Hydrocarbon provinces in the Swiss Southern Alps - A gas geochemistry and basin modelling study

The palaeotectonic setting and Alpine orogenic movements were recognized as main controls in the evolution of the petroleum generation potential. Three main hydrocarbon provinces are distinguished: (1) The Arbostora anticline which developed from an Early Jurassic high has excellent but immature source rocks which probably at no time generated hydrocarbons because of their shallow level in the nappe edifice, (2) the Stabio anticline south of the Arbostora anticline in southernmost Switzerland where wet gases are observed at the surface that are likely to have been generated from Late Cretaceous to present day from Triassic source rocks occurring deeper in the nappe pile, and (3) the M. Generoso basin with prevailing petroleum generation in the Early Jurassic and possible minor generation in marginal areas during Cretaceous and Tertiary times. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.