Petrological and geochemical considerations to predict oil potential of Rajpardi and Vastan lignite deposits of Gujarat, western India

This paper entails the results of the investigations undertaken to assess the oil potential of two lignite deposits, Rajpardi and Vastan, from Gujarat, western India. They are ‘Low rank B’ type lignite. Petrographically, they are enriched in huminite and are low in liptinite and inertinite. Their elevated hydrogen content, in relation to carbon, has probably made them perhydrous in nature and oil prone. The reactivity of these coals during liquefaction has also been discussed in the light of petrofactor. Good correlation has been noticed between oil yield and conversion (r² = 0.999) in both the lignite deposits. The VRr (0.24–0.35% in both lignites), H/C atomic ratio (0.11–1.39 in Rajpardi and 1.09–1.88 in Vastan), reactive maceral content (91.6–99.8 vol % mmf in Rajpardi lignite and 75.5–99.7 vol % in Vastan lignite) and VM_daf (64.8–67.9 wt % in Rajpardi lignite and 42.1–80.0 wt % in Vastan lignite) of these lignites have a favourable range required for a coal to generate oil. Huminite is seen to play a vital role in conversion and maintains a good correlation with it. The calculations show that these lignites have a high conversion (> 95%) and oil yield (> 65%).