Source rock
From AAPG Wiki
A source rock is a rock that is
capable of generating or that has Exploring for Oil and Gas Traps
generated movable quantities of
hydrocarbons.
The first factor to be assessed in an
exploration play in an area yet to be
drilled is whether a source rock is
present. If so, then we ask, “How
good is it? Will it generate oil or
gas? Has it generated hydrocarbons
already?” To answer these Series Treatise in Petroleum Geology
questions, we must know the basics
Part Critical elements of the petroleum system
of what constitutes a source rock,
how to classify source rocks, and Chapter Evaluating source rocks
how to estimate potential. This Author Carol A. Law
article provides a background in
these fundamentals. Link Web page
(http://archives.datapages.com/data/specpubs/beaumont/ch06/ch06.htm)
Store AAPG Store (http://store.aapg.org/detail.aspx?id=545)
Contents
◾ 1 Definitions of source rock types
◾ 2 Characterizing source rocks
◾ 3 Determining source rock potential
◾ 4 See also
◾ 5 External links
Definitions of source rock
types
Source rocks can be divided into at least four
major categories:
◾ Potential
◾ Effective "Marcellus Shale Close Up" by Lvklock - Own work. Licensed under
◾ Relic effective Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 via Wikimedia
◾ Spent Commons.
These categories and their definitions are shown in the table below.
Type Definition
Potential source Rock which contains organic matter in sufficient quantity to generate and expel
rock hydrocarbons if subjected to increased thermal maturation.
Effective source Rock which contains organic matter and is presently generating and/or expelling
rock hydrocarbons to form commercial accumulations.
Relic effective An effective source rock which has ceased generating and expelling hydrocarbons due to a
source rock thermal cooling event such as uplift or erosion before exhausting its organic matter supply.
Spent source An active source rock which has exhausted its ability to generate and expel hydrocarbons
rock either through lack of sufficient organic matter or due to reaching an overmature state.
Characterizing source rocks
To be a source rock, a rock must have three features:
◾ Quantity of organic matter
◾ Quality capable of yielding moveable hydrocarbons
◾ Thermal maturity
The first two components are products of the depositional setting. The third is a function of the structural and
tectonic history of the province.
Determining source rock potential
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 contained in the organic matter. Thermal
maturity is most often estimated by using vitrinite reflectance measurements and data from pyrolysis analyses.
The table below shows the most common methods used to determine the potential of a source rock.
To determine… Measure…
Quantity of source rock Total organic carbon (TOC) present in the source rock
Quality of source rock ◾ Proportions of individual kerogens
◾ Prevalence of long-chain hydrocarbons
Thermal maturity of source rock ◾ Vitrinite reflectance
◾ Pyrolysis Tmax
See also
◾ Source rock for oil and gas (http://www.fallsoftheohio.org/SourceRockforPetroleum.html)
◾ How are rocks formed (http://www.ysi-ca.org/content/how-are-rocks-formed)
External links
◾ Original content in Datapages find literature about
Source rock
(http://archives.datapages.com/data/specpubs/beaumont/ch06/ch06.htm)
◾ Find the book in the AAPG Store (http://store.aapg.org/detail.aspx?id=545)
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Categories: Critical elements of the petroleum system Evaluating source rocks
◾ This page was last modified on 9 May 2016, at 09:25.
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