牛庄洼陷南斜坡未熟-低熟烃源岩排烃特征探讨

牛庄洼陷及其南斜坡烃源岩孔隙度、声波时差与伊蒙矿物含量测定结果表明,2 6 0 0m为成岩作用早期与晚期阶段的界限,在早期演化阶段南斜坡没有出现明显的异常压力,牛庄洼陷成岩作用晚期阶段有明显的压力异常。生物标志物演化与Ro值测定反映,该区有机质大量成烃起始阶段为 2 70 0m,牛庄洼陷南斜坡带 <2 70 0m烃源岩不具备大量排烃的生烃量条件与地质证据。牛庄洼陷南斜坡八面河油田原油的混合成熟度特征与混合的均一性,反映原油的混合作用在初次运移阶段可能即已发生,推测牛庄洼陷深部烃源岩在异常压力作用下通过微裂隙等间歇式排烃的同时,浅层未熟 低熟烃源岩生成的少量原油经由断层、应力产生的微裂隙与层理面,在地层压力及深部流体过剩压力参与下与成熟油混合幕式排出。烃源岩未熟 低熟阶段的排烃效率低于成熟烃源岩。     

东营凹陷原油单体烃碳同位素特征及其在油源识别中的应用

为揭示东营凹陷部分复杂成因油气的来源,对该区原油、烃源岩单体烃碳同位素进行精细特征分析与油源追踪。东营凹陷不同成因原油具有不同正构烷烃单体烃碳同位素特征。沙三段淡水成因原油碳同位素曲线分别以nC₁₅、nC₃₂为主峰,碳同位素总体偏重、前峰极其富集13C;沙四段咸水成因原油一般以nC₂₃为分界线,近似呈对称的双峰分布,δ¹³C值较沙三段成因原油的轻。沙三段、沙四段成因原油碳同位素分别与沙三段、沙四段烃源岩的聚类相关。牛庄洼陷沙三中段透镜体岩性油气藏原油单体烃碳同位素值介于沙三段、沙四段烃源岩之间,与沙四段烃源岩及相关原油具有更好的相关性,验证以往关于牛庄洼陷沙三中段隐蔽油气藏原油为沙三段、沙四段成因的混源油观点。东营凹陷南斜坡孔店组原油碳同位素总体相对较轻、近直线型分布,与孔店组烃源岩、黄骅坳陷孔店组成因原油的碳同位素曲线聚类相关,指示其与孔店组烃源岩具有成因联系。在正常油窗范围内,成熟度对东营凹陷烃源岩及相关原油碳同位素的影响较小,后者主要受控于母源与古沉积环境。单体烃碳同位素可以很好地应用于东营凹陷油气成因与油源研究,该方法是对以往生物标志物地球化学研究的补充与深化。     

柴达木盆地西部第三系盐湖相有效生油岩的识别

柴达木盆地西部第三系发现了储量可观的油气资源,但是总体上讲这里的生油层钙质含量高、有机质丰度低;如何识别有效生油岩,正确评价油气资源潜量,成为这里油气勘探和地球化学的首要问题。通过上、下干柴沟组生油岩的沉积特征和地球化学分析,可发现盐湖相存在许多有机质丰度较高的生油岩;利用热解和模拟实验等方法确定出有效生油岩的有机碳含量下限为 0.4%。这样既为该区生油岩提供了评价标准,又找到大量有效生油岩,解决了研究区油气资源预测的基本问题.     

东营凹陷富有机质烃源岩顺层微裂隙的发育与油气运移

根据岩心观察，在东营凹陷沙河街组三段下亚段和沙河街组四段上亚段烃源岩中，发现大量顺层面分布的微裂隙，且大部分为亮晶方解石所充填。裂隙发育段在平面上的展布较广，在纵向上始于2900～3000m左右，与烃源岩成熟阶段对应。岩石学和有机地化研究表明，裂隙一般限于高有机质丰度、纹层理发育的页岩中，而有机质丰度较低、具块状层理的泥岩一般不发育，表现出较强的非均质性。裂隙发育与有机质丰度以及成熟度的关系表明，烃类生成是水平裂隙产生的主要原因。进入成熟阶段的富有机质烃源岩大量生烃，造成孔隙流体压力迅速上升，并最终导致顺层裂隙的产生。由于沙河街组三段下亚段和沙河街组四段上亚段以泥、页岩互层为特征，因而裂隙发育的非均质性造成裂隙发育段与裂隙不发育段的纵向叠置，并决定了其排烃过程以近似于三角洲前缘砂泥岩互层的排烃方式，从而一定程度提高了烃源岩的排烃速率和排烃效率。     

