Genetic mechanisms of coalbed methane in typical districts from Huaibei Coalfield,Eastern China

Taking insight into genetic mechanisms of coalbed methane (CBM) can provide an effective approach for evaluating the value of CBM resources. In this study, the geo-temperature and the thermal subsidence history were used to investigate the effect of the present geothermal field characteristic on the genetic mechanisms of CBM at the Huaibei Coalfield. The results showed that the Permian coal strata in the study areas had a relatively low geo-temperature (< 50°C), high vitrinite reflectance (R_o,max; 0.75%-1.2%) and a coal rank typical of intermediate-high metamorphic bituminous. Comprehensive analyses of the characteristics of the present geothermal field indicate that the CBM at the Huaibei Coalfield are dominated by secondary biogenic gases. Furthermore, the genetic mechanism towards CBM was further proposed based on the tectonic evolution history: (1) Tectonic thrusting contributed to R_o,max values ranging from 0.5% to 3.0%, with maximum geo-temperatures of 140–180°C, which resulted in the generation of thermogenic CBM. (2) An extensional regime contributed to gradual uplift of the Permian coal-bearing strata, with the gradual escape of CBM at burial depths greater than 700m. (3) A large number of faults and hydrodynamic environments greatly promoted the microbial degradation of the early thermogenic gases, resulting in generation of secondary biogenic gases.     

Thermal maturity and organic composition of Pennsylvanian coals and carbonaceous shales, north-central Texas: Implications for coalbed gas potential

Thermal maturity was determined for about 120 core, cuttings, and outcrop samples to investigate the potential for coalbed gas resources in Pennsylvanian strata of north-central Texas. Shallow (< 600 m; 2000 ft) coal and carbonaceous shale cuttings samples from the Middle-Upper Pennsylvanian Strawn, Canyon, and Cisco Groups in Archer and Young Counties on the Eastern Shelf of the Midland basin (northwest and downdip from the outcrop) yielded mean random vitrinite reflectance (R_o) values between about 0.4 and 0.8%. This range of R_o values indicates rank from subbituminous C to high volatile A bituminous in the shallow subsurface, which may be sufficient for early thermogenic gas generation. Near-surface (< 100 m; 300 ft) core and outcrop samples of coal from areas of historical underground coal mining in the region yielded similar R_o values of 0.5 to 0.8%. Carbonaceous shale core samples of Lower Pennsylvanian strata (lower Atoka Group) from two deeper wells (samples from ~ 1650 m; 5400 ft) in Jack and western Wise Counties in the western part of the Fort Worth basin yielded higher R_o values of about 1.0%. Pyrolysis and petrographic data for the lower Atoka samples indicate mixed Type II/Type III organic matter, suggesting generated hydrocarbons may be both gas- and oil-prone. In all other samples, organic material is dominated by Type III organic matter (vitrinite), indicating that generated hydrocarbons should be gas-prone. Individual coal beds are thin at outcrop (< 1 m; 3.3 ft), laterally discontinuous, and moderately high in ash yield and sulfur content. A possible analog for coalbed gas potential in the Pennsylvanian section of north-central Texas occurs on the northeast Oklahoma shelf and in the Cherokee basin of southeastern Kansas, where contemporaneous gas-producing coal beds are similar in thickness, quality, and rank.     

Thermal alteration of coal in the Khasyn coalfield, Magadan region, Russia

The Early Cretaceous coal deposits of the Khasyn coalfield are intruded by Palaeogene diabase dikes. The coal has vitrinite reflectance values of 2.0–2.5% R_o, and characteristics of normal anthracite at some distance from the dikes, but at direct contact with the dike two morphological coal varieties occur: coal inclusions in the diabase dike and dispersed carbonaceous matter within the dike rock. Both types of coaly matter have properties typical of anthracites: strong anisotropy, altered internal structure and high vitrinite reflectance values ranging from 3.8 to 5.5% R_o. The X-ray diffraction measurements of the interplanar spacing d(002) and the crystallite sizes Lc and La show rather similar values for coal inclusions in the dike and dispersed carbonaceous matter. The additional reflection at 3.37 Å, corresponding to semi-graphite admixture, occurs in the coal and carbonaceous matter inside the dike and is absent in the natural coal outside the dike.     

