DETECTION AND EVALUATION OF HYDROCARBONS IN-SOURCE ROCKS BY FLUORESCENCE MICROSCOPY

In pursuing the detection of hydrocarbons in sedimentary rocks by conv entional petrological methods, an attempt has been made to correlate s tandard fluorescence parameters with the quality and quantity of hydro carbons present in crushed rocks embedded in epoxy resin. The capacity of the embedding resin, commonly used in the preparation of petrograp hic samples, to extract and physically fix hydrocarbons is recognized. This phenomenon permits one to measure monochromatic fluorescence par ameters, I 546 and Q (u.v.) 650/500, on the trapped hydrocarbons and t o correlate these parameters with selected geochemical data. The poten tial application of using these petrological parameters to evaluate oi l quantities and qualities is tested using real case studies. It is al so shown that it is possible to directly detect the mature zone in eac h case.