GEOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Abstract. The term kerogen will be used here to designate the organic constituent of the sedimentary rocks that is neither soluble in aqueous alkaline solvents nor in the common organic solvents.

Detailed explanation-2: -Kerogen is insoluble in normal organic solvents in part because of the high molecular weight of its component compounds. The soluble portion is known as bitumen. When heated to the right temperatures in the earth’s crust, (oil window c. 50–150 °C, gas window c.

Detailed explanation-3: -Kerogen is insoluble in water and in organic solvents such as benzene or alcohol. Upon heating under pressure, however, the large paraffin molecules break down into recoverable gaseous and liquid substances resembling petroleum.

Detailed explanation-4: -Kerogen is a waxy, insoluble organic substance that forms when organic shale is buried under several layers of sediment and is heated. If this kerogen is continually heated, it leads to the slow release of fossil fuels such as oil and natural gas, and also the non-fuel carbon compound graphite.

Detailed explanation-5: -Kerogen composed mainly of aliphatic and alkylated oxygen compounds. GOR of Wealden shales pyrolysates range from 0.05 to 0.16. H2 yields demonstrate that geological HC yields are underestimated by up to 6 mg H2 per g TOC.