淮南煤田煤层气成藏动力学系统的机制与地质模型研究

淮南煤田由次生生物成因和热成因气组成的混合型煤层气藏,受各种地质和水文地质条件的影响和控制。本文通过热流场和地温场、古构造应力场和原地应力场以及地下水动力场的系统分析,探讨了煤层气成藏动力学系统的形成机制,进而提出了相应的成藏地质模型。淮南煤田的煤层气藏虽然属向斜式(或盆心)聚气模型,但是,该模型强调,作为附加气源的次生生物气的补充,成藏动力学系统演化、构造样式和能量场的耦合关系,是混合型煤层气富集成藏的主因。      

The lateral and vertical reflectance and petrological variation of a heat-affected bituminous coal seam from southeastern British Columbia, Canada

Thermally altered pods of coal of very high rank have been observed in a high-volatile-bituminous coal seam in the eastern side of Eagle Mountain, Elk Valley Coalfield, British Columbia. Rank changes have been measured over a strike distance of 7.5 m from 1.24% to 7.1% R_{o max}, corresponding to a rank gradient of 0.78% R_om⁻¹.Petrologically, unaltered to extremely altered vitrinite showing nongranular (basic) anisotropy, mosaic-textured liptinite and pyrolytic carbon are the most abundant components. The limited presence of mosaic on vitrinite is an indication that the coal seam may have been weathered prior to being heat-affected.Evidence points to localized temperatures as high as 1,000°C, which could have been caused by a lightning strike. The eastern side of Eagle Mountain has experienced higher temperatures than the western side, and it appears that the heat ‘front’ and zone of alteration have an irregular pattern, pointing to saturation of parts of the coal seam by water.Four types of pyrolytic carbon having distinct morphology, anisotrophy and optical path with increasing temperature were observed. Reflectance of pyrolytic carbon falls within the zone of heat-affected coals, whereas the optical path of heat-affected Seam 15 samples is different from that of fresh coal with increasing rank.Finally, the reflectance of vitrinite in heat-affected coal is higher than the reflectance of vitrinite in carbonaceous shale in the Seam 15 section.     

New Approaches and Markers for Identifying Secondary Biogenic Coalbed Gas

According to the adsorption-desorption characteristics of coalbed gas and analysis of various experimental data, this paper proposes that the generation of secondary biogenic gas (SBG) and its mixing of with the residual thermogenic gas at an early stage inevitably lead to secondary changes of the thermogenic gas and various geochemical additive effects. Experimental results also show that the fractionation of the carbon isotope of methane of coal core desorption gas changes very little; the δ13C1 value of the mixed gas of biogenic and thermogenic gases is between the δ13C1 values of the two “original” gases, and the value is determined by the carbon isotopic compositions and mixing proportions of the two “original” methanes. Therefore this paper proposes that the study on the secondary changes of the thermogenic gas and various additive effects is a new effective way to study and identify SBG. Herein, a systematic example of research on the coalbed gas (Huainan coalbed gas) is further conducted, revealing a series of secondary changes and additive effects, the main characteristics and markers of which are: (1) the contents of CO2 and heavy-hydrocarbons decrease significantly; (2) the content of CH4 increases and the gas becomes drier; (3) the δ13C and δD values of methane decrease significantly and tend to have biogenetic characteristics; and (4) the values of δ13C2 and δ13CCO2 grow higher. These isotopic values also change with the degradation degrees by microbes and mixing proportions of the two kinds of gases in different locations. There exists a negative correlation between the δ13C1 vs δ13CCO2 values. The △δ13CC2–C1 values obviously become higher. The distributions of the △δ13CCO2–C1 values are within certain limits and show regularity. There exist a positive correlation between the N2 versus Ar contents, and a negative correlation between the N2 versus CH4 contents, indicating the down forward infiltration of the surface water containing air. These are important markers of the generation and existence of SBG.     

