TOC

The concentration of organic material in source rocks as represented by the weight percent of organic carbon. A
value of approximately 0.5% total organic carbon by weight percent is considered the minimum for an
effective source rock, although values of 2% are considered the minimum for shale gas reservoirs; values exceeding
10% exist, although some geoscientists assert that high total organic carbon values indicate the possibility
of kerogen filling pore space rather than other forms of hydrocarbons. Total organic carbon is measured from 1-g
samples of pulverized rock that are combusted and converted to CO or CO2. If a sample appears to contain sufficient
total organic carbon to generate hydrocarbons, it may be subjected to pyrolysis.


otal organic carbon (TOC) is the amount of carbon bound in an organic compound and is often
used as a non-specific indicator of water quality or cleanliness of pharmaceutical manufacturing
equipment. TOC may also refer to the amount of organic carbon in a geological formation,
particularly the source rock for a petroleum play; 2% is a rough minimum.
[1]
For marine surface
sediments, average TOC content is 0.5 wt% in the deep ocean, and 2wt% along the eastern
margins.
[2]

A typical analysis for TOC measures both the total carbon present and the so-called "inorganic
carbon" (IC), the latter representing the content of dissolved carbon dioxide and carbonic acid salts.
Subtracting the inorganic carbon from the total carbon yields TOC. Another common variant of TOC
analysis involves removing the IC portion first and then measuring the leftover carbon. This method
involves purging an acidified sample with carbon-free air or nitrogen prior to measurement, and so is
more accurately called non-purgeable organic carbon (NPOC).
[3]



Kerogene
1. a complex fossilized organic material, found in oil shale and other sedimentary rock,
which is insoluble in common organic solvents and yields petroleum products on
distillation.
2
Complex mixture of compounds with large molecules containing mainly hydrogen and
carbon but also oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur. Kerogen is a precursor of PETROLEUM and the
organic component of OIL SHALEs. It is waxy and insoluble in water; upon heating, it breaks
down into recoverable gaseous and liquid substances resembling petroleum. It consists of
compacted organic material, such as algae and other low plant forms, pollen, spores and
spore coats, and insects.


Catagenesis
atagenesis is desribed as a cracking process, which produces hydrocarbons during the formation of
petroleum from kerogen.
during catagenesis. Sulfur-rich type II kerogen, occurring in carbonate--evaporite source rocks, can generate oil at
low levels of thermal stress. Low sulfur type II kerogen requires more thermal energy to generate oil, and type I and
type III kerogens still more. High-wax oils appear to be generated from both wax ester and biopolymeric precursors,
the first of which generates at an early stage of catagenesis and the other throughout catagenesis.
The physical and chemical alteration of sediments and pore fluids at temperatures and pressures higher than those
of diagenesis. Catagenesis involves heating in the range of 50 to 150C [122 to 302F]. At these temperatures,
chemical bonds break down in kerogen and clays withinshale, generating liquid hydrocarbons. At the high end of this
temperature range, secondary cracking of oil molecules can generate gas molecules.

EOR
Enhanced oil recovery (EOR), a stage of hydrocarbon production that involves use of sophisticated techniques to
recover more oil than would be possible by utilizing only primary production or waterflooding. EOR encompasses a
range of techniques used to restore formation pressure and improve hydrocarbon displacement or fluid flow in the
reservoir. Definitions in this discipline range from adsorption to waterflooding. All definitions have been reviewed by
EOR experts, and many are accompanied by high-quality illustrations.
There currently are several different methods of enhanced oil recovery including steam flood and
water flood injection and hydraulic fracturing

Oil spill
An oil spill is the release of a liquid petroleum hydrocarbon into the environment, especially marine
areas, due to human activity, and is a form of pollution. The term is usually applied to marine oil
spills, where oil is released into the ocean or coastal waters, but spills may also occur on land. Oil
spills may be due to releases of crude oil from tankers, offshore platforms, drilling rigs and wells, as
well as spills ofrefined petroleum products (such as gasoline, diesel) and their by-products, heavier
fuels used by large ships such as bunker fuel, or the spill of any oily refuse or waste oil.