Determination of molecular structure of kerogens using 13C NMR spectroscopy: II. The effects of thermal maturation on kerogens from marine sediments

Abstract

Solid state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometry has been used to analyse kerogens isolated from marine sediments, to obtain information about relative changes in average molecular structures with increases in thermal maturity. Three suites of samples, all of which vary from immature to mature with respect to petroleum generation, were investigated: (a) seven samples of the Cretaceous Brown Limestone Formation (BLF), Gulf of Suez; (b) six from the Miocene Monterey Formation (MF), California; (c) seven from the Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous Kimmeridge Clay Formation (KCF), UK continental shelf (UKCS). Each NMR spectrum has been quantified in terms of fourteen different carbon types. The immature KCF samples have a somewhat higher initial aromaticity (f a) than immature representatives of the other two suites, perhaps due to a slightly greater terrestrial organic input. With increasing maturity, only a modest increase in f a occurs in all three suites, until petroleum generation commences. The latter results in a sharp increase in f a, because alkyl carbon types are progressively lost from kerogen. No preferential loss of particular alkyl carbon types is seen within the resolution of the method. The percentage of heteroatom-bonded carbon (to O or S) declines consistently with increasing maturation and prior to the onset of petroleum generation. The distribution of aromatic carbon types changes substantially with increasing maturity, in that the relative abundances of bridgehead (ring junction) and protonated aromatic carbons increase, whereas phenolic and alkylated aromatic carbon decline or remain roughly constant, respectively. The data acquired have been used to monitor the hydrogen budget during maturation. Firstly, aromatisation reactions seem to occur during petroleum generation (increasing aromaticity is not simply a concentration of existing aromatic carbon) and, secondly, sufficient or excess hydrogen is liberated during these reactions to “heal” alkyl bonds broken during generation.