Investigation of mineral-kerogen interactions and their relation to petroleum genesis

Thesis/Dissertation · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1981

OSTI ID:5469729

Halpern, H I

Two different types of proto-kerogens derived from marine sediments and lagoonal algal mats, respectively, were pyrolyzed alone and in the presence of five different common minerals to determine what role the inorganic matrix plays in the maturation of the polymeric organic matter. Samples were heated separately in closed systems in vacuo for one to 1000 hours at temperatures ranging from 100/sup 0/ to 500/sup 0/C. Of the gaseous products, carbon dioxide and methane were quantitatively measured and collected for delta /sup 13/C stable isotope measurements. Gas chromatography, vacuum line techniques, and stable isotope mass spectroscopy were employed. Rock Eval was used for analysis of the bulk material after pyrolysis to monitor the changes in the proto-kerogens and the products (liquid and solid) generated. Organic solvent extractions of the 300/sup 0/C samples were performed and the aliphatic hydrocarbons characterized by capillary gas chromatography. Important results can be summarized as follows: (1) calcite and illite enhance carbon dioxide production from kerogen; (2) illite was inhibitory toward methane generation whereas two montmorillonites showed enhancements of production; and (3) Calcite and one of the montmorillonites was inhibitory toward bitumen production while kaolinite, illite and the other montmorillonite were catalytic.

• OSTI ID: 5469729
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020200* -- Petroleum-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
ALKANES
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
ALUMINIUM SILICATES
BITUMENS
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
CALCITE
CALCIUM CARBONATES
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CARBONATE MINERALS
CARBONATES
CATALYSIS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CLAYS
DECOMPOSITION
HYDROCARBONS
ILLITE
INHIBITION
INORGANIC ION EXCHANGERS
ION EXCHANGE MATERIALS
KAOLINITE
KEROGEN
MATERIALS
METHANE
MINERALS
MONTMORILLONITE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC MATTER
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PRODUCTION
PYROLYSIS
RESPONSE MODIFYING FACTORS
SILICATE MINERALS
SILICATES
SILICON COMPOUNDS
TAR
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES