Geochemical and Petrological Characterization of the Early Eocene Carbonaceous Shales: Implications for Oil and Gas Exploration in the Barmer Basin, Northwest India

Carbonaceous shales of the Early Eocene Dharvi/Dunger Formation in the onshore Barmer Basin, northwest India were studied for the first time by integrating geochemical and organic petrological analyses. The carbonaceous shales of the Early Eocene Dharvi/Dunger Formation are characterized by a higher organic carbon content (TOC) of >10 wt % and consist mainly of a mixture of organic matter of types II and III kerogen, with exhibited hydrogen index values ranging between 202 and 292 mg HC/g TOC. The dominance of such kerogen is confirmed by the high amounts of huminite and fluorescent liptinite macerals. Consequently, the carbonaceous shales of the Early Eocene Dharvi/Dunger Formation are promising source rocks for both oil and gas generation potential, with oils of high wax contents, according to pyrolysis-gas chromatography results. The chemical and optical maturity results such as low values huminite/vitrinite reflectance, production index, and T max show that most of the examined carbonaceous shale rocks from the outcrop section of the Kapurdi mine have entered the low maturity stage of oil generation, exhibiting a range of immature to the very early-mature. Therefore, as highlighted in this study, the substantial abundance in hydrocarbon generation potential from these carbonaceous shales in the Dharvi/Dunger Formation may represent future conventional petroleum exploration in the southern part of the Barmer Basin, where the Dharvi/Dunger Formation has reached deeper burial depths.