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==How to read gas chromatograms==

==How to read gas chromatograms==

Gas chromatography generally is a qualitative tool. It is not typically used as a quantitative measurement of hydrocarbon molecules. However, the patterns generated in the chromatograms can help us determine if a source rock will be oil or gas prone.

Gas chromatography generally is a qualitative tool. It is not typically used as a quantitative measurement of hydrocarbon molecules. However, the patterns generated in the chromatograms can help us determine if a source rock will be oil or gas prone.

The X-axis of a gas chromatogram is retention time, and the Y-axis is the relative quantity of each compound. Each spike in the chromatogram represents a particular hydrocarbon compound, beginning with lowest number of carbon atoms in the compound on the left and going to higher chains of carbons to the right. The height of the spike represents the relative abundance of the compound pyrolized from the sample's kerogen. Typical gas chromatogram examples for types I, II, and III kerogen are shown below.

The X-axis of a gas chromatogram is retention time, and the Y-axis is the relative quantity of each compound. Each spike in the chromatogram represents a particular hydrocarbon compound, beginning with lowest number of carbon atoms in the compound on the left and going to higher chains of carbons to the right. The height of the spike represents the relative abundance of the compound pyrolized from the sample's kerogen. Typical gas chromatogram examples for types I, II, and III kerogen are shown in [[:file:evaluating-source-rocks_fig6-5.png|Figure 1]].

 

[[file:evaluating-source-rocks_fig6-5.png|thumb|{{figure number|6-5}}See text for explanation.]]

==Interpreting gas chromatograms==

==Interpreting gas chromatograms==