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Small Angle Neutron Scattering Signature of Oil Generation in Artificially and Naturally Matured Hydrocarbon Source Rocks

Created 26/03/2026

Updated 26/03/2026

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We have demonstrated for the first time the application of a small angle neutron scattering (SANS) technique for the precise determination of the onset of hydrocarbon transport (primary migration) in shaly source rocks. We used a sequence of rocks pyrolysed in the laboratory under nitrogen at temperatures in the range 310-370°C. These rocks contained several percent of dispersed marine Type II organic matter. Geochemical analysis indicated a peak of the hydrocarbon generation in the middle of the temperature range (at 340°C). We observed a sharp decrease of SANS intensity in a narrow maturity range within the geochemically determined region of the onset of hydrocarbon generation. This decrease was a direct consequence of the SANS contrast variation caused by the invasion of the pore space by bitumen during the primary migration of hydrocarbons. A similar phenomenon was observed for a natural maturity sequence of source rocks originating from the same location.

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Title Small Angle Neutron Scattering Signature of Oil Generation in Artificially and Naturally Matured Hydrocarbon Source Rocks
Language eng
Licence Not Specified
Landing Page https://data.gov.au/data/dataset/600b3b89-77f0-4ad9-b102-eec3926710db
Contact Point
Geoscience Australia Data
clientservices@ga.gov.au
Reference Period 22/04/2018
Geospatial Coverage Australia
Data Portal Geoscience Australia

Data Source

This dataset was originally found on Geoscience Australia "Small Angle Neutron Scattering Signature of Oil Generation in Artificially and Naturally Matured Hydrocarbon Source Rocks". Please visit the source to access the original metadata of the dataset:
https://ecat.ga.gov.au/geonetwork/srv/eng/csw/dataset/small-angle-neutron-scattering-signature-of-oil-generation-in-artificially-and-naturally-mature11