The Thrace Basin, NW Turkey, is one of the most important basins in Turkey in terms of hydrocarbon potential. Previous studies, starting in the 1930s, focused on tectonics, basin evolution, sedimentation and stratigraphy, depositional systems, and hydrocarbon potential. Eocene turbiditic sandstones and reefal limestones, and Oligocene deltaic sandstones are the major reservoir targets in the basin today. The focus of this research is the Upper Oligocene deltaic sandstones, namely the Danismen and Osmancik formations, which contain potential hydrocarbon reservoirs. The aims of research were to develop a better understanding of the geometric configuration of the Oligocene strata and to identify potential reservoirs within the study area. Accordingly, the geometric configurations of the strata were delineated using 3D seismic reflection data whereas petro-physical properties of the target formations were determined using wireline logs from three wells. A right-lateral strike slip or reverse fault system and associated NW-SE trending asymmetric fold extend across the study area. Both the fault system and the fold are truncated beneath the Miocene unconformity and are thus dated as late Oligocene to early Miocene in age. The Miocene unconformity forms a stratigraphic trap whereas the fault system and associated fold construct a NW-SE trending structural trap. Hydrocarbon-bearing, five main clean sandstone (shale volume less than %10) intervals were identified using wireline logs and evaluated as potential targets. Hydrocarbon concentrations increase through the fold structure. Thus, the fault system and the associated asymmetric fold were the main factors that affected the zonal distribution of hydrocarbons in the study area. / Master of Science / Thrace Basin, northwest part of Turkey, is one of the most important basins in Turkey in terms of oil and gas potential. Previous studies started in1930s and included studies on the geology of the basin. Major reservoir targets in the basin today are Eocene turbiditic sandstones and reefal limestones, and Oligocene deltaic sandstones. This study focuses on the Oligocene deltaic sandstones of the Danismen and Osmancik formations, which are significant in terms of the oil and gas potential in the basin. The main purpose of this thesis is to evaluate the geometric configurations of these two formations and to identify potential reservoirs within the study area. For this purpose, geometric representation of the study area was generated by mapping the formations with the help of 3D seismic data. Reservoir characteristics related to physical properties were determined by utilizing the data obtained from three wells within the study area. As a result, potential reservoir zones are discovered mainly in the Danismen Formation, which can further be incorporated with exploration activities in the basin.

>Magister Scientiae - MSc / This contribution engages in the evaluation of offshore sandstone reservoirs of the Central Bredasdorp basin, Block 9, South Africa using primarily petrophysical procedures. Four wells were selected for the basis of this study (F-AH1, F-AH2, F-AH4, and F-AR2) and were drilled in two known gas fields namely F-AH and F-AR. The primary objective of this thesis was to evaluate the potential of identified Cretaceous sandstone reservoirs through the use and comparison of conventional core, special core analysis, wire-line log and production data. A total of 30 sandstone reservoirs were identified using primarily gamma-ray log baselines coupled with neutron-density crossovers. Eleven lithofacies were recognised from core samples. The pore reduction factor was calculated, and corrected for overburden conditions. Observing core porosity distribution for all wells, well F-AH4 displayed the highest recorded porosity, whereas well F-AH1 measured the lowest recorded porosity. Low porosity values have been attributed to mud and silt lamination influence as well as calcite overgrowths. The core permeability distribution over all the studied wells ranged between 0.001 mD and 2767 mD. Oil, water, and gas, were recorded within cored sections of the wells. Average oil saturations of 3 %, 1.1 %, and 0.2 % were discovered in wells F-AH1, F-AH2, and F-AH4. Wells F-AH1 to F-AR2 each had average gas saturations of 61 %, 57 %, 27 %, and 56 % respectively; average core water saturations of 36 %, 42 %, 27 %, and 44 % were recorded per well.

