Advent of the shale revolution since about 2005 caused increased demand for reliable petrographic measurements of thermal maturity in shale via vitrinite reflectance, which has long been considered the gold standard approach. The first standardized methodology for vitrinite reflectance measurement in shale became available in 2011. Subsequent interlaboratory studies demonstrated that significant work remains to be done to improve measurement precision and further advances in the standardization and reliability of petrographic measurements of thermal maturity. Standardization efforts of this research task were recognized by bestowment of the 2019 Organic Petrology Award from the International Committee for Coal and Organic Petrology (ICCP).
Objective:
The overall objective of this research is to improve the standardization and reliability of petrographic measurements of thermal maturity, including reflectance and fluorescence of sedimentary organic matter.
Methodology:
One research goal is to develop a standard test method for quantitative spectroscopic measurement of fluorescence in sedimentary organic matter (SOM). This thermal maturity parameter is used on sedimentary organic matter (SOM) in the early- to mid-oil window. Absence of a standardized approach has resulted in poor interlaboratory agreement. Development of a standard test method will improve reporting and understanding of spectral fluorescence in SOM as well as improve the accuracy of the placement of continuous undiscovered oil and gas resource assessment boundaries, which may, in some cases, use the beginning of the oil window for spatial delineation.
Another research goal is to improve understanding of the effects of broad ion beam (BIB) milling on SOM. BIB milling is a common approach for sample preparation in scanning electron microscopy petrography. Poor understanding of BIB milling effects on SOM has prevented its adoption as a standardized preparation technique.
The third research goal is to develop improved classification schemes for environmental applications of organic petrology. The absence of uniform terminology and nomenclature in environmental applications results in multiple identifying terms for the same material, which interferes with scientific communication.
Listed below are other science projects or tasks associated with this project.
Petrographic Thermal Indices Research
Vitrinite Reflectance Service
Thermal Indices Innovation
Hydrous Pyrolysis and Kerogen Conversion
- Overview
Advent of the shale revolution since about 2005 caused increased demand for reliable petrographic measurements of thermal maturity in shale via vitrinite reflectance, which has long been considered the gold standard approach. The first standardized methodology for vitrinite reflectance measurement in shale became available in 2011. Subsequent interlaboratory studies demonstrated that significant work remains to be done to improve measurement precision and further advances in the standardization and reliability of petrographic measurements of thermal maturity. Standardization efforts of this research task were recognized by bestowment of the 2019 Organic Petrology Award from the International Committee for Coal and Organic Petrology (ICCP).
Objective:
The overall objective of this research is to improve the standardization and reliability of petrographic measurements of thermal maturity, including reflectance and fluorescence of sedimentary organic matter.
Methodology:
One research goal is to develop a standard test method for quantitative spectroscopic measurement of fluorescence in sedimentary organic matter (SOM). This thermal maturity parameter is used on sedimentary organic matter (SOM) in the early- to mid-oil window. Absence of a standardized approach has resulted in poor interlaboratory agreement. Development of a standard test method will improve reporting and understanding of spectral fluorescence in SOM as well as improve the accuracy of the placement of continuous undiscovered oil and gas resource assessment boundaries, which may, in some cases, use the beginning of the oil window for spatial delineation.
Another research goal is to improve understanding of the effects of broad ion beam (BIB) milling on SOM. BIB milling is a common approach for sample preparation in scanning electron microscopy petrography. Poor understanding of BIB milling effects on SOM has prevented its adoption as a standardized preparation technique.
The third research goal is to develop improved classification schemes for environmental applications of organic petrology. The absence of uniform terminology and nomenclature in environmental applications results in multiple identifying terms for the same material, which interferes with scientific communication.
- Science
Listed below are other science projects or tasks associated with this project.
Petrographic Thermal Indices Research
A petrographic thermal index is typically an organic matter indicator in sedimentary rocks that allows for estimations of burial temperature. Petrographic thermal indices include the commonly used proxy vitrinite reflectance as well as other approaches such as solid bitumen reflectance, fluorescence, micro-Raman, and micro-Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopies. Measurements from these...Vitrinite Reflectance Service
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...Thermal Indices Innovation
Thermal indices innovation focuses on the utilization of correlative microscopy and spectroscopy techniques for innovative approaches to advance the understanding of thermal indices development. These techniques include correlative light and electron microscopy (CLEM), confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), and atomic force microscopy and infrared microscopy (AFM-IR), among others. Use of...Hydrous Pyrolysis and Kerogen Conversion
Hydrous pyrolysis (HP) experimentation is a laboratory method used to thermally mature organic-rich sedimentary rocks. It simulates petroleum generation in the closest available analogue to that of a natural system. Artificial maturation of sedimentary organic matter (SOM) to petroleum allows for the examination of its molecular chemistry to address the issue of anomalous reflection measurement... - Data
- Publications
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