Correlation of the Rock-Eval hydrocarbon index with yields of pyrolysis oils and volatiles determined in a wire-mesh reactor

Six immature kerogens of different geological ages, representing Types I, II and III, have been analysed by a modified Rock-Eval technique for comparison with wire-mesh pyrolysis results giving oil and total volatile yields. The hydrocarbon indices for the kerogens determined by Rock-Eval correlate approximately linearly with both oil yields and total volatiles, with consistent differences being observed between old and young kerogens. The non-zero intercepts for both relations may indicate the effect of mineral matter in Rock-Eval by reduction of the hydrocarbon index.