<p>The Bredasdorp Basin is one of the largest hydrocarbon producing blocks within Southern Africa. The E-M field is situated approximate 50 km west from the FA platform and was brought into commission due to the potential hydrocarbons it may hold. If this field is brought up to full producing capability it will extend the lifespan of the refining station in Mosselbay, situated on the south coast of South Africa, by approximately 8 to 10 years. An unexpected pressure drop within the E-M field caused the suite not to perform optimally and thus further analysis was imminent to assess and alleviate the predicament. The first step within the project was to determine what might have cause the pressure drop and thus we had to go back to cores drilled by Soekor now known as Petroleum South Africa, in the early 1980&rsquo / s.</p> <p><br> <br /> </br>Analyses of the cores exposed a high presence of granulation seams. The granulation seams were mainly subjected within sand units within the cores. This was caused by rolling of sand grains over one another rearranging themselves due to pressure exerted through compaction and faulting, creating seal like fractures within the sand. These fractures caused these sand units to compartmentalize and prohibit flow from one on block to the next. With advance inquiry it was discovered that there was a shale unit situated within the reservoir dividing the reservoir into two main compartments. At this point it was determined to use Petrel which is windows based software for 3D visualization with a user interface based on the Windows Microsoft standards. This is easy as well as user friendly software thus the choice to go with it. The software uses shared earth modeling tool bringing about reservoir disciplines trough common data modelling. This is one of the best modelling applications in the available and it was for this reason that it was chosen to apply within the given aspects of the project A lack of data was available to model the granulation seams but with the data acquired during the core analyses it was possible to model the shale unit and factor in the influences of the granulation seams to asses the extent of compartmentalization. The core revealed a thick shale layer dividing the reservoir within two sections which was not previously noted. This shale layer act as a buffer/barrier restricting flow from the bottom to the top halve of the reservoir. This layer is thickest at the crest of the 10km&sup2 / domal closure and thins toward the confines of the E-M suite. Small incisions, visible within the 3 dimensional models could serve as a guide for possible re-entry points for future drilling. These incisions which were formed through Lowstand and Highstand systems tracts with the rise and fall of the sea level. The Bredasdorp Basin consists mainly of tilting half graben structures that formed through rifting with the break-up of Gondwanaland. The model also revealed that these faults segregate the reservoir further creating bigger compartments. The reservoir is highly compartmentalized which will explain the pressure loss within the E-M suite. The production well was drilled within one of these compartments and when the confining pressure was relieved the pressure dropped and the production decrease. As recommendation, additional wells are required to appraise the E-M structure and determine to what extent the granulation seems has affected fluid flow as well as the degree of sedimentation that could impede fluid flow. There are areas still containing untapped resources thus the recommendation for extra wells.</p>

I have compiled digital seismic and well data over a region of approximately 700,000 km² to better improve the correlation of the Mexican sector of the Gulf of Mexico (MGOM) with the better studied and more explored U.S. sector. I have ~25,000 km of regional 2D lines that were collected by the University of Texas in the 1970's. I have digitized data from published PEMEX data from the MGOM using SEG-Y converter software and incorporated these data into my seismic grid. Using these data, I interpreted and correlated 20 surfaces that range in age from Late Jurassic to Recent. The combined shelf-slope-basin dataset from the MGOM allows for correlation of units from the deepwater MGOM, across into the Mexican Ridges passive margin foldbelt, and onto the Mexican shelf. I have also incorporated seismic data from the offshore Chicxulub crater and correlated units in the Yucatan platform area with the deepwater MGOM. This regional data set indicates that normal, growth faulting linked with downdip toe thrusts and folds of the Mexican Ridges initiated in post-Middle Miocene time and are therefore unrelated to the earlier Paleogene Laramide uplift deformation phase. Shelf-slope-deep basin seismic facies of Eocene and Oligocene units show an influx of clastic materials linked with regional uplift and volcanic events affecting central Mexico during this period. I propose that the deepwater folds of the Mexican Ridges accompanied shelf-edge gravity sliding and normal faulting activated during accelerated Oligo-Miocene uplift, regional volcanic activity, and erosion of the Mexican landmass. Downdip sliding occurred on the seaward-dipping top Cretaceous carbonate unit (7° to 13°) along with overlying horizons that range in dip from 1° to 2°. Shelf-slope-deep basin seismic facies of the Paleocene units around the Yucatan peninsula suggest a sediment-starved and slide-free carbonate margin with a current basinward dip of approximately 12° and significantly greater than those dips observed along the present-day eastern Gulf of Mexico. Based on the seismic interpretations and plate reconstructions, I propose four major tectonosequences fill the Gulf of Mexico basin: 1) A Late Jurassic to Late Cretaceous passive margin phase; 2) a Late Cretaceous to Late Eocene Laramide deformational phase; 3) a Late Eocene to Middle Miocene passive margin phase; and 4) a Late Miocene to Recent Neogene deformational phase. / text

