Details of Award

NERC Reference : NER/T/S/2001/01153

Dev hydropyrolysis to generate molecular biomarker signals for solving key probs in oil exploration where conventional biomarker approaches fail

Principal Investigator:: Professor CE Snape, University of Nottingham, Sch of Chemical and Environmental Eng
Co-Investigator:: Dr G Love, Newcastle University, Civil Engineering and Geosciences
Grant held at:: University of Nottingham, Sch of Chemical and Environmental Eng

Abstract:: The aim is to realise the potential of hydropyrolysis (pyrolysis assisted by high hydrogen gas pressures) as a means to provide reliable molecular fingerprints for severely biodegraded oils, contaminated cores, oil-field solids (tar mats and pyrobitumens) and to provide novel information on basin filling history where the conventional free biomarker approach fails. This will then facilitate rapid and accurate oil-source and oil-oil correlations to be determined for the first time in Ocean Margin regions. The study will establish a firm base to exploit the commercial potential of hydropyrolysis, both in terms of oil exploration through the new correlations with bound biomarker profiles and of characterising sedimentary organic matter as a far superior technique to py-GC-MS. Indeed, innovative experimental protocols for conducting hydropyrolysis will continue to be developed to have a proto-type system ready for future exploitation.

Authorised funds only

This grant award has a total value of £84,029

Total - Staff	Total - T&S	Total - Other Costs	Total - Indirect Costs
£49,152	£2,588	£9,679	£22,610

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