Mathematical simulation of the carbon isotopic fractionation between huminitic coals and related methane

Abstract

In order to estimate the isotope fractionation effect between coals and methane during coalification a maturity-related fractionation model has been developed for coals and reservoir gases of NW Germany which is based on empirical data. Assuming that observed isotope shifts of the convertible carbon of coals of different maturities are related to a loss of methane during coalification and that this shift can be described by a Rayleigh distillation process, functions with preselected fractionation factors were fitted to measured isotope data of the convertible carbon of coals. The best approximation of theoretical and measured data was achieved with a low fractionation factor (α_c=1.003). Using this model theoretical methane carbon isotope data were determined and compared to the isotopic composition of reservoir methanes of NW Germany. Although the methane isotope data of reservoir gases and the related maturity of the coals show a slight scatter, the theoretical data plot within the same range and follow the increase of the ¹³C concentration of reservoir gases with increasing maturity of the coals.