Causes and geochemical significance of total organic carbon anomaly in solid residue samples from source rock pyrolysis simulation experiments in a closed system

Under natural evolution, the total organic carbon (TOC) content of source rocks typically decreases as maturity increases. However, in later stages of pyrolysis simulation experiments conducted in a closed system, the TOC content of solid residue samples would anomalously increase instead of decreas...

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Main Authors: Hui CANG, Zhijun CHEN, Dong YANG, Yiguo CHEN, Changchun HAN, Ziliang LI, Lingling CHEN
Format: Article
Language:zho
Published: Editorial Office of Petroleum Geology and Experiment 2024-11-01
Series:Shiyou shiyan dizhi
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Online Access:https://www.sysydz.net/cn/article/doi/10.11781/sysydz2024061275
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author Hui CANG
Zhijun CHEN
Dong YANG
Yiguo CHEN
Changchun HAN
Ziliang LI
Lingling CHEN
author_facet Hui CANG
Zhijun CHEN
Dong YANG
Yiguo CHEN
Changchun HAN
Ziliang LI
Lingling CHEN
author_sort Hui CANG
collection DOAJ
description Under natural evolution, the total organic carbon (TOC) content of source rocks typically decreases as maturity increases. However, in later stages of pyrolysis simulation experiments conducted in a closed system, the TOC content of solid residue samples would anomalously increase instead of decreasing. By analyzing data from pyrolysis simulation experiments on lacustrine source rock samples from the Mesozoic Yingen-Ejinaqi Basin, the causes of this TOC content anomaly were investigated, and its geochemical significance was explored. The results suggested that this anomaly was related to secondary cracking of crude oil. In the closed system of the experiments, early-formed crude oil was trapped in the reactor, unable to be discharged. As the temperature increased, large-scale oil cracking occurred, converting it into gaseous hydrocarbons and generating pyrobitumen. The insoluble pyrobitumen adhered to the solid residue samples, resulting in an increase of TOC content. Based on TOC variation curve of solid residue samples from the pyrolysis simulation experiments, a new method was established to determine the main gas generation threshold for oil cracking in different types of source rocks. The significant amount of pyrobitumen generated, accompanied by an increase in TOC content, indicated the onset of large-scale oil cracking and gas generation. This method overcomes the shortcomings of existing methods, such as inevitable human errors in determining the main gas generation threshold and the inability to conduct more in-depth study on mixed-source oils.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1001-6112
language zho
publishDate 2024-11-01
publisher Editorial Office of Petroleum Geology and Experiment
record_format Article
series Shiyou shiyan dizhi
spelling doaj-art-b5cb36b97c3547f8bdc3a23380869f812024-12-17T04:28:51ZzhoEditorial Office of Petroleum Geology and ExperimentShiyou shiyan dizhi1001-61122024-11-014661275128510.11781/sysydz2024061275sysydz-46-6-1275Causes and geochemical significance of total organic carbon anomaly in solid residue samples from source rock pyrolysis simulation experiments in a closed systemHui CANG0Zhijun CHEN1Dong YANG2Yiguo CHEN3Changchun HAN4Ziliang LI5Lingling CHEN6Research Institute of Yanchang Petroleum (Group) Co., Ltd., Xi'an, Shaanxi 710075, ChinaResearch Institute of Yanchang Petroleum (Group) Co., Ltd., Xi'an, Shaanxi 710075, ChinaDownhole Services Company of CNPC Bohai Drilling Engineering Company Limited, Renqiu, Hebei 062552, ChinaResearch Institute of Yanchang Petroleum (Group) Co., Ltd., Xi'an, Shaanxi 710075, ChinaResearch Institute of Yanchang Petroleum (Group) Co., Ltd., Xi'an, Shaanxi 710075, ChinaResearch Institute of Yanchang Petroleum (Group) Co., Ltd., Xi'an, Shaanxi 710075, ChinaResearch Institute of Yanchang Petroleum (Group) Co., Ltd., Xi'an, Shaanxi 710075, ChinaUnder natural evolution, the total organic carbon (TOC) content of source rocks typically decreases as maturity increases. However, in later stages of pyrolysis simulation experiments conducted in a closed system, the TOC content of solid residue samples would anomalously increase instead of decreasing. By analyzing data from pyrolysis simulation experiments on lacustrine source rock samples from the Mesozoic Yingen-Ejinaqi Basin, the causes of this TOC content anomaly were investigated, and its geochemical significance was explored. The results suggested that this anomaly was related to secondary cracking of crude oil. In the closed system of the experiments, early-formed crude oil was trapped in the reactor, unable to be discharged. As the temperature increased, large-scale oil cracking occurred, converting it into gaseous hydrocarbons and generating pyrobitumen. The insoluble pyrobitumen adhered to the solid residue samples, resulting in an increase of TOC content. Based on TOC variation curve of solid residue samples from the pyrolysis simulation experiments, a new method was established to determine the main gas generation threshold for oil cracking in different types of source rocks. The significant amount of pyrobitumen generated, accompanied by an increase in TOC content, indicated the onset of large-scale oil cracking and gas generation. This method overcomes the shortcomings of existing methods, such as inevitable human errors in determining the main gas generation threshold and the inability to conduct more in-depth study on mixed-source oils.https://www.sysydz.net/cn/article/doi/10.11781/sysydz2024061275pyrolysis simulation experimentpyrobitumenmain oil cracking gas generation thresholdtotal organic carbon contentpyrolysis simulation solid residue samplessource rock
spellingShingle Hui CANG
Zhijun CHEN
Dong YANG
Yiguo CHEN
Changchun HAN
Ziliang LI
Lingling CHEN
Causes and geochemical significance of total organic carbon anomaly in solid residue samples from source rock pyrolysis simulation experiments in a closed system
Shiyou shiyan dizhi
pyrolysis simulation experiment
pyrobitumen
main oil cracking gas generation threshold
total organic carbon content
pyrolysis simulation solid residue samples
source rock
title Causes and geochemical significance of total organic carbon anomaly in solid residue samples from source rock pyrolysis simulation experiments in a closed system
title_full Causes and geochemical significance of total organic carbon anomaly in solid residue samples from source rock pyrolysis simulation experiments in a closed system
title_fullStr Causes and geochemical significance of total organic carbon anomaly in solid residue samples from source rock pyrolysis simulation experiments in a closed system
title_full_unstemmed Causes and geochemical significance of total organic carbon anomaly in solid residue samples from source rock pyrolysis simulation experiments in a closed system
title_short Causes and geochemical significance of total organic carbon anomaly in solid residue samples from source rock pyrolysis simulation experiments in a closed system
title_sort causes and geochemical significance of total organic carbon anomaly in solid residue samples from source rock pyrolysis simulation experiments in a closed system
topic pyrolysis simulation experiment
pyrobitumen
main oil cracking gas generation threshold
total organic carbon content
pyrolysis simulation solid residue samples
source rock
url https://www.sysydz.net/cn/article/doi/10.11781/sysydz2024061275
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