Yields of H2S and gaseous hydrocarbons in gold tube experiments simulating thermochemical sulfate reduction reactions between MgSO4 and petroleum fractions

The role of metal sulfates in thermochemical sulfate reduction (TSR) of hydrocarbons: Insight from the yields and stable carbon isotopes of gas products

“…The maximum 420°C temperature was maintained isothermally for 12, 24, 36 or 48 h while the autoclave pressure was maintained at $50 MPa to prevent rupture of the gold tubes and then cooled to room temperature. These conditions were previously identified to support TSR (Chen et al, 2009;Lu et al, 2010).…”

“…The outer surface of the pyrolysed gold tubes was rinsed clean with dichloromethane (DCM) and then pierced with a stainless steel probe on a vacuum line (Pan et al, 2006;Chen et al, 2009;Lu et al, 2010). The composition of the gaseous products released from the tubes was analysed using a two channel Hewlett-Packard 6890 GC that was custom configured (Wassen ECE) with eight (two capillary and six packed) columns and three (one FID and two TCD) detectors providing simultaneous detection of a number of organic (6C 5 ) and inorganic (i.e., H 2 S, CO 2 , H 2 ) gases.…”

“…Since then, a range of similar laboratory experiments with sulfate reactants and the control of various physicochemical parameters to simulate geological conditions have been conducted to study TSR processes and better understand the composition of TSR impacted gas reservoirs (Kiyosu, 1980;Trudinger et al, 1985;Kiyosu and Krouse, 1993;Cross et al, 2004;Yue et al, 2005;Ding et al, 2007;Zhang et al, 2007Zhang et al, , 2008aChen et al, 2009;Lu et al, 2010). Notably, MgSO 4 has been shown to rapidly accelerate TSR at relatively low temperatures (<350°C) and without the need for additional reduced sulfur (Gillaizeau and Tang, 2001;Tang et al, 2005;Zhang et al, 2007Zhang et al, , 2008a (Zhang et al, 2007(Zhang et al, , 2008a.…”

The separate production of H2S from the thermal reaction of hydrocarbons with magnesium sulfate and sulfur: Implications for thermal sulfate reduction

“…The reactants were loaded into 50 mm  4.2 mm  0.22 lm i.d. Au-tube reactors of high ductility and distilled water (40.0 lL) was added to each treatment to aid dissolution (Zhang et al, 2008a;Lu et al, 2010Lu et al, , 2011. The tubes were flushed with Ar to remove air and the open end of the Au-tube was crimped and welded closed whilst the tube bottom was submerged in a cold bath of Ar and water to prevent sample volatilization.…”

“…Each Au-tube surface was cleaned with dichloromethane and loaded separately into a piercing unit connected to a custom-made glass vacuum line (Pan et al, 2006;Lu et al, 2010Lu et al, , 2011. The tubes were pierced under vacuum.…”