Source rock and shale oil potential of the Pabdeh Formation (Middle-Late Eocene) in the Dezful Embayment, southwest Iran

The Pabdeh Brown Shale Unit (BSU) is an organic-rich calcareous mudstone within the Paleogene Pabdeh Formation, which has not yet been investigated in detail. A total of 166 core and cutting samples were selected from four wells in the Dezful Embayment to investigate the organic geochemical and mineralogical compositions, as well as the shale oil potential of the BSU. X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) results show that it is mainly comprised of calcite (53wt.%), clay minerals (25wt.%) and quartz (14wt.%). Total Organic Content (TOC) values generally range from 1 to 9wt.% (avg. 4.2, 2.9, 5.2 and 3.3wt.%, for GS, KR, RR and RS wells, respectively) with Hydrogen Index (HI) values ranging between 400 and 650mg HC/g TOC. Based on average values of T-max and vitrinite reflectance, as well as saturate biomarker ratios, the BSU is immature at wells RR and RS (ranging from 0.3 to 0.53%) and its maturity increases northward at wells KR and GS (ranging from 0.5% to 0.67%). The organic matter is dominated by Type.. kerogen and is generally composed of liptinite and amorphous material with minor terrestrial input. Based on various biomarker parameters, the organic matter was most likely deposited under anoxic marine conditions. The favorable mineralogical composition (i.e. presence of brittle minerals) and organic geochemical properties (i.e. TOC>2wt% and Type II kerogen) support the conclusion that the Pabdeh BSU displays a considerable shale oil potential where it attains appropriate thermal maturity.