Distribution and Significance of Methyl Steranes in Bohai Bay Basin, East China

31 samples of shales and mudstones developed in reducing hypersaline and freshwater setting and 20 oil samples of Bamianhe oilfield, Bohai Bay basin were collected for a detailed study of petroleum system. Composition and distribution, especially significance of steroids, are discussed as a part of those. Abundant steroidal biomarkers, including C27-29 regular steranes, C28-30 4-methyl steranes, dinosteranes and aromatic steranes, were detected. Results show that the composition and distribution of the steroids in samples studied are functions of thermal maturity, organic source, paleoenvironment and lithology of potential source rocks. Alga-rich Es4 shales (brackish water) developed in the south slope of depocenter (Niuzhuang sag) were found particularly rich in steroidal biomarkers including C30 4-methyl steranes and dinosteranes. Es3 mudstones (fresh water) were found devoid of dinosteranes. Distribution patterns of regular steranes are completely different from methyl steranes indicating different origins of the specific compounds of the fraction. Diagnostic distribution of steranes in rock extracts of diverse intervals makes the compounds to be essential indictors of source-rock tracing. Methyl steranes prove to be much more useful in oil-source rock correlation than regular steranes. Results also show that alga-rich Es4 shales located in the south slope are not likely the primary source rock responsible for the oils discovered based on the composition and distribution of steroids.     

牛庄洼陷"岩性油气藏"油气成因

为了解析东营凹陷岩性油气藏的成因与成藏机理,采用地球化学途径对岩性油气藏最为发育的牛庄洼陷的原油、不同层位烃源岩进行了详细的烃类化学成分分析与精细油源对比研究.牛庄洼陷以沙三中为主的岩性(含透镜体)及其相关油气藏原油普遍具有低Pr/Ph值(<1)、相对较高的甾烷、伽玛蜡烷丰度等沙四上亚段烃源岩的特征,与沙三中烃源岩(Pr/Ph>1)无相关性,与沙三下亚段烃源岩(Pr/Ph>1、伽玛蜡烷含量低)也有明显的非相似性.沙三中亚段的岩性及其相关油气藏油气并非以沙三中为主力烃源岩,而是表现出沙三下特别是沙四上亚段烃源岩的某些特性,暗示以往所确认的透镜体等岩性油气藏极为发育的牛庄洼陷油气成因复杂,油气成藏模式很难用传统的“自生自储”来描述.沙三中岩性油气藏中混合了相隔数百米的沙四段成因油气指示隐蔽油气运移通道的存在.     

Quantitative study on hydrocarbon expulsion mechanism based on micro-fracture

The significance of source rocks for oil and gas accumulation has been indisputably acknowledged. Moreover, it has been gradually realized that there is difference between hydrocarbon generation capacity and hydrocarbon expulsion capacity, and this has prompted research on hydrocarbon expulsion efficiency. However, these studies dominantly highlight the results of hydrocarbon expulsion, and investigation into the corresponding process and mechanism is primarily from a macroscopic perspective. Despite its wide acceptance as the most direct hydrocarbon expulsion mode, hydrocarbon expulsion through micro-fractures is still not sufficiently understood. Therefore, this study obtains observations and performs experiments on two types of source rocks (mudstones and shales) of the Chang 7 oil group of the Yanchang Formation in Ordos Basin, China. Microscopy reveals that organic matter is non-uniformly distributed in both types of source rocks. Specifically, mudstones are characterized by a cluster-like organic matter distribution, whereas shales are characterized by a layered organic matter distribution. Thermal evolution simulation experiments demonstrate that the hydrocarbon generation process is accompanied by the emergence of micro-fractures, which are favorable for hydrocarbon expulsion. Moreover, based on the theories of rock physics and fracture mechanics, this study establishes micro-fracture development models for both types of source rocks, associated with the calculation of the fracture pressure that is needed for the initiation of fracture development. Furthermore, the relationship between the fluid pressure, fracture pressure, and micro-fracture expansion length during micro-fracture development is quantitatively explored, which helps identify the micro-fracture expansion length. The results indicate that the development of micro-fractures is commonly impacted by the morphology and distribution pattern of the organic matter as well as the mechanical properties of the source rocks. The micro-fractures in turn further affect the hydrocarbon expulsion capacity of the source rocks. The results of this study are expected to provide theoretical and practical guidance for the exploration and exploitation of tight oil and shale oil.     

