Egyptian Journal of Petroleum xxx (2018) xxx–xxx

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Egyptian Journal of Petroleum

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Full Length Article

Petroleum source rocks characterization and hydrocarbon generation

of the Upper Jurassic succession in Jabal Ayban field, Sabatayn Basin,
Yemen
Nabil M. Al-Areeq a,⇑, Marwan A. Al-Badani a, Adel H. Salman b, Mohammed A. Albaroot c
a
Department of Geology and Environment, Faculty of Applied Science, Thamar University, Thamar, Yemen
b
Exploration Geologist In OMV Oil Company, Sanaa, Yemen
c
Department Of Geology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Article history: The Upper Jurassic samples of Jabal Ayban field, Sabatayn Basin, western Yemen were used to determine
Received 4 August 2017 the source rock characteristics and petroleum generative potentials. Based on organic geochemical anal-
Revised 10 December 2017 ysis, the Upper Jurassic source rocks have variable TOC content in the range of 0.82–13 wt%, indicating a
Accepted 24 December 2017
fair to very good source rock generative potential. The bulk geochemical results showed that Safer
Available online xxxx
Member contains Type III kerogen grading to mixed Type II–III, while the Lam and Meem members dis-
playing generally Type II, mixed Type II–III and Type III kerogens, which have the ability to generate
Keywords:
mixed oil and gas accumulations under thermal maturation level. Vitrinite reflectance in the range
Upper Jurassic source rocks
Thermal maturity
(0.35–0.78% Ro) and Tmax in the range (411–445 °C), generally proving that the Meem source rocks have
Hydrocarbon generation modeling sufficient thermal maturity for hydrocarbon-generation, whereas the Lam and Safer are immature source
Jabal Ayban field rocks. 1D basin modelling was performed to analyse the hydrocarbon generation and expulsion history of
Sabatayn Basin the study area. Calibration of the model with measured VR (% Ro) and (BHT) data shows that the paleo-
Yemen heat-flow was high at Late Jurassic. The burial/thermal history models indicate that the source rocks in
the Lam and Safer members are immature source rocks and the peak oil generation has not been reached
yet. The models also indicate that the early hydrocarbon generation (0.64% Ro) in the Meem source rock
occurred during late Jurassic at 150 Ma and the main hydrocarbon generation (0.79% Ro) has been
reached approximately at 146 Ma. Therefore, the Meem Member can be consider as generative potentials
of prospective source rock horizons in Jabal Ayban field, Sabatayn Basin.
Ó 2018 Egyptian Petroleum Research Institute. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. This is an open
access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

1. Introduction
The NW-trending Sabatayn Basin is a major hydrocarbon pro-
vince in western Yemen (Fig. 1). The first commercial field was dis-
covered in 1984 [1], but the understanding of the geological
evolution of the basin increased significantly only during the
1990s [2–5]. The Jabal Ayban field, is located in the northeastern
part of the Sabatayn Basin (Fig. 1). The Sabatayn Basin formed as
rift basin during the Late Jurassic Early Cretaceous due to the
Gondwana breakup, when the African Arabian plate was separated
from the Indian Madagascar plate [2,6]. The Sabatayn Basin con-
tains sedimentary rocks ranging from Jurassic to Cretaceous in
age (Fig. 2). Today it is generally accepted that most of the
Peer review under responsibility of Egyptian Petroleum Research Institute.
⇑ Corresponding author.
E-mail address: alareeqnabil@tu.edu.ye (N.M. Al-Areeq).
hydrocarbons are generated from the Upper Jurassic Madbi Forma-
tion including the lower Meem and the upper Lam members
(Fig. 2). Bituminous shales interlayered into evaporitic rocks of
the Safer Member (Sabatayn Formation) are considered of sec-
ondary importance. The Upper Jurassic clastic and evaporite sedi-
ments of the Sabatayn Formation provide the reservoir and
regional seal rocks within the basin. Many studies concerning geol-
ogy, petroleum geology, stratigraphy and tectonics of the basin
have been published e.g., [4–15]. However, detailed source rocks
characterization and hydrocarbon generation of the organic-rich
sedimentary rocks in the Jabal Ayban field in Sabatayn Basin has
not been investigated to date in any of the previews literature.
The aim of this work is to provide a comprehensive study on the
source rock characteristics of the Lam, Meem members (Madbi
Formation) and Safer organic rich shales (Sabatayn Formation) in
the Jabal Ayban field, Sabatayn Basin. In addition, the results of
source rock characteristics are incorporated into basin modelling

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejpe.2017.12.005
1110-0621/Ó 2018 Egyptian Petroleum Research Institute. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V.
This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Please cite this article in press as: N.M. Al-Areeq et al., Petroleum source rocks characterization and hydrocarbon generation of the Upper Jurassic succes-
sion in Jabal Ayban field, Sabatayn Basin, Yemen, Egypt. J. Petrol. (2018), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejpe.2017.12.005
2 N.M. Al-Areeq et al. / Egyptian Journal of Petroleum xxx (2018) xxx–xxx

Fig. 1. Location map showing the Jabal Ayban field within the Sabatayn Basin, western Yemen.

