Hydrocarbon-generating characteristics of barkinite-rich coals from Late Permian Longtan Formation, South China

Leping coal (including barkinite-rich coal) is a unique kind of coal, which is widely distributed in the Late Permian Longtan Formation, South China. In this paper, Rock-Eval, Py-GC and simulation experiment via an open-system were used to study the hydrocarbon-generating potential, hydrocarbon composition, and hydrocarbon-generating model of barkinite-rich coals from the Shuicheng coal field of Guizhou Province, Southwest China. The results show that barkinite-rich coals have high hydrocarbon-generating potential, with S1 + S2 being 211 - 311mg/g, and can produce large amounts of hydrocarbon at the high-maturity stage, mostly within the temperature range of 420 - 450°C (corresponding to VR0 1.1 - 1.5%); barkinite-rich coal is one of the better oil sources and light hydrocarbon and wet gas are the major hydrocarbon components, which account for 45% and 33% of the total hydrocarbons, respectively. These characteristics are of importance for exploring oil and gas resources in the Late Permian Longtan Formation coals, Southwest China.