Skip to main content

Advertisement

Springer Nature Link
Log in

Analysis of relationships between geochemical parameters of petroleum potential in related source and carbonaceous materials

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Environmental Earth Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A worldwide data set of 1,085 samples containing organic matter of the type II/III kerogen from Carboniferous to Cenozoic was used to analyse the evolution of the hydrogen index (HI), quality index (QI), and bitumen index (BI) with increasing thermal maturity. The HImax, QImax and BImax lines were defined, based on statistical analysis and cross-plots of HI, QI and BI versus the vitrinite reflectance (%Ro) and T max (°C). The constructed HI, QI and BI bands were broad at low maturities and gradually narrowed with increasing thermal maturity. The petroleum generation potential is completely exhausted at a vitrinite reflectance of 2.0–2.2 % and T max of 510–520 °C. An increase in HI and QI suggests extra petroleum potential related to changes in the structure of the organic material. A decline in BI signifies the start of the oil window and occurs within the vitrinite reflectance range 0.75–1.05 % and T max of 440–455 °C. Furthermore, petroleum potential can be divided into four different parts based on the cross-plot of HI versus %Ro. The area with the highest petroleum potential is located in “Samples and methods” with %Ro = 0.6–1.0 %, and HI > 100. Oil generation potential is rapidly exhausted at “Results and discussion” with %Ro > 1.0 %. This result is in accordance with the regression curve of HI and QI with %Ro based on 80 samples with %Ro = 1.02–3.43 %. The exponential equation of regression can thus be achieved: HI = 994.81e−1.69Ro and QI = 1,646.2e−2.003Ro (R 2 = 0.72). The worldwide organic material data set defines two range of oil window represented by the upper and lower limits of the BI band: %Ro 0.75–1.95 %, T max 440–525 °C, and %Ro 1.05–1.25 %, T max 455–465 °C, respectively.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

Explore related subjects

Discover the latest articles and news from researchers in related subjects, suggested using machine learning.

References

  • Akande SO, Ojo OJ, Erdtmann BD, Hetenyi M (1998) Paleoenvironments, source rock potential and thermal maturity of the Upper Benue rift basins, Nigeria: implications for hydrocarbon exploration. Org Geochem 29:531–542

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Amijaya H, Littke R (2006) Properties of thermally metamorphosed coal from Tanjung Enim Area, South Sumatra Basin, Indonesia with special reference to the coalification path of macerals. Int J Coal Geol 66:271–295

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ASTM (1975) Standard D-2797, ASTM standard manual part, vol 26. ASTM, Philadelphia, pp 350–354

  • ASTM (1980) Standard D-2797, microscopical determination of volume percent of physical components in a polished specimen of coal. ASTM, Philadelphia

    Google Scholar 

  • Bordenave ML, Espitalie’ J, Leplat P, Oudin JL, Vandenbroucke M (1993) Screening techniques for source rock evaluation. In: Bordenave ML (ed) Applied petroleum geochemistry. Editions Technip, Paris, pp 219–224

    Google Scholar 

  • Canonico U, Tocco R, Ruggiero A, Suarez H (2004) Organic geochemistry and petrology of coals and carbonaceous shales from western Venezuela. Int J Coal Geol 57:151–165

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen J, Liang D, Wang X, Zhong N, Song F, Deng C, Shi X, Jin T, Xiang S (2003) Mixed oils derived from multiple source rocks in the Cainan oilfield, Junggar Basin, Northwest China. Part I: genetic potential of source rocks, features of biomarkers and oil sources of typical crude oil. Org Geochem 34:889–909

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen J-P, Deng C-P, Wang H-T, Han D-X (2006) Genetic potential and geochemical features of pyrolysis oils of macerals from Jurassic coal measures, Northwest China. Geochimica 1:81–87

    Google Scholar 

  • Chiu J-H, Kuo C-L, Lin H-J, Chou T-H (1993) Geochemical modeling of source rock hydrocarbon generation potential. Explor Dev Res Rep 16:232–256

    Google Scholar 

  • Chiu J-H, Kuo C-L, Wu S-H, Lin L-H, Shen J-C, Chou T-H (1996) Simulation of the hydrocarbon generation potential of the coal samples. Explor Dev Res Rep 19:420–453

    Google Scholar 

  • Dahl B, Bojesen-Koefoed J, Holm A, Justwan H, Rasmussen E, Thomsen E (2004) A new approach to interpreting Rock-Eval S2 and TOC data for kerogen quality assessment. Org Geochem 35:1461–1477

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Espitalie’ J, Laporte JL, Madec M, Marquis F, Leplat P, Paulet J, Boutefeu F (1977) Me’ thode rapide de caracte’ risation des roches me` res, de leur potentiel pe’ trolier et de leur degre’ d’e’ volution. Revue Institut Franc- ais du Pe’ trole 32:23–42

