Hydrocarbon generation and expulsion modelling of the lower Paleozoic source rocks in the Polish part of the Baltic region

Authors

  • Paweł Kosakowski Faculty of Geology, Geophysics and Environmental Protection, AGH University of Science and Technology, Al. Mickiewicza 30, PL-30-059 Kraków, Poland
  • Magdalena Wróbel Faculty of Geology, Geophysics and Environmental Protection, AGH University of Science and Technology, Al. Mickiewicza 30, PL-30-059 Kraków, Poland
  • Paweł Poprawa Polish Geological Institute-National Research Institute, Rakowiecka 4, PL-00-975 Warszawa, Poland

Keywords:

Baltic region, Nothern Poland, lower Paleozoic, source rocks, 1-D modelling

Abstract

The burial history, thermal maturity, and timing of hydrocarbon generation of four source rock successions were modelled: the Middle Cambrian, the Upper Cambrian-Tremadocian, the Upper Ordovician (Caradocian) and the lower Silurian (Llandovery and Wenlock). The 1-D modelling was carried out in profiles of eight boreholes throughout the western Baltic region. Four selected boreholes are located offshore: A8-1/83, A23-1/88, B6-1/82 and B4-2A/02, and four onshore: Białogóra 3, Dębki 3, Łeba 8 and Żarnowiec IG 1. The thermal maturity of source rocks is the highest in the deeper buried western part of the basin and decreases from the west to the east and north-east towards the basin margins. The lower Paleozoic source rocks contain oil-prone Type-II kerogen. The modelling indicated that the onset of petroleum generation from the lower Paleozoic source rocks occurred from the Early Devonian through the early Carboniferous period. The peak of hydrocarbon generation took place from the Late Devonian to the Tournaisian. The majority of hydrocarbons generated were expelled during the latest Early Devonian and Carboniferous, and oil has not been expelled from source rock only in the eastern offshore part of the basin.

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Published

2010-03-27

Issue

Vol. 54 No. 2 (2010)

Section

Articles

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