Geochemical Parameters of Oil and Rock Samples from Murzuq Basin, Libya: An Application for Paleoenvironment Description

Seven sedimentary rocks and seven crude oils undertook a geochemical analysis to describe their organic matter type and then tag the Paleoenvironments based on the organic matter. The samples were collected from B1-NC151, A1-NC58, P1- NC1, E1-NC174, D1-NC151, H29-NC115, and D1-NC174 boreholes, located in Murzuq Basin. The study was established to understand life forms in the ecosystem based on biomarkers that biochemical techniques recognized. Microscopy was used for kerogen typing and Spore Color Index reference. Organic matter (EOM) was extracted from cutting samples. Furthermore, hydrocarbons were saturated and aromatic fractionated from the samples to investigate using Gas chromatograph system. Spore color index (SCI), range between 1.5-3.5, Amorphous organic matter (AOM) from 42 to 95 percentage, Phytoclasts % were 4-15.5, and Palynomorphs % range 0.5 to 7.5. The percentage of Carbon 85.66-86.29, Hydrogen 13.16-13.73, Nitrogen 0.06 -0.27, and Sulfur 0.31-0.70, besides wax were measured, ranging among 1.3 to 6.0 %. Pristine/n-C17, Phytane/n-C18, Pristine/Phytane, carbon preference index measurements (CPI) and DBT/P as saturated hydrocarbon ratios from whole oil chromatographs were established. Tricyclic terpanes, hopanes and n-alkanes were distinguishing as the most important oil biomarkers that reserved the characteristics in the Paleoenvironments.