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TX 75083-3836, U.S.A., fax 01-972-952-9435. AbstractData from recent exploratory wells suggests a new Jurassic and Paleozoic petroleum system, in addition to the wellknown Silurian and Jurassic petroleum systems in Saudi Arabia. The new petroleum systems are discussed with respect to their hydrocarbon characteristics, genetic relationships and potential source rocks. The new Paleozoic oil has lacustrine characteristics and is confined to the Carboniferous-Permian Unayzah Formation. The analyzed hydrocarbons are paraffinic with high pour point and characterized by high API. The new Jurassic source rock is assumed to be Callovian-Oxfordian in age and is believed to be the lateral equivalent of the Tuwaiq Mountain/Hanifa interval. The bulk data of the analyzed Hanifa oils shows low S, Ni, V contents, and high Pr/Ph ratios which are quite different from typical Arab/Hanifa oils of eastern Saudi Arabian Basins. Biomarker data of the new Jurassic oils suggest generation from an open marine environment with continental organic matter input (similar to Rub' Al-Khali and onshore UAE) rather than a highly restricted carbonate source rock, such as the Hanifa/Tuwaiq Mountain Formation which generated the Arabian Basin oils.

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