ABSTRACT
Two series of bicyclic sesquiterpanes have been identified in the crude oil from the Niger delta by Gas chromatography-Mass spectrometry. The mass spectra of the sesquiterpanes were compared with those of previously reported compounds. The first series with base peak at m/z 193 or 123 had mass spectra that corresponded with C15H28 (M+: 208) and C16H30 (M+: 222). The second series was distinguished by base peak, m/z 123 and corresponded to C21H40 (M+: 292), that is bicyclic terpanes having branched chain. The presence of these compounds in the Niger delta oil suggests a significant terrigenous input into the source-rock of the oils.
PDF Abstract XML References Citation
How to cite this article
DOI: 10.3923/jas.2004.508.512
URL: https://scialert.net/abstract/?doi=jas.2004.508.512
INTRODUCTION
Biomarkers of which bicyclic sesquiterpanes belong are organic compounds with well preserved basic skeleton which can be unambiguously linked to the structure of precursor compounds occurring in original source material. Restriction of occurrence of some biomarkers mainly to certain environment and the stereochemical changes at some carbon centres during maturation makes such compounds useful as paleoenvironmental and thermal maturity indicators[1-5]. The compounds can also provide information on post generative effects, such as migration, thermal alteration and biodegradation on the oil. The occurrence of biomarkers in both rock extracts and crude oil forms the basis for oil-oil and oil-source rock correlation studies[4,6]. The development of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry has made the identification of such compounds in rock extracts and crude oils very easy.
Bicyclic sesquiterpanes comprises the largest of terpenoid classes. The compounds have been detected in crude oils and sediments from many part of the world but their sources have not been unequivocally established. Degradation of steroid and triterpanes precursor[7], thermal degradation of higher plants triterpanes during maturation processes[8] and microbial degradation of hopanoids in petroleum source-rocks during diagenesis[9] are among the possible origins that have been proposed for these compounds. Philip et al.[10] have suggested that tricyclic diterpanes of higher plants origin could be the source of the bicyclic terpanes through the opening of ring C during maturation. Two C15 and C16 bicyclic alkanes have also been detected in a tertiary crude oil of terrestrial origin[11]. However, one thing that stands out clearly is the fact that the compounds have been widely reported for crude oils derived mostly from source-rock with significant terrestrial contributions, suggesting their possible utility as terrestrial source indicator[11-13].
A wide range of cyclic alkanes namely; tricyclic, tetracyclic and pentacyclic triterpanes have been reported in oils and sediments from the Niger delta[2,14-16]. In this study, we reported the occurrence of bicyclic sesquiterpenoid hydrocarbons in the Niger delta crude oil and its significant in determining the origin of Niger delta source rock.
Petroleum geology of the niger delta: The Niger delta basin has an estimated reserve of about 25 billion barrels of oils and 160 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. The basin covers an area of about 75,000 km2 with a clastic sequence which reaches a maximum thickness of 9,000 to 12,000 of sediments. It is bound in the west and east by, the Benin flank and Calabar flank respectively, in the south by Gulf of Guinea and in the north by Anambra basin, Abakaliki anticlinorium and Afikpo basin. Stratigraphically, the thick sedimentary sequence basically consists of three principal lithostratigraphic units, namely; the Akata, Agbada and Benin Formation[17]. Akata Formation consists mainly of overpressure marine shale. This Formation has not been drilled in most parts of the delta, except at the continental margin. Overlaying the Akata Formation is the Agbada Formation which composed of paralic sequence of interbedded sands and shales up to 4000 m thick in the central parts, thinning seawards and towards the delta margin. The youngest of the sequence, Benin Formation composed of mainly fluviatile gravels and sands which thickens to 2000 m in the delta centre and thins towards the margin.
The basin is partition into six to seven east-west bound blocks corresponding to depositional belts or depobelts. These depobelts correspond to discrete periods of the deltas evolutionary history starting from the oldest in the north, Northern delta (50-60 million years) to the youngest, Offshore (1-2 million years) in the south[18,19]. Each depobelts were assumed to constitute more or less independent unit with respect to sedimentation, structural deformation and hydrocarbon generation and accumulation[20].
The hydrocarbon habitat of the Niger delta is mostly within the sandstone reservoir of the Agbada Formation where they are usually trapped in rollover anticlines associated with growth faults. The age of the reservoir sands with average thickness between 10 and 20 m ranges from Eocene to Pliocene[21]. Niger delta produces mainly medium to light oil with API gravities ranging from 30 to 45°. The lighter crude oils are volatile with GORs ranging from 180 to 1600 ft3/bbl. The Niger delta source rock contains predominantly mixture of oil- and gas-prone type IIB and IIIA kerogen.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Twenty-two crude oil samples from the Niger delta were used. The crude oils were fractionated in a 1 m long and 1.5 cm diameter column packed with 8 g of silica gel (70-230 mesh, Merck). The saturated and aromatic hydrocarbon fractions were eluted with hexane and hexane/dichloromethane (90:10 v/v), respectively. The saturated fractions were separated into n-alkanes and branched/cyclic alkanes using 5 A molecular sieves. GC-MS analysis of the branched/cyclic alkanes fractions was performed on HP 5890 GC interface to an HP 5970 Mass Selective Detector. GC was carried out on a fused silica capillary column (30x0.25 mm i.d coated with 0.25 m thick SE-54). The oven temperature was programmed from 50 to 300°C at 4°C/min, isothermal for 30 min. Helium was used as carrier gas. The Mass spectrometer was operated at electron energy of 70 eV, an ion source temperature of 250°C and transfer line temperature of 300°C. The oven temperature was programmed from 50 to 300°C at 4°C/min, isothermal for 30 min. The main ions monitored were m/z 123 and 191 representing the diagnostic ions for terpanes.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The partial m/z 123 and 191 mass chromatograms of typical oil that was studied are shown in Fig. 1. The distribution of the bicyclic sesquiterpanes in the oil is similar to that of other oils from many regions of the world[9,10]. The compound corresponding to each of the peaks labeled A to K were identified by comparing their mass spectra with those already reported in the literature and the fragmentation patterns on the spectra. The peak identities of the bicyclic compounds identified on the mass chromatogram of the oils are listed in Table 1. Structures for the compounds are shown in Appendix A.
