A New Instrument for the Characterization of Fossil Energy Resources

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This is an SBIR Phase II award from the 1985 solicitation. Many important problems in characterizing materials in the earth's lithosphere employ thermal analysis. The innovation offered in this project is an unique system which couples thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) with evolved gas analysis (EGA) performed with a Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectrometer. An unique feature of the system is its ability to provide continuous monitoring of the infrared spectra of evolving liquids as well as quantitative analysis of gases. The FT-IR system combines all of the control and data reduction functions in the FT-IR's computer and thus is capable of providing an integrated, automated instrument with extensive analysis of products at a limited analysis. The Phase I program emphasized the characterization of energy resources. In collaboration with Dr. Jean Whelan of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, a variety of the petroleum source rock samples were analyzed with the TG-FTIR and the results correlated with data on maturity, vitrinite reflectance, mineral composition, organic content, and organic composition obtained by standard methods. Initial results indicate that the TG-FTIR technique provides useful geochemical information related to source rock characteristics including: a) Independent maturation indicator,s Tmax of a number of organic and inorganic sediment components; b) Material balance of organic and inorganic sedimentary carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur; c) Data for classification of sedimentary organic matter into kerogen Types I, II, and III and depositional environment. Phase II will be devoted to improvements in the apparatus, in the methodology, in calibrations using a variety of standard materials and in the application technique for a variety of problems related to resource and pollution monitoring.