<p>The Bredasdorp Basin is one of the largest hydrocarbon producing blocks within Southern Africa. The E-M field is situated approximate 50 km west from the FA platform and was brought into commission due to the potential hydrocarbons it may hold. If this field is brought up to full producing capability it will extend the lifespan of the refining station in Mosselbay, situated on the south coast of South Africa, by approximately 8 to 10 years. An unexpected pressure drop within the E-M field caused the suite not to perform optimally and thus further analysis was imminent to assess and alleviate the predicament. The first step within the project was to determine what might have cause the pressure drop and thus we had to go back to cores drilled by Soekor now known as Petroleum South Africa, in the early 1980&rsquo / s.</p> <p><br> <br /> </br>Analyses of the cores exposed a high presence of granulation seams. The granulation seams were mainly subjected within sand units within the cores. This was caused by rolling of sand grains over one another rearranging themselves due to pressure exerted through compaction and faulting, creating seal like fractures within the sand. These fractures caused these sand units to compartmentalize and prohibit flow from one on block to the next. With advance inquiry it was discovered that there was a shale unit situated within the reservoir dividing the reservoir into two main compartments. At this point it was determined to use Petrel which is windows based software for 3D visualization with a user interface based on the Windows Microsoft standards. This is easy as well as user friendly software thus the choice to go with it. The software uses shared earth modeling tool bringing about reservoir disciplines trough common data modelling. This is one of the best modelling applications in the available and it was for this reason that it was chosen to apply within the given aspects of the project A lack of data was available to model the granulation seams but with the data acquired during the core analyses it was possible to model the shale unit and factor in the influences of the granulation seams to asses the extent of compartmentalization. The core revealed a thick shale layer dividing the reservoir within two sections which was not previously noted. This shale layer act as a buffer/barrier restricting flow from the bottom to the top halve of the reservoir. This layer is thickest at the crest of the 10km&sup2 / domal closure and thins toward the confines of the E-M suite. Small incisions, visible within the 3 dimensional models could serve as a guide for possible re-entry points for future drilling. These incisions which were formed through Lowstand and Highstand systems tracts with the rise and fall of the sea level. The Bredasdorp Basin consists mainly of tilting half graben structures that formed through rifting with the break-up of Gondwanaland. The model also revealed that these faults segregate the reservoir further creating bigger compartments. The reservoir is highly compartmentalized which will explain the pressure loss within the E-M suite. The production well was drilled within one of these compartments and when the confining pressure was relieved the pressure dropped and the production decrease. As recommendation, additional wells are required to appraise the E-M structure and determine to what extent the granulation seems has affected fluid flow as well as the degree of sedimentation that could impede fluid flow. There are areas still containing untapped resources thus the recommendation for extra wells.</p>

Magister Scientiae - MSc / The Bredasdorp Basin is one of the largest hydrocarbon producing blocks within Southern Africa. The E-M field is situated approximate 50 km west from the FA platform and was brought into commission due to the potential hydrocarbons it may hold. If this field is brought up to full producing capability it will extend the lifespan of the refining station in Mosselbay, situated on the south coast of South Africa, by approximately 8 to 10 years. An unexpected pressure drop within the E-M field caused the suite not to perform optimally and thus further analysis was imminent to assess and alleviate the predicament. The first step within the project was to determine what might have cause the pressure drop and thus we had to go back to cores drilled by Soekor now known as Petroleum South Africa, in the early 1980’s. Analyses of the cores exposed a high presence of granulation seams. The granulation seams were mainly subjected within sand units within the cores. This was caused by rolling of sand grains over one another rearranging themselves due to pressure exerted through compaction and faulting, creating seal like fractures within the sand. These fractures caused these sand units to compartmentalize and prohibit flow from one on block to the next. With advance inquiry it was discovered that there was a shale unit situated within the reservoir dividing the reservoir into two main compartments. At this point it was determined to use Petrel which is windows based software for 3D