THE CURRENT STATUS OF THE FAMM THERMAL MATURITY TECHNIQUE FOR PETROLEUM EXPLORATION IN AUSTRALIA

1998 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 421 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.W.T. Wilkins ◽  
C.P. Buckingham ◽  
N. Sherwood ◽  
N.J. Russell ◽  
M. Faiz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Vitrinite Reflectance ◽  
Petroleum Exploration ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Thermal Maturity ◽  
North West ◽  
Intensity Measurements ◽  
Organic Matter Oxidation ◽  
Working Set

The fluorescence alteration of multiple macerals (FAMM™) technique was developed in 1989-91 to overcome problems encountered by existing techniques applied to the thermal maturity determination of North West Shelf organic matter. Subsequently it has been widely used in Australia, SE Asia and elsewhere. This paper reviews the present status of the FAMM technique.Since its inception, the methodology of the FAMM technique has undergone some changes. The most important is a closer integration with vitrinite reflectance (VR) resulting in expansion of the capacity of the technique to solve complex maturity problems. The accumulated data indicate that shales and mudstones are most suitable for FAMM analysis for the reason that more porous lithologies are potentially more susceptible to organic matter oxidation. There is extensive evidence that organic matter in cores and well-protected cuttings samples of shales remain unaffected by oxidation during decades of storage because clay is extremely effective in limiting access of oxygen. Adhering to sampling guidelines can greatly reduce the risk of errors from this source. Of the two recently described thermal maturity techniques based on combining VR with fluorescence intensity measurements (Quick, 1994; Newman, 1997), FAMM is more closely related to Quick's method. As the fluorescence alteration ratio which acts as the thermal maturity indicator in the FAMM method is independent of VR, it is possible to cross check results for consistency using suppression iso-correction curves-a possiblity which does not exist with the other thermal maturity techniques based on fluorescence. A working set of suppression iso-correction curves has been determined specifically for Australian Jurassic vitrinite. Whether from coal or dispersed organic matter (DOM), Australian Jurassic vitrinites are commonly perhydrous and this should be borne in mind when modelling thermal histories of North West Shelf sequences.

THE SUPPRESSION OF VITRINITE REFLECTANCE IN SOME NORTH WEST SHELF WELLS: BARROW-1, JUPITER-1 AND FLAMINGO-1

1992 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 300 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.W.T. Wilkins ◽  
J.R. Wilmshurst ◽  
G. Hladky ◽  
M.V. Ellacott ◽  
C.P. Buckingham
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Vitrinite Reflectance ◽  
Accurate Determination ◽  
Petroleum Exploration ◽  
Thermal Maturity ◽  
North West ◽  
The North ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Reflectance Data

The sediments of the North West Shelf pose several problems for the accurate determination of thermal maturity by vitrinite reflectance. There are some serious discrepancies between the results of different workers; in some wells there is a surprisingly small increase of reflectance with depth, and it is sometimes difficult to honour these data in thermal maturity modelling. There appear to be two major sources of error in the reflectance data. These are firstly, the effect known as 'suppression' of vitrinite reflectance, and secondly, the difficulty of identifying the vitrinite population in dispersed organic matter.These problems may be addressed by the fluorescence alteration technique which is closely related to vitrinite reflectance but has two special advantages. Firstly, it depends on an analysis of the fluorescence alteration response of a small representative population of organic matter in which the individual macerals need not be identified. Secondly, anomalous vitrinites with suppressed vitrinite reflectance are readily characterized, and the corrected equivalent reflectances determined.The technique has been tested on three North West Shelf petroleum exploration wells, Barrow-1, Jupiter-1 and Flamingo-1. Major discrepancies between measured and equivalent vitrinite reflectance appear to originate in part from the difficulty of identifying the vitrinite population in dispersed organic matter from marine sediments. There is also evidence of suppression of vitrinite reflectance in most samples from Barrow-1, in the Flamingo Group and Plover Formation of Flamingo-1, and in the upper part of the Mungaroo Formation of Jupiter-1.A model is proposed to facilitate the assessment of measured vitrinite reflectance data from Carnarvon or Bonaparte Basin wells. Suppression effects are likely to have influenced measured vitrinite reflectance results from wells for which the strongest data are obtained from the Lower Cretaceous fluvio-deltaic Barrow Group sediments or their equivalents.