Petrographic characteristics of coal from Mailaram coalfield,Godavari valley,Andhra Pradesh

The quantitative maceral study of the Queen seam from Mailaram coalfield of Godavari valley has displayed alternate coal bands rich in vitrinite/liptinite or inertinite. The random vitrinite reflectance (R_o max. %) of these coals, from top part ranges from 0.50 to 0.64%. However, the bottom part of the seam has indicated lower reflectance, between 0.49 and 0.52%. Thus, the Queen seam, in general, has attained high volatile bituminous C rank. The study indicates that the depositional site has been a slowly sinking basin that witnessed alternate dry (oxidizing) and wet (reducing) spells. This subsequently caused fluctuation in water table of the basin and the formation of oxic and anaoxic moor condition, where accumulated vegetal resource transformed into mixed and fusic coal types in due course of time. Being high in liptinite and vitrinite contents and low mineral matter, the Queen seam of Mailaram coalfield has high economic potential.     

Natural gas potential of Neoproterozoic and lower Palaeozoic marine shales in the Upper Yangtze Platform,South China: geological and organic geochemical characterization

In this article, we describe the geological features of the Ediacaran (upper Sinian), lower Cambrian and lower Silurian shale intervals in the Upper Yangtze Platform, South China, and report on the gas potential of 53 samples from these major marine shale formations. Reflected light microscopy, total organic carbon (TOC) measurement, Rock-Eval, carbon isotope ratio analysis, thermovaporization gas chromatography (Tvap-GC), and open pyrolysis gas chromatography (open py-GC) were used to characterize the organic matter. Measured TOC in this research is normally >2% and averages 5%. TOC contents are roughly positively correlated with increasing geological age, i.e. lower Silurian shales exhibit generally lower TOC contents than lower Cambrian shales, which in turn commonly have lower TOC contents than Ediacaran shales. Kerogen has evolved to the metagenesis stage, which was demonstrated by the abundant pyrobitumen on microphotographs, the high calculated vitrinite reflectance (R_o = 3%) via bitumen reflectance (R_b), as well as δ¹³ C of gas (methane) inclusions. Pyrolysates from Tvap-GC and open py-GC are quantitatively low and only light hydrocarbons were detected. The lower Silurian shale generally exhibits higher generation of hydrocarbon than the lower Cambrian and Ediacaran shale. Cooles’ method and Claypool’s equations were used to reconstruct the original TOC and Rock-Eval parameters of these overmature samples. Excellent original hydrocarbon generation was revealed in that the original TOC (TOC_o) is between 5% and 23%, and original S1+S2 (S1_o+S2_o) is ranging from 29 to 215 mg HC/g rock.     

The petroleum generation potential and effective oil window of humic coals related to coal composition and age

A worldwide data set of more than 500 humic coals from the major coal-forming geological periods has been used to analyse the evolution in the remaining (Hydrogen Index, HI) and total (Quality Index, QI) generation potentials with increasing thermal maturity and the ‘effective oil window’ (‘oil expulsion window’). All samples describe HI and QI bands that are broad at low maturities and that gradually narrow with increasing maturity. The oil generation potential is completely exhausted at a vitrinite reflectance of 2.0–2.2%R_o or T_max of 500–510 °C. The initial large variation in the generation potential is related to the original depositional conditions, particularly the degree of marine influence and the formation of hydrogen-enriched vitrinite, as suggested by increased sulphur and hydrogen contents. During initial thermal maturation the HI increases to a maximum value, HI_max. Similarly, QI increases to a maximum value, QI_max. This increase in HI and QI is related to the formation of an additional generation potential in the coal structure. The decline in QI with further maturation is indicating onset of initial oil expulsion, which precedes efficient expulsion. Liquid petroleum generation from humic coals is thus a complex, three-phase process: (i) onset of petroleum generation, (ii) petroleum build-up in the coal, and (iii) initial oil expulsion followed by efficient oil expulsion (corresponding to the effective oil window). Efficient oil expulsion is indicated by a decline in the Bitumen Index (BI) when plotted against vitrinite reflectance or T_max. This means that in humic coals the vitrinite reflectance or T_max values at which onset of petroleum generation occurs cannot be used to establish the start of the effective oil window. The start of the effective oil window occurs within the vitrinite reflectance range 0.85–1.05%R_o or T_max range 440–455 °C and the oil window extends to 1.5–2.0%R_o or 470–510 °C. For general use, an effective oil window is proposed to occur from 0.85 to 1.7%R_o or from 440 to 490 °C. Specific ranges for HI_max and the effective oil window can be defined for Cenozoic, Jurassic, Permian, and Carboniferous coals. Cenozoic coals reach the highest HI_max values (220–370 mg HC/g TOC), and for the most oil-prone Cenozoic coals the effective oil window may possibly range from 0.65 to 2.0%R_o or 430 to 510 °C. In contrast, the most oil-prone Jurassic, Permian and Carboniferous coals reach the expulsion threshold at a vitrinite reflectance of 0.85–0.9%R_o or T_max of 440–445 °C.     

