Hydrocarbons are produced in Ukraine mainly in the Dniepr-Donets Basin (DDB; e.g. Tari, 2010). It is generally accepted that Lower Carboniferous rocks (V-23 “Rudov Beds”) represent one of the main source rocks in the DDB (Sachsenhofer et al., 2010; Misch et al., 2015). In an attempt to evaluate their
contribution to the charging of conventional oil and gas deposits, as well as their importance as a target for shale oil/gas production, bulk geochemical data, biomarker and isotope geochemistry, as well as data from Py-GC measurements and kinetic experiments were used for a characterization of the petroleum system.
Results proved Rudov Beds (V-23) and adjacent Visean intervals to be one of the main source rocks for conventional oil and gas fields in the DDB. The majority of investigated oil and gas/condensate samples could be correlated either to a Visean or a Serpukhovian source. Apart from that, average TOC values of
Rudov Beds within as well as north and northwest of the Srebnen Bay (northwestern DDB) are sufficient for unconventional production, although thermal maturity is a critical factor. Wells along the northeastern basin margin neither host sufficient TOC contents, nor do they reach the maturity cut-off for shale gas / liquids production.