Applications of quantitative biomarker analysis in petroleum geochemistry

Conference · Tue Feb 28 23:00:00 EST 1989 · American Chemical Society, Division of Petroleum Chemistry, Preprints; (USA)

OSTI ID:7183389

Requejo, A G ^[1]

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1. Arco Oil and Gas Co., Plano, TX (USA)

Traditionally, results of triterpenoid and steroid biomarker analyses in petroleum geochemistry have been presented using one of two formats: (1) mass-chromatogram fingerprints, illustrating the distribution of individual components within a specific biomarker compound class (e.g. m/z 217 for the steranes), or (2) ratios of chromatographic peak areas, which are most often used to depict the relative abundance of precursors and products in a geochemical reaction (e.g., the % 20S sterane isomerization parameter) or the proportions of different biomarker compounds present in a sample (e.g., hopane/sterane ratios). These approaches possess several inherent limitations. For example, it is often difficult to relate distributions of biomarkers isolated in different liquid chromatographic fractions (e.g., aromatized steranes vs saturated steranes). Comparisons of the quantities of these compounds in different samples can also be complicated. With the increasing commercial availability of high-purity, authentic steroid and triterpenoid hydrocarbon standards, the ability to accurately quantify the concentrations of biological marker compounds in geologic samples is being facilitated. Determination of absolute concentrations adds a new dimension to biomarker analysis which could not be adequately addressed using the conventional fingerprinting approaches. This presentation will briefly overview the analytical methodology employed in biomarker quantitation and will present applications of the technique in geochemical studies of oils and source rocks from various regions.

• OSTI ID: 7183389
• Report Number(s): CONF-8904126--
• Journal Information: American Chemical Society, Division of Petroleum Chemistry, Preprints; (USA), Journal Name: American Chemical Society, Division of Petroleum Chemistry, Preprints; (USA) Vol. 34:1; ISSN 0569-3799; ISSN ACPCA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020200* -- Petroleum-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
023000 -- Petroleum-- Properties & Composition
58 GEOSCIENCES
580000 -- Geosciences
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CHEMISTRY
CHROMATOGRAPHY
CORRELATIONS
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEOCHEMISTRY
LIQUID COLUMN CHROMATOGRAPHY
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOURCE ROCKS
STEROIDS