Oil & Gas Geology ›› 2005, Vol. 26 ›› Issue (2): 177-184.doi: 10.11743/ogg20050207

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Thermal evolution pattern of organic matter abundance in various marine source rocks

Qin Jianzhong1, Jin Juchang1, Liu Baoquan2   

  1. 1. Wuxi Branch of Exploration and Production Research Institute, SINOPEC, Wuxi, Jiangsu;
    2. Exploration and Development Research Institute of Huabei Oilfield Company, PetroChina, Renqiu, Hebei
  • Received:2005-03-24 Online:2005-04-25 Published:2012-01-16

Abstract:

Both simulation experiment on source rocks performed under watered, heated and pressured conditions and measurement of natural evolution sections show that thermal evolution of organic matter abundance in various marine source rocks can be divided into 3 stages, i.e. immature-low mature stage, mature stage and high mature-overmature stage. In immature-low mature stage (R0<0.8%),TOC and hydrocarbon generating potential change insignificantly with increasing maturity. In mid-late mature stage (R0= 0.8%-1.3%), TOC and hydrocarbon generating potential decrease progressively with increasing maturity, simply due to the persistent generation and expulsion of large amount of hydrocarbons. While in high mature-overmature stage, TOC varies insignificantly again with increasing maturity. The abundance of organic matter lowers significantly from immature-low mature stage to high mature stage, thus the original TOC should be restituted. Comparison of different types of source rock shows that the restitution coefficient is related to hydrocarbon-generating and-expulsing potentials, kerogen types, maturity and TOC, while it has little correlation with lithologies.

Key words: marine facies, high mature-overmature, carbonates, TOC, restitution coefficient

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