Experimental simulation of hydrocarbon expulsion

Abstract

Laboratory studies simulating thermal maturation of source rocks to generate and expel oil/gas differ from natural conditions. Amounts and compositions of products deviate between experiments and those found in natural petroleum source, carrier and reservoir rocks. Experimental data used in numerical models simulating oil/gas generation/expulsion thus seem to require adaption, causing significant uncertainty in present petroleum systems analysis. We designed and tested a procedure to simulate laboratory generation and expulsion of hydrocarbons under conditions most similar to natural conditions.