visualization with a user interface based on the Windows Microsoft standards. This is easy as well as user friendly software thus the choice to go with it. The software uses shared earth modeling tool bringing about reservoir disciplines trough common data modelling. This is one of the best modelling applications in the available and it was for this reason that it was chosen to apply within the given aspects of the project A lack of data was available to model the granulation seams but with the data acquired during the core analyses it was possible to model the shale unit and factor in the influences of the granulation seams to asses the extent of compartmentalization. The core revealed a thick shale layer dividing the reservoir within two sections which was not previously noted. This shale layer act as a buffer/barrier restricting flow from the bottom to the top halve of the reservoir. This layer is thickest at the crest of the 10km² domal closure and thins toward the confines of the E-M suite. Small incisions, visible within the 3 dimensional models could serve as a guide for possible re-entry points for future drilling. These incisions which were formed through Lowstand and Highstand systems tracts with the rise and fall of the sea level. The Bredasdorp Basin consists mainly of tilting half graben structures that formed through rifting with the break-up of Gondwanaland. The model also revealed that these faults segregate the reservoir further creating bigger compartments. The reservoir is highly compartmentalized which will explain the pressure loss within the E-M suite. The production well was drilled within one of these compartments and when the confining pressure was relieved the pressure dropped and the production decrease. As recommendation, additional wells are required to appraise the E-M structure and determine to what extent the granulation seems has affected fluid flow as well as the degree of sedimentation that could impede fluid flow. There are areas still containing untapped resources thus the recommendation for extra wells. / South Africa

<p>The main purpose of this study was to identify and characterize the various sand prone depositional facies in the deepwater Southern Outeniqua Basin which generally tend to form during&nbsp / lowstand (marine regression) conditions producing progradational facies. It made use of sequence stratigraphy and turbidite facies models to predict the probable location of deepwater&nbsp / reservoirs in the undrilled Southern Outeniqua Basin using data from basin margin Pletmos Basin and the deepwater Southern Outeniqua Basin. Basin margin depositional packages were&nbsp / correlated in time and space with deepwater packages. It was an attempt at bridging the gap between process-related studies of sedimentary rocks and the more traditional economic geology&nbsp / f commercial deposits of petroleum using prevailing state-of-the-art in basin analysis. It enabled the most realistic reconstructions of genetic stratigraphy and offered the greatest&nbsp / application in exploration. Sequence stratigraphic analysis and interpretation of seismics, well logs, cores and biostratigraphic data was carried out providing a chronostratigraphic framework of the study area within which seismic facies analysis done. Nine (9) seismic lines that span the shallow/basin margin Pletmos basin into the undrilled deepwater Southern Outeniqua basin were analysed and interpreted and the relevant seismic geometries were captured. Four (4) turbidite depositional elements were identified from the seismic lines: channel, overbank deposits,&nbsp / haotic deposits and basin plain (basin floor fan) deposits. These were identified from the relevant seismic geometries (geometric attributes) observed on the 2D seismic lines. Thinning attributes, unconformity attributes and seismic facies attributes were observed from the seismic lines. This was preceded by basic structural analyses and interpretation of the&nbsp / seismic lines. according to the structural analysis and interpretation, deposition trended NW-SE and NNW-SSE as we go deepwater into the Southern Outeniqua basin. Well logs from six (6)&nbsp / of the interpreted wells indicated depositional channel fill as well as basin floor fans. This was identified in well Ga-V1 and Ga-S1 respectively. A bell and crescent shape gamma ray log&nbsp / signature was observed in well Ga-V1 indicating a fining up sequence as the channel was abandoned while an isolated massive mound-shape gamma ray log signature was observed in&nbsp / Ga-S1 indicating basin plain well-sorted sands. Core analyses and interpretation from two southern-most wells revealed three (3) facies which were derived based on Walker&lsquo / s 1978, turbidite&nbsp / facies. The observed facies were: sandstone, sand/shale and shale facies. Sequence stratigraphic characterisation of petroleum reservoirs in block 11b/12b of the Southern Outeniqua&nbsp / Basin. Cores of well Ga-V1 displayed fine-grained alternations of thin sandstone beds and shales belonging to the thin-bedded turbidite facies. This is typical of levees of the upper fan channel but&nbsp / could easily be confused with similar facies on the basin plain. According to Walker, 1978 such facies form under conditions of active fan progradation. Ga-S1 cores displayed not only classic&nbsp / turbidite facies where there was alternating sand and shale sections but showed thick uninterrupted sections of clean sands. This is typical of basin plain deposits. Only one well had&nbsp / biostratigraphic data though being very limited in content. This data revealed particular depth sections and stratigraphic sections as having medium to fast depositional rates. Such rates are&nbsp / characteristic of turbidite deposition from turbidity currents. This study as well as a complementary study by Carvajal et al., 2009 revealed that the Southern Outeniqua basin is a sand-prone&nbsp / basin with many progradational sequences in which tectonics and sediment supply rate have been significant factors (amongst others such as sea level change) in the formation of these&nbsp / deepwater sequences. In conclusion, the Southern Outeniqua basin was hereby seen as having a viable and unexplored petroleum system existing in this sand prone untested world class.</p>

