Results:

Source rock characterization requires certain quantitative and qualitative parameters to define. The
quantitative parameter highlight the total amount of organic carbon (organic matter) present in
sedimentary rock. The qualitative parameters include type and maturity of organic matter. In the current
study, CS-analyser and Rock Eval Pyrolysis techniques have been used to determine the amount, type
and maturity of organic matter.

Amount of Sedimentary organic carbon (TOC):

A source rock contains carbon in both inorganic and organic nature. Inorganic carbon is present
in the form of carbonates while the requisite organic carbon in the form of Kerogen (resistant
organic materials). The quantitative parameter of organic matter present in the sedimentary rock unit
helps in determining the hydrocarbon generation capacity of the lithostratigraphic unit.
TOC represent total organic carbon contained in the source rock, usually measured in weight
percent. Minimum values of TOC for potential source rock are: for shale > 0.5 % and carbonates
> 0.3 %. In TOC data interpretation, the following parameters are taken under consideration;

TOC (weight %) Quality of Source Rock

0.0 – 0.5 Very poor/low/non-source
0.5 – 1.0 Poor
1–2 Fair
2–4 Good
4 – 10 Very Good
> 10 Excellent

TOC results and discussion: TOC values have been

obtained for seventeen outcrop samples, obtained from Patala shale exposed in Tindoh section in Sadda,
Kurram agency. The quantitative parameter of each sample has been measured in G&R labs, Islamabad.
The TOC results obtained for each processed shale sample with its sample identity and remarks for
source rock characterization are given below:

S.NO SAMPLE ID TOC% Remarks

1 PTS-1 0.415 V.Poor
2 PTS-2 0.6217 Poor
3 PTS-3 0.4264 V.Poor
4 PTS-4 0.4654 V.Poor
5 PTS-5 0.5010 Poor
6 PTS-6 0.4182 V.Poor
7 PTS-7 0.3753 V.Poor
8 PTS-8 0.3600 V.Poor
9 PTS-9 0.5165 Poor
10 PTS-10 0.4497 V.Poor
 11 PTS-11 0.4090 V.Poor
12 PTS-12 0.6125 Poor
13 PTS-13 0.4120 V.Poor
14 PTS-14 0.3768 V.Poor
15 PTS-15 0.4167 V.Poor
16 PTS-16 0.6077 Poor
17 PTS-17 0.5540 Poor

The graphical representation of TOC results is given below:

Interpretation: The TOC (in percent) results have shown

that six sample values are greater than 0.5 (percent) i-e in between 0.5 and 0.65. Seven samples possess
TOC in the range of 0.4 to o.5 and the rest of the samples contain less than 0.4 percent of organic matter.
In comparison of TOC values with the standard values given in the table (), it is inferred that the six
samples of Patala shale are above the minimum limit of TOC standard values, required for a rock to be
called as a source rock. The rest of the samples are nearer to this limit. From this, it is assumed that
Patala shale at Tindoh section in Sadda, Kurram agency may possess very poor to poor source rock
potential. It may be the potential candidate if sampling has been done at a greater depth. Generally, at
surface, TOC values are greatly affected as the organic rich sediments are more susceptible to surficial
process. Keeping in view the study area characterized by water catchment and slopy portion and
dominated by vegetation, the outcrop up to greater depth may be vulnerable to remineralization
because of physical (heat), biological (bioturbation and bioirrigation and roots) and hydrodynamics
(oxidation for a longer time duration), causing depletion in organic rich sediments.
Rock Eval Pyrolysis:

The qualitative parameters for the source rock characterisation are obtained using Rock Eval Pyrolysis
technique. This is done in order to identify type and maturity of organic matter which detects the
hydrocarbon generation capacity of the rock unit. . It also gives informations about the prevailed
conditions controlling the quantity, type, and thermal maturity of organic matter in sedimentary
environment. For the purpose, Rock Eval Pyrolysis of seven samples has been done in G&R labs,
Islamabad. The pyrolysis values of S1 (free hydrocarbons), S2 (pyrolysed hydrocarbons), S3 (inorganic
carbon), Hydrogen index (HI), Oxygen index (OI), production index (PI) etc. have been obtained to
evaluate the source rock potential of the rock unit. Rock Eval pyrolysis data is given below:

Dept TOC S1(mg/g S2(mg/g S3(mg/g Tmax(Co) PI HI OI RC(% PC(%

h % ) ) ) ) )
0 1.49 0.01 0.18 0.45 464 0.0 12 30 1.46 0.03
7
0 0.02 0 0.06 0.4 452 0 30 200 0 0.02
0 0
0 0.02 0.01 0.12 0.2 456 0.0 60 100 0 0.02
5 0 0
0 0.02 0 0.16 0.23 451 0 80 115 0 0.02
0 0
0 0.19 0 0.16 0.54 462 0.0 84 284 0.16 0.03
3
0 0.03 0 0.03 0.66 480 0 10 220 0.01 0.02
0 0
0 0.01 0 0.01 0.32 510 0 10 320 0 0.01
0 0
70 0.78 2.38 6.96 0.05 427 0.2 89 6 0 0.78
5 2

