Characterization of heavy oils from the Campos Basin, Brazil: Free biomarkers in oils, adsorbed and occluded in asphaltene structures

The Campos Basin is considered an important Brazilian petroleum province, with the most of its oils consisting in a mixture of biodegraded and non-biodegraded oils, which is related to more than one generation and migration pulse coupled with biodegradation events during successive stages of reservoir filling. Its turbidites reservoirs are also structural controlled through faults generated by halokinesis comprising the main route of oil migration from underlying source rocks. Throughout the biomarkers analyses of free hydrocarbons in oil, adsorbed, and occluded in the asphaltene structures, samples from different oilfields, and distances from the main fault responsible for its reservoirs filling, were comprehensive studied. The gas chromatography coupled mass spectrometer (GC-MS) methodology was applied. The results of biodegradation, source, and thermal maturation parameters reveals that the free and adsorbed saturated hydrocarbons are similarly altered, but differ in biodegradation degrees and pathways between oils, while occluded hydrocarbons and all fractions of aromatic compounds are well preserved. The predominance of biodegradation process over the recharge is suggested for distant samples from the main fault in each area, contributing to the local models of oil migration. The occluded hydrocarbons showed source similarities regardless of oilfield. According to thermal maturity based on unaltered aromatics compounds, the occluded hydrocarbons showed lower mature ratios than those free. This study introduces the application and limitations concerning biodegradation, source, and thermal maturation inferences from occluded hydrocarbons in asphaltenes covering Brazilian oils, in view to improve a concise geochemical tool in petroleum exploration.