Particle-Size Fractionation and Thermal Variation of Oil Shales in the Songliao Basin, NE China: Implication for Hydrocarbon-Generated Process

Jianliang Jia and Zhaojun Liu
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Jianliang Jia: Institute of Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing 100037, China
Zhaojun Liu: College of Earth Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130061, China

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 21, 1-17

Abstract: The synchronous variation and association of organic matter (OM) and minerals in the hydrocarbon-generated process of oil shales are poorly understood. The goal of the paper is to investigate OM occurrence and thermal variation so as to reveal the hydrocarbon generation potential of oil shales. Based on detailed analyses of particle, organic, mineral, and thermal data from lacustrine oil shales in the Songliao Basin, we observed three layers of shale particles after settling in the water column characterized by a distinct color, degree of consolidation, and particle size. The particle sizes are divided into three ranges of fine grain (<1 μm), medium grain (1–20 μm), and coarse grain (>20 μm) via laser particle analysis. The particle-size distribution indicates the presence of OM polymerization and dominant contribution of the associated mineral surface and bioclastic OMs to the OM abundance of oil shale. Various OM occurrences are influenced by OM sources and redox conditions, whereas the degree of biodecomposition and particle sizes affect the placement of OM occurrences. Based on multiple thermal analyses, a synchronous response of OM and minerals to thermal variation dominates at 300–550 °C. The I/S and chlorite minerals are characterized by an entire illitization, while solid/absorbed OMs and hydrocarbon-generated water were expelled in large quantities. This contributes to major loss weights of oil shales during heating. The peak hydrocarbon-generated rate occurred at 457 °C for oil shales, corresponding to around 1.3% vitrinite reflectance value. These results are suggested to improve the understanding of OM occurrences and the thermal degradation constraint on the hydrocarbon-generated process, and contribute to the interpretation of the hydrocarbon generation potential and in-situ exploitation of oil shales.

Keywords: oil shale; particle fractionation; thermal variation; hydrocarbon-generated process (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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