Kerogen typing using palynofacies analysis in Permian  Barren Measures Formation in Raniganj sub–basin,  East India

Waquar Ahmed; G.M. Bhat; J. Mclennan; H.N. Sinha; S. Kanungo; S.K. Pandita; Y. Singh; N. Hakhoo; M. Hafiz; B. Thusu; N.H. Choudhary

doi:10.54991/jop.2018.52

Authors

Waquar Ahmed Institute of Energy Research and Training (IERT) and Department of Geology, University of Jammu, India
G.M. Bhat Institute of Energy Research and Training (IERT) and Department of Geology, University of Jammu, India
J. Mclennan Energy and Geoscience Institute (EGI), University of Utah, USA
H.N. Sinha Department of Geology, Vinoba Bhave University, Hazaribagh, India
S. Kanungo Energy and Geoscience Institute (EGI), University of Utah, USA
S.K. Pandita Institute of Energy Research and Training (IERT) and Department of Geology, University of Jammu, India
Y. Singh Institute of Energy Research and Training (IERT) and Department of Geology, University of Jammu, India
N. Hakhoo Institute of Energy Research and Training (IERT) and Department of Geology, University of Jammu, India
M. Hafiz Department of Geology, Govt. M. A. M. College, Jammu, India
B. Thusu Maghreb Petroleum Research Group (MPRG), University College London, UK
N.H. Choudhary Institute of Energy Research and Training (IERT) and Department of Geology, University of Jammu, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54991/jop.2018.52

Keywords:

Kerogen, Palynofacies, Thermal maturity, Barren Measures Formation, Damodar Basin

Abstract

The objective of the study is the simple assessment of kerogen type in Barren Measures Formation shale using palynofacies. The Barren Measures Formation sandwiched between the coal–rich formations consist of organic–rich black carbonaceous shales. These ̴ 1000 m thick, black shales are in the productive gas window having kerogen types III with excellent gas generation potential as proven in recent pyrolysis studies. In this study, the palynological analysis of the four core samples of the Barren Measures Formation shale was done. The analysis has revealed three types of kerogen assemblages, viz. palynomorphs, phytoclasts and amorphous organic matter. The palynomorph assemblage consists of spores and pollen; phytoclasts consist of secondary xylem wood macrophyte plant debris and amorphous organic matter is a higher plant decomposed product. Based on the application of published kerogen classification and correlation of Tyson (1995), the pure kerogen type in these shales is categorized as mixed type; type II (oil prone) and type III (gas prone). However, the gas–prone kerogen assemblage gets relatively dominant in the samples from greater depth in the studied borehole. Our results are analogous to the previously published outcomes of kerogen typing evaluated using Rock–Eval pyrolysis experiments.

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