Journal of Petroleum Geology, Vol.18,
No.3, pp. 289-308, 1995
©Copyright 2000 Scientific Press,
Ltd.
GEOCHEMICAL
CHARACTERIZATION AND RELATIONSHIP
OF OILS AND SOLID BITUMENS FROM SE TURKEY
E. Mueller*, R.P. Philp* and J.
Allen*
* School of Geology and
Geophysics, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USA.
Abstract
Solid bitumens from the Seridhali vein,
occurring in the Upper Cretaceous--Palaeocene Germav Formation,
and five oils from different oilfields in SE Turkey, were
investigated by a variety of organic geochemical methods. Based
on biomarker distributions (pristane/ phytane, carbon number
preference (CPI), norhopane/hopane, extended hopane distribution,
pregnanes/regular steranes), a marine carbonate depositional
environment is inferred for the source of these oils. The oils
are "early mature", as indicated by their
ethylcholestane 20S/20S+20R ratios, and the 17 alpha
(H), 21 beta (H)-bishomohopane 22S/22S+22R ratios.
Differences in relative abundance of some compounds typical of
higher salinities in the depositional environment (docosane,
pregnane) suggest different sources or facies variations within a
common source. No aromatic sulfur compounds were detected in the
oils.