Lower palaeozoic and precambrian petroleum source rocks and the coalification path of alginite

Organic-rich samples derived from a Middle Cambrian Formation in the Georgina Basin, and from the Middle Proterozoic of the McArthur Basin in northern and central Australia, yielded alginite ranging from immature oil shale material to overmature residue. A maturation scale has been developed based on the thermal evolution of alginite as determined from reflectance and fluorescence. The coalification path of alginite is marked by jumps in contrast to the linear path of wood-derived vitrinite. Six zones have been recognised, ranging from undermature (zone I), through the mature (zones II/III), followed by a stable stage of no change (zone IV) to the overmature (zones V and VI). The onset of oil generation in alginite as evident from the present study is at 0.3% R_{o Alg.} and is expressed in a change of fluorescence from yellow to brown, and a coalification jump from 0.3 to 0.6% R_o of Alg. In many boreholes zone III can be distinguished between 0.6 and 0.8% R_o of Alg. where subsequent oil generation occurs. Zones II and III represent the oil window.A zone of little or no change designated zone IV, at of alginite follows zones II/III. A marked coalification jump characterises zone V, where a pronounced change in reflectance occurs to >1.0% R_{o Alg.}, signifying peak gas generation. The border of oil preservation lies at the transition of zone V and VI, at 1.6% R_{o Alg.} In zone VI gas generation only occurs.Comparison of reflectance results with experimental and geochemical pyrolysis data supports high activation energies for hydrocarbon generation from alginite, and therefore a later onset of oil generation than other liptinite macerals (i.e. cutinite, exinite, resinite) as well as a narrow oil window.Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) confirms that alginite does not go through a distinct intermediate stage but that the percentage of unreacted organic matter decreases as maturation proceeds. A clear distinction can be made in TEM between immature alginite, alginite after oil generation, and alginite residue following gas generation. Alginite beyond 1.6% R_o acquires very high densities and the appearance of inertinite in TEM.Bitumens/pyrobitumens make a pronounced contribution to the organic matter throughout the basins and have been shown to effect pyrolysis results by suppressing T_max. The bitumens/pyrobitumens have been divided into four groups, based on their reflectance and morphology, which in turn appears to be an expression of their genetic history. Their significance is in aiding the understanding of the basins' thermal history, and the timing of oil and gas generation.     

一种页岩含气性热演化规律研究的模拟实验方法

目前针对页岩气赋存规律研究的热模拟实验主要是沿袭常规油气热模拟方法,以粉末态样品开展模拟,研究对象为岩石生成并排出的烃类气体,这种模拟方式未明确页岩气的实质为"滞留气",并且模拟后样品无法开展扫描电镜分析,不能确定岩石孔隙结构变化规律。本文通过石英玻璃管封装块状样开展页岩生烃热模拟实验,并结合一套数据处理方法,尝试建立了一种适合页岩气研究的热模拟实验方法,研究泥页岩在不同演化阶段(Ro范围为0.596%~2.143%)不同赋存状态气体的含量以及岩石微观孔隙特征的变化情况。结果表明,泥岩及油页岩样品的排出气及解析气含量在高成熟度阶段(400℃以后)有明显增加的趋势,结合扫描电镜微观结构分析显示这是由于有机质生气量以及无机孔隙均有增加。本方法可以研究页岩热演化过程中不同赋存状态气体含量及微观孔隙结构的变化,为页岩气勘探开发提供了一种可参考的方法。     

