Hydrocarbon-generating potential of humic coals from dry pyrolysis

Journal Article · Thu Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1990 · AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (USA)

OSTI ID:6989655

Lu, Shan-Tan; Kaplan, I R ^[1]

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1. Univ. of California, Los Angeles (USA)

For comparing the oil- and gas-generation potential of humic coals, two immature subbituminous coals (Australia Gippsland, an oil-prone Eocene coal (R{sub 0} = 0.37%, HI = 237.5), and a gas-prone Rocky Mountain Upper Cretaceous coal (R{sub 0} = 0.45%, HI = 110.5)) as well as an exinite-poor, vitrinite-dominant, Gulf Coast Wilcox lignite (R{sub 0} = 0.32%, HI = 183.7) were selected for dry pyrolysis at 300{degree}C from 2 to 1,000 hr. The results indicate that Australia Gippsland Eocene coal (GEC) generated four times as much liquid hydrocarbon, i.e., C{sub 12+}-saturated and aromatic hydrocarbons, as the Rocky Mountain coal (RMC), whereas both coals have the same potential for generation of gaseous hydrocarbons. Wilcox lignite (WL) generated as much liquid hydrocarbon as GEC. The two coals (GEC and RMC) and lignite (WL) exhibit similar H/C ratios, have high pristane/phytane ratios of 5.0, 4.5, and 5.1, respectively, and {delta}{sub 13}C values of {minus}25.7, {minus}24.9, and {minus}25.5% in RMC, GEC, and WL, respectively. The study suggests that the relative abundances of various macerals (exinite, vitrinite, and inertinite) are not critical to the hydrocarbon-generating potential. Rather, the amount of dispersed algae and bacterial material (unidentified) in the coal probably is more significant. 11 figs., 4 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 6989655
• Journal Information: AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (USA), Journal Name: AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (USA) Vol. 74:2; ISSN AABUD; ISSN 0149-1423
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020200* -- Petroleum-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
03 NATURAL GAS
030200 -- Natural Gas-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
AUSTRALASIA
AUSTRALIA
BROWN COAL
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CENOZOIC ERA
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COAL
CRETACEOUS PERIOD
DECOMPOSITION
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS
LIGNITE
MACERALS
MATERIALS
MATURATION
MESOZOIC ERA
MINERAL RESOURCES
MOUNTAINS
NATURAL GAS DEPOSITS
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
PYROLYSIS
RESOURCES
ROCKY MOUNTAINS
SOURCE ROCKS
SUBBITUMINOUS COAL
TERTIARY PERIOD
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
VITRINITE