Critical conditions for tight oil charging and delineation of effective oil source rocks in Lucaogou Formation,Jimusar Sag,Junggar Basin,northwest China

Although tight oil has great resource potential, studies of oil charging mechanisms in tight reservoirs are relatively few. Researchers have found that a force balance exists during oil charging, but quantitative analyses of conditions critical for tight oil charging are sparse. This study developed a formula to identify effective source rocks using oil expulsion intensity as the discrimination parameter based on quantitative expression of hydrocarbon-generation overpressure and force-balance conditions. Using this formula, critical oil expulsion intensity under conditions at various burial depths can be obtained. This method was applied in the tight reservoirs of the Jimusar Sag, Junggar Basin, China. The calculated critical oil expulsion intensity range was between 122.61 × 10⁴ t/km² and 620.01 × 10⁴ t/km². The distribution range of effective oil source rocks and total expelled oil can be determined on the basis of critical oil expulsion intensity at different burial depths. This method provides a new approach to predict favourable tight oil-bearing regions.     

A study of hydrocarbon generation and expulsion of the Nkporo Shales in Anambra Basin,Nigeria

This study is a contribution to our understanding of the hydrocarbon potentials of the Nkporo Shale in the Anambra Basin, Nigeria. The main objective was to simulate the hydrocarbon generation and expulsion in the Nkporo source horizons encountered in Igbariam-1, Iji-1, and Ajire-1 wells drilled in the basin, using the one-dimensional Genesis Zetaware basin modeling software. This software enabled the integration of burial and thermal influences on Nkporo source rocks with kinetic parameters, in order to define the timing of hydrocarbon generation and expulsion in relation to the main structural episodes in the basin. The Nkporo source horizons encountered in Igbariam-1 well (2,650 m) has not expelled hydrocarbons but has a remaining potential of 380 mg/gTOC. Conversely, in Iji-1 well (3,450 m) and Ajire-1 well (3,250 m), the Nkporo source rocks expelled oil of about 110–127 mg/gTOC and gas of about 85–125 mg/gTOC. The time of expulsion was in Eocene–Oligocene (51–30 My) at the rate of 10.5–11.5 mg/gTOC/My. The remaining potentials for Nkporo source rocks in Iji-1 and Ajire-1 wells are 160 and 125 mg/gTOC, respectively. The result shows an increasing trend in maturation, generation, and expulsion of hydrocarbons with increasing depth towards the southwestern part of the basin. This resulted in an increase in the generated hydrocarbon volumes to the south due to (a) increased burial depth and early maturation and (b) changing source lithofacies—more marine. The fault system linking potential reservoirs such as Owelli Sandstone to the source rock suggests a possible migration of the generated hydrocarbons to those reservoirs at that time.     

Quick Evaluation of Present-Day Low-Total Organic Carbon Carbonate Source Rocks from Rock-Eval Data: Middle–Upper Ordovician in the Tabei Uplift, Tarim Basin

Previous studies have postulated the contribution of present-day low-total organic carbon(TOC) marine carbonate source rocks to oil accumulations in the Tabei Uplift, Tarim Basin, China. However, not all present-day low-TOC carbonates have generated and expelled hydrocarbons; therefore, to distinguish the source rocks that have already expelled sufficient hydrocarbons from those not expelled hydrocarbons, is crucial in source rock evaluation and resource assessment in the Tabei Uplift. Mass balance can be used to identify modern low-TOC carbonates resulting from hydrocarbon expulsion. However, the process is quite complicated, requiring many parameters and coefficients and thus also a massive data source. In this paper, we provide a quick and cost effective method for identifying carbonate source rock with present-day low TOC, using widely available Rock-Eval data. First, we identify present-day low-TOC carbonate source rocks in typical wells according to the mass balance approach. Second, we build an optimal model to evaluate source rocks from the analysis of the rocks' characteristics and their influencing factors, reported as positive or negative values of a dimensionless index of Rock-Eval data(IR). Positive IR corresponds to those samples which have expelled hydrocarbons. The optimal model optimizes complicated calculations and simulation processes; thus it could be widely applicable and competitive in the evaluation of present-day low TOC carbonates. By applying the model to the Rock-Eval dataset of the Tabei Uplift, we identify present-day low-TOC carbonate source rocks and primarily evaluate the contribution equivalent of 11.87×10~9 t oil.     

