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Kerogen

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Geochemistry in Petroleum Exploration

Part of the book series: Geological Sciences Series ((TLB))

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Abstract

Kerogenis normally defined as that portion of the organic matter present in sedimentary rocks that is insoluble in ordinary organic solvents. The soluble portion, called bitumen, will be discussed in chapter 5. Lack of solubility is a direct result of the large size of kerogen molecules, which have molecular weights of several thousand or more. Each kerogen molecule is unique, because it has patchwork structures formed by the random combination of many small molecular fragments. The chemical and physical characteristics of a kerogen are strongly influenced by the type of biogenic molecules from which the kerogen is formed and by diagenetic transformations of those organic molecules.

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Suggested Readings

  • Berner, R. A. and R. Raiswell, 1983, Burial of organic carbon and pyrite sulfur in sediments over Phanerozoic time: a new theory: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 47, pp. 855–862.

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  • Powell, T. G. and L. R. Snowdon, 1983, A composite hydrocarbon generation model: Erdol und Kohle-Petrochemie vereinigt mit Rennstoff-Chemie, v. 36, pp. 163–170.

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  • Staplin, F. L., 1969, Sedimentary organic matter, organic metamorphism, and oil and gas occurrence: Bulletin of Canadian Petroleum Geology, v. 17, pp. 47–66.

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  • Waples, D. W ., 1977, C/M ratios in source rock studies: Colorado School of Mines Mineral Industries Bulletin, v. 20, no. 5, 7 pp.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Brown and Ruth Laboratories, Inc., Denver, Colorado, USA

    Douglas W. Waples

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  1. Douglas W. Waples
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© 1985 International Human Resources Development Corporation

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Waples, D.W. (1985). Kerogen. In: Geochemistry in Petroleum Exploration. Geological Sciences Series. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-5436-6_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-5436-6_4

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-8900-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-5436-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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