Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Evolution of petroleum generation and expulsion of the oil-source rock in the north-western Say’un-Masilah Basin as inferred from 1D basin models of a single well (Al-Qarn-01)

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Arabian Journal of Geosciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The Madbi Shale Formation is the main oil-source rock for conventional petroleum extraction in the east-central Say’un-Masilah Basin. This study explores the generation and expulsion potential of oil from the Madbi source rock system in a deep well location (Al-Qarn-01) in the north-western Say’un-Masilah Basin using geological and geochemical modelling. One-dimensional (1D) basin models were constructed to the estimate thermal regime in the basin and the evolution of oil cracking and expulsion from the organic-rich intervals in the Madbi Formation over the geological time. In the studied Al-Qarn-01 well, the organic-rich intervals in the Madbi Formation are thermally mature, ranging from peak- to late-mature oil window stages; thus, half or more of the kerogen was converted to oil at these maturity stages. The basin modelling results of the studied well (Al-Qarn-01) show that oil was generated and expelled from Madbi source rock intervals in two main phases according to the conversion ratio (TR %) of kerogen. The main conversion of kerogen to oil (TR = 10–50%) occurred between Late Cretaceous and Early Oligocene (80–33 Ma) periods, corresponding to the peak-oil window (0.70–1.00 Easy %Ro). Furthermore, significant amounts of oil were expelled from the source rock, which subsequently migrated into the overlying reservoir rocks in the Early Oligocene time during the initial Tertiary rifting. The late-mature oil window (1.00–1.10 Easy %Ro) commenced during this time, with TRs of 50–77%.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abeed Q, Littke R, Strozyk F, Uffmann AK (2013) The Upper Jurassic–Cretaceous petroleum system of southern Iraq: a 3-D basin modelling study. GeoArabia 18:179–200

    Google Scholar 

  • Al Areeq NA, Maky AF (2015) Organic geochemical characteristics of crude oils and oil-source rock correlation in the Sunah oilfield, Masila Region, Eastern Yemen. Mar Petrol Geol 63:17–27

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Al-Areeq NM (2018) Petroleum source rocks characterization and hydrocarbon generation. In: Zoveidavianpoor M (ed) Recent insights in petroleum science and engineering. INTEQ publisher, pp 1–29. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.70092

  • Al-Areeq NM, Abu El Ata AS, Maky AF, Omran AA (2011) Hydrocarbon potentialities of some upper Jurassic rock units in Masila block, Sayun-Masila basin, Yemen, National Research Center, Cairo. J Appl Geophys 10:147–168

    Google Scholar 

  • Al-Areeq NM, Al-Badani MA, Salman AH, Albaroot M (2018) Petroleum source rocks characterization and hydrocarbon generation of the Upper Jurassic succession in Jabal Ayban field, Sabatayn Basin, Yemen. Egypt J Pet 27:835–851

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Al-Areeq NM, Abubakr Maky AF, Abu-Elata AS, Essa MA, Bamumen SS, Al-Ramisy GA (2019) Comprehensive study on the conventional petroleum system of the Masilah oilfields, Sayun-Masilah Basin, Yemen. J Petroleum Sci Eng 181:106–193

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Al-Hasani A, Hakimi MH, Saaid IM, Salim AMA, Aini Mahat SQ, Ahmed AA, Umar AA (2018) Reservoir characteristics of the Kuhlan sandstones from Habban oilfield in the Sabatayn Basin, Yemen and their relevance to reservoir rock quality and petroleum accumulation. J Afr Earth Sci 145:131–147

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Al-Kadasi MA (1994) Temporal and spatial evolution of the basal flow of the Yemen volcanic group. Ph.D. Thesis University of London 284 pp.

  • Allen PA, Allen JR (1990) Basin analysis principles and applications. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford, pp 1–642

    Google Scholar 

  • Allen PA, Allen JR (2005) Basin analysis. Blackwell Publishing

  • As-Saruri MA, Sorkhabi R (2014) Petroleum systems and basins of Yemen. In: Marlow L, Kendall C, Yose L (eds) Petroleum systems of the Tethyan region, AAPG Memoir, vol 106, pp 757–780

    Google Scholar 

  • As-Saruri MA, Sorkhabi R, Baraba R (2010) Sedimentary basins of Yemen: their tectonic development and lithostratigraphic cover. Arab J Geosci 3:515–527

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beydoun ZR (1970) Southern Arabia and northern Somalia: comparative geology. Philos Trans R Soc Lond:267–292

  • Beydoun ZR, Al-Saruri M, Baraba RS (1996) Sedimentary basins of the Republic of Yemen: their structural evolution and geological characteristics. Rev L Inst FrancaiseluPetrole 51:763–775

    Google Scholar 

  • Beydoun ZR, Al-Saruri M, El-Nakhal H, Al-Ganad IN, Baraba RS, Nani ASO, Al-Aawah MH (1998) International lexicon of stratigraphy. In: International Union of Geological Sciences and Ministry of Oil and Mineral Resources, vol III, 2nd edn. Republic of Yemen, Republic of Yemen, Publication, p 245, 34