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Espitalie’ J, Deroo G, Marquis F (1985a) La pyrolyse Rock-Eval et ses applications. Revue Institut Franc- ais du Pe’ trole Part I 40:563–578

  • Espitalie’ J, Deroo G, Marquis F (1985b) La pyrolyse Rock-Eval et ses applications. Revue Institut Franc- ais du Pe’ trole Part II 40:755–784

  • Hu C-J (2001) The application of Rock-Eval 6 in geochemical exploration. Explor Dev Res Rep 23:367–378

    Google Scholar 

  • Huc AY, Durand B, Roucachet J, Vandenbrouke M, Pittion JL (1986) Comparison of three series of organic matter of continental origin. Org Geochem 10:65–72

    Google Scholar 

  • Hunt JM (1996) Petroleum geochemistry and geology. W.H. Freeman and Company, New York, p 743

    Google Scholar 

  • ISO 7404-5 (1994)E Methods for the petrographic analysis of bituminous coal and anthracite, Part 5. Method of determining microscopically the reflectance of vitrinite, International Standard, 2nd edn, pp 1–13

  • Keller G (2001) Applied statistics with microsoft excel. Thomson Learning Asia Pte Ltd, Beijing, p 670

    Google Scholar 

  • Killops SD, Funnell RH, Suggate RP, Sykes R, Peters KE, Walters C, Woolhouse AD, Weston RJ (1998a) Predicting generation and expulsion of paraffinic oil from vitrinite-rich coals. Org Geochem 29:1–21

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Killops SD, Funnell RH, Suggate RP, Sykes R, Peters KE, Walters C, Woolhouse AD, Weston RJ, Boudou J-P (1998b) Predicting generation and expulsion of paraffinic oil from vitrinite-rich coals. Org Geochem 29:1–21

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kotarba M, Lewan MD (2004) Characterizing thermogenic coalbed gas from Polish coals of different ranks by hydrous pyrolysis. Org Geochem 35:615–646

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kotarba MJ, Clayton JL, Rice DD, Wagner M (2002) Assessment of hydrocarbon source rock potential of Polish bituminous coals and carbonaceous shales. Chem Geol 184:11–35

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kotarba MJ, Wiectaw D, Koltun YV, Marynowski L, Kusmierek J, Dudok IV (2007) Organic geochemistry study and genetic correlation of natural gas, oil and Menilite source rocks in the area between San and Stryi rivers (Polish and Ukrainian Carpathians). Org Geochem 38:1431–1456

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee H-T (2011) Analysis and characterization of samples from sedimentary strata with correlations to indicate the potential for hydrocarbons. Environ Earth Sci 64:1713–1728

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lewan MD (1997) Experiments on the role of water in petroleum formation. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 61:3691–3723

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu D-H, Zhang H-Z, Dai J-X, Sheng G-Y, Xiao X-M, Sun Y-H, Shen J-G (2000) The research and evaluation of forming hydrocarbon from micro-constituent of coal rock. Chin Sci Bull 45:346–352

    Google Scholar 

  • Newman J, Boreham CJ, Ward SD, Murray AP, Bal AA (1999) Floral influences on the petroleum source potential of New Zealand coals. In: Masterlerz M, Glikson M, Golding SD (eds) Coalbed methane: scientific, environmental and economic evaluation. Kluwer Academic, New York, pp 461–492

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Pedersen GK, Andersen LA, Lundsteen EB, Petersen HI, Bojesen-Koefoed JA, Nytoft HP (2006) Depositional environments, organic maturity and petroleum potential of the Cretaceous Coal-Bearing Atane Formation at Qullissat, Nuussuaq Basin, West Greenland. J Pet Geol 29:3–26

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pepper AS, Corvi PJ (1995) Simple kinetic models of petroleum formation. Part I: oil and gas generation from kerogen. Mar Pet Geol 12:291–319

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peters KE (1986) Guidelines for evaluating petroleum source rocks using programmed pyrolysis. Am Assoc Petrol Geol Bull 70:318–329

    Google Scholar 

  • Peters KE, Cassa MR (1994) Applied source-rock geochemistry. In: Magoon LB, Dow WG (eds) The petroleum system—from source to trap, vol 60. American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Memoir, pp 93–120

    Google Scholar 

  • Petersen HI (2002) A reconsideration of the “oil window” for humic coal and kerogen type III source rocks. J Pet Geol 25:407–432

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Petersen HI (2006) The petroleum generation potential and effective oil window of humic coals related to coal composition and age. Int J Coal Geol 67:221–248

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Petersen HI, Rosenberg P (2000) The relationship between the composition and rank of humic coals and their activation energy distributions for the generation of bulk petroleum. Pet Geosci 6:137–149

