Application of Bound Biomarkers in the Evaluating the Deposition Environment and Maturity of Shale

Bound biomarkers, which are covalently linked to kerogen or asphaltene macrostructures, exhibit enhanced stability against mixing effects, contamination, and biodegradation. Although previous studies have noted that the results of bound and free biomarkers in assessing sedimentary environment and maturity are not exactly consistent, specific criteria for assessing bound biomarkers have not been proposed. In this study, microscale sealed vessel catalytic hydrogenation (MSSV-Hy) was used to extract bound biomarkers from shale and compare them with free biomarkers. The study demonstrates the reliability of bound biomarkers indices in evaluating depositional environments and maturity, and it systematically compares the differences between bound and free biomarkers. The results revealed that the maturity assessment of bound biomarkers is lower than that of free biomarkers. Additionally, C29 regular steranes are selectively consumed during rapid heating, resulting in a decrease in the input parameters from terrigenous sources. Adjusted criteria for bound biomarkers can more accurately evaluate the sedimentary environment and maturity of shale.

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