Source rock characterization of the upper Barremian, Albian and Cenomanian–Turonian organic-rich strata outcropping in Oued Bazina area, NE of Thibar diapir: Northern Tunisia

Rock-Eval pyrolysis, total organic carbon (TOC) determination and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis were performed on samples from outcrop sections of the upper Barremian (M’Cherga Formation), Albian (Fahdene Formation) and Cenomanian–Turonian (Bahloul Formation) in the Oued Bazina area located in the NE of the diapiric structure of Thibar, northern Tunisia. The upper Barremian and Cenomanian–Turonian organic-rich strata display high TOC values with a mean of 3.39% and 2.82%, respectively, while the Albian succession deposits exhibit TOC values lesser than 2%. The half-graben structures developed at these epochs have acted as restricted mini-basins favouring the water stagnation, the accumulation and the preservation of the organic matter and consequently the development of locally euxinic conditions in the bottom waters. The generative petroleum potential (S1 + S2) of the upper Barremian and Cenomanian–Turonian studied organic-rich strata is good to very good and appears to be moderate for the Albian organic-rich deposits. The n-alkane distributions of the Cretaceous source rocks are typical for a marine planktonic origin. The Pristane/Phytane ratio indicates a sub-oxic depositional environment for the upper Barremian and Albian successions and a sub-oxic to anoxic environment for the Cenomanian–Turonian organic-rich strata. Regarding the maturity degree of the three studied organic-rich strata, only the upper Barremian source rock presents a high maturity level with Tmax values ranging from 441 °C to 448 °C, which indicates that the deposits have been deeply buried and consequently have generated hydrocarbons that have been recognized in the studied oil seep. The integration of our results with available data of Tmax values on other outcrops in the salt dome zone allowed drafting a maturity trend of the studied source rocks. A general northeast–southwest trend of maturity increase is observed with Tmax values varying from 436 to 446 °C.