裂谷盆地的火山热液活动和油气生成

我国东部裂谷盆地主力烃源岩中均不同程度地发育有玄武岩和辉长岩等基性火成岩,并且伴有规模不等的热液活动。火山热液活动会给烃源岩带来热量,促使有机质快速生烃和异常成熟。玄武岩活动期间的热液作用为烃源岩提供了大量矿物质和养料,使周围泥质岩富含碳酸盐和有机质,可以形成优质烃源岩;热液活动向烃源岩提供了大量过渡金属元素,作者的实验证明了过渡金属对有机质生烃具有强烈的催化作用,使烃源岩在较低温度下生成较多数量的油气;火成岩周围的烃源岩可以提前进入生烃门限。     

地质条件下湖相烃源岩生排烃效率与模式

烃源岩排烃研究是油气地球化学研究中最薄弱的环节,而排烃效率又是准确评价常规油气与非常规页岩油气资源的关键参数。目前对于烃源岩排烃效率的认识差异很大,尚未建立完整的各种类型有机质湖相烃源岩在地质条件下生排烃效率与模式。本文以中国渤海湾、松辽等4个大型湖相含油气盆地以及酒泉青西凹陷、泌阳凹陷等9个中小型湖相富油盆地/断陷为对象,通过15000余个湖相烃源岩样品在自然热演化过程中热解生烃潜力指数的变化研究,揭示了湖相烃源岩在地质条件下的生排烃特征,构建了湖相烃源岩在地质条件下的生排烃效率与模型。无论是大型湖相沉积盆地还是中小型断陷盆地,甚至是盐湖相沉积盆地,烃源岩生排烃特征基本一致。随着成熟度的增高,湖相烃源岩排烃效率逐渐增高,在低成熟阶段排烃效率较低,在成熟与高成熟阶段具有高或很高的排烃效率。Ⅰ型、Ⅱ型有机质类型烃源岩排烃模式相似,相对排烃效率在低成熟阶段小于45%,成熟生油高峰时达85%~90%,至生油窗下限时达90%以上;累积排烃效率在低成熟阶段小于10%,生油高峰时达50%~60%,生油窗下限时达75%~85%,主要的排烃阶段在镜质组反射率0.7%~1.2%之间,生油窗阶段生成并排出了绝大部分烃类。湖相Ⅲ型有机质烃源岩排烃效率明显低于Ⅰ、Ⅱ型有机质烃源岩,生油窗阶段累积排烃效率仅为50%左右,主要生排烃阶段在镜质组反射率0.8%~2.0%之间。控制湖相烃源岩排烃量和排烃效率的主要因素是有机质丰度、类型和成熟度,而盆地类型、断裂发育程度、烃源岩沉积环境、相邻输导层孔渗条件等因素均不影响烃源岩排烃与排烃效率。     

Application of Biomarkers to Quantitative Source Assessment of Oil Pools

Recent detailed organic geochemical and geological investigation indicate that oils of the Bamianhe oilfield, Bohai Bay Basin, East China are the mixture of less mature oils and normal oils derived from the ES4 mudstones and shales with a wide range of thermal maturity from immature to middle-maturity, and most of the oils were proved to be sourced from the depocenter of the Niuzhuang Sag immediately adjacent to the Bamianhe oilfield. Two approaches to quantify the amount of immature oils mixed through quantitative biomarkers were established. One is a relatively simple way only through organic geochemical analysis while the other is to be combined with basin modeling. Selecting biomarkers as proxies is the crucial point in both of them. The results show that the less mature oils mixed in the Bamianhe oilfield is less than 10% and 18% respectively based on the two approaches, which coincide with the results of oil-source rock correlation.     

牛庄—八面河地区原油混源问题探讨及混合比计算

采用有机地球化学方法对牛庄—八面河地区混源油问题进行了研究。将来自沙三段成熟源岩的牛庄油田原油和来自沙四段源岩的八面河油田原油作为端元，通过伽马蜡烷含量/C30藿烷与藿烷/甾烷交会图、重排单芳甾/C27βS单芳甾比值和芳香甾含量交会图等方法，尝试计算了原油的混合比。计算结果显示从牛庄洼陷向八面河地区沙四段来源油的比例逐渐增加且两种方法计算的混合比一致。牛庄洼陷中心以沙三段来源油占绝对优势，八面河斜坡区则是以沙四段来源油为主，而王家岗地区则二者兼而有之。     

