Kinetic studies on the pyrolysis of asphaltenes from different types of kerogens

The pyrolysis kinetics of a series of asphaltenes, from different types of kerogens, are studied in this work. The results indicate that the distribut ions of activation energy are over a wide range for the asphaltenes from ty pe I kerogens. There is still a large potential of hydrocarbon generation i n case the activation energy is above 350 kJ . mol(-1). While the distribut ions of activation energy are comparatively over a narrow range for the asp haltenes from type II and III kerogens, there is a little or almost no pote ntial of hydrocarbon generation with the activation energy above 350 kJ . m ol(-1) respectively. For the asphaltenes from some specific type of kerogen s, the pyrolysis kinetics can be applied to marking their maturity. Further more, based on detailed discussions of the kinetics parameter frequency fac tor, the asphaltenes from type I kerogens are considered to be of great pot ential to regenerate oils, while the asphaltenes' potential for oil-to-gas conversion tends to go down in order of primitive kerogen types of III, II and I.