Abstract
Crude oils representing four different holes from the Tamsagbulag oilfield were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) spectroscopy. Fifty-two biomarker compounds, 34 pentacyclic triterpanes and 18 steranes were identified and semi-quantitatively determined by selective ion monitoring (SIM) chromatography. Depending on the oil source, the variation in the pentacyclic triterpanes distribution is more significant than the variation in the sterane distribution. It is said that pregnane and honopregnane originated during the period of very salty sedimentary accumulation in the condition of diagenesis.
Highlights
Biomarkers are complex molecular fossils derived from once living organisms and it can provide information on the organic source materials, environmental conditions during its deposition, the thermal maturity experienced by a rock or oil, and the degree of biodegradation
Crude oils representing four different holes from the Tamsagbulag oilfield were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) spectroscopy. 52 biomarker compounds, 34 pentacyclic triterpanes and 18 steranes were identified and semi-quantitatively determined by selective ion monitoring (SIM) chromatography
Source specific parameters indicate that family oils derived from a marine shale deposited under sub-oxic conditions, whereas family oils derived from terrigenous source, contain n-alkanes that are less depleted in 13C, consistent with their derivation from a terrigenous source rock and their higher thermal maturity
Summary
Biomarkers are complex molecular fossils derived from once living organisms and it can provide information on the organic source materials, environmental conditions during its deposition, the thermal maturity experienced by a rock or oil, and the degree of biodegradation. Studies on identification and quantification of biomarker compounds have obtained great importance for recognition and classification of crude oil source. Among the various types of biomarkers, triterpanes and steranes are the best target molecules for identification and quantification. These molecules, with a molecular weight of about 250 - 400, possess a relative high concentration in crude oil and they are resistant to petrochemical and microbial degradation [4,5]. They have found their use in tracing the oil source, its characteristics, degree of weathering and the fate of spilled oil in the environment [6,7]. The research demonstrated that the biomarker distribution and carbon isotopic composition could be used to differentiate oils derived from various lacustrine environments [10,11]
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