Geochemistry and possible origins of biodegraded oils in the Cretaceous reservoir of the Muglad Basin and their application in hydrocarbon exploration

The Muglad Basin is one of the largest petroliferous basins within the Central and Western African Rift System (WCARS). A total of 42 oil samples including light, normal and heavy crude oils from the Cretaceous reservoirs of the Muglad Basin were systematically analyzed to fully understand their geochemical characteristics and possible origins. The results of oil-oil correlation show that these Cretaceous crude oils are genetically identical and derive from the same source kitchen. Differences in physical properties and geochemical compositions may be attributed to secondary alteration, such as biodegradation. Lightly, moderately and severely biodegraded oils can be divided on the basis of the relative abundance of n-alkanes and acyclic isoprenoids in the oils and the presence of "humps" on gas chromatogram baselines, as well as of the relative abundance of 25-norhopanes. The biodegradation degree of Cretaceous oils in the Muglad Basin is closely related to the burial depth of oil reservoirs and the distance between the locations of oil reservoirs and adjacent faults. This study may have practical application for further petroleum exploration and development in the Muglad Basin.