29.06.2013 Views

View/Open - ARAN - National University of Ireland, Galway

View/Open - ARAN - National University of Ireland, Galway

View/Open - ARAN - National University of Ireland, Galway

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

Introduction<br />

Metagenesis: At very high temperatures (higher than 160 ◦ C), gas evolu-<br />

tion ceases and the H:C ratio declines until only carbon is left in the form <strong>of</strong><br />

graphite.<br />

Three types <strong>of</strong> kerogen are defined based on their source material. Type I is<br />

lacustrine algal in origin, the dominant compounds being lipids and their derivative<br />

fats, waxes and oils. The H:C ratio is ∼ 1.5 indicating a high degree <strong>of</strong> aliphacity [10].<br />

This type shows greater tendency to produce liquid hydrocarbons. Type II kerogen<br />

is predominantly planktonic in origin and although is rich in aliphatic compounds it<br />

has a lower H:C ratio than Type I kerogen. This type <strong>of</strong> kerogen also has a greater<br />

tendency to form petroleum. Type III kerogen, or humic kerogen has a much lower<br />

H:C ratio indicating a much higher degree <strong>of</strong> aromaticity. Humic kerogen is produced<br />

from the lignin <strong>of</strong> woody plants, which grow on land. If this type <strong>of</strong> kerogen is buried<br />

as peat, it can undergo diagenesis to coal. Otherwise, it tends to generate largely<br />

gas rather than oil.<br />

Kerogens are noted by their high molecular weights and insolubility in organic<br />

solvents such as Toluene and Hexane. Because they are precursors to oil and gas,<br />

kerogen structure has long been the subject <strong>of</strong> investigation and to date realistic gen-<br />

eralisations <strong>of</strong> structure have yet to be published. Molecular weights are estimated<br />

to range from 20, 000 g/mol for Type I kerogen to 26, 000 g/mol for Type III kerogen<br />

[11]. However each kerogen is formed under unique starting conditions and a general<br />

classification <strong>of</strong> kerogens is performed by describing gross kerogen composition and<br />

relating it to hydrocarbon generation.<br />

voir:<br />

There are a number <strong>of</strong> conditions that lead to the accumulation <strong>of</strong> oil in a reser-<br />

A sedimentary rock (called the source rock) rich in kerogenic material that is<br />

buried deep enough to generate the necessary pressure and temperature.<br />

A path to allow oil and gas to move upwards. This process is called migration<br />

and is subdivided into the processes <strong>of</strong> primary and secondary migration .<br />

A porous and permeable reservoir rock to contain the oil.<br />

Primary migration is the movement <strong>of</strong> oil and gas out <strong>of</strong> the source rocks into the permeable<br />

reservoir rocks, while Secondary migration is the movement <strong>of</strong> fluids within the permeable rocks<br />

that eventually leads to segregation <strong>of</strong> the oil and gas.<br />

4

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!