big
surprises in the future