Biomarker and Geochemical Evaluation of Source Rock and Crude Oil Extract for Correlation, Depositional Setting and Source Rock Potential in the Indus Basin, Pakistan

ABSTRACT The oil-oil, and oil-source rock correlation is widely used to interpret the origin, maturity, and depositional setting of the source rock via Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry methods. The results obtained from the extract show that the organic matter was derived from the terrestrial to marine mixed origin. This indicates that the crude oil and extract are thermally mature in terms of early to peak hydrocarbon. Our interpretations reveal that the terrestrial to marine organic matter was deposited under a reducing transitional geological setting with low to moderate salinity and insignificant biodegradation. In addition, the parental material of the source rock (shale) has a calcareous chemical composition. The results of this study prove that values such as m/z = 191 and m/z = 217 strongly support the oil and the source rocks that are genetically related to each other in the Indus Basin of Pakistan. Finally, the studied strata are considerably an important source of petroleum generation in the Indus Basin of Pakistan.