Kinetics

Our Kinetics Technology

Sirius Exploration Geochemistry can determine source-rock kinetics in several ways. For new samples, our most-common and preferred method is to use a single pyrolysis run made on an extracted rock sample using data from Rock-Eval, Source Rock Analyzer (SRA), or Hawk at a heating rate of about 25°C per minute. We then specify the A factor that we want to use, and from the pyrolysis data and the specified A factor we derive the activation-energy distribution using the proprietary ORFA software, which was developed jointly with StratoChem Services. For A we can use any value that our client prefers, but we ourselves use ORFA’s default value, which is 2e14 s^-1 (Waples, 2000, 2016; Waples et al., 2002, 2010). Numerous tests carried out together with StratoChem have shown that Ea distributions derived from a single pyrolysis run are essentially identical to those derived from the standard three pyrolysis runs. In addition, the one-run kinetics are much quicker and less expensive to generate. As explained elsewhere (Waples, 2016, 2018a), we do not agree with workers such as Peters et al. (2015) who believe that the multirun method for determining kinetics is superior to our one-run method. For further information, visit StratoChem’s ORFA page, and click here to watch our “Defining the Oil-Generation Window using Kerogen Kinetics and Transformation Ratio” video.

An alternative method is to determine the Ea distribution from archived pyrolysis data. This technique can often work very well for data obtained on the Rock-Eval 6, SRA, or Hawk, but is unlikely to be successful using data acquired on the older Rock-Eval 2. The other main disadvantage with archived data is that almost all work was done on unextracted (as-received or NOPR) samples. If those unextracted samples were contaminated or stained by migrated oil, or if large amounts of generation have occurred, it is difficult or impossible to obtain reliable kinetics. The main advantages of the archived data approach are that (1) new samples are not required, (2) it is less expensive than analyzing new samples, and (3) in favorable situations, one can acquire very-large data bases.

A third method is to convert published or previously acquired kinetics data that have an undesirable A factor (i.e., one that is suspect, wrong, or simply undesired), to a new A factor, such as our favored one, 2e14 s^-1. This conversion involves a simple algebraic operation that requires neither rock samples nor new laboratory analyses. The conversion process is described in our video Source-rock (kerogen) kinetics: Converting A factors quickly, accurately, and inexpensively. We offer this service at very low cost. This step is always advisable when working with published kinetics data or data generated by other laboratories, and is essential if the original A factor differs significantly from our favored value (Waples, 2018a). Use of kinetics with incorrect A factors (and correspondingly wrong Ea distributions) can cause serious errors in estimating maturity levels in modeling (Stainforth, 2009; Waples, 2018a).

The importance of using kinetics with a reasonable A factor is clear when we compare the results of modeling at geological temperatures. The example below shows the relationship between Transformation Ratio and Ro for both the original and adjusted Mae Sot kinetics. Exploration conclusions using the two sets of kinetics might be very different.

In our maturity studies we often measure kinetics on partially mature to highly mature samples, where pyrolysis yields and S2 peaks can be rather small. In such cases baseline drift can make quantification of the S2 peak and derivation of reliable kinetics difficult. In other cases, in particular working with unextracted samples, there may be interference from bitumen in the late part of the S1 peak. In any cases where these problems arise, ORFA allows the user to manually adjust the baseline, removing drift and other anomalies, and thus permits acquisition of accurate kinetics data even for difficult samples. The three figures below show an example of S2 yields and Ea distributions derived before and after baseline editing, as well as the editing process in ORFA.

Finally, ORFA can separate the standard (bulk or total hydrocarbon) kinetics, which don’t distinguish oil generation from gas generation, into separate kinetics for oil and gas. The resulting oil-gas kinetics will give a more-accurate picture of the timing of generation of each phase. This transformation can be applied to any existing Ea distribution. It is an estimate rather than an exact measurement, but it is based on trends of existing data in which such kinetics have been directly measured. Other kinetics software does not offer this option.