Comparative study between Rock-Eval pyrolysis and biomarkers parameters: A case study of Ypresian source rocks in central-northern Tunisia

Sedimentary rock samples from the Ypresian Basin, in central-northern Tunisia, were analyzed by two well-proven organic geochemical methods: Rock-Eval (RE) pyrolysis and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis. These techniques were uses to obtain independent parameters on organic matter composition, its thermal maturity, and environment of deposition. This study reveals a close concordance between Rock-Eval pyrolysis data and polycyclic biomarkers parameters such as hopanes and steranes.RE pyrolysis in conjunction with GC–MS analysis show that the Ypresian Basin sediments contain a variable but notable organic-rich facies during the Ypresian and prove an unequivocal evidence for Type-II organic matter, which lies dominantly prior to the peak stage of the conventional oil window (end of diagenesis-beginning of catagenesis).The case study from the Ypresian Basin shows that these methods remain undoubtedly suitable for a good assessment of the petroleum potential of source rocks and rapid geochemical characterization of sedimentary organic matter.