南黄海盆地中-新生界湖相烃源岩地球化学特征及生烃史

南黄海盆地迄今未获商业性油气突破,或与对其中-新生界3套湖相烃源岩的发育模式和生烃史研究薄弱有关。对来自3套烃源岩的41块样本进行岩石热解、微量元素、X衍射和色谱-质谱分析后发现,泰州组二段腐泥组含量高,为Ⅱ₁型干酪根,以水生有机质输入为主,C₂₇甾烷占优,受海侵影响碳酸盐矿物含量高,古水体还原性强且盐度高,利于有机质保存;阜宁组二段和泰州组二段古水体环境相似,但C₂₈甾烷含量显著增高,为藻类为主和陆源为辅的双重有机质输入,是典型的湖相烃源岩;阜四段的C₂₉甾烷含量占绝对优势,TAR比值高,为单一的陆源有机质输入,古水体偏氧化性且盐度低,不利于有机质的保存。烃源岩复杂的母质输入类型和沉积环境不利于对其热成熟度的评价,对以甾烷20S/（20S+20R）或Ts/（Ts+Tm）参数表达的“未熟”特征应谨慎。基于断陷型-拗陷型的构造背景转换分析,建立了潜力生油层的生烃过程,认为活跃的火山活动对烃源岩生烃有促进作用,且北部坳陷以早期生烃为主,南部坳陷存在早、晚两期生烃,以三垛组沉积时期生烃为主。研究对南黄海盆地下一步的油气勘探部署具有重要指导意义。     

三塘湖盆地上石炭统哈尔加乌组烃源岩有机地球化学特征及意义

新疆三塘湖盆地上石炭统哈尔加乌组为一套中基性火山岩、火山碎屑岩夹沉积岩组合,沉积岩中发育多层厚度不等的烃源岩。采用岩石热解与饱和烃GC—MS分析对哈尔加乌组烃源岩进行了研究。结果表明:该套烃源岩有机质丰度高,有机质类型存在Ⅲ型和Ⅰ型2种端源干酪根及两者按不同比例的混合类型,有机质热演化主体已达到成熟阶段|烃源岩中较高的Pr/Ph值(1.1~3.01)、低的伽马蜡烷指数(0.047~0.158)及三环二萜烷分布特征表明沉积水体具淡水弱氧化—弱还原性质,这些指标与低的C₃₁R/C₃₀藿烷(0.186~0.310)、低的C₂₂/C_21三环萜烷(0.164~0.260)和较高的C₂₄/C₂₃三环萜烷(0.472~0.684)均为湖相沉积环境提供了有机地球化学方面证据|正构烷烃ΣC₂₁-/ΣC₂₂+值(0.54~2.47)、规则甾烷分布规律(C₂₉＞C₂₇＞C₂₈和C₂₉＞C₂₈＞C₂₇)及甾烷/藿烷(0.06~0.20)等指标均显示有机母质输入既有陆生高等植物,同时也存在大量细菌与藻类等水生生物。     

松辽盆地白垩纪非海相烃源岩的沟鞭藻及其生物标志化合物

在松辽盆地白垩纪非海相烃源岩中发现了丰富的沟鞭藻、绿藻和疑源类化石。生态环境研究表明,10个化石组合属于5种不同盐度的湖泊生物群。产薄壁纹饰简单的沟鞭藻化石的沙河子组、营城组和登娄库组为典型内陆淡水湖相沉积,是良好的生气岩;产刺状纹饰收缩式囊孢沟鞭藻化石的青山口组一段和嫩江组一、二段为微咸水-半咸水湖相沉积,是白垩纪两次海浸事件的反映,形成良好的生油岩。经色谱-质谱鉴定,在含沟鞭藻化石的烃源岩都发现沟鞭藻生物标志化合物-4-甲基甾烷,利用C27甾/C29甾烷和4-甲基胆甾烷/4-甲基豆甾烷两个比值,可区分出淡水、微咸水和半成水生烃环境。     

羌塘盆地昂达尔错地区侏罗系烃源岩生物标志物特征及其指示意义

以烃源岩抽提物的饱和烃色谱-质谱分析为基础,剖析了羌塘盆地昂达尔错地区3套主要烃源岩的生物标志物特征,探讨了其沉积环境和成熟度指示意义。研究表明:下侏罗统曲色组烃源岩具有较高的（C₂₁+C₂₂）/（C₂₈+C₂₉）、Ts/Tm、C₃₁藿烷S/R及重排甾烷/规则甾烷比,以腐泥型、腐殖腐泥型海相有机质输入为主,呈成熟烃源岩特征;中侏罗统布曲组烃源岩以相对较低的Pr/Ph和C₁₉/C₂₃三环萜烷比区别于其他2套烃源岩,沉积于较强的海相还原环境,呈腐殖腐泥型、腐泥型有机质输入和低熟-成熟烃源岩特征;中侏罗统夏里组烃源岩沉积于低盐度海陆过渡环境,有机质类型以腐殖型和腐泥腐殖型为主,显示低成熟烃源岩特征。      

涠洲油田油气地球化学特征及成因类型探讨

中石化涠西探区2015年获重大突破,涠西南D洼东部斜坡发现了涠洲油田。为揭示原油的成因和来源,此文采用地质地球化学技术,通过GC、GC-MS分析表明,原油中链烷烃组分以低碳数正构烷烃为主,平滑分布;甾萜烷异构化程度较高,富含重排甾烷,具丰富的C₃₀4-甲基甾烷以及低碳数甾烷,C₂₇、C₂₈、C₂₉规则甾烷呈"V"型或"L"型分布。油-油、油-源对比表明,涠洲油田原油与流沙港组优质的深湖-半深湖相烃源岩具有成因联系。原油成熟度参数C₂₉甾烷αββ/（αββ+ααα）、C₃₁升藿烷22 S/（S+R）等表明原油已达成熟阶段,利用甲基菲指数MPI1折算原油成熟度分布在0.79~0.97之间,原油成熟度与涠西南D洼流沙港组烃源岩热演化程度相当。综合以上分析认为,涠洲油田的原油表现为典型湖相特征,主要来源于涠西南D洼流沙港组烃源岩。     

一组有效区分渤中凹陷烃源岩的生物标志化合物参数

渤中凹陷是渤海湾盆地面积最大的二级构造单元，发育古近系沙河街组一段、沙河街组三段和东营组三段3套优质湖相烃源岩。准确识别东营组三段烃源岩贡献的原油，对于渤中凹陷油气勘探具有重要的理论和实践意义。根据烃源岩和原油芳烃馏分的色谱-质谱分析结果，提出了新的能够鉴别沙河街组三段和东营组三段烃源岩的生物标志化合物参数：C₂₇20R/C₂₈20R三芳甾烷和C₂₈20S/C₂₇20R三芳甾烷。东营组三段烃源岩的判识标准为C₂₇20R/C₂₈20R三芳甾烷>1.1，C₂₈20S/C₂₇20R三芳甾烷≤ 1.2；沙河街组三段烃源岩的判识标准为C₂₇20R/C₂₈20R三芳甾烷≤ 1.1，C₂₈20S/C₂₇20R三芳甾烷>1.2。据此，对渤中凹陷典型油田中原油的来源开展了判识，提出来自东营组三段烃源岩的原油具有近凹成藏的特点。     

潍北凹陷孔店组烃源岩评价及油源分析

潍北凹陷孔店组二段既有好、较好、较差烃源岩,也发育有机质富集层烃源岩(又称为优质烃源岩)。有机质富集层烃源岩沉积环境为亚热带型湿热古气候条件下的滨浅湖相淡-微咸水沉积,古生物以被子、裸子植物孢粉组合为主,含有介形类及少量藻类化石,干酪根类型为 , ₂及 ₁型,岩性为碳质泥岩及深灰色泥岩,有机碳含量大于4.5%,氯仿沥青“A”含量大于0.17%。依据原油的物理性质将潍北凹陷原油分为稠油、中密度油和低密度油,根据原油的生物标志物特征又可将本区原油分为低熟油和成熟油。大部分低熟油样品具有高Pr/Ph比值,低伽马蜡烷/C₃₀藿烷比值及高C₂₉甾烷含量的特征。稠油及大部分中密度油属于低熟油,油源对比表明主要来源于孔店组二段有机质富集层烃源岩。部分中密度油及低密度油属于成熟油,其油源与低熟油相同。     

新疆北部石炭系高演化烃源岩加氢催化裂解实验

针对新疆北部石炭系高演化烃源岩常规索氏抽提物含量低的特点,开展加氢催化裂解实验,对比分析两者的生物标志化合物特征,提高烃源岩的沉积背景及母源特征研究的可靠度。结果显示应用氢解产物的正构烷烃和甾烷化合物指示母质来源效果更好。浅部泥岩的正构烷烃呈nC₁₈和nC_22-24的双峰型分布,表明远洋水生浮游动物的贡献大,而深部泥岩呈主峰碳为nC₁₈-nC₂₄的单峰型分布,指示以低等菌藻类水生生物贡献为主;抽提物中C₂₇和C₂₉规则甾烷含量相当,指示混合母质来源,而氢解产物中规则甾烷以C₂₉为主,明确指示单一的母质来源。此外,氢解产物中含有更加丰富的βα-莫烷及ββ-升藿烷系列化合物,丰富了烃源岩的母质信息。研究明确石炭系烃源岩发育于较还原的沉积环境,优质烃源岩主要分布在下段,以菌藻类等单一的水生生物为有机母质来源,具备良好的生烃的背景及物质基础。实验也进一步证实氢解实验能够获取更多的生物标志物信息,对常规抽提方法是一种有益的补充。      

渤海湾盆地东濮凹陷北部页岩油富集类型和烃类组成特征——以文410井古近系沙河街组三段为例

为研究渤海湾盆地东濮凹陷北部页岩油的含油性及烃类组成特征,对文410井古近系沙河街组三段岩心样品开展了冷冻热解、三维定量荧光、气相色谱—质谱、岩石薄片等分析测试。东濮凹陷北部沙三段主要发育夹层型和裂缝型2种页岩油富集类型,烃类赋存主要为粒间孔和微裂缝2种形式,有效孔缝组合是页岩油高效富集的关键;岩心样品抽提物烃类组成特征主要以低碳数正构烷烃为主,C₂₇—C₂₈—C₂₉规则甾烷呈“V”型分布,反映出有机质来源主要为陆生高等植物与低等水生生物;伽马蜡烷含量较高,较低的Pr/Ph比值,反映该区有机质沉积环境主要为咸化的还原环境;结合C₃₁22S/(22S+22R)、Ts/(Ts+Tm)、C₂₉ααα20S/(20S+20R)、C₂₉ββ/(αα+ββ)等参数,表明烃源岩处于成熟阶段。      

沟鞭藻:24-降胆甾烷的重要生源

24-降胆甾烷是出现在原油和沉积有机质中的一类重要分子化石,其在地层中的分布与地质时代、古气候和沉积相等有关。国内外研究表明,硅藻是24-降胆甾烷的重要生源。通过研究发现,在缺少硅藻化石的渤海湾盆地济阳坳陷古近系沙河街组湖相沉积中,发育丰富的24-降胆甾烷,且与地层中的沟鞭藻分子化石(三芳甲藻甾烷)和生物化石(囊孢)存在明显相关性。因此可以推测,沟鞭藻是24-降胆甾烷的另一重要生源。由于沟鞭藻和硅藻分布的差异,不同盆地中24-降胆甾烷的来源存在区别。济阳坳陷古近纪气候温暖湿润,沟鞭藻极度繁盛,是24-降胆甾烷的主要贡献者。     

ORGANIC-RICH SHALES IN THE UPPER TRIASSIC ZANGXIAHE FORMATION,NORTHERN QIANGTANG DEPRESSION,NORTHERN TIBET: DEPOSITIONAL ENVIRONMENT AND HYDROCARBON GENERATION POTENTIAL

This study reports on the organic geochemical characteristics of high-TOC shales in the Upper Triassic Zangxiahe Formation from a study area in the north of the Northern Qiangtang Depression, northern Tibet. A total of fifty outcrop samples from the Duoseliangzi, Zangxiahe South and Zangxiahe East locations were studied to evaluate the organic matter content of the shales and their thermal maturity and depositional environment, and to assess their hydrocarbon generation potential. Zangxiahe Formation shales from the Duoseliangzi profile have moderate to good source rock potential with TOC contents of up to 3.4 wt.% (average 1.2 wt.%) and potential yield (S₁+S₂) of up to 1.11 mg HC/g rock. Vitrinite reflectance (R_o) and T_max values show that the organic matter is highly mature, corresponding to the condensate/wet gas generation stage. The shales contain mostly Types II and I kerogen mixed with minor Type III, and have relatively high S/C ratios, high contents of amorphous sapropelinite, low Pr/Ph ratios, high values of the C₃₅ homohopane index (up to 3.58%), abundant gammacerane content, and a predominance of C₂₇ steranes. These parameters indicate a saline, shallow-marine depositional setting with an anoxic, stratified water column. The source of organic matter was mainly aquatic OM (algal/bacterial) with subordinate terrigenous OM. Zangxiahe Formation shale samples from the Zangxiahe East and Zangxiahe South locations have relatively low TOC contents (0.2 to 0.8 wt.%) with Type II kerogen, suggesting poor to medium hydrocarbon generation potential. R_o and T_max values indicate that organic matter from these locations is overmature. The discovery of organic-rich Upper Triassic shales with source rock potential in the north of the Northern Qiangtang Depression will be of significance for oil and gas exploration elsewhere in the Qiangtang Basin. Future exploration should focus on locations such as Bandaohu to the SE of the study area where the organic-rich shales are well developed, and where structural traps have been recorded together with potential reservoir rocks and thick mudstones which could act as seals.     

BIOMARKER GEOCHEMISTRY OF PALEOGENE CRUDE OILS AND SOURCE ROCKS FROM THE RAOYANG SAG,BOHAI BAY BASIN,NE CHINA: AN OIL – SOURCE ROCK CORRELATION STUDY

This study presents a systematic geochemical analysis of Paleogene crude oils and source rocks from the Raoyang Sag in the Jizhong sub-basin of the Bohai Bay Basin (NE China). The geochemical characteristics of fifty-three oil samples from wells in four sub-sags were analysed using gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography – mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Twenty core samples of mudstones from Members 1 and 3 of the Eocene-Oligocene Shahejie Formation were investigated for total organic carbon (TOC) content and by Rock-Eval pyrolysis and GC-MS to study their geochemistry and hydrocarbon generation potential. The oils were tentatively correlated to the source rocks. The results show that three groups of crude oils can be identified. Group I oils are characterized by high values of the gammacerane index and low values of the ratios of Pr/Ph, Ts/Tm, 20S/(20S+20R) C₂₉ steranes, ββ/(ββ+αα) C₂₉ steranes, C₂₇ diasteranes/ C₂₇ regular steranes and C₂₇/C₂₉ steranes. These oils have the lowest maturity and are interpreted to have originated from a source rock containing mixed organic matter deposited in an anoxic saline lacustrine environment. The biomarker parameter values of Group III oils are the opposite to those in Group I, and are interpreted to indicate a highly mature, terrigenous organic matter input into source rocks which were deposited in suboxic to anoxic freshwater lacustrine conditions. The parameter values of Group II oils are between those of the oils in Groups I and III, and are interpreted to indicate that the oils were generated from mixed organic matter in source rocks deposited in an anoxic brackish–saline or saline lacustrine environment. The results of the source rock analyses show that samples from Member 1 of the Shahejie Formation were deposited in an anoxic, brackish – saline or saline lacustrine environment with mixed organic matter input and are of low maturity. Source rocks in Member 3 of the Shahejie Formation were deposited in a suboxic to anoxic, brackish – saline or freshwater lacustrine environment with a terrigenous organic matter input and are of higher maturity. Correlation between rock samples and crude oils indicates that Group I oils were probably derived from Member 1 source rocks, while Group III oils were more likely generated by Member 3 source rocks. The Group II oils with transitional characteristics are likely to have a mixed source from both sets of source rocks.     