scholarly journals Thermal maturity of the Upper Triassic–Middle Jurassic Shemshak Group (Alborz Range, Northern Iran) based on organic petrography, geochemistry and basin modelling: implications for source rock evaluation and petroleum exploration

2011 ◽  
Vol 149 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
ALI SHEKARIFARD ◽  
FRANÇOIS BAUDIN ◽  
KAZEM SEYED-EMAMI ◽  
JOHANN SCHNYDER ◽  
FATIMA LAGGOUN-DEFARGE ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Middle Jurassic ◽  
Vitrinite Reflectance ◽  
Upper Triassic ◽  
Petroleum Exploration ◽  
Thermal Maturity ◽  
Northern Iran ◽  
Carbonaceous Shales ◽  
Petroleum Generation ◽  
Central Eastern ◽  
Alborz Range

AbstractOrganic petrography and geochemical analyses have been carried out on shales, carbonaceous shales and coals of the Shemshak Group (Upper Triassic–Middle Jurassic) from 15 localities along the Alborz Range of Northern Iran. Thermal maturity of organic matter (OM) has been investigated using vitrinite reflectance, Rock-Eval pyrolysis and elemental analysis of kerogen. Reflectance of autochthonous vitrinite varies from 0.6 to 2.2% indicating thermally early-mature to over-mature OM in the Shemshak Group, in agreement with other maturity parameters used. The shales of the Shemshak Group are characterized by poor to high residual organic carbon contents (0.13 to 5.84%) and the presence of hydrogen-depleted OM, predominantly as a consequence of oxidation of OM at the time of deposition and the hydrogen loss during petroleum generation. According to light-reflected microscopy results, vitrinite/vitrinite-like macerals are dominant in the kerogen concentrates from the shaly facies. The coals and carbonaceous shales of the Shemshak Group show a wide range in organic carbon concentration (3.5 to 88.6%) and composition (inertinite- and vitrinite-rich types), and thereby different petroleum potentials. Thermal modelling results suggest that low to moderate palaeo-heat flow, ranging from 47 to 79 mW m−2 (57 mW m−2 on average), affected the Central-Eastern Alborz basin during Tertiary time, the time of maximum burial of the Shemshak Group. The maximum temperature that induced OM maturation of the Shemshak Group seems to be related to its deep burial rather than to a very strong heat flow related to an uppermost Triassic–Liassic rifting. The interval of petroleum generation in the most deeply buried part of the Shemshak Group (i.e. Tazareh section) corresponds to Middle Jurassic–Early Cretaceous times. Exhumation of the Alborz Range during Late Neogene time, especially along the axis of the Central-Eastern Alborz, where maximum vitrinite reflectance values are recorded, probably destroyed possible petroleum accumulations. However, on the northern flank of the Central-Eastern Alborz, preservation of petroleum accumulations may be expected. The northern part of the basin therefore seems the best target for petroleum exploration.

scholarly journals Organic geochemical and palynological studies of the Maastrichtian source rock intervals in Bida Basin, Nigeria: implications for hydrocarbon prospectivity

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 3191-3206
Author(s):  
Olusola J. Ojo ◽  
Ayoola Y. Jimoh ◽  
Juliet C. Umelo ◽  
Samuel O. Akande
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Source Rock ◽  
Vitrinite Reflectance ◽  
Source Rocks ◽  
High Yield ◽  
Thermal Maturity ◽  
Hydrocarbon Source Rock ◽  
Moderate Amount ◽  
Oxic Condition ◽  
Freshwater Swamp

