Chapter 6

Formation of Petroleum in Relation to Geological

Processes. Timing of Oil and Gas Generation

6.1 General Scheme of Petroleum Formation

The history of petroleum formation is summarized as a function of increasing
burial of the source rock in Figure II.6.1, which represents the abundance and
composition of the hydrocarbons generated, and in Figure II.6.2, which shows the
correlative evolution of kerogens. The depth scale represented in Figure II.6.1 is
based on examples of Mesozoic and Paleozoic source rocks. It is only approximate
and may vary according to the nature of the original organic matter, its burial

' n-Alkanes ! ICycioalkanes llAromatics CnH2n-12!

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CiJ
- Hydrocarbons generated-..
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c: .' Biochemical CH 4
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c: ~ 15 25 35 2 4 6 13 20 30 33
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15 25 35 o 2 4 6 13 20 3033

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Fig. II.6.1. General scheme of hydrocarbon formation as a function of burial of the source
rock. The evolution of the hydrocarbon composition is shown in insets for three structural
types. Depths are only indicative and correspond to an average on Mesozoic and Paleozoic
source rocks. Actual depths vary according to the particular geological conditions: type of
kerogen, burial history, geothermal gradient. (Modified after Tissot et a\., 1974). This
figure can be compared with other diagrams proposed by Sokolov (in: Kartsev et a\., 1971)
and Hedberg (1974)

B. P. Tissot et al., Petroleum Formation and Occurrence

© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 1978
186 Formation of Petroleum in Relation to Geological Processes
~ 200 ~-----------------.
:r Fig. II .6.2. General scheme of
u kerogen evolution pr ented
E on van Krevelen' diagram.
2
<I
The ucce ive evolution
stage are indicated and the
principal products generated
during th at time. (Modified
after Tissot, 1973)

100

050 Principal producls of kerogen

evolution

~ C02,H20
o 010 020 030 c::J Oil
_ Gos
- - -- - - - - - - - - -- . AlomlC OIC

history and the geothermal gradient. Based on the fundamental knowledge

presented in the previous chapters, the general scheme of oil and gas formation
may be summarized as follows.

6.1.1 Diagenesis

a) Young Sediments

At shallow depth, small amounts of hydrocarbons are present. They are inherited
from living organisms, directly of with minor changes during the early diagenesis
of the young sediment. They have characteristic structures resulting from their
biogenic origin, and may be considered as geochemical fossils. At this stage, the
composition of the kerogen is controlled mainly by the initial input of organic
matter and by the nature and extent of microbial activity in the upper sedimentary
layers of sediment.
The only new hydrocarbon generated at that stage is methane. In special cases,
microbial activity may result in abundant methane generation (marsh gas).

b) Immature Stage

During an appreciable time and depth span, little transformation occurs, as both
hydrocarbons and kerogen are metastable under near-surface conditions and