ölreiche

ölreiche is a German term used in geology and energy studies to describe rocks or regions with high hydrocarbon content. It denotes an oil-rich character rather than a formal rock category, and is often used in assessments of potential shale oil source rocks and oil-prone formations.

Typical characteristics include elevated total organic carbon (TOC), presence of kerogen types II or III, and maturity in the oil window. Such rocks are commonly shale, siltstone, or carbonate-rich lithologies. Quality depends on TOC level, kerogen type, porosity, and permeability, as well as burial history and thermal evolution.

Assessment involves measurements of TOC, gas and oil yields by Rock-Eval pyrolysis, vitrinite reflectance, and maturation indicators. A rock can be described as ölreich if its hydrocarbon potential meets regional thresholds for exploration or production.

Occurrences are global in sedimentary basins with abundant organic matter. In practice, oil-rich rocks are targeted for shale oil and tight oil development using hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling, with economic viability depending on price, technology, and regulatory conditions.

Environmental and social considerations include water use, potential contamination, induced seismicity, and land use. The term is primarily used in German-language literature and may appear in English-language sources as oil-rich rocks or oil-prone source rocks, depending on context.