in order to reconstruct the burial/thermal history of the basin, to
estimate the heat flow values for thermal development of the
basin, and to determine the timing of hydrocarbon generation
and expulsion of the source rocks, especially with respect to the
source rock characteristics and hydrocarbon potential and respon-
sible for further exploration success and resource assessment in
the whole basin.
2. Geological setting and lithostratigraphy
The NW trending Sabatayn Basin (also called Marib-Shabwa-
Hajar Basin formed as rift basin during the Late Jurassic-Early Cre-
taceous due to the Gondwana breakup, when the African Arabian
plate was separated from the Indian Madgascar plate [2,6]. Accord-
ing to [4] Sabatayn Basin was subdivided into three tectono-
stratigraphic megasequences (Fig. 2): (a) a pre-rifting phase (Per
mian-Oxfordian/Kimmerdgian), (b) a syn-rifting phase
(Kimmerdgian-Tithonian) and (c) a post-rifting stage (Early Creta-
ceouse). Pre-rift deposits are represented by non-marine to
shallow-marine clastic rocks (Kuhlan Formation) that are overlain
by shallow-marine carbonates (Shuqra Formation). A latest Triassic
to Middle Jurassic age is generally accepted for the Kuhlan and
Shuqra formations see also [16], the Kuhlan and Shuqra by [17]
provide evidence for a Late Carboniferous age for the lower part
of the Kuhlan Formation.
The syn-rift sequence is characterized by horsts and nested
fault blocks that were developed during Late Jurassic to Early Cre-
taceous time [2]. Syn-rift sections of the Madbi, Sabatayn and
Nayfa formations were deposited during the Jurassic in marine set-
tings in the structurally lowest areas [18,19]. During the Late Juras-
sic commencing in the Kimmeridgian, syn-rift sediments of the
Madbi Formation were deposited [4]. The Madbi Formation is com-
posed of porous lime grainstone to argillaceous lime mudstone.
This formation is divided into two members named as Meem and
Lam members (Fig. 2). The Lower Member (Meem Member) con-
sists of source rock-quality shales, and sandy turbidites which form
the reservoir rocks in some oilfields of the western Sabatayn Basin
[4]. The Upper Member (Lam Member) is mostly composed of lam-
inated organic rich shales and considered to be the most prolific
oil-prone source rock in the basin [5,8]. During Tithonian time, late
stages of the syn-rift phase, ocean circulation in the Sabatayn Basin
became restricted, and an evaporitic succession (Sabatayn Forma-
tion) with an estimated original thickness of about 300 m was
deposited [20]. Massive halite occurs in the basin center, whereas
anhydrite and clastic rocks prevail along the basin margins [20].
Interbedded thin shales are rich in organic matter [5]. The Saba-
tayn Formation is divided into four members named as Safer, Alif,
Seen and Yah members (Fig. 2). Yah Member is dominated by
fluvio-deltaic sandstone, mudstone and evaporate, followed by
Seen Member, which is the second evaporite-clastic sequence. Alif
Member is composed of sandstone with minor shale, which form
main reservoir in Sabatayn Basin. Safer Member consists of pre-
dominantly of halite with subordinate anhydrite divisible into sev-
eral bodies separated by interbedded organic-rich shale and
sandstone with minor argillaceous, dolomite and limestone. The
interbedded organic rich shales within the Safer Member are con-
sidered to be the prolific oil-prone source rock in the Marib-
Shabwah Basin [14]. The Safer Member constitute an excellent seal
to the underling Alif Member reservoir and contain within them
some potential good local reservoir seal pairs in the intra evaporate
clastics and the evaporates [4]. The transition to the post-rift stage
is represented by shallow-marine limestones (Nayfa Formation)
and clastic rocks (Sa’ar Formation) [12]. A major depositional hia-
tus occurs at the top of the Sa’ar Formation [20], speculates that the
cause of the hiatus was either a sea-level fall, or gentle uplift asso-
ciated with rifting which was occurring to the south and east in the
Balhaf Graben and the Say’un-Al Masilah Basin, respectively.
The post-rift sediments comprise the Saar, Qishn and Tawilah
formations (Fig. 2). The Saar Formation is mainly composed of

Please cite this article in press as: N.M. Al-Areeq et al., Petroleum source rocks characterization and hydrocarbon generation of the Upper Jurassic succes-
sion in Jabal Ayban field, Sabatayn Basin, Yemen, Egypt. J. Petrol. (2018), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejpe.2017.12.005
 N.M. Al-Areeq et al. / Egyptian Journal of Petroleum xxx (2018) xxx–xxx 3

Fig. 2. Regional stratigraphic nomenclature, Sabatayn Basin, Republic of Yemen.

limestone and dolomite, with mudstone and sandstone intercala- The Qishn deposits represent a transgressive marine sequence pro-
tions [4]. The Saar Formation was deposited during transgression gressing from east to west across Yemen that grades laterally west-
in Early Cretaceous time. It conformably overlies the Nayfa Forma- ward into clastics of the non-petroleum-bearing Tawilah Group
tion and unconformably underlies the Qishn Formation (Fig. 2). (Fig. 2). A regional hiatus spanning the Late Eocene to ?Late

Please cite this article in press as: N.M. Al-Areeq et al., Petroleum source rocks characterization and hydrocarbon generation of the Upper Jurassic succes-
sion in Jabal Ayban field, Sabatayn Basin, Yemen, Egypt. J. Petrol. (2018), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejpe.2017.12.005
4 N.M. Al-Areeq et al. / Egyptian Journal of Petroleum xxx (2018) xxx–xxx

Fig. 3. Organic geochemical log of the Upper Jurassic source rock samples in the studied well according to Rock-Eval pyrolysis and TOC content results.

Oligocene probably represents regional uplift which preceded after uplift related to the Red Sea rifting, which the erosion
rifting and seafloor spreading in the Gulf of Aden and the Red thickness has been estimated as 1000 m in the Marib sector of
Sea. The Upper Cretaceous Tawilah Group partially was eroded the Sabatayn Basin [21].

