Oil generation and expulsion modeling of the syn-rift Salif oil-source rock in the Tihamah Basin, Yemeni Red Sea: Implications for shale oil exploration

The Miocene Salif Formation is an oil-source rock within the Tihamah Basin, southern Red Sea of Yemen. The Salif shale beds are characterized by high organic carbon content (TOC) up to 5.59% and high oil saturation index (OSI) (30 < OSI <260 mg HC/g TOC). However, most of the Salif shale samples exhibit OSI values of >100 mg HC/g TOC, indicating a thermally mature and oil-saturated source rock system with high oil-bearing po-tential. This finding is supported by the vitrinite reflectance values, representing mature oil generation window. Therefore, the shale oil potential of the Salif source rock system is studied for the first time by integrating geochemical data and geological information into a 1-D modelling scheme. The models reconstructed for the thermal and burial history infers that the Salif source rock system is located within the late oil-window from the Late Pliocene to present-day. Kerogen to oil conversion and the timing of petroleum generation and expulsion are also simulated by the 1-D models, showing that 10-50% of the total kerogen is converted into oil during the early Pliocene to the Pleistocene, which is consistent with the peak-late mature oil-window (0.70-1.26 %Ro). The models also exhibited that limited oil was expelled from the Salif source rock system since the Pleistocene -present-day as demonstrated by the TR ratio of up to 55%. The integration of source rock evaluation and modeling approach concludes that the Salif source rock provides a good potential for possible oil production, where suitable reservoir characteristics do occur.

Automated summary

The Miocene Salif Formation in the southern Red Sea of Yemen is a promising oil-source rock with high organic carbon content and oil saturation. Integrating geochemical data and geological information, the 1-D modeling suggests that the Salif source rock system is within the late oil-generation window. The models also demonstrate the conversion of kerogen to oil and limited oil expulsion since the Pleistocene, indicating the potential for oil production in suitable reservoir conditions.