DEPOSITIONAL ENVIRONMENTS AND SOURCE ROCK POTENTIAL OF THE JURASSIC KIDOD SHALES, ISRAEL

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Abstract
The Jurassic Kidod shales, which reach a thickness of up to 300 m., are found throughout the subsurface of central Israel at depths ranging from 1,200 m to over 2,300 m. Data derived from the study of bitumen and kerogen extracted from these shales were used to evaluate its source potential and depositional regime. Methods used included liquid and gas chromatography, microanalysis, δ13C determination, U V spectroscopy, electron spin resonance (ESR), thermal analysis (DTA and GTA), pyrolysis and vitrinite reflectance.The data indicate that the shales were deposited in a normal open‐shelf environment under oxic conditions. This conclusion, considered with the thickness trends of the shales and their diachronous progradation from west to east, points to a marine rather than, as previously proposed, a fluvio‐deltaic provenance for the shales. The implication of this interpretation is that truncation rather than lateral facies relationships accounts for the abrupt termination of the shales to the west over the north‐soth trending sturctural highs of Be'eri–Helez–Ashdod.From quantitative source‐rock evaluation a reasonable source potential is assumed. The presence of significant volumes of exploitable oil derived from the Kidod shales is, however most unlikely, because of its low maturation stage.