Abstract The Patti Formation which consists of sandstone and shale offers the best potential source beds in the Bida Basin. This inland basin is one of the basins currently being tested for hydrocarbon prospectivity in Nigeria. Fresh samples of shale from Agbaja borehole, Ahoko quarry and Geheku road cut were analysed using organic geochemical and palynological techniques to unravel their age, paleoecology, palynofacies and source bed hydrocarbon potential. Palynological data suggest Maastrichtian age for the sediments based on the abundance of microfloral assemblage; Retidiporites magdalenensis, Echitriporites trianguliformis and Buttinia andreevi. Dinocysts belonging to the Spiniferites, Deflandrea and Dinogymnium genera from some of the analysed intervals are indicative of freshwater swamp and normal sea conditions. Palynological evidence further suggests mangrove paleovegetation and humid climate. Relatively high total organic carbon TOC (0.77–8.95 wt%) was obtained for the shales which implies substantial concentration of organic matter in the source beds. Hydrocarbon source rock potential ranges from 0.19 to 0.70 mgHC/g.rock except for a certain source rock interval in the Agbaja borehole with high yield of 25.18 mgHC/g.rock. This interval also presents exceptionally high HI of 274 mgHC/g.TOC and moderate amount of amorphous organic matter. The data suggests that in spite of the favourable organic matter quantity, the thermal maturity is low as indicated by vitrinite reflectance and Tmax (0.46 to 0.48 Ro% and 413 to 475 °C, respectively). The hydrocarbon extracts show abundance of odd number alkanes C27–C33, low sterane/hopane ratio and Pr/Ph > 2. We conclude that the source rocks were terrestrially derived under oxic condition and dominated by type III kerogen. Type II organic matter with oil and gas potential is a possibility in Agbaja area of Bida Basin. Thermal maturity is low and little, or no hydrocarbon has been generated from the source rocks.

scholarly journals Evaluating Molecular Evolution of Kerogen by Raman Spectroscopy: Correlation with Optical Microscopy and Rock-Eval Pyrolysis

Energies ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1406 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seyedalireza Khatibi ◽  
Mehdi Ostadhassan ◽  
David Tuschel ◽  
Thomas Gentzis ◽  
Humberto Carvajal-Ortiz
Keyword(s):  
Raman Spectroscopy ◽  
Organic Matter ◽  
Structural Information ◽  
Vitrinite Reflectance ◽  
Nondestructive Method ◽  
Thermal Maturity ◽  
Shale Formations ◽  
Reflectance Analysis ◽  
Rock Eval ◽  
Maturity Parameters

Vitrinite maturity and programmed pyrolysis are conventional methods to evaluate organic matter (OM) regarding its thermal maturity. Moreover, vitrinite reflectance analysis can be difficult if prepared samples have no primary vitrinite or dispersed widely. Raman spectroscopy is a nondestructive method that has been used in the last decade for maturity evaluation of organic matter by detecting structural transformations, however, it might suffer from fluorescence background in low mature samples. In this study, four samples of different maturities from both shale formations of Bakken (the upper and lower members) Formation were collected and analyzed with Rock-Eval (RE) and Raman spectroscopy. In the next step, portions of the same samples were then used for the isolation of kerogen and analyzed by Raman spectroscopy. Results showed that Raman spectroscopy, by detecting structural information of OM, could reflect thermal maturity parameters that were derived from programmed pyrolysis. Moreover, isolating kerogen will reduce the background noise (fluorescence) in the samples dramatically and yield a better spectrum. The study showed that thermal properties of OM could be precisely reflected in Raman signals.

scholarly journals Backtracking to Parent Maceral from Produced Bitumen with Raman Spectroscopy

Minerals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 679
Author(s):  
Seyedalireza Khatibi ◽  
Arash Abarghani ◽  
Kouqi Liu ◽  
Alexandra Guedes ◽  
Bruno Valentim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Raman Spectroscopy ◽  
Organic Matter ◽  
Vitrinite Reflectance ◽  
Thermal Maturity ◽  
Maturity Level ◽  
Production Potential ◽  
Hydrocarbon Production ◽  
Solid Bitumen ◽  
Rock Eval ◽  
Oil Gas

In order to assess a source rock for economical exploitation purposes, many parameters should be considered; regarding the geochemical aspects, the most important ones are the amount of organic matter (OM) and its quality. Quality refers to the thermal maturity level and the type of OM from which it was formed. The origin of the OM affects the ability of the deposited OM between sediments to generate oil, gas, or both with particular potential after going through thermal maturation. Vitrinite reflectance and programmed pyrolysis (for instance, Rock-Eval) are common methods for evaluating the thermal maturity of the OM and its potential to generate petroleum, but they do not provide us with answers to what extent solid bitumen is oil-prone or gas-prone, as they are bulk geochemical methods. In the present study, Raman spectroscopy (RS), as a powerful tool for studying carbonaceous materials and organic matter, was conducted on shale and coal samples and their individual macerals to show the potential of this technique in kerogen typing and to reveal the parent maceral of the examined bitumen. The proposed methodology, by exhibiting the chemical structure of different organic matters as a major secondary product in unconventional reservoirs, can also detect the behavior of solid bitumen and its hydrocarbon production potential for more accurate petroleum system evaluation.

