California plio-miocene oils: Evidence of early generation

Update Item Information
Publication Type journal article
Research Institute Institute for Clean and Secure Energy (ICSE)
Author Peterson, N. F.; Hickey, P. J.
Title California plio-miocene oils: Evidence of early generation
Date 1987
Description Early generation of oil from Monterey and equivalent source rocks may well be the primary controlling factor on oil quality in the coastal basins of California. Commercial generation has occurred at reflectance levels as low as 0.3% R0. The wide range of chemical characteristics of these oils is comparable to source extracts from samples at low levels of organic metamorphism (LOM). At the same time, gross maturity parameters, such as extractable hydrocarbon concentration and hydrocarbon-to-organic-carbon ratios, indicate that sufficient petroleum has been generated to consider these source rocks as commercially generative. Oil quality is a function of both source facies and of relative level of maturity. Production from these basins is considerable and demonstrates that sections with oil-prone kerogen can be commercially significant at levels of organic metamorphism much lower than the conventional threshold of 0.6-0.7% R0. Evaluation of such areas should be based on direct chemical maturity parameters as well as LOM measurements.
Type Text
Publisher American Association of Petroleum Geologists
Subject plio-miocene oils; California oil; source rocks; commercial generation; LOM; hydrocarbon concentration; oil quality
Language eng
Bibliographic Citation Peterson, N. F., & Hickey, P. J. (1987). California plio-miocene oils: Evidence of early generation. Richard F. Meyer, ed., Exploration for heavy crude oil and natural bitumen: AAPG Studies in Geology, 25, 351-359.
Relation Has Part Richard F. Meyer, ed., Exploration for heavy crude oil and natural bitumen: AAPG Studies in Geology; no. 25, pp. 351-359 (1987)
Rights Management (c)American Association of Petroleum Geologists
Identifier ir-eua/id/2839
Source DSpace at ICSE
ARK ark:/87278/s6cr8sfw
Setname ir_eua
ID 213963
Reference URL https://collections.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6cr8sfw
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