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Source Rock: Nature, Type and Characteristics

This document discusses the nature and characteristics of source rocks. It defines a source rock as a rock capable of generating hydrocarbons. Source rocks are typically organic-rich sediments like shale and limestone. The document outlines the types of source rocks based on kerogen type (Type I, II, III) and generation capacity (potential, effective, relic, spent). Key characteristics of source rocks include the amount and type of organic matter, kerogen type, and thermal maturity level. Source rocks must contain sufficient organic matter of good quality and thermal maturity to generate hydrocarbons that can migrate and accumulate.

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Tapti Pant
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189 views11 pages

Source Rock: Nature, Type and Characteristics

This document discusses the nature and characteristics of source rocks. It defines a source rock as a rock capable of generating hydrocarbons. Source rocks are typically organic-rich sediments like shale and limestone. The document outlines the types of source rocks based on kerogen type (Type I, II, III) and generation capacity (potential, effective, relic, spent). Key characteristics of source rocks include the amount and type of organic matter, kerogen type, and thermal maturity level. Source rocks must contain sufficient organic matter of good quality and thermal maturity to generate hydrocarbons that can migrate and accumulate.

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Tapti Pant
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Source rock:

Nature, type and characteristics


Prepared by, Subject- Geology
Mrityunjay Kumar Jha Course- M.Sc. Geology
Assistant professor (Guest faculty) Semester- IV
PG Department of Geology, Paper Code- MGELEC-1
Patna University, Patna, Bihar Paper Name- Fuel Geology (Elective)
Email- [email protected]
Outline
• Introduction
• Nature of the Source rocks
• Types of Source rocks
• Source rock characteristics
• References
Introduction
• A rock that Is capable of generating or that had generated movable
quantities of hydrocarbons is called as source rock.
• Example-Shale and limestone. Shale can act as both source rock (for
petroleum and natural gas) and reservoir rock (for shale oil and shale
gas).
Nature of the Source rock
• Source rocks are organic-rich sediments that may have been
deposited in a variety of environments.
• The presence of source rock in the area is the deciding factor for
preliminary exploration. A source rock is a crucial part of a petroleum
system.
• There are several characteristics related to source rock. These
characters govern the economic and technical factors of exploration.
• A source rock should have enough organic matter of good quality
that it can expel hydrocarbons in sufficient amount which can
migrate to the reservoir rock and may accumulate at suitable trap, it
also decide the fate of the exploration.
Nature of the Source Rock- continue
● Typical source rocks, usually shales or limestones, contain about 1% organic matter
and at least 0.5% total organic carbon (TOC).
● A rich source rock might have as much as 10% organic matter.
● Rocks of marine origin tend to be oil-prone, whereas terrestrial source rocks (such
as coal) tend to be gas-prone.
● Preservation of organic matter without degradation is critical to create a good
source rock.
● A source rock generally possesses high porosity but less permeability so that organic
matter can cook sufficiently to expel hydrocarbons.
Types of the Source rock
• Source rocks are classified into several types based on the type of kerogen
(organic matter) that they contain or based on the capacity to generate
hydrocarbons.
• Based on kerogen type
• Type I source rock
• Type II source rock
• Type III source rock
• Based on capacity to generate hydrocarbons
• Potential
• Effective
• Relic effective
• Spent
Source rock types: Based on kerogen type
• Type I source rocks are formed from algal remains deposited under
anoxic conditions in deep lakes : they tend to generate waxy crude
oils when submitted to thermal stress during deep burial.
• Type II source rocks are formed from marine planktonic and
bacterial remains preserved under anoxic conditions in marine
environments: they produce both oil and gas when thermally
cracked during deep burial.
• Type III source rocks are formed from terrestrial plant material that
has been decomposed bacteria and fungi under oxic or sub-oxic
conditions: they tend to generate mostly gas with associated light
oils when thermally cracked during deep burial. Most coals and
coaly shales are generally Type III source rocks.
Source rock type: Based on generation of HC
• Potential source rock- Rocks which contain organic matter in sufficient
quantity to generate and expel hydrocarbons if subjected to increased
thermal maturation.
• Effective source rock- Rock which contain organic matter and is presently
generating or expelling hydrocarbons to form commercial exploration.
• Relic effective source rock- An effective source rock which has ceased
generating and expelling hydrocarbons due to a thermal cooling event
such as uplift or erosion before exhausting its organic matter supply
• Spent source rock- An active source rock which had exhausted its ability to
generate and expel hydrocarbons either through lack of sufficient organic
matter or due to reaching an overmature stage.
Source rock characteristics
• The transformation of organic matter with increasing temperature is called
maturation.
• During the course of diagenesis, catagenesis and metagenesis, organic matter
converts into kerogen and further expel hydrocarbons.
• The assessment of any rock as a source rock is done based on the determination of
the amount of organic matter, type of kerogen (insoluble organic matter) or bitumen
and the level of maturity.
• The quantity of organic matter is commonly assessed by a measure of the total
organic carbon (TOC) contained in a rock. Quality is measured by determining the
types of kerogen. Thermal maturity is most often estimated by using vitrinite
reflectance measurements and data from pyrolysis.
• The assessment of the rank or maturity is also done with the help of chemical
parameters including volatile matter (daf basis) and carbon (daf basis).
References
• Selley, Richard & Sonnenberg, S.A.. (2014). Elements of Petroleum Geology:
Third Edition. 10.1016/C2010-0-67090-8.
• https://wiki.aapg.org/Source_rock
• https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Source_rock
• Alok K. Singh* and Mrityunjay K. Jha (2018) “Hydrocarbon Potential of Permian
Coals of South Karanpura Coalfield, Jharkhand, India.” Energy Sources, Part A:
Recovery, Utilization, and Environmental Effects. Taylor & Francis 40 (2):
163–171. (Published)
• https://doi.org/10.1080/15567036.2017.1407841
Thank you.
Your queries are welcome at,

[email protected]

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