    Google Scholar 

  • Powell TG, Boreham CJ, Smyth M, Russell N, Cook AC (1991) Petroleum source rock assessment in non-marine sequences: pyrolysis and petrographic analysis of Australian coals and carbonaceous shales. Org Geochem 17:375–394

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rabbani AR, Kamali MR (2005) Source rock evaluation and petroleum geochemistry offshore SW Iran. J Pet Geol 28:413–428

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sachsenhofer RF, Privalov VA, Izart A, Elie M, Kortensky J, Panova EA, Sotirov A, Zhykalyak MV (2003) Petrography and geochemistry of Carboniferous coal seams in the Donets Basin (Ukraine): implications for paleoecology. Int J Coal Geol 55:225–259

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suggate RP, Boudou JP (1993) Coal rank and type variation in Rock-Eval assessment of New Zealand coals. J Petrol Geol 16:73–88

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sun X-G, Qin S-F, Luo J, Jin K-L (2001) A study of activation energy of coal macerals. Geochimica 30:559–604

    Google Scholar 

  • Sykes R (2001) Depositional and rank controls on the petroleum potential of coaly source rocks. In: Hill KC, Bernecker T (eds) Eastern Australasian basins symposium, a refocused energy perspective for the future. Petroleum Exploration Society of Australia Special Publication, pp 591–601

  • Sykes R, Snowdon LR (2002) Guidelines for assessing the petroleum potential of coaly source rocks using Rock-Eval pyrolysis. Org Geochem 33:1441–1455

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor GH, Teichmüller M, Davis A, Diessel CFK, Littke R, Robert P (1998) Organic petrology. Gebrüder Borntraeger, Berlin, p 704

    Google Scholar 

  • Teichmüller M, Durand B (1983) Fluorescence microscopical rank studies on liptinites and vitrinites in peat and coals, and comparison with results of the Rock-Eval pyrolysis. Int J Coal Geol 2:197–230

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tissot BP, Welte DH (1984) Petroleum formation and occurrence; a New approach to oil gas exploration. Springer, Berlin, p 699

    Google Scholar 

  • Tissot BP, Pelet R, Ungerer P (1987) Thermal history of sedimentary basins, maturation indices, and kinetics of oil and gas generation. AAPG Bull 71:1445–1466

    Google Scholar 

  • Vassoevich NB, Akramkhodzhaev AM, Geodekyan AA (1974) Principal zone of oil formation. In: Tissot B, Bienner F (eds) Advances in organic geochemistry 1973. Éditions Technip, Paris, pp 309–314

    Google Scholar 

  • Veld H, Fermont WJJ, Jegers LF (1993) Organic petrological characterization of Westphalian coals from The Netherlands: correlation between T max, vitrinite reflectance and hydrogen index. Org Geochem 20:659–675

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang C-J (1998) A “folded-fan” method for assessment on the hydrocarbon generating potential of coals. Geochimica 27:483–492

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu S-H, Weng R-N, Shen J-Q, Sun Z-X, Guo Z-L (2003) The study for constituent characteristics of the hydrocarbon compound of coal and coal shales in the NW Taiwan. Explor Dev Res Rep 25:229–239

    Google Scholar 

  • Xiao X (1997) The organic petrological characteristics of Triassic source rocks and their hydrocarbon-generating potential in Tarim Basin. Geochimica 26:64–71

    Google Scholar 

  • Xiao X, Liu D, Fu J (1996) The evaluation of coal-measure source rocks of coal-bearing basins in China and their hydrocarbon-generating models. Acta Sedimentologica Sincia 14(Supp.):10–17

    Google Scholar 

  • Xiao XM, Hu ZL, Jin YB, Song ZG (2005) Hydrocarbon source rocks and generation history in The Lunnan Oilfield area, northern Tarim Basin (NW China). J Pet Geol 28:319–333

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang T-P, Zhang Y-C, Cai K-Z (2007) SPSS Statistic modeling and analytic procedure. Kings Information Co., Ltd., Taipei, p 674

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Author would like to thank the anonymous reviewers of this manuscript for giving constructive suggestions and revision comments. Special thanks to all of the faculties and staff of the Geochemical Department of Exploration and Development Research Institute, CPC, for providing valuable samples and analyzing assistance. This research was financially supported by Grants NSC-101-2116-M-252-001- of National Science Council.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Electrical and Information Technology, Nan Kai University of Technology, Nan Tou County, Taiwan

    Hsien-Tsung Lee

Authors
  1. Hsien-Tsung Lee
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hsien-Tsung Lee.

Electronic supplementary material

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lee, HT. Analysis of relationships between geochemical parameters of petroleum potential in related source and carbonaceous materials. Environ Earth Sci 69, 2257–2274 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-012-2055-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-012-2055-7

Keywords