Title: Hydrocarbon potential, maturity and depositional environment of the source rocks in the Southwestern part of the Naga Schuppen Belt, India

Authors: Mousumi Gogoi; T. Satish Kumar; Neeraj Mathur; Temsulemba Walling; Sarat Phukan

Addresses: Department of Geological Sciences, Gauhati University, Guwahati-781014, India ' Centre of Excellence for Energy Studies, Oil India Ltd., Guwahati-781022, India ' Centre of Excellence for Energy Studies, Oil India Ltd., Guwahati-781022, India ' Department of Geology, Nagaland University, Kohima-797004, India ' Department of Geological Sciences, Gauhati University, Guwahati-781014, India

Abstract: The organic matters in the Oligocene Laisong and Jenam Formations, exposed along the Dimapur-Kohima road section in the Naga Schuppen Belt, Nagaland, have been characterised by Rock-Eval pyrolysis, biomarker analysis and organic petrographical analysis. The organic matters are mostly mixed type II & III, and type III kerogens in the Laisong Formation and, type III and IV kerogens in the Jenam Formation deposited mostly in an oxic deltaic-terrigenous environment. The organic matters of both formations generally show poor hydrocarbon generative potential. Maturity parameters are indicative of the presence of immature to early mature organic matters in the Laisong Formation and early to mid-mature organic matters in the Jenam Formation. This is quite unusual as the Jenam Formation overlies the Laisong Formation. This mismatch was possibly caused by many episodes of rapid differential heating to high temperature followed by cooling related to active tectonics of the Naga Schuppen Belt. [Received: August 14, 2019; Accepted: August 7, 2020]

Keywords: Barail Group; Oligocene; Naga Schuppen Belt; Rock-Eval pyrolysis; biomarkers; organic petrology; source rock potential; depositional environment; India.

DOI: 10.1504/IJOGCT.2021.117158

International Journal of Oil, Gas and Coal Technology, 2021 Vol.28 No.1, pp.28 - 51

Received: 14 Aug 2019
Accepted: 07 Aug 2020
Published online: 19 Aug 2021 *

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