Organic–Inorganic Interactions and Their Significance for Hydrocarbon Generation in Deep Formations

Dear Colleagues,

It has been discovered that there exist huge petroleum/hydrocarbon resources in deep formations. Due to abnormally high T/P conditions and the complex fluid environment, organic–inorganic interactions in addition to the thermal cracking of organic matter (OM) collectively contribute to hydrocarbon (HC) generation and evolution in deep formation. Organic–inorganic interactions include thermochemical sulfate reduction (TSR), water/H₂-mineral-OM hydrogenation, mineral catalysis, etc. Previous research have revealed that organic–inorganic interactions significantly affect the generation, preservation and accumulation of oil and gas. However, the mechanisms of these processes and their contributions to HC generation remain unclear, the identification of HC derived from organic–inorganic reactions in geological settings (i.e., oil and gas reservoirs) is also challenging. It is an important direction for the theoretical research of hydrocarbon generation from organic–inorganic interactions involving deep fluids, particular minerals and metal elements.

This Special Issue on “Organic–Inorganic Interactions and Their Significance for Hydrocarbon Generation in Deep Formations” aims to cover recent advances in novel discoveries, data, methods and/or applications. Topics include, but are not limited to, the following areas:

• HC generation from OM decomposition at a high temperature and pressure;
• Mechanisms and kinetics of TSR, as well as their effects on HC generation;
• Mechanisms and identification of water/H₂-mineral-OM reactions;
• Catalysis of minerals/metal elements on HC generation from OM;
• Properties, origin and reactivity of H₂ fluids in deep formations;
• Origin/accumulation of oil and gas in reservoirs related to organic–inorganic interactions;
• High-temperature and pressure physical simulation experiments, the novel technology of fluid genesis analysis as well as theoretical calculation methods related to HC generation.

Prof. Dr. Dongya Zhu
Dr. Kun He
Dr. Jia Wu
Dr. Qingqiang Meng
Guest Editors

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