Abstract
The hydrocarbon generative potential of rocks was evaluated by modeling chemical interactions in the systems carbonate rock—seawater, silty sand rock—seawater, argillaceous rock—seawater, basalt—seawater, and granite—seawater at 25, 100, 200, and 300°C and over a pressure range from saturated vapor pressure to the platform thermal gradient. The term seawater is used here to describe the composition of marine solutions at the halite (SW2), epsomite (SW3), and sylvite (SW4) stages of evaporation. The hydrocarbon generative potential of rocks in these systems increases in the order clays > silty sands > carbonates > mafic rocks, while felsic rocks are nongenerative. It was shown that an increase in the rock—water mass ratio (R/W), which can be considered as a proxy for the duration (grade) of metamorphism, led to an increase in the reduction potential (logfH2) and hydrocarbon generative potential of rocks. At R/W → 1, logfH2 for carbonates, clays, and silty sands is equal to −2.74, −2.45, and −2.57 at 100°C; −1.2, −1.1, and −1.0 at 200°C; and −0.5, +0.3, and −1.2 at 300°C, which suggests that at higher temperatures (pressures) clays are more capable of reducing chemical elements in the water—rock system.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Vikt. L. Barsukov and B. N. Ryzhenko, “Temperature evolution of pore solutions in equilibrium with rocks of various silica contents,” Geol. Ore Dep. 43 (3), 184–201 (2001).
O. K. Bazhenova, Yu. K. Burlin, B. A. Sokolov, and V. E. Khain, Petroleum Geology and Geochemistry (Mosk. Gos. Univ., Moscow, 2012) [in Russian].
M. V. Borisov and Yu. V. Shvarov, Thermodynamics of Geochemical Processes (Mosk. Gos. Univ., Moscow, 1992) [in Russian].
A. L. Devirts, F. G. Gagauz, V. A. Grinenko, E. P. Lagutina, V. V. Pereverzev, and Yu. A. Shukolyukov, “Origin of hydrogen in the ultramafic rocks of the Kemprisay deposit,” Geokhimiya, No. 7, 1058–1064 (1992).
L. V. Dmitriev, B. A. Bazylev, M. V. Borisov, A. Bugo, S. A. Silantyev and S. Yu. Sokolov, “Formation of hydrogen and methane durng serpentinization of oceanic mantle hyperbasites and oil origin,” Ross. Zh. Nauk Zemle, 1 (6), 511–519 (1999).
Qi Fu, B. S. Lorral, J. Horita, G. Lacrampe-Couloume, and W. E. Seifried, “Abiotic formation of hydrocarbons under hydrothermal conditions: constrains from chemical and isotope data,” Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 71 (8), 1982–1998 (2007).
R. M. Garrels and Ch. L. Christ, Solutions, Minerals, and Equilibria (Harper and Row, New York, 1965).
H. C. Helgeson, C. E. Owens, A. M. Knox, and L. Richard, “Calculation of the standard molal thermodynamic properties of crystalline, liquid and gas organic molecules at high temperatures and pressures,” Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 62, 985–1081 (1998).
H. C. Helgeson, L. Richard, W. F. McKenzie, D. L. Norton, and A. Schmitt, “A chemical and thermodynamic model of oil generation in hydrocarbon source rocks,” Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 73, 594–695 (2009).
A. E. Kontorovich, Petroleum Geology. Selected Works. Volume 2. Geochemistry of Petroleum Formation (SNIIGGiMS, Novosibirsk, 2008) [in Russian].
N. I. Kovalenko and B. N. Ryzhenko, “Experimental determination of the redox potential of the rock—water system. 2. The granite—water system at 400–450°C and 1 kbar,” Geochem. Int. 40 (5), 1178–1186 (2002).
S. R. Krainov, B. N. Ryzhenko, and V. M. Shvets, Groundwater Geochemistry. Theoretical, Applied, and Ecological Aspects (TsentrLitNefteGaz, Moscow, 2012) [in Russian].
N. P. Laverov, Vikt. L. Barsukov, and B. N. Ryzhenko, “Redox potential of hydrothermal systems in granitic rocks,” Dokl. Earth Sci. 349 (5), 873–877 (1996).
B. N. Ryzhenko, V. L. Barsuklov, and S. N. Knyazeva, “Chemical characteristics (composition, pH, and Eh) of a rock—water system: 1. The granitoid–water system,” Geochem. Int. 34 (5), 390–407 (1996).
B. N. Ryzhenko, Vikt. L. Barsuklov, and S. N. Knyazeva, “Chemical characteristics (composition, pH, and Eh) of the rock—water system: II. Diorite (andesite)—water and gabbro (basalt)—water systems,” Geochem. Int. 35 (12), 1089–1115 (1997).
B. N. Ryzhenko, Vikt. L. Barsuklov, and S. N. Knyazeva, “Chemical characteristics (composition, pH, and Eh) of the water—rock system: III. Pyroxenite—water and dunite—water systems,” Geochem. Int. 38 (6), 560–583 (2000).
Yu. V. Shvarov, “HCh: new potentialities for the thermodynamic simulation of geochemical systems offered by Windows,” Geochem. Int. 46 (8) 834–839 (2008).
S. L. Shvartsev, “Fundamental mechanisms of interaction in the water—rock system and its internal geological evolution,” Litosfera, No. 6, 3–24 (2008).
E. S. Sidkina, “Brines in the western Tungusska artesian basin,” Geokhimiya (in press)
A. A. Yaroshevsky, “Abundances of chemical elements in the Earth’s crust,” Geochem. Int. 44 (1), 48–55 (2006).
I. K. Zaitsev, Hydrogeochemistry of the USSR (Nedra, Leningrad, 1986) [in Russian].
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Original Russian Text © B.N. Ryzhenko, E.S. Sidkina, E.V. Cherkasova, 2015, published in Geokhimiya, 2015, No. 9, pp. 842–854.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ryzhenko, B.N., Sidkina, E.S. & Cherkasova, E.V. Thermodynamic modeling of water-rock systems to evaluate their generative potential for hydrocarbons. Geochem. Int. 53, 825–837 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0016702915090062
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0016702915090062