吐哈盆地沙尔湖煤田瓦斯赋存规律及影响因素

据煤田地质勘查资料和油田钻井资料,对新疆吐哈盆地沙尔湖煤田瓦斯赋存规律进行分析,认为张性断层、贫水区无封闭作用、煤变质程度低等因素是导致沙尔湖煤田瓦斯含量低的主要原因,同时指出随着埋深的增加瓦斯会相应增加,这是今后煤田勘探开发值得注意的问题。     

Calculation of reflectance values for two models of texture of carbon materials

This paper presents two models of texture of carbon materials possessing porosity. For both models, R_MAX, R_INT and R_MIN values of reflectance have been calculated by modified Ting's 3A method [Ting, F.T.C., 1978. Petrographic techniques in coal analysis. In: C. Karr (Ed.), Analytical Methods for Coal and Coal Products, Vol. 1. Academic Press, New York, 1978, pp. 3–25]. It has been found that the reflectance indicating surface (RIS) for the studied models of texture changes from a biaxial negative up to a biaxial positive one (the type A texture) depending on the shape and size of pores. In particular case, for the type B texture and the isometry of pores, a uniaxial negative RIS is merely obtained.     

Controlling Factors,Accumulation Model and Target Zone Prediction of the Coal‐bed Methane in the Huanghebei Coalfield,North China

The Huanghebei Coalfield, one of the coal production bases in North China, was considered as a coalfield without coal‐bed methane (CBM) during past decades. In recent years, however, CBM has been discovered in coal‐bearing successions. In order to understand the CBM geological characteristics and accumulation process in this area, fifteen coal samples were collected and analyzed with respect to coal maceral and reflectance. The result shows that the gas distribution is uneven and the content varies in different areas even for the same coal bed. The storage of CBM is affected by geological factors such as burial depth, geological structures, and magmatic intrusion, among which the former two are more important in the formation of CBM. Deep burial of coal beds with the presence of cap‐rock mudstone can seal CBM. The CBM is also accumulated and preserved at the place where normal faults are distributed. Magmatic intrusion causes contact metamorphism and controls the CBM formation by heating the coal‐bearing successions. The obtained data indicate the geological conditions in northeastern Zhaoguan Mine are preferable for CBM formation and conservation; recent exploration estimates the CBM geological reserves up to 282.16 Mm³ and average of reserve abundance at 0.1662 × 10⁸ m³ km^?2. The Changqing Mine is a potential prospect in terms of CBM exploration since its geological conditions (structures and burial depth) are similar to the Zhaoguan Mine and its cap rock is even better.     

Apatite fission-track study on the thermo-tectonic history of the Huainan Coalfield in Anhui Province, China： Tectonic implications for the potential coalbed methane resource

Coalbed methane (CBM) is a kind of burgeoning and enormously potential clean energy resource, and the temperature of the thermogenic CBM generation is close to that of the partial annealing zone (PAZ) of apatite fission tracks (AFT). In this study the thermo-tectonic history of the Huainan Coalfield and the potential CBM resource were studied and discussed by using the AFT method. The AFT data indicate that the apparent ages of AFT vary from 45.5 to 199.1 Ma. They are younger than the ages of their host strata (255–1800 Ma) except one sample, and the single-grain ages of AFT can be classified as a single age group for each sample. In combination with the geological setting, modeling results of the AFT ages, average lengths, and the thermal history based on the AFT single-grain ages and length distributions, some preliminary conclusions can be drawn as follows: (1) at least three thermo-tectonic events (in the periods of ∼240, 140 and 80 Ma, respectively) have occurred in the study area since the Late Paleozoic. The occurrence of both the first (during 240–220 Ma) and second (during 160–120 Ma) thermo-tectonic events is possibly responsible for the establishment of the patterns of gas generation and reservoir formation. The second thermo-tectonic event also led to slight accumulation of hydrocarbons and generation of thermogenic gas; (2) the AFT ages of most coal-bearing strata lie between 50 and 70 Ma. They should represent the cooling ages and the ages of inferred uplift and denudation, as well as the possible CBM release history. Therefore, the maximum burial depth of coal-bearing strata and the denudation thickness of the overlying strata are over 3000 and 2000 m in the Upper Cretaceous and Paleogene series, respectively; and (3) subsequently, a spot of secondary biogenic and scarcely thermogenic gas generation occurred due to negligible sedimentation during the Neogene and Quaternary periods. Thus, it can be presumed that subsequent tectonism would destroy the CBM reservoir after its formation in the Huainan Coalfield, especially in its structural development region. These AFT data may be helpful for a better understanding of the thermo-tectonic history of the Huainan Coalfield, as well as of CBM generation, storage and release in the Huainan Coalfield.     