scholarly journals Burial history, thermal history and hydrocarbon generation modelling of the Jurassic source rocks in the basement of the Polish Carpathian Foredeep and Outer Carpathians (SE Poland)

2012 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 335-342 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paweł Kosakowski ◽  
Magdalena Wróbel
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Thermal History ◽  
Vitrinite Reflectance ◽  
Source Rocks ◽  
Hydrocarbon Generation ◽  
Thermal Maturity ◽  
Burial History ◽  
Se Poland ◽  
Carpathian Foredeep ◽  
Outer Carpathians

Burial history, thermal history and hydrocarbon generation modelling of the Jurassic source rocks in the basement of the Polish Carpathian Foredeep and Outer Carpathians (SE Poland)Burial history, thermal maturity, and timing of hydrocarbon generation were modelled for the Jurassic source rocks in the basement of the Carpathian Foredeep and marginal part of the Outer Carpathians. The area of investigation was bounded to the west by Kraków, to the east by Rzeszów. The modelling was carried out in profiles of wells: Będzienica 2, Dębica 10K, Góra Ropczycka 1K, Goleszów 5, Nawsie 1, Pławowice E1 and Pilzno 40. The organic matter, containing gas-prone Type III kerogen with an admixture of Type II kerogen, is immature or at most, early mature to 0.7 % in the vitrinite reflectance scale. The highest thermal maturity is recorded in the south-eastern part of the study area, where the Jurassic strata are buried deeper. The thermal modelling showed that the obtained organic matter maturity in the initial phase of the "oil window" is connected with the stage of the Carpathian overthrusting. The numerical modelling indicated that the onset of hydrocarbon generation from the Middle Jurassic source rocks was also connected with the Carpathian thrust belt. The peak of hydrocarbon generation took place in the orogenic stage of the overthrusting. The amount of generated hydrocarbons is generally small, which is a consequence of the low maturity and low transformation degree of kerogen. The generated hydrocarbons were not expelled from their source rock. An analysis of maturity distribution and transformation degree of the Jurassic organic matter shows that the best conditions for hydrocarbon generation occurred most probably in areas deeply buried under the Outer Carpathians. It is most probable that the "generation kitchen" should be searched for there.

scholarly journals Geochemistry and petrology of selected sediments from Bukit Song, Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia, with emphasis on organic matter characterization

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 3663-3688
Author(s):  
Amin Tavakoli
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Depositional Environment ◽  
Vitrinite Reflectance ◽  
Xrd Analysis ◽  
Source Rocks ◽  
Hydrocarbon Generation ◽  
Thermal Maturity ◽  
Petroleum Potential ◽  
Type Iv ◽  
Two Samples

AbstractThe aim of this study is to provide a better understanding of the type of source input, quality, quantity, the condition of depositional environment and thermal maturity of the organic matter from Bukit Song, Sarawak, which has not been extensively studied for hydrocarbon generation potential. Petrological and geochemical analyses were performed on 13 outcrop samples of the study location. Two samples, having type III and mixed kerogen, showed very-good-to-excellent petroleum potential based on bitumen extraction and data from Rock–Eval analysis. The rest of the samples are inert—kerogen type IV. In terms of thermal maturity based on vitrinite reflectance, the results of this paper are akin to previous studies done in the nearby region reported as either immature or early mature. Ph/n-C18 versus Pr/n-C17 data showed that the major concentration of samples is within peat coal environment, whilst two samples were associated with anoxic marine depositional environment, confirmed by maceral content as well. Macerals mainly indicated terrestrial precursors and, overall, a dominance of vitrinite. Quality of the source rock based on TOC parameter indicated above 2 wt. % content for the majority of samples. However, consideration of TOC and S2 together showed only two samples to have better source rocks. Existence of cutinite, sporinite and greenish fluorescing resinite macerals corroborated with the immaturity of the analysed coaly samples. Varying degrees of the bitumen staining existed in a few samples. Kaolinite and illite were the major clays based on XRD analysis, which potentially indicate low porosity. This study revealed that hydrocarbon-generating potential of Bukit Song in Sarawak is low.

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