Relations between vitrinite reflectance, peak temperature and its neighboring temperature variation rate: A comparison of methods
镜质体反射率与最高温度及其附近温度变化率的关系——几种镜质体反射率计算模型的比较

Simplified models for three existing VR models(i.e.Middleton model,Waples model and Easy%R-o model) are obtained through the Monte Carlo Method.These simplified models show that the VR value is mainly determined by peak temperature(T-(max)),and is related to the temperature variation rate around the peak temperature(H-r).By comparing these simplified models,it is found that the Waples model and Middleton model are more sensitive to H-r than the Easy%R-o model,and,for the same value of VR,the Middleton model predicts the highest peak temperatures,Waples model the lowest and Easy%R-o model in between.These simplified models can be employed to interpret real VR data set to obtain the peak temperature that a stratum has experienced since deposition,and the thermal gradient,heat flow and time when the stratum experienced this peak temperature.Interpretation of VR data from the Inigok 1 well in the North Slope in Alaska indicates that poorly constrained data,such as thermal conductivity,may lead to errors.But these errors can be analyzed and quantified.However,the uncertainties of H-r may lead to non-uniqueness in the interpretation.