Effect of Maturation on the Dimethyl Naphthalene Indicator Used to Evaluate the Source Organic Type of Crude Oil

The dimethyl naphthalene composition is used as an indicator to estimate the source organic matter of crude oil. This study examined the effect of maturation on this indicator. Heating experiments were performed on dimethyl naphthalenes and immature coal. The composition of indicator naphthalenes in terrestrial organic matter decreased with maturation. This study concluded that the dimethyl naphthalene ratio can be used as an indicator of source organic matter at random mean vitrinite reflectance values of up to 1.3%–1.4%.