An integrated approach to evaluate the unconventional hydrocarbon generation potential of the Lower Goru Formation (Cretaceous) in Southern Lower Indus basin, Pakistan

Southern Lower Indus basin is an oil and gas prone basin, which is important for producing hydrocarbon in Pakistan. Due to limited Rock-Eval pyrolysis data availability in the prospective shale gas basin, the organic facies geochemical characteristics study is a challenging task for researchers. The primary objective of this study is an evaluation of the Lower Goru Formation organic facies hydrocarbon potential by geochemical data and its subsurface facies distribution study by well tops and seismic data. The study area is situated at the Southern Lower Indus basin of Pakistan that is considering the prospective shale gas basin with immense unconventional hydrocarbon potential. In the present study, Rock-Eval pyrolysis data analysis along with the integration of both seismic and well tops data were conducted for investigation of source rock generation potential of organic facies variability within the Lower Goru Formation. The geochemical approaches used in the current study show that the Lower Goru Formation encountered in, bears fair to excellent total organic carbon (TOC) content values of 0.50-3.60% in Well-A and 0.10-4.69% in Well-B. Additionally, the results of Rock-Eval pyrolysis data show that interbedded shales of the Lower Goru Formation contain different types of kerogen (III, II-III, and II) with variable generation potential of oil and gas.

Automated summary

The study aims to evaluate the hydrocarbon potential of organic facies in the Lower Goru Formation and investigate its subsurface facies distribution, revealing that the Lower Goru Formation has fair to excellent total organic carbon content.