<p>The main purpose of this study was to identify and characterize the various sand prone depositional facies in the deepwater Southern Outeniqua Basin which generally tend to form during&nbsp / lowstand (marine regression) conditions producing progradational facies. It made use of sequence stratigraphy and turbidite facies models to predict the probable location of deepwater&nbsp / reservoirs in the undrilled Southern Outeniqua Basin using data from basin margin Pletmos Basin and the deepwater Southern Outeniqua Basin. Basin margin depositional packages were&nbsp / correlated in time and space with deepwater packages. It was an attempt at bridging the gap between process-related studies of sedimentary rocks and the more traditional economic geology&nbsp / f commercial deposits of petroleum using prevailing state-of-the-art in basin analysis. It enabled the most realistic reconstructions of genetic stratigraphy and offered the greatest&nbsp / application in exploration. Sequence stratigraphic analysis and interpretation of seismics, well logs, cores and biostratigraphic data was carried out providing a chronostratigraphic framework of the study area within which seismic facies analysis done. Nine (9) seismic lines that span the shallow/basin margin Pletmos basin into the undrilled deepwater Southern Outeniqua basin were analysed and interpreted and the relevant seismic geometries were captured. Four (4) turbidite depositional elements were identified from the seismic lines: channel, overbank deposits,&nbsp / haotic deposits and basin plain (basin floor fan) deposits. These were identified from the relevant seismic geometries (geometric attributes) observed on the 2D seismic lines. Thinning attributes, unconformity attributes and seismic facies attributes were observed from the seismic lines. This was preceded by basic structural analyses and interpretation of the&nbsp / seismic lines. according to the structural analysis and interpretation, deposition trended NW-SE and NNW-SSE as we go deepwater into the Southern Outeniqua basin. Well logs from six (6)&nbsp / of the interpreted wells indicated depositional channel fill as well as basin floor fans. This was identified in well Ga-V1 and Ga-S1 respectively. A bell and crescent shape gamma ray log&nbsp / signature was observed in well Ga-V1 indicating a fining up sequence as the channel was abandoned while an isolated massive mound-shape gamma ray log signature was observed in&nbsp / Ga-S1 indicating basin plain well-sorted sands. Core analyses and interpretation from two southern-most wells revealed three (3) facies which were derived based on Walker&lsquo / s 1978, turbidite&nbsp / facies. The observed facies were: sandstone, sand/shale and shale facies. Sequence stratigraphic characterisation of petroleum reservoirs in block 11b/12b of the Southern Outeniqua&nbsp / Basin. Cores of well Ga-V1 displayed fine-grained alternations of thin sandstone beds and shales belonging to the thin-bedded turbidite facies. This is typical of levees of the upper fan channel but&nbsp / could easily be confused with similar facies on the basin plain. According to Walker, 1978 such facies form under conditions of active fan progradation. Ga-S1 cores displayed not only classic&nbsp / turbidite facies where there was alternating sand and shale sections but showed thick uninterrupted sections of clean sands. This is typical of basin plain deposits. Only one well had&nbsp / biostratigraphic data though being very limited in content. This data revealed particular depth sections and stratigraphic sections as having medium to fast depositional rates. Such rates are&nbsp / characteristic of turbidite deposition from turbidity currents. This study as well as a complementary study by Carvajal et al., 2009 revealed that the Southern Outeniqua basin is a sand-prone&nbsp / basin with many progradational sequences in which tectonics and sediment supply rate have been significant factors (amongst others such as sea level change) in the formation of these&nbsp / deepwater sequences. In conclusion, the Southern Outeniqua basin was hereby seen as having a viable and unexplored petroleum system existing in this sand prone untested world class.</p>