Please cite this article in press as: N.M. Al-Areeq et al., Petroleum source rocks characterization and hydrocarbon generation of the Upper Jurassic succes-
sion in Jabal Ayban field, Sabatayn Basin, Yemen, Egypt. J. Petrol. (2018), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejpe.2017.12.005
 N.M. Al-Areeq et al. / Egyptian Journal of Petroleum xxx (2018) xxx–xxx
Fig. 4. Pyrolysis S2 versus total organic carbon (TOC) plot showing generative
source rock potential for the Safer, Lam and Meem units in the study area.
Fig. 5. Source rock rating and hydrocarbon generative potential based on plot of
petroleum potential yield (PY) versus TOC for the analyzed Upper Jurassic samples.
3. Materials and methods
3.1. Analytical procedures
Source rock evaluation within the study area depends on the
determination of organic matter content, which is usually
expressed as total organic carbon (TOC). The hydrocarbon poten-
tiality depends on the type and quantity of organic matter (kero-
gen) preserved in the petroleum source rock, thermal maturity
and finally the generation potential of kerogen. The geochemical
data such as total organic carbon (TOC), Rock-eval pyrolysis data,
bitumen extraction and vitrinite reflectance are presented and
Please cite this article in press as: N.M. Al-Areeq et al., Petroleum source rocks characterization and hydrocarbon generation of the Upper Jurassic succes-
sion in Jabal Ayban field, Sabatayn Basin, Yemen, Egypt. J. Petrol. (2018), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejpe.2017.12.005
5
discussed for the proposed Upper Jurassic rock units in Jabal Ayban
field of the study area. TOC determination and Rock-Eval pyrolysis
analysis were performed on 100 mg crushed whole rock samples,
heated to 600 °C in a helium atmosphere, using a Rock-Eval II unit
with a total organic carbon module. The Rock-Eval pyrolysis data
provide information on the quantity, quality and maturity of
organic matter contained within the Safer, Lam and Meem rock
units (Figs. 3–6). A total of 65 rock samples were collected from
shales of the Safer, Lam and Meem members. Initially, the studied
shale samples were cleaned of contaminants from drilling mud
additives by washing the samples with water several times until
no mud was visible on their surface. Parameters measured include
total organic carbon (TOC), free hydrocarbons (S1) in the rock,
remaining hydrocarbon generative potential, mgHC/g rock (S2),
and temperature of maximum pyrolysis yield (Tmax). Hydrogen
(HI), production yield (PY), and production (PI) indexes were calcu-
lated (Table 1). Source rock properties such as total organic carbon
content (TOC), hydrogen index (HI), as well as kinetic parameters
are used to incorporate into basin modelling for hydrocarbon gen-
eration simulation. Sixteen samples were selected for vitrinite
reflectance measurement based on the amount of organic carbon
present within the samples (Table 1). The shale samples were
crushed to a maximum particle size of 1 mm, mounted in epoxy
resin and polished. Polished blocks were prepared using standard
organic petrographic preparation techniques [22]. Vitrinite reflec-
tance measurements were carried out under oil immersion in a
plane polarized reflected light microscope. Mean vitrinite reflec-
tance (% Ro) determinations were carried out on particles of vit-
rinite that are not associated with strong bitumen staining using
an oil immersion objective. However, low organic content limited
the number of measurements in some samples. The vitrinite reflec-
tance (% Ro) measurements were also correlated with maturity
pyrolysis Tmax values (Fig. 3). The soluble organic matter (bitu-
men) was extracted from pulverized 20 shale samples (<150
mm) using a Soxhlet apparatus for 72 h using an azeotropic mix-
ture of dichloromethane (DCM) and methanol (CH3OH) (93:7 v/v).
The fractions of the soluble organic matter were separated into sat-
urated hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons and NSO compounds
by liquid column chromatography over silica gel and aluminium
oxide, and the resulted data presented in Table 2.
3.2. Basin modelling procedure
Geohistory diagrams [23] and similar diagrams have been
widely used in geology, particular in hydrocarbon exploration.
These diagrams were adapted to perform numerical modelling
of burial, erosion and thermal histories in sedimentary basins
(e.g. [24–27]). This method has become an important tool and
successfully applied to search for new petroleum plays or for
the evaluation of exploitable oil and gas accumulations around
the world (e.g. [28–31,10]). In this study, quantitative one-
dimensional basin modelling is performed for evaluating the ther-
mal histories and timing of hydrocarbon generation and expul-
sion of the Safer, Lam and Meem source rocks in the Sabatayn
Basin. The reconstruction of the burial, thermal and maturity his-
tories were modelled in order to evaluate the remaining hydro-
carbon potential using Schlumberger’s PetroMod (1D) modelling
software. Jabal Ayban exploration well were created as a result
of geochemical, well log and further geologic data were used.
The geologic model consisting of the depositional, non-
depositional and erosional events in absolute ages (Table 3),
was compiled using stratigraphic data were provided from well
reports, the data bank of Petroleum Exploration and Production
Authority (PEPA), Yemen and previous stratigraphic studies (e.g.,
[4]). Hydrocarbon generation modelling was based on TOC and
HI of the Safer, Lam and Meem source rocks in the Jabal Ayban
6 N.M. Al-Areeq et al. / Egyptian Journal of Petroleum xxx (2018) xxx–xxx

Fig. 6. Plots of TOC content versus bitumen extractions and hydrocarbon yields, showing source potential rating and hydrocarbon source-rock richness for the selected
samples.

Please cite this article in press as: N.M. Al-Areeq et al., Petroleum source rocks characterization and hydrocarbon generation of the Upper Jurassic succes-
sion in Jabal Ayban field, Sabatayn Basin, Yemen, Egypt. J. Petrol. (2018), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejpe.2017.12.005
 N.M. Al-Areeq et al. / Egyptian Journal of Petroleum xxx (2018) xxx–xxx 7

Table 1
Results of pyrolysis and TOC content analyses with calculated parameters with measured vitrinite reflectance of the Upper Jurassic source rocks in Jabal Ayban field, Sabatayn
Basin.

Formation Member Sample ID Depth (m) TOC (wt%) Rock Eval Pyrolysis Ro (%)
S1 (mg/g) S2 (mg/g) PY(S1+S2) (mg/g) Tmax (C) HI (mg/g) PI (mg/g)
Sabatayn Formation Safer Member S-052 643.2 1.37 0.07 1.79 1.86 430 131 0.04 0.35
S-057 691.9 1 0.2 0.82 1.02 429 82 0.19 –
S-061 722.4 2.27 0.14 6.54 6.68 425 288 0.02 0.45
S-065 758.9 1.66 0.01 4.94 4.95 424 297 0.002 –
S-071 816.9 1.38 0.15 2.35 2.5 427 170 0.06 0.44
S-075 853.5 1.02 0.09 1.19 1.28 429 117 0.07 –
S-080 896.2 0.92 0.18 1.13 1.31 428 123 0.13 0.46
Madbi Formation Lam Member L-088 987.6 13.1 6.82 98.58 105.4 411 753 0.06 –
L-011 994.6 2.63 0.49 6.49 6.98 432 265 0.07 –
L-090 1005.9 1.82 0.43 7.19 7.62 424 359 0.06 0.36
L-094 1042.4 1.2 0.32 8.79 9.11 421 733 0.04 –
L-012 1052.8 2.82 0.24 2.5 2.74 430 88.7 0.08 –
L-096 1060.7 1.21 0.27 1.63 1.9 429 135 0.14 –
L-102 1115.6 0.83 0.24 1.1 1.34 431 133 0.18 –
L-192 1489.9 1.07 0.17 1.39 1.56 432 130 0.11 –
L-135 1490.5 2.84 0.76 4.51 5.27 428 159 0.14 0.55
L-136 1499.6 3.52 1.18 18.65 19.83 420 530 0.06 –
L-180 1911 1.62 0.6 4.12 4.72 430 254 0.13 0.6
Meem Member M-204 2020.9 1.48 2.19 3.15 5.34 430 213 0.41 0.5
M-205 2029.9 4.75 1.93 18.78 20.71 424 395 0.09 –
M-206 2039.2 3.99 2.03 18.14 20.17 428 455 0.1 –
M-252 2462.8 0.88 0.09 0.5 0.59 438 56.8 0.15 0.56
M-254 2481 2.83 0.37 3.16 3.53 434 112 0.1 –
M-274 2667 1.04 0.22 1.06 1.28 439 102 0.17 0.73
M-282 2749.3 1.17 0.52 2.18 2.7 437 186 0.19 0.72
M-197 2767.6 4.67 3.26 22.91 26.17 433 491 0.12 –
M-198 2786.5 3.04 1.39 8.22 9.61 434 260 0.14 –
M-199 2820 3.03 2.37 8.11 10.48 435 268 0.22 –
M-290 2819.4 1.05 0.16 0.95 1.11 438 90.5 0.14 0.76
M-294 2855.9 2.28 0.63 2.84 3.47 437 125 0.18 –
M-295 2865.1 1.83 0.55 2.27 2.82 439 124 0.19 –
M-296 2874.3 1.3 0.56 1.59 2.15 436 122 0.25 –
M-297 2883.4 1.24 0.55 1.58 2.13 437 127 0.25 –
M-300 2910.9 1.03 0.66 0.74 1.4 445 71.8 0.46 –
M-304 2947.5 1.31 0.32 1.75 2.07 445 134 0.15 –
M-305 2956.6 1.2 0.28 1.56 1.84 439 130 0.15 –
M-305 2956.6 1.7 1.23 2.41 3.64 439 142 0.34 –
M-307 2974.9 1.83 0.52 3.06 3.58 437 167 0.15 –
M-201 2979.8 1.31 0.65 1.04 1.69 441 79.4 0.38 0.71
M-309 2993.2 1.53 0.44 1.66 2.1 439 105 0.21 –
M-310 3002.3 1.67 1.32 1.71 3.03 445 97.2 0.43 –
M-312 3020.6 2.28 1.02 2.66 3.68 438 117 0.28 0.7
M-202 3029.8 2.22 0.62 1.64 2.26 445 73.9 0.27 0.72
M-317 3066.3 1 0.16 0.8 0.96 440 80 0.16 –
M-319 3084.6 0.95 0.14 0.65 0.79 444 68.4 0.18 0.78

