Preliminary hydrocarbon source rock assessment of the Paleozoic and Mesozoic formations of the western Black Sea region of Turkey

Source rock maturity and potential of Paleozoic and Mesozoic formations in the Eregli, Zonguldak, Bartin, Ulus, and Eflani subregions of the western Black Sea region (WBSR), have been investigated by rock-eval pyrolysis, reflected-light microscopy, and palynofacies analyzes. The % Ro values of dispersed organic matter of the Paleozoic formations primarily range from 0.72 to 1.8%, but values as high as 2.6% occur locally in the Silurian Findikli Formation in the Eregli subregion. The % Ro values of Namurian-Westphalian coal seams in the K20/H well drilled in the Zonguldak subregion range from 0.87 to 1.52%, with increasing depth consistent with sedimentary depth of burial. Most Cretaceous age samples have reflectance values ranging from 0.44 to 1.6%Ro that indicates they are marginally mature to mature with respect to the oil window. Rock-eval pyrolysis demonstrates that the Paleozoic formations have limited oil-generation potential (HI values <200 mg HC/g C_org), but good gas potential (TOC values up to 3%). Cretaceous formations have better petroleum source rock characteristics, but they too are primarily gas prone. Variations in the source rock maturity probably reflect variable burial histories in different localities of the WBSR.