Hydrocarbon Generation Potential and Molecular Composition of Eocene Guchengzi Formation Coals and Carbonaceous Mudstones from the Fushun Basin, NE China

Zhe Fu, Haiping Huang (), Xianghe Xu, Hong Zhang and Yong Ma
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Zhe Fu: China Petroleum Engineering & Construction Corporation, Beijing 100120, China
Haiping Huang: School of Geosciences, Yangtze University, Wuhan 430100, China
Xianghe Xu: Department of Geoscience, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
Hong Zhang: School of Energy Resource, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China
Yong Ma: State Key Laboratory of Petroleum Resources & Prospecting, China University of Petroleum (Beijing), Beijing 102249, China

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 3, 1-21

Abstract: A coal seam from the Fushun Basin in NE China was investigated pertaining to its bulk and molecular compositions to elucidate its hydrocarbon generation potential. Eocene Guchengzi Formation coals and carbonaceous mudstones were deposited in oxic environments and fell within the subbituminous A rank. Hydrogen index (HI) values spanned within a range from 139 to 495 mg HC/g total organic carbon (TOC), indicating the presence of Type II2-III kerogens. The pyrolytic hydrocarbon yield (S 2 ) linearly increased with TOC content in carbonaceous mudstones, while there was no evident correlation between S 2 and TOC in the coals. Molecular compositions revealed that the input of algae and aquatic biomass did not enhance the hydrocarbon generation potential of the coals. Moreover, the hydrocarbon generation potential of the coals was not influenced by changes in flora. However, the degree of terpenoid aromatization showed a clear correlation with the HI values. A higher hydrocarbon generation potential is associated with a lower degree of aromatization, even though the Pristane/Phytane ratio does not indicate such a correlation. Bacterial transformation played a pivotal role in the structural rearrangement of the coal matrix, resulting in hydrogen incorporation into the coal. This ultimately led to a relatively hydrogen-rich composition with high oil-generating potential.

Keywords: coal; hydrocarbon generation; microbial alteration; molecular compositions; Fushun Basin (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: 2025
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