Hydrocarbon potential of the Zechstein Main Dolomite in the western part of the Wielkopolska platform, SW Poland: New sedimentological and geochemical data

• Verified the current views on the paleogeography of Zechstein Main Dolomite.
• We propose new assumptions for the paleogeography architecture.
• We determined geochemical characteristics of organic matter in each facies.
• The organic matter has good oil potential and enough thermal maturity to generate hydrocarbons.
• The new paleogeographic pattern influenced on petroleum exploration.

The results of identification of facies and microfacies of highstand systems tract (HST) deposits in the Zechstein Main Dolomite (Ca2) are presented followed by a critical analysis of the existing views on the paleogeography and facies architecture of the Wielkopolska Platform (eastern part of the Fore-Sudetic Monocline, SW Poland). The authors discuss and question, the existence in zones that have been treated as basinal flat in the analysed area, and an extensive platform margin ooidal barrier. In general, the facies architecture of the study area resembles the block built of the Paleozoic basement.On this background analytical geochemical results are presented and their source nature characterized in the context of a new revised model of the Ca2 basin paleogeography. A new facies classification of carbonates, which has not been applied for the Polish part of the Ca2 basin yet, was presented. The geochemical characteristic of Ca2 rocks indicates that good oil-prone source rocks are present only locally and are connected with calcisiltites and dolomudstones of facies II and dolobindstones of facies IV. These facies are mainly present in the slope and toe-of-slope zones. The microbial-algal facies, abundant in the carbonate platform, have a weaker residual potential. However, the thermal maturity stays within the entire range of the “oil window”, the rocks should be re-labeled as good source rocks. The presence of oil-prone kerogen Type II, and locally even Type I, makes the Ca2 beds in this part of the Wielkopolska Platform a very efficient source rock, the character of which is confirmed by numerous hydrocarbon accumulations, related to the course of tectonic zones and morphology of the basement. The proposed characteristic of source rocks in the new paleogeographic-facies system, enables their better petroleum evaluation and shall enable future prospecting of the perspective zones.