Organic Petrology in Coal Research

Coal and Related Carbon Resources / Lignite, Graphite, Graphene, & Carbon Uses

Paul Hackley, Project Chief, U.S. Geological Survey, reports that organic petrology research is used to understand and predict the behavior of coal in utilization and/or thermal maturity of petroleum-source rocks, and to understand and predict hydrocarbon generation. Other important themes of organic petrology research include the impact of coal composition on coalbed gas generation and storage. Research in the U.S.Geological Survey Organic Petrology Laboratory at the National Center in Reston includes all of these themes.

Original working URL: https://energy.usgs.gov/Coal/OrganicPetrology.aspx