Lithofacies Controls on Hydrocarbon Generation Potentiality of the Syn-Rift Late Cretaceous Rakopi Deltaic Facies in the North-Eastern Offshore Part of Taranaki Basin, New Zealand

The Taranaki Basin in New Zealand presents the most promising territory for strategies of hydrocarbon exploration and development. This basin contains multiple source rock levels its sedimentary successions formed during syn- post-rift periods. deepest rocks, found Rakopi Formation, were deposited deltaic to deep marine environments consist gas-prone coal organic-rich mudstone lithofacies. However, questions remain about preservation their organic carbon. study integrates various geochemical analyses (such as Rock Eval pyrolysis, kerogen petrography, biomarkers) assess potential carbon coals mudstones originated from oxygenated bottom water, but swift burial initial rifting phase facilitated materials. are less mature than facies contain a mixture desmocollinite, suberinite, resinite macerals. In contrast, lithofacies enriched liptodetrinite. maceral led elevated hydrogen index likely early expulsion liquid phases. Regular steranes, diasteranes, C29 sterane isomers distribution extracts highlighted greater terrestrial input coals, whereas significant is observed extracts. Biomarkers similar some nearby oils discoveries Basin, thereby confirming oil generation both Formation. These findings underscore liptinite-rich generate phases at marginal maturity levels.