生排烃过程中正构烷烃单体碳同位素组成的变化特征及其研究意义

通过对生排烃模拟实验产物 (残留油和排出油 )中正构烷烃单体碳同位素组成的测定,揭示出生排烃过程中正构烷烃碳同位素组成的变化特征。研究表明,生烃初期,液态正构烷烃主要来自干酪根的初次裂解,它们的碳同位素组成不论是在排出油中还是在残留油中,随温度的变化都不明显,呈现较相似的分布特征;在生烃高峰期,早期形成的沥青质和非烃等组分的二次裂解以及高碳数正构烷烃可能存在的裂解,使得正构烷烃单体碳同位素组成明显富集13 C,尤其在高碳数部分呈现出较大的差异。另外,实验结果显示排烃作用对液态正烷烃单体碳同位素组成的影响不太显著。     

Experiments on the primary migration of oil from source rocks

Simulation experiments on the primary migration of oil were carried out on massive samples. The results proved that oil generated from source rocks was expelled in the form of an independent oil phase. High oil-expulsion efficiency was observed. It follows that the primary migration of oil is not directly dependent on the quantity of oil generated from the source rocks. Therefore, the oil-expulsion proportion was high though some source rocks yielded only a limited amount of oil. A great deal of gas was produced at the same time of oil-generation. Thus, it can be concluded that the main expulsion energy for oil primary migration came from these gases.     

The effect of oil expulsion or retention on further thermal degradation of kerogen at the high maturity stage: A pyrolysis study of type II kerogen from Pingliang shale,China

High maturity oil and gas are usually generated after primary oil expulsion from source rocks, especially from oil prone type I/II kerogen. However, the detailed impacts of oil expulsion, or retention in source rock on further thermal degradation of kerogen at the high maturity stage remain unknown. In the present study, we collected an Ordovician Pingliang shale sample containing type II kerogen. The kerogens, which had previously generated and expelled oil and those which had not, were prepared and pyrolyzed in a closed system, to observe oil expulsion or oil retention effects on later oil and gas generation from kerogen. The results show that oil expulsion and retention strongly impacts on further oil and gas generation in terms of both the amount and composition in the high maturity stage. Gas production will be reduced by 50% when the expulsion coefficient reaches 58%, and gas from oil-expelled kerogen (less oil retained) is much drier than that from fresh kerogen. The oil expulsion also causes n-alkanes and gas compounds to have heavier carbon isotopic compositions at high maturity stages. The enrichment of ¹³C in n-alkanes and gas hydrocarbons are 1‰ and 4–6‰ respectively, compared to fresh kerogen. Oil expulsion may act as open system opposite to the oil retention that influences the data pattern in crossplots of δ¹³C₂–δ¹³C₃ versus C₂/C₃, δ¹³C₂–δ¹³C₃ versus δ¹³C₁ and δ¹³C₁–δ¹³C₂ versus ln(C₁/C₂), which are widely used for identification of gas from kerogen cracking or oil cracking. These results suggest that the reserve estimation and gas/source correlation in deep burial basins should consider the proportion of oil retention to oil expulsion the source rocks have experienced.     

Organic geochemical evaluation of the oil/gas-generative potential of organic matter in Cretaceous strata from the Lower Benue Trough,Nigeria

An analytical procedure involving Rock-Eval pyrolysis of whole-rocks was adopted on fresh outcrop samples covering the three lithostratigraphic units in the Afikpo Basin of the Lower Benue Trough. Three petroleum systems are present in the Cretaceous delta frame: the Asu-River Group, the Eze-Aku Group and proto-Niger Delta sequences. The Afikpo Basin has been correlated to three petroleum systems in the Lower Congo Basin, Niger Delta and the Anambra Basin. The organic geochemistry of the shales, carbonaceous mudstones and coal beds show relatively moderate to high total organic carbon contents. The best potential hydrocarbon source rocks are the Eze-Aku Group and proto-Niger Delta shales, carbonaceous mudstones and coal beds where maturation was attained. The high total or-ganic contents, thermal maturity and terrigenous characters of the Asu-River Group, Eze-Aku Group and proto-Niger Delta sediments, suggest the presence of a large amount of natural gas with a small quantity of oil accumulation. Variations in source rock facies were observed from one lithostratigraphic unit to another, and initial HI values as a function of TOC were proposed for each lithostratigraphic unit. The results also show that TOC, HI, OI, S2 and Tmax vary from older to younger rocks. The Tmax values discriminate the rocks into immature and mature source rocks. Source rocks with high Tmax suggest high geothermal gradient/or recycled organic matter. Also high Tmax and S2 yield indicate late and post maturity. Recycled organic matter is characterized by low Tmax. The principal source rocks for gas in the Afikpo Basin are the Eze-Aku Group and proto-Niger Delta beds deltaic systems, consisting mainly of III to IV kerogens with a subordinate amount of type II organic matter. Based on the obtained results, it is concluded that the Cretaceous shales, carbonaceous mudstones and coals in the Afikpo Basin of the Lower Benue Trough are capable of generating and expelling hydrocarbons in the case of sufficient maturity.     