  • Bosence DWJ (1997) Mesozoic rift basins of Yemen. Marine Petroleum Geol Spec Issue 14:611–616

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ellis A, Kerr H, Cornwell C, Williams D (1996) A tectono-stratigraphic framework for Yemen and its implications for hydrocarbon potential. Pet Geosci 2:29–42

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hadad YT, Hakimi MH, Abdullah WH, Makeen YM (2017) Basin modeling of the late Miocene Zeit source rock in the Sudanese portion of red sea basin: implication for hydrocarbon generation and expulsion history. Mar Petrol Geol 84:311–322

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haitham FM, Nani ASO (1990) The Gulf of Aden rift: hydrocarbon potential of the Arabian sector. J. Pet. Geol. 13:(2)211–220

  • Hakimi MH, Abdullah WH (2015) Thermal maturity history and petroleum generation modelling for the Upper Jurassic Madbi source rocks in the Marib-Shabowah Basin, western Yemen. Mar Pet Geol 59:202–216

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hakimi MH, Al-Sufi SA (2018) Organic geochemistry investigations of crude oils from Bayoot oilfield in the Masila Basin, East Yemen and their implication for origin of organic matter and source-related type. Egy J Petrol 27:37–54

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hakimi MH, Abdullah WH, Shalaby MR (2010a) Source rock characterization and oil generating potential of the Jurassic Madbi Formation, onshore East Shabowah oilfields, Republic of Yemen. Org Geochem 41:513–521

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hakimi MH, Abdullah WH, Shalaby MR (2010b) Organic geochemistry, burial history and hydrocarbon generation modeling of the upper Jurassic Madbi Formation, Masila Basin, Yemen. J Pet Geol 33:299–318

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hakimi MH, Abdullah WH, Shalaby MR (2011a) Organic geochemical characteristics and depositional environments of the Jurassic shales in the Masila Basin of Eastern Yemen. Geo Arab 16:47–64

    Google Scholar 

  • Hakimi MH, Abdullah WH, Shalaby MR (2011b) Organic geochemical characteristics of crude oils from the Masila Basin, eastern Yemen. Org Geochem 42:465–476

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hakimi MH, Abdullah WH, Shalaby MR (2012a) Madbi-Biyadh/Qishn (!) petroleum system in the onshore Masila Basin of the Eastern Yemen. Mar Pet Geol 35:116–127

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hakimi MH, Abdullah WH, Shalaby MR (2012b) Molecular composition and organic petrographic characterization of Madbi source rocks from the Kharir Oilfield of the Masila Basin (Yemen): palaeoenvironmental and maturity interpretation. Arab J Geosci 5:817–831

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hakimi MH, Alaug SA, Ahmed AF, Yahya MMA, El Nady MM, Ismail IM (2018) Simulating the timing of petroleum generation and expulsion from deltaic source rocks: implications for Late Cretaceous petroleum system in the offshore Jiza-Qamar Basin, Eastern Yemen. J Petroleum Sci Eng 170:620–642

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hakimi MH, Alaug AS, El-Afify W, El Nady MM, Lashin AA (2019a) Investigating gas resource potentiality from Late Jurassic Madbi Formation in the NW–Say’un-Masila Basin, Eastern Yemen. Pet Sci Technol 37:1355–1362

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hakimi MH, Abdullah WH, Lashin AA, El-Khedr HI, Makeen YM (2019b) Hydrocarbon generation potential of the organic-rich Naifa Formation, Say’un–Masila Rift Basin, Yemen: insights from geochemical and palynofacies analyses. Nat Resour Res. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11053-019-09595-1

  • Hakimi MH, Alaug AS, Lashin AA, Mohialdeen IMJ, Yahy MMA, Kinawy MM (2019c) Geochemical and geological modeling of the Late Jurassic Meem Shale Member in the Al-Jawf sub-basin, Yemen: implications for regional oil and gas exploration. Mar Pet Geol 105:313–330

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hantschel T, Kauerauf AI (2009) Fundamentals of basin and petroleum systems modeling: integrated exploration systems GmbH. Schlumberger Company Springer- Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

  • King WA, Mills BR, Gardiner S, Abdillah AA (2003) The Masila fields, Republic of Yemen. In: Halbouty MT (ed) Giant oil and gas fields of the decade 1990-1999, vol 78. AAPG Bull, pp 275–295

  • Lachenbruch A (1970) Crustal temperature and heat productivity: implications of the linear heat flow relation. J Geophys Res 75:3291–3300

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Makeen YM, Abdullah WH, Pearson MJ, Hakimi MH, Elhassan OMA, Hadad YT (2016) Thermal maturity history and petroleum generation modelling for the lower cretaceous Abu Gabra Formation in the Fula sub-basin, Muglad basin. Sudan Mar Petrol Geol 75:310–324

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mattash MA (1994) Study of the Cenozoic Volcanics and their associated intrusive rocks in Yemen in relation to rift development. Ph.D. Thesis Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest (112 pp.)

