Evolution characteristics and application of diamondoids in coal measures

As diamondoids have been used to evaluate petroleum and source rocks widely; their origin, evolution, and distribution in petroleum as well as source rocks have attracted ever more attention. Having finished the pyrolysis simulation experiment of the coal measure mudrocks from Xujiahe Formation, Sichuan Basin, results indicated that with the equivalent vitrinite reflectance (EasyRo) increasing, diamondoids experience generation (1.0% < EasyRo < 1.5%) and destruction (EasyRo > 1.5%). Throughout the simulation experiment, diamondoid parameters MAI, EAI, and TMAI-1 kept good relationships with maturity within the range of EasyRo 1.5%–2.5%, 1.0%–2.5%, and 1.5%–2.5% respectively, with all of the correlation coefficient (R2) being above 0.7844, this indicated that these parameters can be used to evaluate maturity at these ranges. In addition, the yield ratios A/D, MA/MD, DMA/DMD, and As/Ds also kept good relationships with maturity at the range of EasyRo 1.2%–2.5%, with all of the R2 above 0.9236, this indicated that these ratios can be used to evaluate maturity index at this range.