Coalification levels and their significance in the groundhog coalfield,North-Central British Columbia

The only significant deposits of anthracite and meta-anthracite in Canada occur in Upper Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous strata of the Groundhog coalfield in northcentral British Columbia. The coal rank in the coalfield varies from low volatile bituminous (1.70% R_{0 max}) to meta-anthracite (5.8% R_{0 max}). The main coal bearing unit, the Currier, includes up to 17 seams of anthracite and meta-anthracite most of which are less than 1 m thick. In the McEvoy unit, which overlies the Currier, up to 9 coal seams, mainly of semi-anthracite, occur that are up to 0.8 m thick. The coals are variably argillaceous, locally sheared and cut by quartz and less commonly, by carbonate veins. Coalification gradients in the coalfield vary from 0.8% to 3.0% R_{0 max} km^?1. The rank of coal within both the McEvoy and Currier units appears to increase towards the eastern edge of the coalfield.The level of coalification and the coalification gradients in the coalfield are anomalously high considering an indicated maximum depth of burial of 3500 m. From comparison with coalification models it appears that geothermal gradients in the order of 50° to 70°C/km must have existed for a period of time measured in millions of years. Studies to date suggest the coalification is pre-tectonic and thus pre-Late Cretaceous although there is some evidence for high heat flow in the Tertiary. The origin of the high heat flow may be related to intrusion accompanying collision of the Stikine terrain with the early Mesozoic margin of North America and/or high heat flux over an easterly dipping subduction zone below the Coastal volcanic-plutonic arc to the west.     

Catagenesis of Jurassic-Cretaceous coals and rocks of the Bureya basin in the Russian Far East with respect to hydrocarbon generation

The catagenesis of the Jurassic-Cretaceous deposits and coals has been comprehensively examined based on a complex of features including the reflectance (R _o and R _a), the qualitative properties, and the petrochemical characteristics (the density and saturation porosity) of the host rocks. The catagenesis of the Jurassic-Cretaceous deposits was studied based on the structural zones in which the coal-bearing deposits occur at different depths ranging from ～ 10 to 300 m, down to 700m, and from 5 to 3460 m in the Western, Central, and Kyndal zones, accordingly. The following regularities of the changing of the coal’s catagenesis have been established: from group 3B to 1G, 2G, and GFL; from gradation PC₃ to MC₁-MC₂; and from MC₂ to MC₃-MC₄ with the changing of the composition of the coals from long-flame coal to gas and gasfat-lean coal. In the intrusive bodies distribution areas breaking through the coal-bearing deposits, the coal seams are metamorphosed to the marks of lean caking and lean coals. The data obtained have made possible the assessment of the hydrocarbon generation in the Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous deposits of the basin.     

