Journal of Petroleum Geology, Vol.9, No.3, pp. 259-280, 1986

©Copyright 2000 Scientific Press, Ltd.

MATURITY OF ORGANIC MATTER IN THE JURASSIC OF SOUTHERN ENGLAND AND ITS RELATION TO THE BURIAL HISTORYOF THE SEDIMENTS

E. J. Ebukanson* and R. R. F. Kinghorn+

* Lately of the Dept. of Geology, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, PMB 5323, Nigeria. (Dr Ebukanson has died since this paper was submitted; an obituary will appear in our next issue).

+ Dept. of Geology, Imperial College, Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2BP.

Abstract

An investigation of the maturity levels of organic matter in the major potential Jurassic hydrocarbon source rock units in Southern England (i.e. the Lower Lias, Oxford Clay and Kimmeridge Clay) using sporomorph colouration and alkane distribution patterns shows that the Oxford Clay and the Kimmeridge Clay organic materials are immature in most parts of the area. They are mature only in the central parts of the Mesozoic Wealden Basin.