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Source Rock Characterization for Hydrocarbon Generative Potential and Thermal Maturity of Sutunga Coals, (East Jaintia Hill) Meghalaya, India: Petrographic and Geochemical Approach

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Journal of the Geological Society of India

Abstract

The study presents hydrocarbon generative potential and thermal maturity of the Paleogene coals from Sutunga, Meghalaya, India using petro-geochemical method. The petrographic examination showed that the analyzed samples contain abundant vitrinite group macerals (mean 71.8%) with a significant amount of the liptinite (17.4%) group maceral, while the concentration of inertinite group is less (3.1%). Vitrinite reflectance (0.38 to 0.69 %Rom), indicates that the rank of Sutunga coals as sub-bituminous ‘B’ to high volatile bituminous ‘C’. The results obtained from rockeval pyrolysis show that the hydrogen index (HI) ranges from 245 to 348 mg HC/g TOC and temperature at S2 peak (Tmax) is 412 to 441 °C. These coals contain Type III and Type II/III kerogen and are immature in nature. The total organic carbon (TOC) and S2 yield of Sutunga coals vary from 27.5–93.3 wt%, and 86.0–300.1 mg HC/g rock respectively indicating its high potential for hydrocarbon.

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Acknowledgement

Authors grateful to the management of Oil India Limited, Duliajan for providing laboratory facilities for analysing the samples. The authors also thankful to director and analytical chemistry division of NERIST for providing laboratory facilities to analyse samples for element composition. The authors are further express his gratitude to the head of the department of geological science, Guwahati University for providing laboratory facilities for proximate analysis and petrography of coal samples.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Petroleum Engineering and Geological Sciences, Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology, Jais, Amethi, 229 304, India

    Alok Kumar & Alok K. Singh

  2. Department of Geology, Gurucharan College, Silchar, 788 004, Assam, India

    Manabendra Nath

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Kumar, A., Nath, M. & Singh, A.K. Source Rock Characterization for Hydrocarbon Generative Potential and Thermal Maturity of Sutunga Coals, (East Jaintia Hill) Meghalaya, India: Petrographic and Geochemical Approach. J Geol Soc India 97, 643–648 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-021-1739-6

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