Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Geochemical study on oil-cracked gases and kerogen-cracked gases (I)—Experimental simulation and products analysis

  • Published:
Science in China Series D: Earth Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Eight types of samples: crude oil, chloroform bitumen A, oil fractions (saturated hydrocarbon, aromatic hydrocarbon, resin and asphaltene), source rock and kerogen, have been pyrolyzed in laboratory. The products have also been systematically analyzed. The results indicate that gaseous hydrocarbons yields for different types of samples at various temperatures are different, especially for different fractions of crude oil. There is difference for molecular compositions. The C2/C3 ratios of cracking gases in different types of samples have positive relationships with C2/iC4 as well as pyrolysis temperatures. Moreover, the ratios of C2/C3 and C2/iC4 are about 2 and 10, respectively, at the temperature of 500°C–550°C. However, when the temperature is higher than 500°C, the ratios of C1/C2, C1/C3 and dryness index for gases cracking from source rock and kerogen are higher than those from oil and bitumen, indicating an important different feature between oil-cracked gases and kerogen-cracked gases at the high or over-mature stage. The ratios of C1/C2, C1/C3 vary more than 10% at 500°C–800°C. In this paper, experimental results can provide important academic foundation and useful geochemical parameters for distinguishing of oil-cracked gases and kerogen-cracked gases.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Wang H Y, Yang T Y. An analogue experiment of gas generating by crude oil cracking (in Chinese). Natural Gas Industry, 1982, 2(3): 28–33

    Google Scholar 

  2. Bjoroy M, Williams J A, Dolcater D L, et al. Variation in hydrocarbon distribution in artificially matured oils. Organic Geochem, 1988, 13(4–6): 901–913

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Hao F, Guo T L, Zhu Y M, et al. Evidence for multiple stages of oil cracking and thermochemical sulfate reduction in the Puguang gas field, Sichuan Basin, China. AAPG Bull, 2008, 92(5): 611–637

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Zhao M J, Lu S F. Natural gas from secondary cracking of crude oil—An important pattern of gas generation (in Chinese). Geoll Rev, 2000, 46(6): 645–650

    Google Scholar 

  5. Behar F, Kressmann S, Rudkiewicz J L. Experimental simulation in a confined system and kinetic modelling of kerogen and oil cracking, Simulation and modelling of kerogen and oil cracking. In: Maxwell C B, Larter J R, Manning S R, et al., eds. Adv Org Geochem, 1992, 19(1–3): 173–189

  6. Horsfield B, Schenk H J, Mills N, et al. An investigation of the in-reservoir conversion of oil to gas: compositional and kinetic findings from closed-system programmed-temperature pyrolysis. In: Maxwell C B, Larter J R, Manning S R, et al., eds. Adv Org Geochem, 1992, 19(1–3): 191–204

  7. Behar F, Vandenbroucke M, Teermann S C, et al. Experimental simulation of gas generation from coals and marine kerogen. Chem Geol, 1995, 126: 247–260

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Behar F, Vandenbroucke M, Tang Y, et al. Thermal cracking of kerogen in open and closed systems: determination of kinetic parameters and stoichiometric coefficients for oil and gas generation. Org Geochem, 1997, 26(5/6): 321–339

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Behar F, Lorant F, Budzinski H, et al. Thermal stability of alkylaromatics in natural systems: kinetics of thermal decomposition of dodecylbenzene. Energy Fuels, 2002, 16: 831–841

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Hill R J, Yongchun Tang, Kaplan I R. Insights into oil cracking based on laboratory experiments. Org Geochem, 2003, 34(12): 1651–1672

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Prinzhofer A, Huc A Y. Genetic and post-genetic molecular and isotopic fractionations in natural gases. Chem Geol, 1995, 126: 281–290

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Prinzhofer A, Mello M R, Silva Freitas L C, et al. New geochemical characterization of natural gas and its use in oil and gas evaluation. In: Mello M R, Katz B J, eds. Petroleum Systems of South Atlantic Margins: AAPG Memoir, 2000. 73: 107–119

  13. Wang Z P, Fu X T, Lu S F, et al. An analogue experiment of gas generating by crude oil cracking, characters of products and its significance (in Chinese). Nat Gas Indust, 2001, 21(3): 12–15

    Google Scholar 

  14. Feng Z H, Chi Y L, Du H W, et al. Carbon isotopic composition and yield of gaseous hydrocarbon by oil hydrous pyrolysis in reservoir rock medium (in Chinese). Acta Sedimentol Sin, 2002, 20(3): 505–509

    Google Scholar 

  15. Zhao M J, Zeng F G, Qin S F, et al. Two pyrolytic gases found and proved in Tarim Basin (in Chinese). Nat Gas Indust, 2001, 21(1): 35–38

    Google Scholar 

  16. Chen S J, Fu X W, Ma L N, et al. Genetic identification method of kerogen-cracked gases and oil-cracked gases (in Chinese). Petrol Geol Exp, 2002, 24(4): 364–371

    Google Scholar 

  17. Zhao M J, Zhang S C, Liao Z Q, et al. The cracking gas from crude oil and its significance in gas exploration (in Chinese). Petrol Explor Devel, 2001, 28(44): 47–56

    Google Scholar 

  18. Yi C H, Wang T D, Wang S Y, et al. Differences between kerogen and oil cracked gases in Sinian reservoirs of Weiyuan and Ziyang area (in Chinese). Acta Sedimentol Sin, 2001, 19(1): 156–160

    Google Scholar 

  19. Qin S F, Li M, Dai J X, et al. Types of cracking gas in Hetianhe gas field in Tarim Basin (in Chinese). Oil Gas Geol, 2005, 26(4): 455–460

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geochemistry, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, 434023, China

    Min Zhang, GuangHui Huang & HongJing Zhao

  2. Key Laboratory of Oil & Gas Resources and Exploration Technology, Ministry of Education, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, 434023, China

    Min Zhang, GuangHui Huang & HongJing Zhao

  3. Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration and Development, PetroChina, Beijing, 10083, China

    GuoYi Hu

Authors
  1. Min Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. GuangHui Huang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. GuoYi Hu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. HongJing Zhao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Min Zhang.

Additional information

Supported by the National Key Science and Technology Program of China during the 10th Five-Year Plan Period (Grant No. 2004BA616A02-01-01-03)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Zhang, M., Huang, G., Hu, G. et al. Geochemical study on oil-cracked gases and kerogen-cracked gases (I)—Experimental simulation and products analysis. Sci. China Ser. D-Earth Sci. 52 (Suppl 1), 1–9 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-009-5009-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-009-5009-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation