Vitrinite Reflectance Service Active
Vitrinite is a maceral group that is derived from the remains of woody material from vascular plants and is composed of the thermally evolved products of lignin and cellulose. A maceral group is a set of organic matter types with similar properties and appearance. Vitrinite reflectance measures the percentage of incident light that is reflected from the surface of vitrinite as calibrated to a standard of known reflectance. This measurement is often regarded as the gold standard thermal maturity parameter and is used in oil and gas resource assessment and basin analysis studies. The Organic Petrology Laboratory (OPL) in Reston provides vitrinite reflectance measurements and qualitative organic petrography of shale, coal, and other unconventional reservoir samples as a routine service for various USGS Science Centers and external collaborators.
Objectives:
This project area has two main objectives. The first is to provide routine vitrinite reflectance measurements for Energy Resources Program-funded projects, the broader USGS community, and external partners. The second is to provide routine laboratory support functions for sample preparation for various analyses and micro-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) research. These objectives allow for collaboration or case study investigations that reduce uncertainty in energy resource assessments, energy processes research, and environmental assessments.
Methodology:
Using equipment for preparation of mounted sample briquettes and several optical microscope systems (vitrinite reflectance, spectral fluorescence, transmitted polarized light microscopy) with imaging capability, laboratory staff provide quantitative vitrinite reflectance and qualitative organic petrographic data to internal and external customers using a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) per the requirements of the USGS Quality Management System (QMS). Measurement of vitrinite reflectance follows ASTM International method D7708 or D2798. In addition to vitrinite reflectance measurement, current laboratory processes also include sample preparation (mounting, grinding, polishing, wafering), transmitted light petrography, creation of sample maps through image stitching, spectral fluorescence measurement, and micro-FTIR analysis. Petrographers in the OPL pursue external accreditation in the specialized techniques of organic petrology investigation. The OPL has participated continuously since 2005 in a quarterly coal petrography interlaboratory exercise as a quality control check and operates under the requirements of the USGS QMS since 2017 to ensure that all data are of known and documented quality.
Listed below are other science projects or tasks associated with this task.
Listed below are data products associated with this project.
Listed below are publications associated with this project.
Hydrous pyrolysis of New Albany Shale: A study examining maturation changes and porosity development
Compositional evolution of organic matter in Boquillas Shale across a thermal gradient at the single particle level
Organic petrology and geochemistry of the Sunbury and Ohio Shales in eastern Kentucky and southeastern Ohio
Organic geochemistry and petrology of Devonian shale in eastern Ohio: Implications for petroleum systems assessment
Oil–source correlation studies in the shallow Berea Sandstone petroleum system, eastern Kentucky
Molecular and isotopic gas composition of the Devonian Berea Sandstone and implications for gas evolution, eastern Kentucky
Investigating the effects of broad ion beam milling to sedimentary organic matter: Surface flattening or heat-induced aromatization and condensation?
Photoluminescence imaging of whole zircon grains on a petrographic microscope—An underused aide for geochronologic studies
The refractory nature of zircon to temperature and pressure allows even a single zircon grain to preserve a rich history of magmatic, metamorphic, and hydrothermal processes. Isotopic dating of micro-domains exposed in cross-sections of zircon grains allows us to interrogate this history. Unfortunately, our ability to select the zircon grains in a heavy mineral concentrate that records the most ge
Characterization of the unconventional Tuscaloosa marine shale reservoir in southwestern Mississippi, USA: Insights from optical and SEM petrography
Nanoscale molecular composition of solid bitumen from the Eagle Ford Group across a natural thermal maturity gradient
Oil-source rock correlation studies in the unconventional Upper Cretaceous Tuscaloosa marine shale (TMS) petroleum system, Mississippi and Louisiana, USA
Evidence of wildfires and elevated atmospheric oxygen at the Frasnian–Famennian boundary in New York (USA): Implications for the Late Devonian mass extinction
Listed below are online interactive applications associated with this project.
- Overview
Vitrinite is a maceral group that is derived from the remains of woody material from vascular plants and is composed of the thermally evolved products of lignin and cellulose. A maceral group is a set of organic matter types with similar properties and appearance. Vitrinite reflectance measures the percentage of incident light that is reflected from the surface of vitrinite as calibrated to a standard of known reflectance. This measurement is often regarded as the gold standard thermal maturity parameter and is used in oil and gas resource assessment and basin analysis studies. The Organic Petrology Laboratory (OPL) in Reston provides vitrinite reflectance measurements and qualitative organic petrography of shale, coal, and other unconventional reservoir samples as a routine service for various USGS Science Centers and external collaborators.
Objectives:
This project area has two main objectives. The first is to provide routine vitrinite reflectance measurements for Energy Resources Program-funded projects, the broader USGS community, and external partners. The second is to provide routine laboratory support functions for sample preparation for various analyses and micro-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) research. These objectives allow for collaboration or case study investigations that reduce uncertainty in energy resource assessments, energy processes research, and environmental assessments.
Methodology:
Using equipment for preparation of mounted sample briquettes and several optical microscope systems (vitrinite reflectance, spectral fluorescence, transmitted polarized light microscopy) with imaging capability, laboratory staff provide quantitative vitrinite reflectance and qualitative organic petrographic data to internal and external customers using a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) per the requirements of the USGS Quality Management System (QMS). Measurement of vitrinite reflectance follows ASTM International method D7708 or D2798. In addition to vitrinite reflectance measurement, current laboratory processes also include sample preparation (mounting, grinding, polishing, wafering), transmitted light petrography, creation of sample maps through image stitching, spectral fluorescence measurement, and micro-FTIR analysis. Petrographers in the OPL pursue external accreditation in the specialized techniques of organic petrology investigation. The OPL has participated continuously since 2005 in a quarterly coal petrography interlaboratory exercise as a quality control check and operates under the requirements of the USGS QMS since 2017 to ensure that all data are of known and documented quality.
- Science
Listed below are other science projects or tasks associated with this task.
- Data
Listed below are data products associated with this project.
- Publications
Listed below are publications associated with this project.
Filter Total Items: 42Hydrous pyrolysis of New Albany Shale: A study examining maturation changes and porosity development
The characterization of nanoscale organic structures has improved our understanding of porosity development within source-rock reservoirs, but research linking organic porosity evolution to thermal maturity has generated conflicting results. To better understand this connection, an immature (0.25% solid bitumen reflectance; BRo) sample of the New Albany Shale was used in four isothermal hydrous pyAuthorsBrett J. Valentine, Paul C. Hackley, Javin J. HatcherianCompositional evolution of organic matter in Boquillas Shale across a thermal gradient at the single particle level
The molecular composition of petroliferous organic matter and its compositional evolution throughout thermal maturation provides insight for understanding petroleum generation. This information is critical for understanding hydrocarbon resources in unconventional reservoirs, as source rock organic matter is highly dispersed, in contact with the surrounding mineral matrix, and may occur as multipleAuthorsJustin E. Birdwell, Aaron M. Jubb, Paul C. Hackley, Javin J. HatcherianOrganic petrology and geochemistry of the Sunbury and Ohio Shales in eastern Kentucky and southeastern Ohio
As part of a study to determine the origin of oil and gas in the Berea Sandstone in northeastern Kentucky and southeastern Ohio, 158 samples of organic-rich shale from the Upper Devonian Olentangy and Ohio Shales and the Lower Mississippian Sunbury Shale, collectively referred to as the “black shale,” were collected and analyzed from 12 cores. The samples were analyzed for total organic carbon (TOAuthorsCortland F. Eble, Paul C. Hackley, Thomas M. Parris, Stephen F. GrebOrganic geochemistry and petrology of Devonian shale in eastern Ohio: Implications for petroleum systems assessment
Recent production of light sweet oil has prompted reevaluation of Devonian petroleum systems in the central Appalachian Basin. Upper Devonian Ohio Shale (lower Huron Member) and Middle Devonian Marcellus Shale organic-rich source rocks from eastern Ohio and nearby areas were examined using organic petrography and geochemical analysis of solvent extracts to test ideas related to organic matter sourAuthorsPaul C. Hackley, Robert T. RyderOil–source correlation studies in the shallow Berea Sandstone petroleum system, eastern Kentucky
Shallow production of sweet high-gravity oil from the Upper Devonian Berea Sandstone in northeastern Kentucky has caused the region to become the leading oil producer in the state. Potential nearby source rocks, namely, the overlying Mississippian Sunbury Shale and underlying Ohio Shale, are immature for commercial oil generation according to vitrinite reflectance and programmed pyrolysis analysesAuthorsPaul C. Hackley, T.M. Parris, C. F. Eble, S. F. Greb, D.C. HarrisMolecular and isotopic gas composition of the Devonian Berea Sandstone and implications for gas evolution, eastern Kentucky
Since 2011, the Devonian Berea Sandstone in northeastern Kentucky has produced oil where thermal maturity studies indicate that likely source rocks, namely, the Devonian Ohio Shale and Mississippian Sunbury Shale, are thermally immature. Downdip, where source rocks are mature for oil, the Berea Sandstone and Ohio Shale primarily produce gas. To investigate this thermal maturity discordancy, the moAuthorsT. M. Parris, Paul C. Hackley, S. F. Greb, C. F. EbleInvestigating the effects of broad ion beam milling to sedimentary organic matter: Surface flattening or heat-induced aromatization and condensation?
Previous work has proposed transfer of kinetic heat energy from low-energy broad ion beam (BIB) milling causes thermal alteration of sedimentary organic matter, resulting in increases of organic matter reflectance. Whereas, other studies have suggested the organic matter reflectance increase from BIB milling is due to decreased surface roughness. To test if reflectance increases to sedimentary orgAuthorsPaul C. Hackley, Aaron M. Jubb, Brett J. Valentine, Javin J. Hatcherian, Jing-Jiang Yu, William K. PodrazkyPhotoluminescence imaging of whole zircon grains on a petrographic microscope—An underused aide for geochronologic studies
The refractory nature of zircon to temperature and pressure allows even a single zircon grain to preserve a rich history of magmatic, metamorphic, and hydrothermal processes. Isotopic dating of micro-domains exposed in cross-sections of zircon grains allows us to interrogate this history. Unfortunately, our ability to select the zircon grains in a heavy mineral concentrate that records the most ge
AuthorsRyan J. McAleer, Aaron M. Jubb, Paul C. Hackley, Gregory J. Walsh, Arthur J. Merschat, Sean P. Regan, William C. Burton, Jorge A. VazquezCharacterization of the unconventional Tuscaloosa marine shale reservoir in southwestern Mississippi, USA: Insights from optical and SEM petrography
This study presents new optical petrography and electron microscopy data, interpreted in the context of previously published petrophysical, geochemical, and mineralogical data, to further characterize the Tuscaloosa marine shale (TMS) as an unconventional reservoir in southwestern Mississippi. The basal high resistivity zone has a higher proportion of Type II sedimentary organic matter than the ovAuthorsCeleste D. Lohr, Brett J. Valentine, Paul C. Hackley, Frank T. DulongNanoscale molecular composition of solid bitumen from the Eagle Ford Group across a natural thermal maturity gradient
Microscopic solid bitumen is a petrographically defined secondary organic matter residue produced during petroleum generation and subsequent oil transformation. The presence of solid bitumen impacts many reservoir properties including porosity, permeability, and hydrocarbon generation and storage, among others. Furthermore, solid bitumen reflectance is an important parameter for assessing the therAuthorsAaron M. Jubb, Justin E. Birdwell, Paul C. Hackley, Javin J. Hatcherian, Jing QuOil-source rock correlation studies in the unconventional Upper Cretaceous Tuscaloosa marine shale (TMS) petroleum system, Mississippi and Louisiana, USA
The U.S. Geological Survey assessed undiscovered unconventional hydrocarbon resources reservoired in the Upper Cretaceous Tuscaloosa marine shale (TMS) of southern Mississippi and adjacent Louisiana in 2018. As part of the assessment, oil-source rock correlations were examined in the TMS play area where operators produce light (38–45° API), sweet oil from horizontal, hydraulically-fractured wellsAuthorsPaul C. Hackley, Kristin Opferkuch Dennen, Daniel Garza, Celeste Lohr, Brett Valentine, Javin J. Hatcherian, Catherine B. Enomoto, Frank T. DulongEvidence of wildfires and elevated atmospheric oxygen at the Frasnian–Famennian boundary in New York (USA): Implications for the Late Devonian mass extinction
The Devonian Period experienced significant fluctuations of atmospheric oxygen (O2) levels (∼25–13%), for which the extent and timing are debated. Also characteristic of the Devonian Period, at the Frasnian–Famennian (F–F) boundary, is one of the “big five” mass extinction events of the Phanerozoic. Fossilized charcoal (inertinite) provides a record of wildfire events, which in turn can provide inAuthorsZeyang Liu, David Selby, Paul C. Hackley, Jeffrey Over - Web Tools
Listed below are online interactive applications associated with this project.