Evaluating the gas content of coals and isolated maceral concentrates from the Paleocene Guasare Coalfield,Venezuela

This work presents the results from evaluating the gases sorbed by coal samples extracted from the Paleocene Guasare Coalfield (Marcelina Formation, northwestern Venezuela), as well as by their distinct maceral concentrates. The aim of this work has been to obtain an initial experimental main value of the gas content per unit weight of high volatile bituminous A coal samples from the open-pit Paso Diablo mine. An additional goal was to study differences in the CH₄ storage ability of the distinct maceral groups forming part of the coal matrix. Both the coal samples and the maceral concentrates were studied by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) in order to determine the temperature to be used in subsequent experiments. On-line analyses of hydrocarbons (C₁, C₂, C₃) and CO₂ yielded gas concentrations, plus δ¹³C values. Thermogenic gas is prevalent in the Guasare coals with vitrinite reflectance (%R_o) values from 0.65% to 0.88%. The amount of gas retained in the coals and maceral concentrates was measured with a special device that allows determination of the volume of gas sorbed by a solid sample subjected to controlled thermal treatment. The average coalbed gas concentration obtained was 0.51 cm³/g. The following list of maceral concentrates shows the relative capacity for the volume of sorbed gas per unit weight: inertinite > low-density vitrinite > liptinite ≈ high-density vitrinite. It is concluded that the gas volumes retained in the distinct maceral concentrates are not controlled by porosity but rather by their microscopic morphology.     

Physical and chemical environments of abnormal vitrinite reflectance evolution in the sedimentary basins

Based on the tested data of pressure and vitrinite reflectance of some wells in sedimentary basins, abnormal high pressure is regarded as not the only factor to retard the increase of vitrinite reflectance (R _o). Apart from the types of the organic matter, the physical environment (temperature and pressure) and chemical environment (fluid composition and inorganic elements) will result in the abnormal vitrinite reflectance values in the sedimentary basins. This paper tested trace elements and vitrinite reflectance data from the the abnormal high pressure and normal pressure strata profiles, respectively, and found that the acidic and lower salinity starta are favorable for the increase of R _o. By discussing the corresponding relationship between the contents of some trace elements in the mudstone and the vitrinite reflectance values, the typical trace elements were found to suppress and/or catalyze the vitrinite reflectance of organic matter, while the elements of Ca, Mn, Sr, B, Ba and P may result in the retardation of R _o. However, elements of Fe, Co, Zn, Ni and Rb may catalyze the organic matter maturation. This study is conductive to the organic maturation correction, oil and gas assessment and thermal history reconstruction by the paleothermometry. Translated from Acta Geologica Sinica, 2006, 80(11): 1760–1769 [译自: 地质学报]     

Evolution of optical properties of vitrinite, sporinite and semifusinite in response to heating under inert conditions

The objective of the study was to characterize changes of reflectance, reflectance anisotropy and reflectance indicating surface (RIS) shape of vitrinite, sporinite and semifusinite subjected to thermal treatment under inert conditions. Examination was performed on vitrinite, liptinite and inertinite concentrates prepared from channel samples of steam coal (R_r = 0.70%) and coking coal (R_r = 1.25%), collected from seam 405 of the Upper Silesian Coal Basin. The concentrates were heated at temperatures of 400–1200 °C for 1 h time in an argon atmosphere.All components examined in this study: vitrinite, sporinite and semifusinite as well as matrix of vitrinite and liptinite cokes, despite of rank of their parent coal, show, in general, the most important changes of reflectance value and optical anisotropy when heated at 500 °C, 800 °C (with the exception of bireflectance value of sporinite) and 1200 °C.After heating the steam coal at 1200 °C, the vitrinite and the semifusinite reveal similar reflectances, whereas the latter a slightly stronger anisotropy. Sporinite and matrix of liptinite coke have lower reflectances but anisotropy (R_bi and R_am values) similar to those observed for vitrinite and semifusinite. However, at 1000 °C sporinite and matrix of liptinite coke have the highest reflectivity of the studied components. The RIS at 1200 °C is the same for all components.The optical properties of the three macerals in the coking coal become similar after heating at 1000 °C. Coke obtained at 1200 °C did not contain distinguishable vitrinite grains. At 1200 °C semifusinite and vitrinite coke matrix have highest R_r values among the examined components. Maximum reflectance (R_max) reach similar values for vitrinite and sporinite, slightly lower for semifusinite. Matrix of liptinite coke and matrix of vitrinite coke have considerably stronger anisotropy (R_bi and R_am values) than other components. RIS at 1200 °C is also similar for all components.