• The Korean Journal of Petroleum Geology
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• v.11 no.1 s.12
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• pp.27-41
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• 2005

The hydrocarbon source rock potential of the Eocene units in the southern Oregon Coast Range was evaluated by using the Rock-Eval pyrolysis. Most Eocene units in southern Oregon Coast Range are thermally immature and contain lean, gas-prone Type III kerogen. However, some beds(coals) are sufficiently organic-rich to be sources of biogenic and thermogenic methane discovered in numerous seeps. The overall hydrocarbon source rock potential of the southern Oregon Coast Range is moderately low. Several requirements for commercial accumulations of hydrocarbon, however, probably exist locally within and adjacent areas. Three speculative petroleum systems are identified. The first includes the southern part of the Oregon Coast Range near the border with the Mesozoic Klamath Mountains and is related to a proposed subduction zone maturation mechanism along thrust faults. The second is centered in the northern part of the range and may be associated with basin-centered gas in an over-pressured zone. The third occurs near the eastern border of the range where maturation is related heating by sills and migration of hydrothermal fluids associated with mid-Tertiary volcanism in the Western cascade arc.