Magister Scientiae - MSc / The main purpose of this study was to identify and characterize the various sand prone depositional facies in the deepwater Southern Outeniqua Basin which generally tend to form during lowstand (marine regression) conditions producing progradational facies. It made use of sequence stratigraphy and turbidite facies models to predict the probable location of deepwater reservoirs in the undrilled Southern Outeniqua Basin using data from basin margin Pletmos Basin and the deepwater Southern Outeniqua Basin. Basin margin depositional packages were correlated in time and space with deepwater packages. It was an attempt at bridging the gap between process-related studies of sedimentary rocks and the more traditional economic geology f commercial deposits of petroleum using prevailing state-of-the-art in basin analysis. It enabled the most realistic reconstructions of genetic stratigraphy and offered the greatest application in exploration. Sequence stratigraphic analysis and interpretation of seismics, well logs, cores and biostratigraphic data was carried out providing a chronostratigraphic framework of the study area within which seismic facies analysis done. Nine (9) seismic lines that span the shallow/basin margin Pletmos basin into the undrilled deepwater Southern Outeniqua basin were analysed and interpreted and the relevant seismic geometries were captured. Four (4) turbidite depositional elements were identified from the seismic lines: channel, overbank deposits, haotic deposits and basin plain (basin floor fan) deposits. These were identified from the relevant seismic geometries (geometric attributes) observed on the 2D seismic lines. Thinning attributes, unconformity attributes and seismic facies attributes were observed from the seismic lines. This was preceded by basic structural analyses and interpretation of the seismic lines. according to the structural analysis and interpretation, deposition trended NW-SE and NNW-SSE as we go deepwater into the Southern Outeniqua basin. Well logs from six (6) of the interpreted wells indicated depositional channel fill as well as basin floor fans. This was identified in well Ga-V1 and Ga-S1 respectively. A bell and crescent shape gamma ray log signature was observed in well Ga-V1 indicating a fining up sequence as the channel was abandoned while an isolated massive mound-shape gamma ray log signature was observed in Ga-S1 indicating basin plain well-sorted sands. Core analyses and interpretation from two southern-most wells revealed three (3) facies which were derived based on Walker‘s 1978, turbidite facies. The observed facies were: sandstone, sand/shale and shale facies. Sequence stratigraphic characterisation of petroleum reservoirs in block 11b/12b of the Southern Outeniqua Basin. Cores of well Ga-V1 displayed fine-grained alternations of thin sandstone beds and shales belonging to the thin-bedded turbidite facies. This is typical of levees of the upper fan channel but could easily be confused with similar facies on the basin plain. According to Walker, 1978 such facies form under conditions of active fan progradation. Ga-S1 cores displayed not only classic turbidite facies where there was alternating sand and shale sections but showed thick uninterrupted sections of clean sands. This is typical of basin plain deposits. Only one well had biostratigraphic data though being very limited in content. This data revealed particular depth sections and stratigraphic sections as having medium to fast depositional rates. Such rates are characteristic of turbidite deposition from turbidity currents. This study as well as a complementary study by Carvajal et al., 2009 revealed that the Southern Outeniqua basin is a sand-prone basin with many progradational sequences in which tectonics and sediment supply rate have been significant factors (amongst others such as sea level change) in the formation of these deepwater sequences. In conclusion, the Southern Outeniqua basin was hereby seen as having a viable and unexplored petroleum system existing in this sand prone untested world class. / South Africa

In this study, collected samples of nine different wells from the Middle East are used for various geochemical analyses to determine the hydrocarbon generation potential. The determination is carried out following the grain density, specific surface area, XRD, and Rock–Eval pyrolysis analyses. Four different types of kerogen are plotted based on the Rock–Eval analysis result. Kerogen type I usually has high hydrogen index (e.g., HI > 700) and low oxygen index, which is considered oil-bearing. Kerogen Type II has hydrogen index between type I and type II and oxygen index higher than type I (e.g., 350 < HI < 700) and is also considered to have oil-bearing potential. Kerogen type III has a lower hydrogen index (e.g., HI < 350) and is considered to have a primarily gas-generating potential with terrigenous organic matter origination. Kerogen type IV has a very low hydrogen index and higher oxygen index (compared with other types of kerogen), which is considered the inert organic matter. The kerogen quality of the analyzed samples can be considered as very good to fair; the TOC content ranges from 1.64 to 8.37 wt% with most of them containing between 2 and 4 wt%. The grain density of these examined samples is in the range of 2.3–2.63 g/cc. The TOC and density of the samples have an inversely proportional relationship whereas the TOC and the specific surface area (BET) has a positive correlation. The specific surface area (BET) of the examined samples is in the range of 1.97–9.94 m2/g. The examined samples are dominated by clay, primarily kaolinite and muscovite. Additionally, few samples have a higher proportion of quartz and calcite. The examined samples from the Middle East contain kerogen type III and IV. Only two samples (JF2-760 and SQ1-1340) contain type I and type II kerogen. Considering Tmax and Hydrogen Index (HI), all of the samples are considered immature to early mature. Rock–Eval (S2) and TOC plotting indicate that most of the samples have very poor source rock potential only with an exception of one (JF2-760), which has a fair-to-good source rock potential.