Appendix A: | Structures of bicycle sesquiterpanes (I-VII) |
Table 1: | Bicyclic terpanes in crude oil from Niger delta |
C15 Bicyclic sesquiterpanes: The mass spectra of the peaks A, B, C, F and G (Fig. 2) are similar to those of the C15 bicyclic sesquiterpanes alkanes already reported[9].
Fig. 1: | Partial m/z 123 and 191 mass chromatogram of crude oil from Niger delta |
The mass spectra are characterized by molecular ion at m/z 208 and base peak at m/z 123 or 193 and correspond to a molecular formula C15H28. Structures I, II and III have been tentatively assigned to peaks A, B and C having base peak at m/z 193[8]. Peaks F and G having base peak at m/z 123 have spectra similar to that of 8β(H) drimane with structure IV[9].
Prominent ions on the mass spectra of these peaks (A, B, C, F and G), such as m/z 208, 193, 137, 123 and 109 could be accounted for in terms of fragmentation of structure III. The M+ ion is at m/z 208 while m/z 193 resulted from loss of methyl group from the parent ion (M+-15). Fragmentation by cleavage of the C6-C7 and C9-C10 bonds will give m/z 137 (M+-71). The loss of 85 daltons from the molecular ion arising from the cleavage of the C5-C6 and C9-C10 bonds will give m/z 123 (M+-99). Cleavage of A and B ring at C5 and C10 position can result to m/z 109.
C16 Bicyclic sesquiterpanes: Peaks D, E, H, I and J have mass spectra that are similar to those of previously reported C16 bicyclic sesquiterpanes[9,22].The mass spectra of peaks D, E, H and I feature M+ ion at m/z 222 corresponding to C16H30 (Fig. 3). The spectra show base peak at m/z 193. A possible structure is V. The mass spectrum of peak J features base peak at m/z 123 and very low abundance of ion at m/z 193. This feature is typical of 8 β (H) homodrimane VI[9]. The absence or low abundance of ion at m/z 193 corresponding to M+-29 fragmentations has been attributed to unfavourable cleavage of ethyl group at C-9 position.
Fig. 2: | Mass spectra of C15 bicyclic terpanes of crude oils from Niger delta: (a) peaks A, B and C (b) peaks F and G (c) mass spectra of C15 bicyclic terpanes[9] |
There are prominent ions on the mass spectra of these peaks at m/z 222, 207, 193, 137, 123 and 109. The fragmentation pattern is similar to that of C15 member. The Molecular ion (M+) is at m/z 222 while m/z 207 and m/z 193 resulted from loss of methyl and ethyl groups, respectively.
C21 Bicyclic sesquiterpanes: The mass spectra of peak K (Fig. 4) is similar to that of C21 already reported[23]. The molecular ions (M+) at 292 corresponded to molecular formula C21H40. These compounds have basic structure of C15 bicyclic terpanes and a long branched chain attached to C-8 (structure VII).
The fragmentation resulting in the prominent ions such as m/z 137 and 109 is similar to that of C15 bicyclic terpanes. The m/z 277, 263, 233 and 193 resulted from successive loss of 14 daltons from the parent ion by the cleavage of the alkyl side chain on C-8 position.
Bicyclic sesquiterpanes have been reported to be widely distributed in oils derived mostly from source-rock with significant terrestrial contributions, suggesting their possible utility as terrestrial source indicator[11,13].
Fig. 3: | Mass spectra of C16 bicyclic terpanes of crude oils from Niger delta: (a) peaks D, E, H and I (b) peak J and (c) mass spectra of C16 bicyclic terpanes reported by Alexander et al.[9] |
Fig. 4: | Mass spectra of C21 bicyclic terpanes of crude oils from Niger delta (peak J) |
The presence of these compounds in crude oil from the Niger delta tends to support significant terrestrial contributions to Niger delta source rock.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We are grateful to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for providing samples through their joint venture partners. Dr. D. Ander of United State Geological Survey, Denver, Colorado is acknowledged for the GC-MS analysis of the oils.
REFERENCES
- Short, K.C. and J.A. Staeuble, 1967. Outline of Geology of Niger Delta. AAPG Bull., 6: 761-799.
Direct Link - Evamy, B.P., J. Haremboure, P. Kamerling, W.A. Knaap, F.A. Molly and P.H. Rowlands, 1978. Hydrocarbon habitat of tertiary Niger Delta. Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol. Bull., 62: 1-39.
Direct Link