  • Mckenzie D (1978) Some remarks on the development of sedimentary basin. Earth Planet Sci Lett 40:25–32

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mills SJ (1992) Oil discoveries in the Hadramaut: how Canadian oxy scored in Yemen. Oil Gas J., 49, p. 52)

  • Mountain G, Prell W (1990) A multiphase plate tectonic history of the southeast continental margin of Oman. Geol Soc Lond Spec Publ 49:725–743

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nasher MA (2010) Geology and geochemistry of the Tertiary volcanic rocks and their allied intrusion at NW Ad-Dhala province, Yemen. PhD Thesis, Cairo University, Egypt (250 pp.)

  • Omran AA, Al-Areeq NM (2018) Joint geophysical and geochemical evaluation of source rocks – a case study in Sayun-Masila basin, Yemen. Egypt J Pet 27:997–1012

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peters KE, Walters CC, Moldowan JM (2005) The biomarker guide: v. 1. Biomarkers and isotopes in the environment and human history. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 471 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Redfern P, Jones JA (1995) The interior rifts of Yemen–701 analysis of basin structure and stratigraphy in a regional plate tectonic context. Basin Res 7:337–356

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Salad Hersi O (2011) Lithologic and diagenetic attributes of the Sharwayn (Maastrichtian) and Umm Er Radhuma (late paleocene–Eocene) formations and their significance to the K-T unconformity, jabal Samhan area, Dhofar, Sultanate of Oman. Arab J Geosci 4:147–160

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Salad Hersi O, Leckie D (2008) Depositional setting of Cretaceous reservoirs: Southern Yemen and Northern Somalia. AAPG-GeoArabia conference, Manama, pp 170–172

    Google Scholar 

  • Salad Hersi O, Abbasi IA, Al-Harthy A, Cherchi A, Schroeder R (2014) Stratigraphic evolution and depositional system of Lower Cretaceous Qishn Formation, Dhofar, Oman. Geol Soc Lond Spec Publ 392:303–323

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Salad Hersi O, Abbasi IA, Al-Harthy A (2016) Sedimentology, rhythmicity and basin-fill architecture of a carbonate ramp depositional system with intermittent terrigenous influx: the Albian Kharfot Formation of the Jeza-Qamar Basin, Dhofar, Southern Oman. Sediment Geol 331:114–131

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shalaby MR, Hakimi MH, Abdullah WH (2011) Geochemical characteristics and hydrocarbon generation modeling of the Jurassic source rocks in the Shoushan Basin, North Western Desert, Egypt. Mar Petrol Geol 28:1611–1624

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shalaby MR, Hakimi MH, Abdullah WH (2013) Modeling of gas generation from the Alam El-Bueib Formation in the Shoushan basin, northern western desert of Egypt. Int J Earth Sci 102:319–332

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • SPT (1994) The petroleum geology of the sedimentary basins of the Republic of Yemen. Unpublished Report. V.1–7

  • Sweeney JJ, Burnham AK (1990) Evaluation of a simple model of vitrinite reflectance based on chemical kinetics. Am Assoc Petroleum Geol Bull 74:1559–1570

    Google Scholar 

  • Teichmüller M, Littke R, Robert P (1998) Coalification and maturation. In: Taylor GH, Teichmüller M, Davis A, Diessel CF, Littke R, Robert P (eds) Organic Petrology. Gebrüder Borntraeger, Berlin, pp 86–174

    Google Scholar 

  • Tissot BP, Pelet R, Ungerer PH (1987) Thermal history of sedimentary basins, maturation indices and kinetics of oil and gas generation. Am Assoc Pet Geol Bull 71:1445–1466

    Google Scholar 

  • Waples DW (1980) Time and temperature in petroleum formation: application of Lopatin’s method to petroleum exploration. AAPG Bull 2:916–926

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the Petroleum Exploration and Production Authority (PEPA), Republic of Yemen, for providing the geochemical and geological data. The authors extend their sincere appreciation to the Researchers Supporting Project number (RSP-2020/92), King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Special acknowledgements to the Schlumberger for offering a 1D PetroMod software (available from its website).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geology Department, Faculty of Applied Science, Taiz University, 6803, Taiz, Yemen

    Mohammed Hail Hakimi, Abdulwahab S. Alaug, Madyan M. A. Yahya, Ismail M. Ismail, Ekhlas A. Al-Maghrabi & Shrook A. Mogram

  2. Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering Department, College of Engineering, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Aref A. Lashin

Authors
  1. Mohammed Hail Hakimi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Abdulwahab S. Alaug
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Aref A. Lashin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Madyan M. A. Yahya
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Ismail M. Ismail
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Ekhlas A. Al-Maghrabi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Shrook A. Mogram
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mohammed Hail Hakimi.

Additional information

Responsible Editor: Santanu Banerjee

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Hakimi, M.H., Alaug, A.S., Lashin, A.A. et al. Evolution of petroleum generation and expulsion of the oil-source rock in the north-western Say’un-Masilah Basin as inferred from 1D basin models of a single well (Al-Qarn-01). Arab J Geosci 13, 456 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-020-05460-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-020-05460-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation