Palynomorph Stratigraphy, Palynofacies and Organic Geochemistry Assessments for Hydrocarbon Generation of Ratawi Formation

Dinoflagellates, spores and pollen are extracted by palynological techniques from these rocks. Accordingly, Hauterivian and late Valanginian ages are suggested for their span of depositional time. These palynomorphs with other organic matter constituents, are used to delineate three palynofacies types that explain organic matter accumulation sites and their ability to generate hydrocarbons. Palaeoenvironments of these sites was mainly suboxic to anoxic with deposition of inshore and neritic marine environments especially for palynofacies type 2. Total organic matters of up to 1.75 TOC wt% and early mature stage of up to 3.7 TAI are used for hydrocarbon generation assessment. Rock-Eval pyrolysis Outcomes and data calculations of these analyses are plotted on diagrams of kerogen types and hydrocarbon potential. Theses organic matter have reached the mature stage of up to Tmax=438 ºC, hydrogen index of up to 600 milligram hydrocarbons for each gram of TOC wt% and mainly low TOC (0.50- 1.55). Accordingly, this formation could generate fair quantities of hydrocarbons in Baghdad oil field and Basrah oil fields. Organic matters of this formation in the fields of Euphrates subzone extends from Hilla to Nasiriyah cities have not reached mature stage and hence not generated hydrocarbons from the Ratawi Formation.