Multiscale synchrotron microtomography imaging of kerogen lenses in organic-rich shales from the Norwegian Continental Shelf

Kerogen lens shape and size distribution control how organic-rich shales may behave as either source or seal rocks. Prior to thermal conversion, kerogen is a brittle, load-bearing constituent of the shale matrix. During maturation, lenses become more ductile, hydrocarbon expulsion lead creation microfractures, process controlled not only by temperature pressure but also their total content in rock. Here, we use high-resolution multiscale synchrotron microtomography imaging centimeter-scale rock samples collected two boreholes at different depths North Sea Barents Sea, respectively. From these three-dimensional data, quantify various shapes discuss each step lens's life-cycle (i.e. original biological structure, deposition, degradation, diagenesis) impacted its before catagenesis. We relationship between volume number given volume. The organic carbon (TOC) average measured. For volume, results show that increases with up point (~8–12 wt% TOC) above which TOC continues increase, decreases. These combined orientation microfracturing during maturation.