四川盆地陆相页岩油成藏地质特征与重大发现

四川盆地下侏罗统发育陆相湖盆页岩,烃源岩品质好、有机质丰度高、页岩油资源丰富,以往研究主要关注自流井组大安寨段,其他层位研究较少。通过分析侏罗系页岩沉积环境、有机质丰度、类型、成熟度等地球化学特征,以及页岩储集性能、储集空间类型等地质条件,明确了下侏罗统湖相页岩油的地质特征及资源潜力。结果表明：四川盆地发育自流井组东岳庙段、大安寨段和凉高山组3套湖相页岩,页岩TOC含量一般大于1.0%;有机质类型为Ⅱ₁—Ⅱ₂型,3套页岩均具有较好的生烃潜力;R_o值为1.00%～1.82%,热演化程度为中等偏高。页岩厚度大、分布面积广,页岩平均孔隙度为4%～9%,页理缝发育。东岳庙段为平缓的广盆静水沉积环境;大安寨段为侏罗系最大湖泛期沉积,表现为深盆深水环境;凉高山组为广盆浅水环境。页岩发育纯页岩型、页岩-碳酸盐岩互层型、页岩-砂岩互层型3种组合样式。通过对页岩油富集层段进行评价,明确纵向上划分5个甜点段,平面上划分稀油区、轻质油区和凝析油气区3个区带。特别是平安1井等的重大发现,证实了四川盆地侏罗系具备良好的页岩油勘探开发潜力。     

利用分频反演技术预测烃源岩

通过寻找地震属性与总有机碳含量(TOC)之间的关系对优质烃源岩进行预测的方法逐渐得到应用并取得了较好效果,但其结果往往存在多解性,而导致预测结果不稳定.为此,笔者利用分频反演方法对涠西南凹陷流沙港组烃源岩进行精细预测,克服了多属性预测存在的多解性.通过引入AVF信息,使反演结果更加可信,并且解决了薄层识别及横向不连续性问题.采用分频反演方法得到了TOC反演体,通过对TOC反演体进行沿层计算,得到流沙港组二段顶部、底部油页岩以及内部泥岩的定量分析结果:流沙港组二段顶部和底部的油页岩TOC值大于 3%,流沙港组二段内部泥岩中的TOC值普遍大于2%,且最厚的部位基本与A洼陷、B洼陷吻合,属于优质烃源岩;井点处的TOC值、厚度的计算值与实测值基本吻合.优质烃源岩定量评价结果说明分频反演方法行之有效,可以定量评价优质烃源岩.     

焦石坝区块五峰组与龙马溪组一段页岩有机孔隙结构差异性

焦石坝区块五峰组和龙马溪组一段海相富有机质页岩中纳米有机孔隙十分发育,有机孔隙成为该页岩气储层的重要储集空间。应用场发射扫描电镜（FE-SEM）和ImageJ统计软件以及气体吸附测试,对五峰组和龙马溪组一段下部和上部3套页岩的20块样品有机孔隙结构（孔隙形状、数量、孔径分布）进行了观察和参数统计分析,并对有机质面孔率进行了计算。根据利用FE-SEM观察到的孔径分布在2~900 nm,主要在10~900 nm的有机孔隙特征发现五峰组、龙马溪组一段下部和上部页岩的纳米有机孔隙结构存在明显的差异性。五峰组页岩有机孔隙形状多为不规则棱角形,而龙马溪组一段页岩有机孔隙形状多呈椭圆形和近圆形。五峰组页岩样品孔径在10~50 nm有机孔隙相对最发育,其次是龙马溪组一段上部;而龙马溪组一段下部页岩样品孔径在50~900 nm的有机孔隙相对最发育,其次是龙马溪组一段上部。根据孔径主要在10~900 nm的6 1400余个有机孔隙的统计结果,页岩样品平均单颗粒有机质面孔率与有机碳含量（TOC）有粗略的正相关性,但五峰组页岩样品平均有机质面孔率相对略偏小。根据气体吸附孔径测定及分析,页岩样品中孔径在0.3~1.5 nm和2~10 nm范围的纳米孔隙发育程度与TOC具有明显的正相关性。焦石坝区块五峰组、龙马溪组一段下部和上部页岩有机碳含量的差异性、五峰组页岩处于挤压滑脱层底部且经历了更明显的分层滑脱改造以及改造引起的部分超压释放,可能是3个层位页岩有机孔隙结构差异性的原因。     

