Changes

The relative amounts of C₂₇, C₂₈ and C₂₉ steranes in oils are controlled by the types of photosynthetic organisms that contributed to the organic matter. A dominance of C₂₇ steranes is almost always associated with marine organisms. Most nonmarine organic matter has a dominance of the C₂₉ sterane precursors, but C₂₉ steranes can dominate in marine systems as well. The abundance of C₂₈ steranes in marine systems may depend primarily on geologic age<ref name=ch08r16>Grantham, P., J., Wakefield, L., L., 1988, Variations in the sterane carbon number distributions of marine [[source rock]] derived crude oils through geological time: Organic Geochemistry, vol. 12, p. 61–73., 10., 1016/0146-6380(88)90115-5</ref> but this idea is controversial. In nonmarine systems, there is no proposed relationship between C₂₈ sterane abundance and age. C₃₀ steranes (''n''-propylcholestanes) are usually less abundant than the other regular steranes and occur only in samples deposited where marine organisms lived.<ref name=ch08r32>Moldowan, J., M., Seifert, W., K., Gallegos, E., J., 1985, Relationship between petroleum composition and depositional environment of petroleum [[source rocks]]: AAPG Bulletin, vol. 569, p. 1255–1268.</ref>

The relative amounts of C₂₇, C₂₈ and C₂₉ steranes in oils are controlled by the types of photosynthetic organisms that contributed to the organic matter. A dominance of C₂₇ steranes is almost always associated with marine organisms. Most nonmarine organic matter has a dominance of the C₂₉ sterane precursors, but C₂₉ steranes can dominate in marine systems as well. The abundance of C₂₈ steranes in marine systems may depend primarily on geologic age<ref name=ch08r16>Grantham, P., J., Wakefield, L., L., 1988, Variations in the sterane carbon number distributions of marine [[source rock]] derived crude oils through geological time: Organic Geochemistry, vol. 12, p. 61–73., 10., 1016/0146-6380(88)90115-5</ref> but this idea is controversial. In nonmarine systems, there is no proposed relationship between C₂₈ sterane abundance and age. C₃₀ steranes (''n''-propylcholestanes) are usually less abundant than the other regular steranes and occur only in samples deposited where marine organisms lived.<ref name=ch08r32>Moldowan, J., M., Seifert, W., K., Gallegos, E., J., 1985, Relationship between petroleum composition and depositional environment of petroleum [[source rocks]]: AAPG Bulletin, vol. 569, p. 1255–1268.</ref>

[[:file:oiloil-and-oilsource-rock-correlations_fig8-23.png|Figure 1]] shows m/z 217 mass fragmentograms from two oils showing quite different distributions of regular steranes. The top example is dominated by C₂₉ steranes with only moderate amounts of C₂₇ and C₂₈. The bottom sample, in contrast, shows similar amounts of all three homologs plus moderate amounts of the C₃₀ steranes (four unlabeled peaks to the far right).

[[:file:oiloil-and-oilsource-rock-correlations_fig8-23.png|Figure 1]] shows m/z 217 mass fragmentograms from two oils showing quite different distributions of regular steranes. The top example is dominated by C₂₉ steranes with only moderate amounts of C₂₇ and C₂₈. The bottom sample, in contrast, shows similar amounts of all three homologs plus moderate amounts of the C₃₀ steranes (four unlabeled peaks to the far right).

[[:file:oiloil-and-oilsource-rock-correlations_fig8-24.png|Figure 2]] shows a ternary diagram, a convenient and common way of displaying basic data on sterane distributions. This example shows the relative proportions of the C₂₇, C₂₈, and C₂₉ regular steranes for several extracts from two distinct facies within the nonmarine Elko Formation (Eocene/Oligocene) of Nevada. The lignitic siltstones are dominated by terrestrial plant material, whereas the oil shales are made up of lacustrine algae.

[[file:oiloil-and-oilsource-rock-correlations_fig8-24.png|thumb|{{figure number|8-24}}From Palmer;<ref name=ch08r38>Palmer, S., E., 1984, Hydrocarbon source potential of organic facies of the lacustrine Elko Formation (Eocene/Oligocene), northeast Nevada, in Woodward, J., Meissner, F., F., Clayton, J., L., eds., Hydrocarbon source rocks of the greater Rocky Mountain region: Denver, Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists, p. 491–511.</ref> reprinted with permission from Rocky Mountain Assoc. of Geologists.]]

The figure shows a ternary diagram, a convenient and common way of displaying basic data on sterane distributions. This example shows the relative proportions of the C₂₇, C₂₈, and C₂₉ regular steranes for several extracts from two distinct facies within the nonmarine Elko Formation (Eocene/Oligocene) of Nevada. The lignitic siltstones are dominated by terrestrial plant material, whereas the oil shales are made up of lacustrine algae.

==4-methylsteranes==

==4-methylsteranes==

MRM analysis is useful in distinguishing ''n''-propylcholestanes from 4-methylsteranes and in assigning identities to different types of 4-methylsteranes. This sophisticated GC/MS analysis method will probably become commonplace because of its specificity in oil–oil and oil–source rock correlation efforts.

MRM analysis is useful in distinguishing ''n''-propylcholestanes from 4-methylsteranes and in assigning identities to different types of 4-methylsteranes. This sophisticated GC/MS analysis method will probably become commonplace because of its specificity in oil–oil and oil–source rock correlation efforts.