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 (Barrernian ?-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. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.