S1 & S2 values:

S1 values represent free hydrocarbons (mg) generated in the subsurface and present in a gram
of rock mass. These values are obtained during the initial stage of pyrolysis at the temperature
of 300 C0. 2) S2 values represent the pyrolysed
hydrocarbons (mg) formed by degradation (pyrolysis) of Kerogen in one gram of rock sample.
These values are obtained in the second stage of Pyrolysis where the temperature is increased
from 300 C0 to 550 C0 at the rate of 25C0/min. These values form S2 peak as detected by FID.
Both S1 & S2 values make S1 & S2 peak as detected by fluorescence ionization detector (FID).
Standards of S1 and S2 for source rock type are shown in the table: (Sare values ke range
lekhna hai, important )

S1 (mg/g rock) S2 (mg/g rock) Source rock type

<0.5 0 – 2.5 Poor
0.5-1.0 2.5 – 5 Moderate
1.0-2 5 – 10 Good
>2 >10 Very Good to Excellent

Interpretation: The Rock Eval pyrolysis results have shown very

low values of S1 and S2 with average values of 0.003 mg/g rock and 0.08 mg/g rock respectively. In
comparison with the standard values given in the table, it is assumed that Patala shale at the study area
possesses very poor to poor source rock properties. It has poor source rock potential for both free and
pyrolysed hydrocarbon generation.

The presence of very low free hydrocarbons may be because of two reasons. The organic matter may not
be subjected to sufficient deep burial and thus to temperature and pressure to produce free
hydrocarbons. If the rock would have been subjected to favorable temperature and pressure conditions
then the absence of free hydrocarbons might be the result of escaping during uplifting. The later case
seems the like one in the current scenario as the area is present at the junction of thrust faults and
overturning of the strata may be examine as the strata of interest is overlain by older sandstone of so
called Hangu formation. Low values of pyrolysed hydrocarbons (S2) suggest that organic matter present
in the strata is insufficient to produce adequate amount of hydrocarbons when meet with favorable
thermal conditions. Since both the values are very low. It can be deduced that in actual organic matter
concentration was low to provide prolific results (for organic matter, peak wal diagram se hawala dena
hai)

Tmax value and Production Index (PI):

Both the values give information about the maturation of a sedimentary organic matter.
Tmax value displays the temperature at which maximum amount of degraded hydrocarbons are
obtained during pyrolysis. In other words, it shows that if the Kerogen is in immature form
Pyrolysed hydrocarbons will be maximum and vice versa. It depends on the nature and maturity
of Kerogen. Tmax is represented as highest value of S2 peak.

Production index (PI) values represent the amount of free hydrocarbons geologically produced
relative to the total amount of hydrocarbons that the source rock could produce;
it is represented as the ration of S1 to S1 and S2 as:

PI = S1/S1+S2

Tmax (C0) PI (S1/S1+S2) Maturation

<430 <0.08 Immature
430 – 445 0.08 Top Oil Window (birth line)
470 0.4 Bottom oil line (deadline)
>470 >0.4 Overmature for Oil

Interpretation:

The Rock Eval Pyrolysis results display an average value of Tmax of 467.85 c 0 for the Patala shale in the
study area. This suggests that the rock unit is at bottom oil line. In other words, it is nearer the gas
window. It is also inferred that the strata is just entering the overmature stage. But low values of PI with
an average value of 0.0214 displays it to be in immature stage ( Yaha per garh barh lug raha
hai). The only possibility for the low values of PI may be that the rock unit would have produced free
hydrocarbons in the past which might be lost in the later stages perhaps because of uplifting or other
surficial processes playing their role in the depletion of organic matter.

Generation potential (S2 mg/g rock vs. TOC in %):

This displays the amount of hydrocarbons produced from the available sedimentary organic matter when
meet with suitable thermal maturation (Khan et al, Sir N). This is prolific in source rock evaluation of a
rock unit when compare with the published standards of (van Krevelen (1993), Hunt (1995) andHakimi
and Abdullah (2014)) (figure). In general, for all the sedimentary organic matter deposited in a particular
depositional environmnet, S2 mg/g rock and TOC (%) values range from 0.1-1000 (mg/g rock) and 1-100
(%) respectively (Hakimi and Abdullah 2014; Selley and Sonnenberg 2014).

In the current study, S2 values of Patala shale ranges from 0.01-0.18 (mg/g rock) while TOC values range
from 0.36 to 0.617 (%). These values indicate that Patala shale at the studied section has least potential
to generate hydrocarbons on thermal maturation (Maravelis et al. 2013; Makky et al. 2014). By
comparing these values with the standard values of a source rock, it is assumed that Patala shale at the
studied section represent poor source rock potential (figure).

The pyrolysis S2 vs. TOC (%) obtained for Patala shale unit in the area of interest deciphers