Geochemical and Palynological Analysis in Assessing Hydrocarbon Potential and Palaeoenvironmental Depo-sition, North Iraq

Abstract

Geochemical and Palynological analysis were carried out to assess hy-drocarbon potential and palaeoenvi-ronmental deposition for (27) core and cutting rock samples recovered from se-lected oil exploratory wells , Makhul-2 (Mk-2),Qarachuq-1 (Qc-1) and Qara-chuq-2(Qc-2), TaqTaq-1(Taq-1), But-mah-15 (Bm-15), Ajeel-8 (Aj-8)and Jabal kand( Jk -1) ,encountered from Butmah Formation ( Lower-Middle Liassic) , Sargelu Formation (Middle Jurassic ) and Naokelekan Formation (upper Jurassic ) .The value of palyno-logical analyses in the undertaken study is to resolve stratigraphic and palaeoen-vironmental consequences of Jurassic Period in Iraq , thus the profuse of plant cuticle of translucent phytoclast in the basin of deposition refers to proximal depositional environment due to their specific gravity of this type of plant cuticle , whereas the opaque organic matter pro-duced either from highly oxidized envi-ronment or from forest fire residues could refer due to its light specific grav-ity to distal depositional environment that this type could transported far from the continents toward the aquatic envi-ronment . Recurring Type A Amorphous kerogen indicates Oil –Prone beside var-ious amorphous types (B, C, D) within Zagros Fold Belt. The specified paly-nomorphs recovered from palynological analysis declared so many indications to determine the potentiality of source rocks .Almost all slides shows spores and pollen, phytoclasts and amorphous organic matter. Extracted resins and pigments are indicating toxic environ-ment of type II-III kerogen that gene-rates oil with subordinate gas.Geochemical analysis can aid also the undertaken study by determination the Terrestrial origin and kerogen type II-III .Previously proved that all crude oils within this sub- basin is belong to family A (sourced from Middle Jurassic Sargelu Formation) nearby local basins of family B (sourced from U. Triassic Kurra chine, and Rhaetic Baluti Shale Formation). Jurassic Period is consi-dered as a generative hydrocarbon rock unit by means of both optical and chem-ical approaches definitely in the Great Kirkuk region and surrounding areas in North Iraq. Meanwhile the current stu-dies focused on the western desert as promising reservoirs related with hydro-carbon pathways from Mesopotamian Basin.