Domanic Shale Formation of the Timan-Pechora Basin: Geochemistry, Basin Analysis, Assessment of Hydrocarbon Resources

Domanic Upper Devonian deposits of the Timan-Pechora petroleum province are the subject of growing scientific and practical interest from the time of its discovery (late 19th century). And, despite the considerable knowledge database on Domanic organic matter have accumulated geochemists, it still requires more detailed study. This article presents the geochemical characteristics of organic matter of Timan-Pechora Domanic source rock using Rock Eval pyrolysis and the kinetic spectra of kerogen decomposition of sedimentary deposits from different parts of the Timan-Pechora basin. The variety of Domanic kinetics by deep strata and by area of the Timan-Pechora basin were analyzed. Dependence of kinetics from sedimentation conditions is shown. Four regional (sublatitudinal and submeridional) 2D basin models were created using of geochemical results. The results of petroleum basin modelling are performed. The sensitivity study of basin models to the kinetic spectrum change was made. It is shown that use of measured Domanic kinetics instead of published in software kinetics significantly affects basin modelling results. Were estimated the volume of generated by Domanic source rock hydrocarbons with use of different kinetics (published and measured). The difference in Domanic generation between these two scenarios is about 70 Mt of oil.