Hydrocarbon Generation Kinetic Characteristics from Different Types of Organic Matter

In order to contrast the hydrocarbon generation kinetic characteristics from different types of organic matter（OM）,18 samples from different basins were pyrolyzed using Rock-Eval-Ⅱapparatus under the open system.From the experimental results,the curve of hydrocarbon generation rate vs.temperature can be easily obtained,which usually can be used to optimize kinetic parameters （A,E,F）of the hydrocarbon generation model.In this paper,the parallel first-order reaction with a single frequency factor model is selected to describe the hydrocarbon generation kinetic characteristics. The hydrocarbon generation kinetic parameters reveal that the types of compound structures and chemical bonds of the lacustrine fades typeⅠOM are relatively homogeneous,with one dominating activation energy.The types of chemical bonds of the lacustrine facies typeⅡ2 OM and the terrestrial facies typeⅢOM are relative complex,with a broad activation energy distribution,and the reaction fraction of the preponderant activation energy drops with the decrease of hydrogen index.The impact of the activation energy distribution spaces on the geological extrapolation of kinetic parameters is also investigated.The results show that it has little effect on the hydrocarbon transformation ratio（TR）and therefore,the parallel first-order reaction model with proper number of activation energies can be better used to describe the hydrocarbon generation process.The geological extrapolation results of 18 samples of kinetic parameters show that the distribution range of the hydrocarbon generation rate of the typeⅠOM is relatively narrow and the hydrocarbon generation curve is smooth.In comparison,the distribution range of the hydrocarbon generation for typeⅢand typeⅡ2-ⅢOM are quite wide,and the hydrocarbon generation curves have fluctuation phenomena.The distribution range of the hydrocarbon generation rate and the fluctuation phenomena are related to the kinetic parameters of OM;the narrower the activation energy distribution,the narrower the hydrocarbon generation rate distribution,and the smoother the hydrocarbon generation curve,and vice versa.

Geochemical Signatures of Early Paleogene Source Rocks in the Sanshui Basin, South China

The Honggang member of the early Paleogene Buxin Formation is the main source rock in the Sanshui Basin, characterized by organic-rich black shales with the cyclic recurrence of organic- poor sediments. The geochemical characteristics of the Honggang member have been documented to determine the organic matter types and depositional environments in this paper. The organic matter of the black shales mainly consists of a mixture of land plant-derived and phytoplankton-derived organic matter. Total organic carbon content （TOC）-sulfur-iron （Fe） relationships suggest that the organicrich black shales were deposited under dysoxic-to-euxinic water conditions. The time that iron minerals remained in contact with H2S in anoxic waters possibly influenced the formation of syngenetic pyrite, and organic carbon controlled the formation of diagenetic pyrite. Organic-poor intervals usually show pyrite sulfur enrichment and higher degree of pyritization values relative to low organic carbon contents. This resulted from HS- diffusing downward from overlying organic-rich sediments and formed Fe sulfides through reactions with sufficient Fe. Trace elements generally exhibit low concentrations and little TOC dependence, suggesting some degree of depletion in these elements in the early Paleogene sediments of the Sanshui Basin. This probably resulted from cyclic recurrences of oxic benthic conditions, which promoted the remobilization of trace elements and caused the low concentration of trace elements.

Influences of Low-Temperature Hydrothermal Fluids on the Re-distributions and Occurrences of Associated Elements in Coal——A Case Study from the Late Permian Coals in the Zhijin Coalfield, Guizhou Province. Southern China

The occurrences of associated elements and their genetic factors in the No. 30 coal seam in the Zhijin Coalfield were studied using instrumental neutron activation analysis, inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy, and a scanning electron microscope equipped with an energy-dispersive X-ray analyzer. And, a microscope photometer system (Leitz MPV-Ⅲ) was used to observe the characteristics of coal petrology. According to the influence degree by the siliceous low-temperature hydrothermal fluids, the organic matter is divided into four types: A, B, C, and D of the hydrothermally-altered organic matter (HAOM). The study shows that the high content of Fe (2.31%) is not from pyrite, but mostly from the siliceous low-temperature hydrothermal fluids. The occurrences of the associated elements in the four organic matter types are different. The contents of Fe, Si, and Al are decreasing, but S and Cu are increasing in the order of the HAOM-A, HAOM-B, HAOM-C, and HAOM-D. The losing rate of sulfur in organic matter is 0.35% and the content of Fe taken from the low-temperature hydrothermal fluids into the organic matter is 0.794% during the siliceous low-temperature hydrothermal fluids invading the coal seam. The above facts indicate that the low-temperature hydrothermal fluids play a crucial role in the re-distributions and occurrences of associated elements in coal.

Geochemical Evaluation of the Permian Ecca Shale in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa:Implications for Shale Gas Potential

Shale gas has been the exploration focus for future energy supply in South Africa in recent time. Specifically, the Permian black shales of the Prince Albert, Whitehill, Collingham, Ripon and Fort Brown Formations are considered to be most prospective rocks for shale gas exploration. In this study,outcrop and core samples from the Ecca Group were analyzed to assess their total organic carbon(TOC), organic matter type, thermal maturity and hydrocarbon generation potential. These rocks have TOC ranging from 0.11 to 7.35 wt%. The genetic potential values vary from 0.09 to 0.53 mg HC/g,suggesting poor hydrocarbon generative potential. Most of the samples have Hydrogen Index(HI) values of less than 50 mg HC/g TOC, thus suggesting Type-Ⅳ kerogen. Tmax values range from 318℃ to601℃, perhaps indicating immature to over-maturity of the samples. The vitrinite reflectance values range from 2.22% to 3.93%, indicating over-maturity of samples. Binary plots of HI against Oxygen Index(OI), and HI versus Tmax show that the shales are of Type II and mixed Type Ⅱ-Ⅲ kerogen.Based on the geochemical data, the potential source rocks are inferred as immature to over-matured and having present-day potential to produce gas.