鄂尔多斯盆地延长组7段有机质富集主控因素

鄂尔多斯盆地延长组7段（长7段）富有机质页岩中的有机碳含量呈异常高值，其有机质的富集从根本上来说是受古构造、古气候、古沉积环境和事件作用综合控制的。对这些控制因素进行分析，并探讨了他们在富有机质页岩形成过程中的作用。结果表明：长7段沉积期强烈的构造活动对有机质的富集起到了非常重要的作用，一方面导致盆地整体沉降，湖盆面积扩大，从而使得可容空间增大；另一方面诱发了多期的火山和湖底热液活动，并借此向湖泊中输送了大量的营养物质。充足的生长空间、丰富的营养物质和适宜的气候条件使得水生生物异常繁盛（湖泊初始生产力极高），这为富有机质页岩的形成提供了丰富的物质基础。尽管长7段沉积期氧化-亚氧化的底水环境不利于有机质的保存，但是在供给量充足的前提下，仍然使得大量的有机质保存了下来，从而造成了有机质在沉积物中的大量富集。     

中-低成熟湖相富有机质泥页岩含油性及赋存形式——以渤海湾盆地渤南洼陷罗63井和义21井沙河街组一段为例

为揭示中-低成熟湖相富有机质泥页岩含油性及其赋存形式,以渤海湾盆地沾化凹陷渤南洼陷罗63井和义21井沙一段取心段为例,采用轻烃校正后的氯仿沥青“A”含量、油饱和指数（OSI）开展了含油性定量评价,采用光薄片和扫描电镜观察以及多温阶热释分析技术,开展了滞留油赋存形式定性、定量研究。结果表明,沙一段富有机质泥页岩含油性较好,经轻烃校正后的氯仿沥青“A”平均含量和油饱和指数（OSI）分别达到1.0%以上和中等含油至油气显示级别,个别层段达到具有页岩油潜力级别;富有机质泥页岩内滞留油除以有机显微组分（沥青质体和层状藻类体等）吸附-互溶态形式赋存外,还赋存于层理缝、构造微裂缝、矿物粒间（晶间）孔隙、粒缘缝以及溶蚀孔隙内。以有机质吸附-互溶态和无机矿物吸附态赋存的重质油占总滞留油的68%～84%（平均达75%）,而以游离态赋存的轻质和中质油则占总滞留油的16%～32%（平均25%）。现实可动油量（轻烃校正量与200℃热释轻质油量之和）介于0.62～1.76 mg/g（平均1.12 mg/g）,可动油率（现实可动油量与总滞留油量之比）5.39%～9.10%（平均7.06%）。利用200℃时热释放的轻质油量和轻烃校正量之和,可以较合理地对富有机质泥页岩层系的页岩油资源潜力进行快速评价。     

江汉盆地盐间页岩中芳基类异戊间二烯烷烃特征及对页岩油勘探的意义

通过对江汉盆地潜江凹陷王场地区王云11井潜江组潜33下亚段和潜34亚段4个韵律层部分取心样品的全岩热解和有机抽提物分子地球化学分析，将盐间页岩的沉积环境划分为半咸水—咸水湖相和咸水湖相2种类型。前者分布范围相对广泛，沉积水体分层明显，以富含伽马蜡烷和2，3，6-三甲基-芳基异戊间二烯烷烃为特征；后者分布范围相对局限，以较高丰度的3，4，5-三甲基—芳基异戊间二烯烷烃为特征，同时缺少水体分层的分子标志物证据。较高的热解S₁含量、S₁/w（TOC）比值以及与盐间页岩储层埋藏深度不匹配的萜烷Ts/（Ts+Tm）比值和规则甾烷异构化参数分析揭示，盐间页岩中游离油富集段主要分布在半咸水—咸水环境形成的富有机质纹层发育段，为一定程度的成熟油气沿着顺层微裂缝侧向运移提供了有利场所。通过常规甾萜烷和芳基异戊间二烯烷烃特殊生物标志物组合分析，提出盐间页岩油勘探应关注潜三段和潜四段内几个最大湖泛面，除了继续王场构造区开发试验外，应该加大蚌湖洼陷成熟烃源区的勘探力度。      

ORGANIC AND INORGANIC GEOCHEMICAL AND MINERALOGICAL ASSESSMENTS OF THE SILURIAN AKKAS FORMATION,WESTERN IRAQ

The Silurian Akkas Formation has been reported and described only in the subsurface of western Iraq. The formation is divided into the lower Hoseiba Member, which contains two high‐TOC “hot” shale intervals that together are around 60 m thick, and the overlying Qaim Member that is composed of lower‐TOC “cold” shales. This study investigates the source rock potential of Akkas Formation shales from the Akkas‐1and Akkas‐3 wells in western Iraq and assesses the relationship between their mineral and elemental contents and their redox depositional conditions and thermal maturity. Twenty‐six shale samples from both members of the Akkas Formation from the Akkas‐1and Akkas‐3 wells were analysed. The results showed that the upper, ~20 m thick“hot” shale interval in the lower Hoseiba Member has good source rock characteristics with an average TOC content of 5.5 wt% and a mean Rock‐Eval S₂ of 10 kg/tonne. Taken together, the two “hot” shale intervals and the intervening “cold” shale of the Hoseiba Member are ~125‐150 m thick and have an average TOC of 3.3 wt% and mean S₂ of 6.2 kg/tonne. The samples from the Hoseiba Member contain mixed Type II / III or Type III kerogen with an HI of up to 296 mgS₂/gTOC. Visual organic‐matter analysis showed that the samples contain dark brown, opaque amorphous organic matter with minor amounts of vitrinite‐like and algal (Tasmanites) material. Pyrolysis – gas chromatography undertaken on a single sample indicated a mature (or higher) algal‐dominated Type II kerogen. High spore and acritarch colour index values and weak or absent fluorescence similarly suggest that the lower part of the Akkas Formation is late mature to early post‐mature for oil generation. “Cold” shales from the Qaim Member in the Akkas‐3 well may locally have good source rock potential, while samples from the upper part of the Qaim Member from the Akkas‐1 well have little source rock potential. Varied results from this interval may reflect source rock heterogeneity and limited sample coverage. Mineralogically, all the shale samples studied were dominated by clay minerals – illite and kaolinite with minor amounts of chlorite and illite mixed layers. Non‐clay minerals included quartz, carbonates, feldspars and pyrite along with rare apatite and anatase. Palaeoredox proxies confirmed the general link between anoxia and “hot” shale deposition; however, there was no clear relationship between TOC and U suggesting that another carrier of U could be present. Rare Earth Element (REE) contents suggested a slight change in sediment provenance during the deposition of the Akkas Formation. The presence of common micropores and fractures identified under SEM indicates that these shales could become potential unconventional reservoirs following hydraulic fracturing. Evidence for the dissolution of carbonate minerals was present along fractures, suggesting the possible passage of diagenetic fluids. Palynological analysis combined with existing graptolite studies support a Wenlock ‐ Pridoli/Ludlow age for the Akkas “hot”shales. This is younger than many other regional “hot shale” age estimates and warrants further detailed investigation.