1983•OSTI OAI (U.S. Department of Energy Office of Scientific and Technical Information)Requires access
The organic geochemistry of the Ordovician Whitby Formation: A possible Ontario shale
Jim Barker, R.D. Dickhout, D. J. Russell, Johnson, P R Gunther
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Abstract
The Upper Ordovician Whitby Formation in Ontario represents an episode of deposition of fine-grained material on a shallow carbonate shelf. The Lower member - the Collingwood member - has the most potential for shale oil production, with TOC values ranging up to 9.2%. Fischer Assay oil yields of 40 1/t have been found. Yields up to 60 1/t can be expected for high TOC intervals. These kerogen-rich rocks are immature to marginally mature with considerable oil generation potential remaining. Amorphous and exinous kerogen material dominate. Geochemical parameters point to a type II - minor type I kerogen which has favorable implications for shale oil potential. Kerogen pyrolysates are dominantly alkene-alkane chains of less than C/sub 18/ with numerous substituted benzenes including large molecular weight n-alkyl benzenes. Both pyrolysis products and I.R. spectra support current concepts of kerogen structure. (JMT)