Depositional environments and characterisation of the organic matter of the Lower Mundeck Formation (Barremian ?–Aptian) of the Kribi-Campo sub-basin (South Cameroon): Implications for petroleum exploration

Lacustrine and alluvial fan facies from the Lower Mundeck Formation (Barremian ?–Aptian) cropping out in the southern part of the Kribi-Campo sub-basin (Cameroon) have been characterised for their oil potential, using both Rock-Eval pyrolysis and palynofacies analyses. The shaly facies show good potential as oil-prone source rock, with TOC content around 4.4% and some intervals with an optimum potential to yield 45 kg hydrocarbons/t of rock. Along the studied outcrops, these organic-rich facies represent approximately a third of the total thickness. Although the studied samples come out from immature thin organic-rich beds within sand dominated beds, it is reasonable to think that these oil-prone facies increase in thickness and maturity in the offshore area, making this part of the southern margin of Cameroon of special interest for petroleum exploration.