HYDROCARBON POTENTIAL OF THE UPPER CRETACEOUS SUCCESSION AT WELL 16/U‐1, ONSHORE QAMAR BASIN, EASTERN YEMEN

Abstract

An Upper Cretaceous succession has been penetrated at onshore well 16/U‐1 in the Qamar Basin, eastern Republic of Yemen. The succession comprises the Mukalla and Dabut Formations which are composed of argillaceous carbonates and sandstones with coal layers, and TOC contents range up to 80%. The average TOC of the Mukalla Formation (24%) is higher than that of the Dabut Formation (1%). The Mukalla Formation has a Rock‐Eval T max of 439–454 °C and an HI of up to 374 mgHC/gTOC, pointing to kerogen Types II and III. The Dabut Formation mainly contains kerogen Type III with a T max of 427–456°C and HI of up to 152 mgHC/gTOC. Vitrinite reflectance values ranging between 0.3 and 1.0% and thermal alteration index values between 3 and 6 indicate thermal maturities sufficient for hydrocarbon generation. Three palynofacies types were identified representing marine, fluvial‐deltaic and marginal‐marine environments during the deposition of the Mukalla and Dabut Formations in the late Santonian — early Maastrichtian.