Kerogen Maturation

INTRODUCTION
Sanudin (2003), the source rock is usually a sediment with fine sedimentation
and contains hydrocarbon. This hydrocarbon then undergoes migration towards
rocks of coarser grains with high permeability in which they are accumulated.
The source of this hydrocarbon is mainly from the maturation of buried organic
elements. The organic matter in sediments underlying the oceans are derived
from varying sources (Emeis and Kvenolden,1986) such as:
1. Marine phytoplankton
2. Phytobentos in shallow water with suffiecient light
3. Bacteria
4. Allochtonous material
The organic carbon produced in the water column is also affected by varying
factors.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Oxygen depletion in bottom waters or in sediment as a result of high

organic input.
Absorbtion of certain compounds to mineral particles
Preservation of organic compound as shell constituents
Changes in the rate of deposition of sediment organic matter
High input of terrigenous organic compounds, which are more stable than
organic matter
Dominant input of argillaceous sediments where oxygenation of pore
water is restricted.
Kerogen is the fraction of sedimentary organic constituents of sedimentary rocks

that is insoluble in the usual organic solvents. Kerogen are composed of a
variety of organic materials. (Durand,B.,1980). The types of kerogens present in
in the rock largely control the type of the hydrocarbons generated in that rock.
There are three main recognized types of kerogen
Kerogen Type
I
II
III
Predominant
Hydrocarbon
Potential
Oil Prone
Oil & Gas Prone
Gas Prone
Amount of
Hydrogen
Depositional
Environment
Abundant
Moderate
Small
Lacustrine
Marine
Terrestrial
Organic matter undergoes changes in composition with increasing burial depth

and temperature. The three steps in the transformation of organic matter to
petroleum hydrocarbons are known as diagenesis, categenesis and metagenesis.
The evolution of organic fraction and the hydrocarbon produced.
The first stage is biochemical degradation of proteins and carbohydrates in

organic matter by processed such as bacterial oxidation and ffermentation. This
eogenesis eliminates oxygen from kerogen, the solid part of the organic matter
that is insoluble in organic solvents (Bustin & Wust, 2003). Eogenesis occurs at
temperatures of up to 408 C and up to depths of just over 1000m. Catagenesis
occurs from 408C-1508C with burial depths between 1000m to 4000m. This
stage is known as the oil window because liquid petroleum forms under these
condition. The last stage, metagenesis occurs at higher temperatures and burial
depths where only methane is produced from the kerogens (Nichols, 2009).
Relation of temperature and depth and the amount of petroleum formed.
Maturation pathway of three principal types of kerogen (Selley,1985)
OBJECTIVES
1. To determine the H/C ratio and the O/C ratio
2. To determin the maturation of kerogen
3. To determine the maturation based on total organic carbon in the extract
4. To identify the level of maturation of kerogen
METHODOLOGY
1. Three sets of data ( A,B and C) are provided with each containing
organic geochemical analysis details of 15 samples.
2. Each samples are crushed to finer than 200mesh.
3. The solvent soluble matter are fractionated by thin layer chromatography
into alkanes, aromatics and an asphaltic-resinous residue.
4. The alkanes are analysed by gas-liquid chromatography.
5. The total non-carbonate carbon weight % of the whole rock are measured.
6. The sample are pyrolysed at 900 C for 11.5 hours in a nitrogen
atmosphere.
7. The total non-carbonate value are remeasured.
8. The inorganic matter are destroyed by action of hydrochloric and
hydrofluoric acids whci leaves organic matter ( kerogen, vitrinite, spores,
pollens, etc).
9. The carbon and hydrogen content of these residue are measured.
10.
The reflectance of vitrinite are measured.
DISCUSSION
The contents of H, C and O determine the type of Kerogen produced.The three
main types of kerogen are type I (Algal), type II (Mixture) and type III (Humic)
Project
A
Type
Type II: The sample consists of a mixture of algae
zooplankton and phyto plankton.
Lies on A Section;Consist of CO 2 , H 2 O and heavy
heteroatomic materials.
Type II: The sample consists of a mixture of algae
zooplankton and phyto plankton.
Lies on B Section; Present in the form of oil
Type III: Plant based origin.
Lies in C section; present in the form of gas
Total Non Carbonate Weight & Before Pyrolysis A 900 C (C T ) Against Total
Non-Carbonate Weight % After Pyrolysis At 900 C (C R )
The maturation level of hydrocarbon can also be identified by the total non
carbonate weight & before pyrolysis a 900 c (c t ) against total non-carbonate
weight % after pyrolysis at 900 c (c r ). Pyrolysis is defined as the reaction which
involves the molecular breakdown of larger molecules in smaller molecules in
the absence of oxygen. This is done through the Rock-Eval machine.
Project A gives a value of 95% convertible kerogen. Project B gives a value of
around 95% convertible kerogen, which is an immature type of kerogen.Porject
C is defined as a mature kerogen and an oil window as it gives 88% of
convertible kerogen.
Project
A
B
CI
Type of Kerogen
Eksinite or Saprolite
Eksinite or Saprolite
Huminite
Carbon ration (C R ) compares the organic content before and after pyrolysis.
Usually the fresh organic matter release carbons at an easier rate compared to
organic matter that has been altered and matured. This shows the C R /C T increases
with the maturation of hydrocarbon (Sanudin,2003).
The Total Non-Carbonate Carbon Weight (C T ) Against The Total Solvent Extract
Weight (E)
The Total Non-Carbonate Carbon Weight (C T ) Against The Total Solvent Extract
Weight (E) is determined from the distribution of matter maturation.
Project
A
Findings
Contains 9% of total organic carbon
(C T )
Most likely to have oil
Lies between mature unmigrated matter
and mature organic matter.
Lies on the line of metamorphosed
organic matter
B
C
The Maturation Index