S1: Volatile hydrocarbon (HC) content, mg HC/g rock; TOC: Total Organic Carbon, wt%.
S2: Remaining HC generative potential, mg HC/g rock; PI: Production Index = S1/(S1 + S2).
Tmax: Temperature at maximum of S2peak; PY: Potential Yield = S1 + S2 (mg/g).
HI: Hydrogen Index = S2  100/TOC, mg HC/g TOC.

field, Sabatayn Basin and the maturity modelling was calculated
using the EASY% Ro model of [32]. The modelling results are also
calibrated with measured vitrinite reflectance (Table 1) and bore-
hole temperatures (BHT) in the study area.
4. Results and discussion
4.1. Source rock characterization
Source rock characterization of the Upper Jurassic samples in
the Jabal Ayban oilfield were investigated for the purpose of quan-
tity and quality of organic matter and thermal maturity level [33–
35] as well as the capability of generation of thermally mature oil
and gas accumulations buried in sedimentary succession (Fig. 2).
These source rock properties are necessary for hydrocarbon gener-
ation and expulsion simulation in basin modelling. The shale sed-
iments have high TOC values ranging from 0.83 to 13.1 wt%
(Table 1; Fig. 3). The analysis shales also have pyrolysis S2 yield
values ranging from 0.5 to 98.5 mg HC/g rock and Tmax values
ranging from 411 to 445 °C (Table 1; Fig. 3). The studied samples
have hydrogen index (HI) values ranging from 56.8 to 700 mg
HC/g TOC (Table 1; Fig. 3). However, apart from TOC and pyrolysis
S2 yield, the quantity of the extractable organic matter (EOM)
obtained from bitumen extractions of source rocks has been used
to determine the organic matter richness. Based on the pyrolysis
analysis, the kerogen type was constructed using HI versus Tmax
as previously carried out by [36].
4.1.1. Source rock generative potential
The organic matter richness and hydrocarbon generative poten-
tial of the source rocks in the Jabal Ayban field, can be evaluated by
bulk geochemical data such as TOC content and pyrolysis S1 and S2
yields (Table 1). The organic richness of a rock is usually expressed
as the total organic carbon content (wt% TOC). The minimum
acceptable TOC value for clastic type rocks indicating good source
potential is 1.0% [35,37]. The Upper Jurassic sediments samples

Please cite this article in press as: N.M. Al-Areeq et al., Petroleum source rocks characterization and hydrocarbon generation of the Upper Jurassic succes-
sion in Jabal Ayban field, Sabatayn Basin, Yemen, Egypt. J. Petrol. (2018), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejpe.2017.12.005
8 N.M. Al-Areeq et al. / Egyptian Journal of Petroleum xxx (2018) xxx–xxx

Table 2
Bulk geochemical results of soluble organic matter (EOM) yields (ppm), relative proportions of saturated and aromatic hydrocarbons and NSO compounds of the EOM (in wt%) of
selected Safer, Lam and Meem shale samples in the studied well.

Formation Member Sample Depth Bitumen extraction and chromatographic Chromatographic fractions of Bitumen TOC HC/TOC (mg/
ID (m) fractions (ppm of whole rocks) extraction (EOM wt%) (%) g TOC)
EOM Sat. Arom. NSO HC Sat/ Arom/ NSO/ HC
(ppm) (ppm) (ppm) (ppm) (ppm) EOM EOM (%) EOM (%) (%)
(%)
Sabatayn Safer S-062 731.5 1916 215 122 1316 337 11.24 6.36 68.68 17.6 9 37.47
Formation Member S-077 871.7 583 117 27 297 144 20.05 4.64 50.94 24.69 7.7 18.7
Madbi Lam L-95 1051.5 890 164 55 384 219 18.39 6.2 43.19 24.59 6.1 35.87
Formation Member L-97 1069.8 617 116 47 242 163 18.78 7.7 39.26 26.48 3.9 41.87
L-100 1097.3 797 146 49 340 196 19.11 6.42 44.34 25.53 3.4 57.56
L-105 1143 328 73 29 142 102 22.24 8.81 43.36 31.05 1.8 56.5
L-112 1207 329 105 30 121 135 31.83 9.15 36.87 40.98 1.7 79.34
L-137 1508.8 544 190 66 133 256 34.89 12.19 24.54 47.08 3.4 75.26
L-179 1901.9 697 377 64 119 441 54.07 9.19 17.06 63.26 4 110.2
Meem M-182 1926.4 736 461 83 103 544 62.65 11.29 14 73.94 5 108.83
Member M-203 2011.7 1209 481 63 91 544 39.77 5.21 7.53 44.98 1.1 494.18
M-205 2029.9 1263 580 163 184 743 45.87 12.94 14.57 58.81 5.7 130.36
M-232 2276.8 486 289 34 74 323 59.45 7.05 15.18 66.5 1.6 201.89
M-252 2462.7 1123 625 104 145 729 55.66 9.25 12.94 64.91 7.4 98.48
M-257 2508.5 1464 710 194 214 904 48.52 13.22 14.61 61.74 7 129.11
M-273 2657.8 1379 810 128 114 937 58.74 9.26 8.25 68 3.3 284.08
M-284 2767.6 2096 882 427 139 1308 42.07 20.34 9.2 62.41 10.8 121.15
M-302 2929.2 1107 541 181 132 722 48.86 16.38 11.89 65.24 6.8 106.17
M-313 3029.7 1968 1018 393 209 1411 51.73 19.96 10.64 71.69 14.4 98.86
M-320 3093.7 1550 851 205 202 1057 54.93 13.24 13.01 68.17 8.6 122.86

EOM = Extractable organic matter (Bitumen extraction).

