Lahore, April 07, 2023 (PPI-OT): Due to rise in global oil prices and domestic political and economic crisis in Pakistan, the state is becoming energy insecure. Pakistan has become heavily dependent on energy imports. It desperately needs to find alternatives to overcome its energy insecurity and meet its domestic energy demand. In this regard, Dr Arif Nazir (Associate Professor/HoD, Department of Chemistry) and fellow researchers worked on the geochemical evaluation of hydrocarbon-generating potential and thermal stress experienced by the Patala Formation, Salt Range, and Upper Indus Basin, Pakistan.
This study focused on the investigation of hydrocarbon potential, thermal maturity, and ranking of the coal from the Salt Range in Pakistan. Four different mines located in different areas of the Salt Range were selected for sample acquisition. The samples were further processed and analysed in the laboratory using proximate analysis, ultimate analysis, and Rock-Eval pyrolysis. The proximate analysis conducted by Dr. Nazir and his team illustrated that the coal of the Salt Range is of low rank because of its low moisture content and high volatile material. The ultimate analysis indicated that the coal is immature and has lower carbon contents.
The coals have total organic carbon contents in the range of 36.45 to 48.68 wt. % and hydrogen index values between 277 and 445 mg HC/TOC, indicating that the organic matter type is dominated by type II. Moreover, Rock-Eval pyrolysis parameters further supported it as an excellent source rock having type II kerogen and an oil-prone nature with some gas-prone characteristics. The data that Dr. Nazir and his team collected actually suggested that the coal samples are in a low conversion state and are thermally immature.
Dr Nazir is considered one of the top researchers in the field of chemistry at the University of Lahore (UOL) and has worked on 149 research studies (cumulative impact factor of 520) conducted with foreign and local collaborators. He has been a consistent recipient of “UOL’s Research Productivity Award” for the last six years (2017-2022).
For more information, contact:
The University of Lahore
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