Quantitative study of biomarker hydrocarbons released from kerogens during hydrous pyrolysis
Several hydrous pyrolysis experiments using immature kerogens have been completed in which the absolute amounts of steranes and hopanes released were determined. Steranes and hopanes exhibited parallel, but displaced, released curves with maximum hopane yields being obtained at a higher temperature than those of steranes. Under the experimental conditions used, there was a large variation in the potential of the different kerogens to liberate steranes and hopanes. Comparison of the concentration of steranes and hopanes in bitumen extracts of unheated rocks and in the pyrolyzates of the associated kerogens allowed predictions, taking into account the bitumen and kerogen concentrations in the rock, of the nature of the biomarker fingerprint of an oil that might result from maturation of the rock. Some kerogens would appear to be major, and others negligible, contributors to such a biomarker fingerprint. Support for these conclusions was provided by comparison with whole rock pyrolyzates. Kerogen-derived biomarkers from Monterey shale dominated the oil obtained from the hydrous pyrolysis of the whole rock, while in the case of the Green River shale, the bitumen appeared to be the major contributor of biomarkers. These results may have significance in oil-source rock correlation studies where immature source rocks are related to oils sourced deeper in the basin. To obtain more accurate correlations with biomarkers, the potential of the source rock kerogen to contribute biomarkers and the biomarker distributions of the source rock kerogen should be examined.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Newcastle upon Tyne (England)
- OSTI ID:
- 5140445
- Journal Information:
- Energy Fuel; (United States), Journal Name: Energy Fuel; (United States) Vol. 2:1; ISSN ENFUE
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Steranes and terpanes in kerogen pyrolysis for correlation of oils and source rocks
Effects of effluents and water pressure on oil generation during confined pyrolysis and high-pressure hydrous pyrolysis
Related Subjects
040500* -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- Properties & Composition
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400102 -- Chemical & Spectral Procedures
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CHEMICAL REACTION YIELD
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHROMATOGRAPHY
COMBUSTION PRODUCTS
DATA
DECOMPOSITION
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY
HYDROCARBONS
INFORMATION
KEROGEN
MASS SPECTROSCOPY
MATERIALS
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC MATTER
PYROLYSIS
QUANTITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SPECTROSCOPY
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
YIELDS