Sat = Saturated hydrocarbons.
Aro = Aromatic hydrocarbons.
NSO = Nitrogen, Sulphur, Oxygen components.
HC = Hydrocarbon fractions (Saturated + Aromatic).

Table 3
Input data for modelling of depositional and erosional events of studied well (Jabal Ayban-01) in the Sabatayn Basin.

Rifting Age Formation Lithology Jabal Ayban-01 well Deposition age Erosion age Erosion
(m)
Top Bottom Thick From To From To
(m) (m) (m) (Ma) (Ma) (Ma) (Ma)
Post-Rift Cretaceous Tawilah Course graind sandstones 43 365 322 130.00 38.00 38.00 25.00 900
Syn-Rift Upper Nayfa Limestone 365 726 361 146.30 140.20 136.40 130.00 100
Jurassic Sabatayn (Safer Sandstones, shales and 726 969 243 148.00 146.30
Member) evaporites
Madbi (Lam Sandstone and organic-rich 969 1916 947 150.80 149.00
Member) shales
Madbi (Meem Organic-rich shales 1916 3105 1189 155.70 150.80
Member)
Pre-Rift Basement rocks Granite and metamorphic 3105 3130 25 155.70 <170.00
rocks

have moderate to high TOC content (0.83–13 wt%), revealing
organic-rich intervals within stratigraphic levels (Fig. 3). The Safer
Member consists of marine shale and evaporates with small inter-
calations of sandstone. The Safer shale samples contain rich
organic matter and have TOC content of 0.92–2.2% (Table 1;
Fig. 3). Based on classification proposed by [33], Safer shale sam-
ples is considered to be a fair to good source rock (Fig. 3). The
amount of hydrocarbon yield (S2) expelled during pyrolysis is a
useful measurement to evaluate the generative potential of source
rocks [33,38]. Most of the analyzed samples have more than 1.0
mg HC/g rock (Table 1; Fig. 3). Thus, pyrolysis S2 yields refers to
the Safer shale samples are poor to fair generative potential
(Fig. 3). Safer shale samples have low hydrogen index (HI) values
in the range of 82–297 mg HC/g TOC (Table 1; Fig. 3).
The shale samples in the Lam Member (upper unit in the Madbi
Formation) contains a total organic carbon content ranging
between 0.83 and 13 wt%, thus indicating a fair to very good source
rock (Table 1; Fig. 3). The pyrolysis yield S2 and petroleum
potential yield ranging from 1.1 to 98.5 and 0.17 to 6.8 mg HC/g
rock, respectively (Table 1; Fig. 3), consequently is considered to
be poor to good source generative potential.
Total organic carbon (TOC) analysis showed high TOC values of
the samples from the Meem Member (Lower unit in the Madbi
Formation) and ranging from 0.88 to 4.7% (Table 1; Fig. 3). Conse-
quently, the majority of the samples contain above average levels
of organic matter (TOC > 1.0 wt%). The TOC contents meet the
accepted standards of a source rock with fair to very good hydro-
carbon generative potential as suggested by [37]. This is con-
firmed by pyrolysis S2 yield, petroleum potential yield S1 and
extract of organic matter (EOM) (Fig. 3) as a useful parameter
to evaluate the generation potential of source rocks [33,38]. The
hydrocarbon yields (S2) are in agreement with TOC content, indi-
cating that the shales of Safer, Lam and Meem members are fair
to very good source rock-generative potential based on classifica-
tion by [35] (Fig. 4). The shale samples could become the most
promising source rock for hydrocarbon generation as reflect by

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sion in Jabal Ayban field, Sabatayn Basin, Yemen, Egypt. J. Petrol. (2018), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejpe.2017.12.005
 N.M. Al-Areeq et al. / Egyptian Journal of Petroleum xxx (2018) xxx–xxx 9

Fig. 7. Plot of Hydrogen index (HI) versus pyrolysis Tmax for the analyzed samples from Safer, Lam and Meem units, showing kerogen quality and thermal maturity stages.

Fig. 9. Cross-plots of pyrolysis Tmax versus production index (PI), showing the
Fig. 8. Plot of vitrinite reflectance data (Ro) versus depths showing thermal maturation and nature of the hydrocarbon products of the samples from Safer, Lam
maturity stages of the Safer, Lam and Meem samples in the Jabal Ayban field. and Meem members, Jabal Ayban field.

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sion in Jabal Ayban field, Sabatayn Basin, Yemen, Egypt. J. Petrol. (2018), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejpe.2017.12.005
10 N.M. Al-Areeq et al. / Egyptian Journal of Petroleum xxx (2018) xxx–xxx

Fig. 10. A plot of extract yield (mg HC/g TOC) versus percent of hydrocarbon in the total extracts (HC%), showing source rock potential and maturity level.

high pyrolysis yield (S2) and total organic carbon (TOC wt%) con-
tent (Fig. 4). Overall, the relation between genetic petroleum
potential yield (PY; S1 + S2) and TOC of the studied members in
the Jabal Ayban-01 well confirms the above results, where it sug-
gests that the most of samples from Safer, Lam and Meem source
rocks locates in the zone of the potential source rocks for hydro-
carbon generation (Fig. 5).
4.1.2. Bitumen bulk geochemical parameters
The amounts of Extractable Organic Matter (EOM), total hydro-
carbon yield as well as the relative proportions of saturated, aro-
matic fractions and NSO (nitrogen/sulphur/oxygen) compounds
are presented in Table 2. The EOM yields from the shales of the
Safer, Lam and Meem members range from 328 to 2096 ppm.
The saturated and aromatic fractions are in the range of 11.2–
62.6% and 4.6–20.3%, respectively, whereas the NSO compounds
range from 7.5% to 68.6% (Table 2). The saturated and aromatic
fractions together create the petroleum-like hydrocarbon fraction;
thus, the sum of these two fractions is referred as hydrocarbons
(HCs). Since the hydrocarbon portion of the bitumen extracted
from sediment is the petroleum-like portion, it is used as an impor-
tant parameter in the source-rock evaluation [39,40]. These param-
eters are very important in petroleum source-rock evaluation (e.g.
[39–41]). In this respect, most of the Upper Jurassic samples appear
to be prolific petroleum sources where abundant naphthenic oils
might be expected to be generated. The plots of TOC content versus
extractable organic matter (EOM) and hydrocarbon yields (Fig. 6)
show the Upper Jurassic sediments in the study area as fair to good
source rocks with fair to good potential for gas and oil generation
potential (e.g. [35]).
4.1.3. Type of organic matter
The type of organic matter (kerogen) is considered the second
most important parameter in evaluating the source rock. Based
on pyrolysis data, kerogen classification diagrams were con-
structed using the HI vs. Tmax plot as carried out by previous
workers (e.g. [36]), which is used to determine the kerogen type
and maturity (Fig. 7). In general, the results show that the analyzed
Safer samples are generally plot in the immature zone of Type III
kerogen grading to mixed Type II–III (Fig. 7). This is proved by their
HI values in the range of 82–297 mg HC/g TOC (Table 1). The Rock-
Eval hydrogen index (HI) of the shale samples within Madbi units
ranges from 56.8 to 700 mg HC/g TOC, generally revealed that the
Madbi units consist Type II, mixed Type II–III and Type III kerogens
(Fig. 7). The most Lam shale samples are plotted in the immature
zone of Type II, mixed Type II-III kerogens and Type III kerogen
field, while the most Meem shale samples plotted within the
mature zone of Type II kerogen grading to mixed Type II–III and
Type III kerogens (Fig. 7). All the above data show that the shales
with Upper Jurassic units in the Jabal Ayban field are fair to very
good source rocks for hydrocarbon generation (mainly oil and
gas prone) in the Sabatayn basin.

