Essay on the coalification and hydrocarbon potential of the northwest European palaeozoic

Abstract

The palaeogeographic knowledge of the European Palaeozoic (Lower Permian, Carboniferous and Devonian) is closely connected with the search for hydrocarbon deposits, because the biggest deposits of natural gas have been found so far in the Rotliegendes (Lower Permian). An extension of these reservoirs into geologically older formations, especially into Upper Carboniferous and uppermost Devonian is expected and systematic exploration investigations are being proposed. An important tool for this is the research on coalification, which has already resulted internationally in much success and is now used intensively in the European palaeozoic. this regional-geologic survey points out the current state of knowledge in the palaeogeographic as well as geochemical and coal-petrographic studies.