Abstract The Shiranish Formation consists of mudstones and wackestones in the central Euphrates Graben which are rich in organic carbon. Here the Shiranish Formation is more than 700 m thick with a minor increase in organic maturity with depth. The Shiranish Formation sediments are characterized by a continuously increasing hydrogen index to the top whereas the oxygen index is markedly lower in the Upper Shiranish Formation (USF). The Lower Shiranish Formation (LSF) is characterized by lower hydrogen indices and higher oxygen indices relative to the USF. These organic geochemical characteristics enable a rough subdivision into a lower and an upper part of the Shiranish Formation. Furthermore, mineralogical results enable a subdivision of the USF into two parts (USF-1, lower part; USF-2, upper part) each with individual mineralogical signatures due to a modified depositional environment and differing diagenetic history. The LSF resembles mineralogically the USF-2. Ankerite, together with higher pyrite contents in the LSF and USF-2, reflect similar diagenetic pathways which were controlled by higher clay contents. During early diagenesis, a traceable conversion of metabolizable organic matter led to mineral assemblages due to significant methanogenesis. Intervals in the USF with total organic carbon (TOC) contents up to around 4% and hydrogen indexes up to 500 mg HC/g TOC indicate the presence of very good potential source rock intervals for oil generation. Additionally, intervals of the LSF also contain gas-prone organic material. Bulk kinetic investigations show a broad activation energy of the LSF and a narrow activation energy pattern for the USF for hydrocarbon generation. Furthermore, the predicted petroleum formation temperatures are 136°C for the USF and 144°C for the LSF, respectively. This corresponds to c . 630 m difference in burial depth for petroleum formation. These differences in activation energies and corresponding depth to reach oil window maturity are controlled by facies, and less by maturity.

Abstract Shale gas is produced from fine-grained siliciclastic sediments that are typically rich in organic carbon. Nearly all shales contain thermal gas generated in situ at mature to overmature levels of thermal alteration, although gas of biogenic origin is also produced from some shales. While shale gas production in the USA began in 1821, it is only in the last few years that it has become widely significant (currently about 8% of the domestic gas). In contrast, European shale gas exploration is still in its infancy. In general, European sedimentary basins offer the best potential for shale gas occurrence because thick, organic matter-rich sediments occur in nearly all Phanerozoic strata. Even so, there is little knowledge about the factors controlling shale gas generation and, more importantly, shale gas production in European basins. These factors are not necessarily the same as those that control commercial shale gas production in the USA. Palaeozoic sediments of Cambrian to Ordovician age are currently being tested for their shale gas potential and productivity in Sweden, as are those of Silurian age in Poland. Moreover, Lower and Upper Carboniferous sedimentary successions from England in the west to Poland in the east probably contain shale gas, but their depth, thickness and thermal maturity may be limiting factors for exploration in continental regions. Lower Carboniferous black shales in the Dniepr–Donets Basin of the Ukraine may also hold a significant potential. Moreover, organic-rich sediments of Oligocene/Miocene age in the Paratethyan Basin may offer shale gas potential, for example in the Pannonian Basin. At present, Upper Jurassic black shales are currently being tested for their shale gas potential in the Vienna Basin. European analogues of known biogenic shale gas systems may occur locally in organic-rich Lower Cretaceous sediments in the North German Basin with gas generation being related to Pleistocene glaciation/deglaciation cycles.