Kerogen pyrolysis in the presence and absence of water and minerals: Amounts and compositions of bitumen and liquid hydrocarbons

Abstract

The confined pyrolysis experiments of Kukersite kerogen in the presence and absence of minerals and water revealed the effects of mineral acidity and water/OC ratio on the conversion of kerogen into petroleum. The amount of bitumen and liquid hydrocarbons demonstrate that organic maturation rate increase with mineral acidity even in the presence of a large amount of water (water/OC 7–10). Organic maturation rate appeared unaffected with the addition of a small amount of water (water/OC 1.5), but it can be retarded with the addition of a large amount of water (water/OC 7–10) in confined pyrolysis experiments. The relative abundances of n-alkanes decrease whereas those of isoalkanes, cycloalkanes and light alkylbenzenes increase with both the mineral acidity and water/OC ratio. The relative abundances of naphalene, methylnaphalenes, phenanthrene and methylphenanthrenes also increase with mineral acidity but exhibit no clear variation trend with water/OC ratio.