Source Rock and Formation

of Petroleum (Oil and Gas)

GEL 417
Introduction
• Petroleum is a mixture of hydrocarbon molecules and lesser quantities of organic molecules
containing sulfur, oxygen, nitrogen, and some metals

• A source rock is a sedimentary rock that contains sufficient organic matter such that when it is buried
and heated it will produce petroleum (oil and gas)

• High concentrations of organic matter tend to occur in sediments that accumulate in areas of high
organic matter productivity and stagnant water (low or zero oxygen content)

• These conditions are possible in environments such as swamps, shallow marine and lake

• High organic productivity and low or zero oxygen content are favourable conditions for preservation of
organic matter in the sedimentary rock

• When heated up, the organic matter are turned to petroleum with time (a process called maturation)
Formation of petroleum
Formation of coal
 Formation of petroleum
• hydrocarbon compounds originate from organic matter
that has accumulated within sedimentary rocks and are
transformed into petroleum by the processes of
hydrocarbon maturation

• Hydrocarbon maturation takes place in a series of stages

dependent upon both temperature and time

• Three stages are involved:

1. Diagenesis
2. Catagenesis
3. Metagenesis
 Diagenesis
• This is the first stage, it involves the biochemical degradation of
proteins and carbohydrates in organic matter by processes such
as bacterial oxidation and fermentation

• Diagenesis occurs at temperatures of up to 40 oC and at up to

depths of just over 1000 m.

• Methane., carbondioxide and water are given off by the organic

matter to form Kerogen

• Diagenesis/Eogenesis eliminates oxygen from kerogen, without

changing the hydrogen:carbon ratio

• Kerogene: The solid part of the organic matter that is insoluble

in organic solvents
 Catagenesis
• This stage of thermal maturation is also known as the ‘oil window’
because liquid petroleum forms from Type I kerogen under these
conditions

• It happens at burial depths of between about 1000 and 4000m and at

temperatures of between 40 oC and 150 oC

• With increasing temperature the proportion of gas generated increases

• H:C is reduced with no significant change in O:C ratio

• Generation of oil by organic maturation of kerogen is a process that

requires millions of years, during which time the strata containing the
organic matter must remain within the oil window of depth and
temperature
 Metagenesis
• This occurs at higher temperatures and
burial depths and only methane is
produced from all kerogen types

• The H:C declines until only carbon is left

in form of graphite

• Porosity and permeability are negligible

 Kerogene types
• Organic matter can be classified according to the varying
proportions of its three dominant components - C, H, O
and its appearance in the microscope

• Three types of kerogen are recognized. Each yielding

different petroleum

• Type I - High H/C + low O/C

• Organic matter rich in soft and waxy tissues, such as that
found in algae,
• Algal fresh water /marine
• Commonly yields oil with associated gas on maturation

• Type II - Intermediate H/C + intermediate O/C

• Mixed marine/terrestrial

• Type III Low H/C + high O/C

• Terrestrial source
• Gas alone tends to be derived from the maturation of woody
tissues.