Geochemical Analysis of Albian-Maastrichtian Formations in the Offshore Basin of the Abidjan Margin: Rock-Eval Pyrolysis Study

Abstract

The Albian-Maastrichtian interval of the Ivorian sedimentary basin has been the subject of numerous sedimentological, biostratigraphic, and geophysical studies. However, its geochemical characteristics remain relatively unexplored. This study aims to determine the oil potential and the nature of the organic matter it contains. It focuses on the geochemical analysis (physicochemical method) of two oil wells located in the offshore sedimentary basin of Côte d’Ivoire, specifically in the Abidjan margin. A total of 154 cuttings samples from wells TMH-1X and TMH-2X were analyzed to determine their oil potential and the nature of the organic matter (OM) they contain. The analyses were performed using Rock-Eval pyrolysis, a method that characterizes the amount of hydrocarbons generated by the organic matter present in the rocks. The key parameters measured include Total Organic Carbon (TOC), Hydrogen Index (HI), oil potential (S2), and maximum pyrolysis temperature (T max ). These parameters are used to assess the amount of organic matter, its thermal maturity, and its potential to generate hydrocarbons in the studied wells. The results show significant variations between different stratigraphic levels. In well TMH-1X, the Cenomanian and Campanian intervals stand out with very good quantities of organic matter (OM) with good oil potential, although often immature. In contrast, other stages such as the Albian and Turonian contain organic matter in moderate to low quantities, often immature and of continental type, which limits their capacity to generate hydrocarbons. In well TMH-2X, a similar trend is observed. Despite an abundance of organic matter, the oil potential remains low in most of the studied stages. The organic matter is primarily of type III (continental origin) and thermally immature, indicating a low potential for hydrocarbon generation. The study reveals that, although some intervals exhibit high-quality organic matter, the majority of the samples show insufficient maturity for effective hydrocarbon production. Wells TMH-1X and TMH-2X offer limited oil potential, requiring more advanced maturation conditions to fully exploit the hydrocarbon resources.