Burial and Thermal History Modeling of the Paleozoic–Mesozoic Basement in the Northern Margin of the Western Outer Carpathians (Case Study from Pilzno-40 Well, Southern Poland)

Hydrocarbon exploration under thrust belts is a challenging frontier globally. In this work, 1-D thermal maturity modeling of the Paleozoic–Mesozoic basement in northern margin Western Outer Carpathians was carried out to better explain history source rocks that influenced hydrocarbon generation. The combination Variscan burial and post-Variscan heating due elevated heat flow may have caused significant Paleozoic pre-Middle Jurassic period. However, most likely combined effect Permian-Triassic Late Triassic–Early increase reaching maximum paleotemperature. main phase generation developed times. Therefore, generated hydrocarbons from Ordovician Silurian were lost before reservoirs traps formed Mesozoic. Miocene overprint Carpathian overthrust probably did not significantly change organic matter strata. Thus, it can be concluded petroleum accumulations Cenomanian foreland charged later, mainly by occurring within thrustbelt, i.e., Oligocene Menilite Shales. Finally, work shows comprehensive mineralogical geochemical studies are an indispensable prerequisite any system modelling because their results could influence new oil gas fields.