松辽盆地中浅层幕式排烃与断距增长耦合

超压盆地幕式排烃作用是盆地流体研究中热点问题,而源岩内排烃生长断层的报道很少.研究表明松辽盆地凹陷中央主力烃源岩青山口组发育排烃生长断层,这些浅层生长断层形成于嫩江组末期至明水组末期.这种排烃生长断层的形成机制是幕式排烃过程中由于"泵压效应"使含烃流体从源岩向储集层注入的结果.当源岩过剩压力达到源岩破裂极限时,源岩发生断裂或使原有断层再次开启增长,含烃流体发生向下或向上部储层的排烃作用,随着烃类的排出,过剩压力不断减小,排烃过程趋于停止伴随超压流体释放,研究区呈现向下排烃、向上排烃和上下双向排烃3种样式,由于这一排烃过程是多次出现的,随着多次反复的排烃,排烃断层的断距也不断增长,导致排烃期与断层断距增长具有良好的耦合关系,研究成果为超压封存箱上下层油气勘探提供了新的思路.     

Evaluation of the petroleum composition and quality with increasing thermal maturity as simulated by hydrous pyrolysis: A case study using a Brazilian source rock with Type I kerogen

Hydrous pyrolysis (HP) experiments were used to investigate the petroleum composition and quality of petroleum generated from a Brazilian lacustrine source rock containing Type I kerogen with increasing thermal maturity. The tested sample was of Aptian age from the Araripe Basin (NE-Brazil). The temperatures (280–360 °C) and times (12–132 h) employed in the experiments simulated petroleum generation and expulsion (i.e., oil window) prior to secondary gas generation from the cracking of oil. Results show that similar to other oil prone source rocks, kerogen initially decomposes in part to a polar rich bitumen, which decomposes in part to hydrocarbon rich oil. These two overall reactions overlap with one another and have been recognized in oil shale retorting and natural petroleum generation. During bitumen decomposition to oil, some of the bitumen is converted to pyrobitumen, which results in an increase in the apparent kerogen (i.e., insoluble carbon) content with increasing maturation.The petroleum composition and its quality (i.e., API gravity, gas/oil ratio, C₁₅₊ fractions, alkane distribution, and sulfur content) are affected by thermal maturation within the oil window. API gravity, C₁₅₊ fractions and gas/oil ratios generated by HP are similar to those of natural petroleum considered to be sourced from similar Brazilian lacustrine source rocks with Type I kerogen of Lower Cretaceous age. API gravity of the HP expelled oils shows a complex relationship with increasing thermal maturation that is most influenced by the expulsion of asphaltenes. C₁₅₊ fractions (i.e., saturates, aromatics, resins and asphaltenes) show that expelled oils and bitumen are compositionally separate organic phases with no overlap in composition. Gas/oil ratios (GOR) initially decrease from 508–131 m³/m³ during bitumen generation and remain essentially constant (81–84 m³/m³) to the end of oil generation. This constancy in GOR is different from the continuous increase through the oil window observed in anhydrous pyrolysis experiments. Alkane distributions of the HP expelled oils are similar to those of natural crude oils considered to be sourced from similar Brazilian lacustrine source rocks with Type I kerogen of Lower Cretaceous age. Isoprenoid and n-alkane ratios (i.e., pristane/n-C₁₇ and phytane/n-C₁₈) decrease with increasing thermal maturity as observed in natural crude oils. Pristane/phytane ratios remain constant with increasing thermal maturity through the oil window, with ratios being slightly higher in the expelled oils relative to those in the bitumen. Generated hydrocarbon gases are similar to natural gases associated with crude oils considered to be sourced from similar Brazilian lacustrine source rocks with Type I kerogen of Lower Cretaceous, with the exception of elevated ethane contents. The general overall agreement in composition of natural and hydrous pyrolysis petroleum of lacustrine source rocks observed in this study supports the utility of HP to better characterize petroleum systems and the effects of maturation and expulsion on petroleum composition and quality.