The maturation of hydrocarbon can be indentified from the maturation indices
which are plotted based on the vitrinite reflective Rm (oil)%. The vitrinite value
is also related in which the higher the value of vitrinite reflective, the higher the
maturation of hydrocarbon
There are three stages of maturation:
0.6 -1.5
1.5-3.0
>3
Hydrocarbon maturation
Gas production
Graphite formation
The results obtained from the experiments :

Project A
Project B
Project C
0.3 Reflectivity
0.91 Reflectivity
1.79 Reflectivity
Immature Hydrocarbon
Mature Hydrocarbon
Metamorphosed
Hydrocarbon
CONCLUSION
Based on the results taken from the various experiments, Project A is an
immature type of hydrocarbon located in a source rock that has biogenic gases
such as CO 2 ,H 2 O and heteroatomic compounds as a product. Project B gives a
mature type of hydrocarbon with a medium to light oils as a product and Project
C is identified as a metamorphosed type od hydrocarbon which produces dry gas.
Reference
Biomass Pyrolysis: https://www.ars.usda.gov/northeast-area/wyndmoorpa/eastern-regional-research-center/sustainable-biofuels-and-co-productsresearch/docs/biomass-pyrolysis-research/what-is-pyrolysis/
Durand, B., 1980, Sedimentary organic matter and kerogen: defi nition
and quantitative importance of kerogen, in B. Durand, ed., Ke rogen:
Techniq, p. 131
Earths Pysical Resources. Chapter 2.1: Petroleum Charge:

http://www.open.edu/openlearnworks/mod/page/view.php?id=41003
Hydrocarbon origins and occurrences: http://wwwodp.tamu.edu/publications/tnotes/tn30/tn30_2.htm
Sanudin Tahir. 2003. Geologi Petroleum . Universiti Malaysia Sabah:
Sabah. 117-144.
Tissot, B. P., and D. H. Welte, 1984, Petroleum Formation and
Occurrence, 2 ed.: New York, Springe r-Verlag, 699 p. The best overall
refe rence for petroleum geochemistry
HS21: GEOLOGY
FACULTY OF SCIENCE
& NATURAL RESOURCES
SESSION 2016/17
SG30203: GEOPETROLEUM
LAB REPORT FOR EXPERIMENT 3: Kerogen
Maturation
NAME
MAWEENKUMAR
MANOGAR
MATRICS NUMBER
BS14110490
LECTURER: PROF. SANUDIN Hj. TAHIR

DEMONSTRATOR: MR. NUR ISMAIL ABD.RAHMAN
DATE: 27 T H NOVEMBER 2016

Kerogen Maturation

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INTRODUCTION

Oxygen depletion in bottom waters or in sediment as a result of high

Kerogen is the fraction of sedimentary organic constituents of sedimentary rocks

Organic matter undergoes changes in composition with increasing burial depth

The evolution of organic fraction and the hydrocarbon produced.

The first stage is biochemical degradation of proteins and carbohydrates in

Relation of temperature and depth and the amount of petroleum formed.

Maturation pathway of three principal types of kerogen (Selley,1985)

The Maturation Index

The results obtained from the experiments :

Earths Pysical Resources. Chapter 2.1: Petroleum Charge:

LECTURER: PROF. SANUDIN Hj. TAHIR

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