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sion in Jabal Ayban field, Sabatayn Basin, Yemen, Egypt. J. Petrol. (2018), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejpe.2017.12.005
 N.M. Al-Areeq et al. / Egyptian Journal of Petroleum xxx (2018) xxx–xxx 11

Fig. 11. Burial history modelling for investigated well in the Jabal Ayban field, Sabatayn Basin.

Fig. 12. Paleo-temperature modelling in well calibrated using borehole temperature.

Please cite this article in press as: N.M. Al-Areeq et al., Petroleum source rocks characterization and hydrocarbon generation of the Upper Jurassic succes-
sion in Jabal Ayban field, Sabatayn Basin, Yemen, Egypt. J. Petrol. (2018), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejpe.2017.12.005
12 N.M. Al-Areeq et al. / Egyptian Journal of Petroleum xxx (2018) xxx–xxx

Fig. 13. (a) Calibration of the thermal and maturity modelling in well (Jabal Ayban-01) in the Sabatayn Basin. Notice that the good correlation between measured data and
calculated curves of temperature and measured vitrinite reflectance. (b) Heat-flow through time in the investigated well (Jabal Ayban-01), which were used to model the
most probable scenario for hydrocarbon generation and expulsion in the Upper Jurassic source rocks.

4.1.4. Thermal maturity of organic matter
The evaluation of thermal maturity of organic matter in Safer,
Lam and Meem source rocks was carried out using vitrinite
reflectance (%Ro), pyrolysis Tmax and production index (PI) val-
ues (Tables 1). The most common method used for determining
the stage of thermal maturation is the vitrinite reflectance mea-
surement (Ro%), where it is considered one of the most useful
indicators for organic matter maturation [42,38]. The data of vit-
rinite reflectance measurements (Ro%) were also used to identify
the phases of hydrocarbon generation. The vitrinite reflectance
measurements of Safer Member range 0.35–0.46% (Table 1;
Figs. 3 and 8), reflecting immature samples. The Lam shale sam-
ples have vitrinite reflectance values ranging from 0.36 to 0.6%
(Figs. 3 and 8), indicating immature to marginal mature organic

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sion in Jabal Ayban field, Sabatayn Basin, Yemen, Egypt. J. Petrol. (2018), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejpe.2017.12.005
 N.M. Al-Areeq et al. / Egyptian Journal of Petroleum xxx (2018) xxx–xxx 13

matter. The Meem samples have vitrinite reflectance ranging
from 0.5 to 0.78% (Figs. 3 and 8), which places these samples
within the oil window as it is considered as mature source rocks.
Also, the pyrolysis parameters commonly used to monitor the
level of maturity is the (Tmax) temperature corresponding to
the maximum generation and production index (PI) [42]. The
studied samples of Safer and Lam members have pyrolysis Tmax
values in the range of 411–432 °C (Table 1; Fig. 3), indicating
immature organic matter, except for some samples of Lam Mem-
ber are plotted in marginal mature zone, while the Meem source
rocks have pyrolysis Tmax range of 424–445 °C, indicating that
most of the Meem source rocks are thermally immature to
mature and within the main stage of hydrocarbon generation
(Fig. 3). On the other hand, the maturity of organic matter can
also be expressed by its Production index (PI), which is defined
as the ratio of the amount of hydrocarbons generated in the
total amount of the organic matter. The PI value less than 0.1
indicates immature organic matter that has generated little or
no petroleum. PI from 0.1 to 0.40 is within the oil window,
while PI increases up to 0.50 when the petroleum-generative
capacity of the kerogen has been spent. The Upper Jurassic
source rocks have PI values in the range of 0.02–0.46 (Table 1;
Fig. 3), indicating that most of the source rocks of Meem Mem-
ber are thermally mature and within the oil window. The PI val-
ues are also internally consistent with the Hydrocarbons being
indigenous to a mature source rock, with the exceptions of only
three samples having relatively high values of PI (>0.40; Fig. 9).
This is may be probably due to expelled and migrated hydrocar-
bon from source rock intervals within Meem Member. The bitu-
men/TOC and HC/TOC ratios can be used to evaluate whereas the
rock extracts and hydrocarbon yields represent indigenous rather
than migrated material (Fig. 10). High bitumen/TOC ratios of the
analyzed samples indicate mature character [42,35]. In addition,
two relationships (i.e., PI versus Tmax and HC/TOC versus HC%)
can be used to show the maturation and nature of the hydrocar-
bon products (i.e., indigenous or migrated; Figs. 9 and 10). Based
on these relationships, most analyzed samples are thermally
mature and the hydrocarbons are indigenous. The Tmax and PI
values are consistent with the mean vitrinite reflectance (Ro%)
values (Table 1), indicating that the Safer and lam source rocks
are immature organic matter, while the Meem source rocks
entered immature to mature oil window and considered as an
effective source rocks in the study area.
4.2. Basin modelling
4.2.1. Subsidence and burial history
The tectonic evolution of the region has significantly influenced
burial and thermal history of the study area. The burial (subsi-
dence) and thermal histories are necessary in order to predict tim-
ing of hydrocarbon generation and expulsion. To describe the
resulting models clearly, we review first the results of our recon-
struction of the subsidence curves. Based on well profile, subsi-
dence curves (Fig. 11) were first constructed for the studied well
by decompacting the sedimentary section using formation thick-
nesses (present-day thickness) and lithologies assigned from
mud logs and composite well log (Table 3). Fig. 2 shows the litholo-
gies that are representative for the lithostratigraphic units of the
Sabatayn basin, including studied well (Table 3).
All sediments penetrated continental non-marine and shallow
to deep marine sediments carbonate [4]. The Upper Jurassic section
comprises around 2750 m of the Nayfa, Sabatayn and Madbi for-
mations (Fig. 11). The Cretaceous section is only some 320 m thick
(Fig. 11), consisting mainly of poorly consolidated coarse grained
sands (Tawilah Group). The ages of the events chosen for subsi-
dence modelling were based on those assigned by [43]. Ages of
the base of modelled rock unit or start of erosion are shown in
Table 3. Several erosion events in the Sabatayn Basin have been
recognized in published stratigraphic columns [4,43], probably
are the unconformities that represent periods of erosion in the
basin, but their positioning varies as has been noted by Ref.
[20,21]. Ref. [21] suggested that a total amount of 900 m and
100 m (sum 1000 m) erosional thickness was split into two erosion
events during 136.4–130 Ma at the top of the Nayfa Formation and
38–25 Ma at the top of the Tawilah Group and were considered in
the model (Table 3).
The burial history of the studied well (Fig. 11) shows that the
Upper Jurassic (155.7–140.2 Ma), Madbi, Sabatayn, and Nayfa
formations, are characterized by relatively high subsidence rates
of about 176.7 m per million years that could be relevant with

Fig. 14. Burial and thermal maturity histories of the Upper Jurassic source rocks for the studied well (Jabal Ayban-01) showing the positions of the oil window. To the right
the depth vs. bottom-hole temperature and depth vs. mean vitrinite reflectance data are shown, respectively.

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sion in Jabal Ayban field, Sabatayn Basin, Yemen, Egypt. J. Petrol. (2018), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejpe.2017.12.005
14 N.M. Al-Areeq et al. / Egyptian Journal of Petroleum xxx (2018) xxx–xxx

transfer of heat is mainly controlled by thermal conductivity of the

Fig. 15. Structural cross section of Jabal Ayban field, Sabatayn Basin.
the present thickness of about 2740 m. Subsidence and sedimenta-
tion resumed in the Cretaceous (130–38 Ma), when the subsi-
dence rate decreased to about 3.5 m per million years leading
to a present thickness of about 322 m. However, the Meem source
rocks during that time was buried deeply, and the petroleum gen-
eration can be generated in this time.
4.2.2. Thermal history and palaeo-heat flow
The thermal history of the source rocks in the sedimentary
basins can be evaluated based not only on the deposition and ero-
sion history but also on the heat-flow evolution [44,45]. The bore-
hole temperatures were used to calibrate the present day heat flow
regime. Temperatures increase with depth in the Earth, indicating
that heat is transferred through sediment layers to the surface. The
formations and geothermal gradient. Therefore, the thermal con-
ductivity and geothermal gradient need to be determined to esti-
mate the heat-flow history [13,29,46,47]. In the model only the
subsurface heat flow was varied and thermal conductivity of the
rock formations were kept constant until a fit with present day
temperature (BHT) was achieved. Furthermore, the present day
geothermal gradient of borehole location was calculated using
BHTs that were corrected for the circulation of drilling fluids. The
values increase systematically with depth from a surface tempera-
ture and the maximum temperatures were reached at Late Jurassic
and Oligocene and Miocene time (Fig. 12). The heat flow is a vitally
important input parameter in basin modelling, but it is difficult to
determine for the geological past [13,48]. Therefore, the recon-
struction of the thermal history of the basin is always simplified
and is usually calibrated with thermal maturity measurements
(e.g., vitrinite reflectance and temperatures) (Fig. 13a). Vitrinite
reflectance was derived from maturity measurements of three
stratigraphic levels (Upper Jurassic) including Safer, Lam and
Meem members (Table 1), and used to predict paleo-heat flow.
Heat flow model (Fig. 13b) are used to calculate maturity, which
is generally calibrated with a thermal maturity parameter such
as vitrinite reflectance (e.g. [10,26,29,48–52]).
In the Sabatayn basin, paleo-heat flow was affected by the tec-
tonic evolution and rifting phase. The rift influenced heat flow
model, which incorporates a higher heat flow episode during the
rift phase and an exponential reduction during the post-rift phase
[53]. Based on the geological evolution of the Sabatayn Basin, the
two rifting phases were incorporated in the heat flow model by
peaks of heat flow during the periods of rifting. The time of rifting
is assigned to the initial phase during Late Jurassic to Early Creta-
ceous (155.7–140.2 Ma) of the basin [2]. Paleo-heat flow modelling
results for the studied well (Fig. 13b) indicate that the heat flow

Fig. 16. (a) Cumulative hydrocarbon generation and expulsion from the Lam and Meem source rocks in the studied well. (b) Evolution of the transformation ratio and rate of
hydrocarbon generation with age from the Lam and Meem source rocks in the studied well (Jabal Ayban-01).

