Oil Source Rock Maturity Analysis via Total Scanning Fluorescence
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for determining thermal maturity of oil source rocks are either complex and require large sample amounts or are limited in their ability to perform quantitative analysis, particularly due to the reliance on vitrinite reflectance which is not representative of all oil-generating source rocks.
Innovation Solution
A method using total scanning fluorescence (TSF) to analyze oil source rock samples, obtaining TSF Intensity and TSF R1 parameters, and establishing a model to identify stages of oil and gas generation, which is applicable regardless of vitrinite content and allows for quantitative analysis using a device that includes fluorescence spectroscopy and calibration curves.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If vitrinite reflectance is used to determine thermal maturity, then the method provides relatively high accuracy, but it requires large sample amount, complex testing procedures and extended duration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts soluble organic substances from the rock matrix through solvent extraction, separating the analyte of interest from the complex rock environment. This extraction allows the use of simpler fluorescence spectroscopy methods while maintaining accuracy by focusing on the most relevant molecular components for maturity assessment
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical/optical measurement systems (vitrinite reflectance microscopy) with fluorescence spectroscopy. This substitution simplifies the testing procedure while maintaining measurement precision by using molecular fluorescence characteristics rather than microscopic optical properties
2Measurement precision
If vitrinite reflectance is used to determine thermal maturity, then the method provides relatively high accuracy, but it requires large sample amount, complex testing procedures and extended duration
Solution Approach 1:
By extracting soluble organic substances, the method concentrates the relevant maturity indicators into a small volume of solution, reducing the required sample amount from grams of rock to milligrams of extract while maintaining measurement accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the measurement parameter from bulk rock optical properties to molecular fluorescence characteristics of extracted substances. This parameter change enables accurate maturity determination with much smaller sample quantities since the fluorescence signal comes from concentrated molecular species rather than dispersed rock minerals
3Measurement precision
If vitrinite reflectance is used to determine thermal maturity, then the method provides relatively high accuracy, but it requires large sample amount, complex testing procedures and extended duration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces time-consuming microscopic observation and interpretation of vitrinite reflectance with rapid fluorescence spectroscopy measurements. The automated spectral acquisition and computerized analysis significantly reduce testing duration while maintaining or improving accuracy through objective molecular-based metrics
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary extraction of soluble organic substances before maturity analysis. This preliminary action concentrates the maturity indicators in advance, enabling faster subsequent fluorescence measurements compared to direct rock analysis, thereby reducing overall testing duration while preserving accuracy
4Reliability
If vitrinite reflectance is used to determine thermal maturity, then the method provides reliable results for many source rocks, but it is limited because vitrinite components contribute poorly to oil generation and some source rocks are deficient in vitrinite
Solution Approach 1:
The patent develops a universal fluorescence-based method that works for all source rock types containing soluble organic substances, regardless of vitrinite content. The method uses molecular fluorescence characteristics that are present in all organic matter, making it universally applicable to oil-prone, gas-prone, and mixed-type source rocks while maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses soluble organic substances as an intermediary between the rock matrix and the measurement system. This intermediary approach bypasses the limitation of vitrinite dependency by measuring fluorescence from dissolved organic molecules that represent the bulk organic matter, providing reliable maturity assessment for source rocks with any vitrinite content
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables rapid, simple, and scalable determination of oil source rock maturity without the limitations of vitrinite content, providing a quantitative assessment of thermal maturity across different stages of oil and gas generation.
Implementation Method 1
testing the organic solution of the extract from a series of oil source rock samples collected at different depths by total scanning fluorescence
Data Source
AI summary
A device and method of determining thermal maturity of oil source rocks by total scanning fluorescence including testing the organic solution of the extract from a series of oil source rock samples collected at different depths by total scanning fluorescence; building a model for interpretation of the oil source rock maturity according to the variation with depth of the TSF Intensity parameter and the TSF R1 parameter obtained by total scanning fluorescence, and identifying the stage of initial oil generation, the stage of major oil generation and the stage of major gas generation; and establishing the relationship between the TSF Intensity parameter and/or the TSF R1 parameter with the existing characteristic parameters that quantitatively characterize the maturity of oil source rocks, thereby accomplishing the analysis and determination of the maturity of the oil source rocks.