scholarly journals Geochemical Characterization Given by Rock-Eval Parameters and N-alkanes Distribution on Ypresian Organic Matter at Jebel Chaker, Tunisia

2007 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adel Arfaoui ◽  
Mabrouk Montacer
Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 3511
Author(s):  
Elena Gershelis ◽  
Andrey Grinko ◽  
Irina Oberemok ◽  
Elizaveta Klevantseva ◽  
Natalina Poltavskaya ◽  
...  

Global warming in high latitudes causes destabilization of vulnerable permafrost deposits followed by massive thaw-release of organic carbon. Permafrost-derived carbon may be buried in the nearshore sediments, transported towards the deeper basins or degraded into the greenhouse gases, potentially initiating a positive feedback to climate change. In the present study, we aim to identify the sources, distribution and degradation state of organic matter (OM) stored in the surface sediments of the Laptev Sea (LS), which receives a large input of terrestrial carbon from both Lena River discharge and intense coastal erosion. We applied a suite of geochemical indicators including the Rock Eval parameters, traditionally used for the matured OM characterization, and terrestrial lipid biomarkers. In addition, we analyzed a comprehensive grain size data in order to assess hydrodynamic sedimentation regime across the LS shelf. Rock-Eval (RE) data characterize LS sedimentary OM with generally low hydrogen index (100–200 mg HC/g TOC) and oxygen index (200 and 300 CO2/g TOC) both increasing off to the continental slope. According to Tpeak values, there is a clear regional distinction between two groups (369–401 °C for the inner and mid shelf; 451–464 °C for the outer shelf). We suggest that permafrost-derived OM is traced across the shallow and mid depths with high Tpeak and slightly elevated HI values if compared to other Arctic continental margins. Molecular-based degradation indicators show a trend to more degraded terrestrial OC with increasing distance from the coast corroborating with RE results. However, we observed much less variation of the degradation markers down to the deeper sampling horizons, which supports the notion that the most active OM degradation in LS land-shelf system takes part during the cross-shelf transport, not while getting buried deeper.


Author(s):  
Sebastian Grohmann ◽  
Susanne W. Fietz ◽  
Ralf Littke ◽  
Samer Bou Daher ◽  
Maria Fernanda Romero-Sarmiento ◽  
...  

Several significant hydrocarbon accumulations were discovered over the past decade in the Levant Basin, Eastern Mediterranean Sea. Onshore studies have investigated potential source rock intervals to the east and south of the Levant Basin, whereas its offshore western margin is still relatively underexplored. Only a few cores were recovered from four boreholes offshore southern Cyprus by the Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) during the drilling campaign Leg 160 in 1995. These wells transect the Eratosthenes Seamount, a drowned bathymetric high, and recovered a thick sequence of both pre- and post-Messinian sedimentary rocks, containing mainly marine marls and shales. In this study, 122 core samples of Late Cretaceous to Messinian age were analyzed in order to identify organic-matter-rich intervals and to determine their depositional environment as well as their source rock potential and thermal maturity. Both Total Organic and Inorganic Carbon (TOC, TIC) analyses as well as Rock-Eval pyrolysis were firstly performed for the complete set of samples whereas Total Sulfur (TS) analysis was only carried out on samples containing significant amount of organic matter (>0.3 wt.% TOC). Based on the Rock-Eval results, eight samples were selected for organic petrographic investigations and twelve samples for analysis of major aliphatic hydrocarbon compounds. The organic content is highly variable in the analyzed samples (0–9.3 wt.%). TS/TOC as well as several biomarker ratios (e.g. Pr/Ph < 2) indicate a deposition under dysoxic conditions for the organic matter-rich sections, which were probably reached during sporadically active upwelling periods. Results prove potential oil prone Type II kerogen source rock intervals of fair to very good quality being present in Turonian to Coniacian (average: TOC = 0.93 wt.%, HI = 319 mg HC/g TOC) and in Bartonian to Priabonian (average: TOC = 4.8 wt.%, HI = 469 mg HC/g TOC) intervals. A precise determination of the actual source rock thickness is prevented by low core recovery rates for the respective intervals. All analyzed samples are immature to early mature. However, the presence of deeper buried, thermally mature source rocks and hydrocarbon migration is indicated by the observation of solid bitumen impregnation in one Upper Cretaceous and in one Lower Eocene sample.


2018 ◽  
Vol 115 (17) ◽  
pp. E3895-E3904 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald E. Canfield ◽  
Shuichang Zhang ◽  
Huajian Wang ◽  
Xiaomei Wang ◽  
Wenzhi Zhao ◽  
...  

We describe a 1,400 million-year old (Ma) iron formation (IF) from the Xiamaling Formation of the North China Craton. We estimate this IF to have contained at least 520 gigatons of authigenic Fe, comparable in size to many IFs of the Paleoproterozoic Era (2,500–1,600 Ma). Therefore, substantial IFs formed in the time window between 1,800 and 800 Ma, where they are generally believed to have been absent. The Xiamaling IF is of exceptionally low thermal maturity, allowing the preservation of organic biomarkers and an unprecedented view of iron-cycle dynamics during IF emplacement. We identify tetramethyl aryl isoprenoid (TMAI) biomarkers linked to anoxygenic photosynthetic bacteria and thus phototrophic Fe oxidation. Although we cannot rule out other pathways of Fe oxidation, iron and organic matter likely deposited to the sediment in a ratio similar to that expected for anoxygenic photosynthesis. Fe reduction was likely a dominant and efficient pathway of organic matter mineralization, as indicated by organic matter maturation by Rock Eval pyrolysis combined with carbon isotope analyses: Indeed, Fe reduction was seemingly as efficient as oxic respiration. Overall, this Mesoproterozoic-aged IF shows many similarities to Archean-aged (>2,500 Ma) banded IFs (BIFs), but with an exceptional state of preservation, allowing an unprecedented exploration of Fe-cycle dynamics in IF deposition.


2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. SF109-SF126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuxi Yu ◽  
Xiaorong Luo ◽  
Ming Cheng ◽  
Yuhong Lei ◽  
Xiangzeng Wang ◽  
...  

Shale oil and gas have been discovered in the lacustrine Zhangjiatan Shale in the southern Ordos Basin, China. To study the distribution of extractable organic matter (EOM) in the Zhangjiatan Shale ([Formula: see text] ranges from 1.25% to 1.28%), geochemical characterization of core samples of different lithologies, scanning electron microscope observations, low-pressure [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] adsorption, and helium pycnometry were conducted. The content and saturation of the EOM in the pores were quantitatively characterized. The results show that the distribution of the EOM in the shale interval is heterogeneous. In general, the shale layers have a higher EOM content and saturation than siltstone layers. The total organic content and the original storage capacity control the EOM content in the shale layers. For the siltstone layers, the EOM content is mainly determined by the original storage capacity. On average, 75% of the EOM occurs in the mesopores, followed by 14% in the macropores, and 11% in the micropores. The EOM saturation in the pores decreases with the increase in pore diameter. The distribution of EOM in the shale pores is closely related to the pore type. Micropores and mesopores developed in the kerogens and pyrobitumens and the clay-mineral pores coated with organic matter are most favorable for EOM retention and charging.


1972 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 125
Author(s):  
T.G. Powell ◽  
D.M. McKirdy

Australian oils are generally light by world standards. They have API gravities greater than 35°, low sulphur and asphalt contents, and are of paraffinic or naphthenic base. The geochemical similarity of oils from the Bowen-Surat Basin, with the notable exception of the Conloi crude, is most marked in the fraction boiling above 250 °C. Oils from the Cooper, Gippsland and Otway Basins are probably derived from terrestrial organic material, but differ in their degree of maturation as indicated by n-alkane patterns. Samples from the Perth Basin exhibit a similar variation in maturity. In the Carnarvon Basin, the Windalia crude differs from those in deeper reservoirs in containing a higher proportion of oxygen-bearing, nitrogen-bearing, and sulphur-bearing compounds, another sign of a less mature oil. The East Mereenie oil displays an odd-even predominance in its n-alkane distribution which is characteristic of some Lower Palaeozoic crudes. A Papuan Basin condensate is the only available sample produced from a limestone reservoir. This probably accounts for its higher sulphur content. Two seeps obtained from the Papuan Highlands are inspissated residues which may have suffered microbiological alteration.A major control of the composition of Australian crude oils appears to be the depositional environment of the source rock. Most of the oils show evidence of having been generated, at least in part, from terrestrial (as opposed to marine) organic matter. The location of all but one of the reservoirs within sequences dominated by the sandstone - shale association is consistent with the likely contribution of land plant detritus to their source environment. Likewise, low sulphur and asphalt values reflect the scarcity of favourable carbonate-evaporite source and reservoir situations in Australia.


2012 ◽  
Vol 616-618 ◽  
pp. 1042-1047
Author(s):  
Zhong Hong Chen

To investigate hydrocarbon potential of the evaporites, some deep wells such as Haoke-1 well and Fengshen-2 well were intensively cored, tested by TOC, Rock-Eval, and chromatography and mass spectrometry and evaluated using geochemistry of biomarker and hydrocarbon generation. High content of gammacerane and low Pr/Ph was exhibited in the evaporite system compared to the non-evaporite system. Different response of biomarkers parameters for the different sedimentary systems was exhibited, such as C19/(C19+C23) terpanes, C29/(C27+C28+C29) steranes, C24/C23 and C22/C21 tricyclic terpane. The evaporites and mud stones have the capacity to generate and expel hydrocarbons. The tested samples were mostly typeⅠand typeⅡ1 of organic matter, and their original generating capacity can reach 40 mg/g rock and 20 mg/g rock respectively. The efficiency of hydrocarbon expulsion reached 60%, but the distribution of organic matter and its generative potential was highly variable. In general, the mudstones show greater generative potential than the evaporites. High maturity severely reduced the capacity of their rocks to generate and expel petroleum.


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