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sion in Jabal Ayban field, Sabatayn Basin, Yemen, Egypt. J. Petrol. (2018), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejpe.2017.12.005
 N.M. Al-Areeq et al. / Egyptian Journal of Petroleum xxx (2018) xxx–xxx
increased from background values (60 mW/m2) during the end
phase (162.2 Ma) of pre-rifting stage in the Sabatayn Basin and
reached peak heat-flow values of approximately 90.0 mW/m2 at
155.7 Ma (Fig. 13b). This peak is related to the initial rifting event
starting the basin development (Upper Jurassic time) [2]. A cooling
history with exponentially decreasing heat-flow values is modelled
from 146.3 Ma to 40 Ma (Fig. 13b). The heat-flow values were kept
constant during the Late Cretaceous-Paleocene (30–40 mW/m2)
then increased from early Oligocene to middle Miocene times
(Fig. 13b), which is explained by Tertiary rifting of the Gulf of Aden
and Red Sea during Oligocene-Middle Miocene [2]. A very good
correlation between measured and calculated % Ro values implies
that the thermal model is valid for this study area (Fig. 13).
4.2.3. Source rocks maturity history
In thermal history reconstructions of the study area, the influ-
ence of the tectonic evolution on the heat-flow distribution
through time was applied. Thermal maturity levels of the Upper
Jurassic source rocks is calculate based on the Easy% Ro routine
[32] using one dimensional modelling of single well. The detailed
maturity history model of source rocks was used to determine
the time when source rocks passed through the oil window. The
detailed maturity history of source rocks in the Safer, Lam and
Meem members is modelled for the representative well in the Jabal
Ayban field of Sabatayn Basin (Fig. 14). Based on the thermal matu-
rity model, the hydrocarbon generation history of the source rocks
in the Jabal Ayban-01 well are different because of variation in
thermal and buried history (Fig. 14). The Jabal Ayban-01 well is
the unique well in the study area, which reaches a total drilled
depth of 3105 m (Fig. 14). Assigning a heat flow value of 90 mW/
m2 during 155.7 Ma gives the best fit between measured and cal-
culated vitrinite reflectance and bottom hole temperatures
(Fig. 13). The Meem Member of the Madbi Formation have reached
the required levels of maturity in the Jabal Ayban-01 well probably
due to the temperatures (Fig. 14). Based on burial/thermal history
model, the maximum burial temperature within this well ranges
from 70.8 to 94.5 °C for the Meem Member of Madbi Formation.
The model also shows that the source rock in this Member has
reached the required levels of thermal maturity to onset of the
oil window (0.64–0.8% Ro) from about 150 Ma at a depth 1960 m
(Fig. 14). Main oil generation occurred at 148.9 Ma at a depth of
2450 m for the calculated VR value 0.7% Ro. In contrast, the Lam
and Safer members are still in immature stage of oil window
(Fig. 14), and therefore the source rocks within the Lam and Safer
members are potential source rock for oil and gas prone. The model
also shows that Lam and Safer members has not reached the
required levels of thermal maturity for the onset of the oil genera-
tion (<0.55% Ro), probably due to its shallower depth and low
transformation ratio (<10% TR). These results lead to classify the
Meem Member as effective source rocks, while the Lam and Safer
members classify as potential source rocks in the study area,
because the structure setting shows the deepening of Meem Mem-
ber and swallowing of Lam and Safer members (Fig. 15). Also, the
subsidence produced by numerical modelling of the studied units
can be related to confirms the results.
4.2.4. Hydrocarbon generation and expulsion modelling
The timing of petroleum generated and expelled from the Upper
Jurassic source rocks were modelled (Fig. 15). Oil generation is
defined in this study by transformation ratios between 10% and
50%. Immature source rocks have transformation ratios less than
10% (no generation). Peak oil generation occur at a transformation
ratio of 50% when the main phase of oil generation is reached. The
modelled hydrocarbon generation and expulsion of the studied
well shows that the only Meem source rocks were generating
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sion in Jabal Ayban field, Sabatayn Basin, Yemen, Egypt. J. Petrol. (2018), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejpe.2017.12.005
15
hydrocarbon with oil as the main product and significant gas
(Fig. 15), whereas the Lam and Safer source rocks has not been
reached yet. In general, the hydrocarbon generation and expulsion
history of the Meem source rock in the studied well (Jabal Ayban-
01) was represented by only Two stage (Fig. 16). The first stage of
hydrocarbon generation of the Meem source rock was occurred
during Late Jurassic time at 150–146 Ma (Fig. 16a). This stage is
the early phase of oil generation without any expulsion. The trans-
formation ratio of the source rock varied from 10% to 25% during
this stage, with computed VR of 0.55–0.65% R. The second stage
(approximately 146–0 Ma) is the main phase of the oil generation
and no gas generation has been detected. The transformation ratio
of the source rock in this stage varies from 25% to 32%, with calcu-
lated VR of 0.65–0.79% Ro (Fig. 16b). No significant oil expulsion
(<50% TR) was observed during this stage. In contrast, the hydro-
carbon generation and expulsion history of the Lam and Safer
source rocks in the studied well are generally very poor in term
of petroleum generation and expulsion, was represented by only
one stage (Fig. 16a). The transformation ratio of the source rocks
is less than 1% TR, without any generation and expulsion
(Fig. 16b). This is due to their shallower burial depth and low ther-
mal maturity level (Fig. 16). This stage occurred during Late Juras-
sic time at 148 Ma and till present-day (Fig. 16b).
5. Conclusions
The Upper Jurassic Meem, Lam and Safer members are impor-
tant oil and gas source rocks in the Sabatayn Basin, Yemen. Inves-
tigation of sediments from Meem, Lam and Safer members in the
Jabal Ayban field, Sabatayn Basin based on organic geochemical
characteristics (e.g., total organic carbon content (TOC), Rock-Eval
pyrolysis and bitumen extraction); in addition, burial and thermal
histories and timing of petroleum generation/expulsion have been
modelled for three petroleum source rock intervals using one-
dimensional basin modelling software. The resultant data in this
study indicate that:
1. The Upper Jurassic sequence have variable TOC content in the
range of 0.82–13 wt% and yield of bitumen extraction ranging
from 17.6 to 73.9 wt% and 328–2096 ppm, respectively, meet-
ing the standard as indicating a fair to very good source rock
generative potential. The samples of Safer Member contains
Type III kerogen grading to mixed Type II–III, with Hydrogen
Index (HI) values less than 300 mg HC/g TOC. Meanwhile, Lam
and Meem members (Madbi Formation) samples have Type II,
mixed Type II–III and Type III kerogens, with Hydrogen Index
(HI) values in the range of 56.8–700 mg HC/g TOC, thus consid-
ered to be mainly oil- and gas-prone.
2. The Safer and Lam samples are thermally immature for hydro-
carbon generation, while the Meem samples are early-mature
to peak-mature oil window mature stages for hydrocarbon gen-
eration, consistent with Rock-Eval pyrolysis PI values. In addi-
tion, the pyrolysis Tmax data and hydrocarbon extraction
yields confirm this attained thermal maturity level. Therefore,
the Meem Member is effective source rock in the study area.
3. The present-day heat flow in the Jabal Ayban field, Sabatayn
Basin varies from 30 mW/m2 to 90 mW/m2 and the paleo-
heat flow, reaching a higher value at late Jurassic time (155.7
Ma) during the initial rifting event in the basin. The high
paleo-heat flow in the basin during Late Jurassic to Early Creta-
ceous (155.7–140.2 Ma) has a considerable influence on the
Meem source rocks maturity.
4. The source rocks in the Safer and Lam members are immature
source rocks and have not been generated hydrocarbons. In
contract, the burial/thermal history model also indicate that
16 N.M. Al-Areeq et al. / Egyptian Journal of Petroleum xxx (2018) xxx–xxx
the Meem source rocks have entered the mature to peak-oil
window mature stages for hydrocarbon generation and the
mean-oil generation has been reached during late Jurassic
(146 Ma), generating significant amount of oils with TR in the
range of 25–32%. The model also shows no expulsion has
occurred from Meem source rocks (<50% TR).
5. The Meem Member act as effective source rock and significant
amount of hydrocarbons can be expected to generate in the
Jabal Ayban field, Sabatayn Basin. Therefore, the exploration
processes should be focused on the known deeper location of
the Lam and Meem members for predicting the source kitchen.
Also, the present study recommend for drilling another wells
for more evaluation about the Upper Jurassic source rocks in
the Jabal Ayban field, Sabatayn basin.
Acknowledgements
The authors thank the Petroleum Exploration and Production
Authority (PEPA), Yemen for supplying the data for this research.
Schlumberger is acknowledged for providing the PetroMod Basin
Modelling software.
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Please cite this article in press as: N.M. Al-Areeq et al., Petroleum source rocks characterization and hydrocarbon generation of the Upper Jurassic succes-
sion in Jabal Ayban field, Sabatayn Basin, Yemen, Egypt. J. Petrol. (2018), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejpe.2017.12.005