Method of performing hydrous pyrolysis for studying the kinetic parameters of hydrocarbons generated from source material
First Claim
1. A method of performing hydrous pyrolysis on a sample of hydrocarbon source material for studying the kinetic parameters of hydrocarbons generated from said source material, comprising the steps of:
- enclosing a measured amount of hydrocarbon source material in a sample holder closed at both ends by fluid permeable discs and sealing said sample holder in a pressure chamber of a reactor;
sequentially charging said reactor with inert gas and evacuating said chamber to completely purge it of oxygen;
at lease partially flooding said evacuated chamber with pure water;
briefly evacuating said chamber to remove any remaining gases therefrom;
heating said sample to a specified temperature for a specified period of time during which hydrocarbons generated by thermal maturation will be driven from said sample;
transferring the water and more volatile generated hydrocarbons cryogenically into a transfer vessel which has also been purged of oxygen;
recovering soluble bitumen and insoluble kerogen from said sample holder and chamber by washing;
cryogenically recovering a first portion of said hydrocarbons from said transfer vessel; and
recovering a remaining portion of said hydrocarbons by drying any residue materials remaining in said transfer vessel as a result of said cryogenic recovery step.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for studying the rate and type of hydrocarbon generated from a hydrocarbon source utilizes hydrous pyrolysis to generate hydrocarbons from the sample and then utilizes cryogenic methods to remove the fluid portions to a transfer vessel. The gaseous components are removed to a further vessel of known dimensions for determination of weight. The hydrocarbons in the transfer vessel are passed through a dryer to separate the water and their makeup determined. The hydrocarbons remaining in the reactor vessel are removed by working with solvents and their weights are determined after separation and evaporation of the solvents.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method of performing hydrous pyrolysis on a sample of hydrocarbon source material for studying the kinetic parameters of hydrocarbons generated from said source material, comprising the steps of:
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enclosing a measured amount of hydrocarbon source material in a sample holder closed at both ends by fluid permeable discs and sealing said sample holder in a pressure chamber of a reactor; sequentially charging said reactor with inert gas and evacuating said chamber to completely purge it of oxygen; at lease partially flooding said evacuated chamber with pure water; briefly evacuating said chamber to remove any remaining gases therefrom; heating said sample to a specified temperature for a specified period of time during which hydrocarbons generated by thermal maturation will be driven from said sample; transferring the water and more volatile generated hydrocarbons cryogenically into a transfer vessel which has also been purged of oxygen; recovering soluble bitumen and insoluble kerogen from said sample holder and chamber by washing; cryogenically recovering a first portion of said hydrocarbons from said transfer vessel; and recovering a remaining portion of said hydrocarbons by drying any residue materials remaining in said transfer vessel as a result of said cryogenic recovery step. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification