{
"@context": "http://schema.org/", "@type": "WebPage", "additionalType": "Project", "url": "https://www.usgs.gov/centers/geology-energy-and-minerals-science-center/science/hydrous-pyrolysis-and-kerogen-conversion", "headline": "Hydrous Pyrolysis and Kerogen Conversion", "datePublished": "November 15, 2018", "author": [ { "@type": "Person", "name": "Celeste D. Lohr", "url": "https://www.usgs.gov/staff-profiles/celeste-d-lohr", "identifier": { "@type": "PropertyValue", "propertyID": "orcid", "value": "0000-0001-6287-9047" } }, { "@type": "Person", "name": "Paul C. Hackley, Ph.D.", "url": "https://www.usgs.gov/staff-profiles/paul-c-hackley", "identifier": { "@type": "PropertyValue", "propertyID": "orcid", "value": "0000-0002-5957-2551" } } ], "description": [ { "@type": "TextObject", "text": "One objective of this research is to determine the maturation kinetics, as expressed through organic reflectance, of SOM through HP experimentation. The results from this research may be used to reduce uncertainties in burial history modeling and petroleum resource assessments. Another objective is to characterize the in situ physical and chemical transformation of SOM to petroleum under different conditions (such as time or temperature) and in different environments (such as hydrous, anhydrous, or brine) using spectroscopy techniques. The goal of this effort is to improve understanding of the effects that the starting materials and microenvironment have on the chemical parameters of petroleum generation." }, { "@type": "TextObject", "text": "Objectives:" }, { "@type": "TextObject", "text": "Hydrous pyrolysis (HP) experimentation is a laboratory method used to thermally mature organic-rich sedimentary rocks. It simulates petroleum generation in the closest available analogue to that of a natural system. Artificial maturation of sedimentary organic matter (SOM) to petroleum allows for the examination of its molecular chemistry to address the issue of anomalous reflection measurement and further decipher the petroleum generation process. Investigation of these topics is broadly applicable to the assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources process and to improving the understanding of the geologic history in petroleum systems and basin analysis worldwide." }, { "@type": "TextObject", "text": "The compositional diversity and complexity of SOM prevents the use of one simple kinetic and mechanical model of its conversion to petroleum. Predictive models of petroleum generation therefore rely on evidence from individual case studies to use as an analogue to document the compositional and physical evolution of different SOM types during thermal maturation. Because a variety of factors influence SOM conversion to petroleum, models using case study analogue data may not fully capture the processes involved in petroleum generation. For example, the organic maceral vitrinite undergoes an increase in reflectance of incident light with increasing thermal maturity. In some cases, however, vitrinite reflectance is suppressed relative to expected values. These suppressed values cause difficulties determining the burial history of source rocks and the subsequent timing and extent of petroleum generation." } ], "funder": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center", "url": "https://www.usgs.gov/centers/geology-energy-and-minerals-science-center" }, "about": [ { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Unconventional Oil" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Environmental Health" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Continuous Gas" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bakken" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Marcellus Shale" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "tight-gas" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Energy Resources Program (ERP)" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Energy Resources" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Geology" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Science Technology" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Shale Oil" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Geochemistry" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Barnett Shale" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Research" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "pyrolysis" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Geochemistry Laboratories" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "photomicrograph" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Coalbed Methane" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Petroleum" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Energy" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Organic petrology" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Shale Gas" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Crude Oil" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Petrographic Studies" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Information Systems" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "thermal maturation" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "vitrinite reflectance" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "kerogen" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Conventional" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Oil and Gas" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Photomicrographs" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "natural gas" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Geochemistry Research" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Methods and Analysis" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "In-Place" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "undiscovered" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Water" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Microanalysis" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Continuous Oil" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "fluorescence" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "GEM Research Laboratories" } ]
}