| Abstract: | Twenty-seven heavy crude oils of diverse origin were geochemically assessed with respect to both bulk and mlecular composition for the purpose of identifying and quanttfying valid biomarker parameters for low maturity oils. The low thermal maturity level of many of these oils is evident from the bulk and alipathic chromatographic data, and oil sourced from both marine and terrigenous organic matter are represented. Selective metastable ion monitoring (SMIM) was employed to measure separately the distribution of C27, C28, and C29 sterane isomers. The useful maturity indicators include the C29 5α(H) 20S/20R ratio, the relative quantity of the biological sterane configuration in each of the total normal C27, C28, and C29 steranes, and the rearranged to normal sterane ratio. In addition, C27 rearranged steran es appear to form at a faster rate than C28 or C29 rearranged steranes. However, the isomerization of the C27 biological component appears to occur at a slower rate than the C29 counterpart suggesting that the former may be used as a maturity parameter at higher levels of thermal maturation. In the triterpane distributions, the C27 trisnorhopane isomers and the moretane to hopane ratios appear to be both source and maturity related and cannot be used as successful maturity parameters in oils unless they share a common source. The C31+ hopane 22S/22R equilibrium ratio appears to increase with increasing molecular weight (C31–C34). |
