Geochromatography in petroleum migration: a review

Abstract Numerous works have been published during recent years discussing the occurrence and effects of chromatographic processes with respect to petroleum migration. ‘Geochromatography’ has been, and still remains, a controversial topic. Based on the principles and conventions of separation science a definition of geochromatography is proposed, followed by a discussion of the relevance and potential occurrence of chromatographic type fractionation effects during primary and secondary petroleum migration. The evaluation of the relevant literature suggests that chromatographic processes in natural systems involving liquid mobile phase can result only in compound class fractionation (saturates, aromatics, polars) whereas molecular fractionation may be expected to occur with gaseous mobile phases. Problems associated with the recognition, experimental verification and quantification of geochromatography are discussed in detail.

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