Changes

The depth of hydrocarbon generation and the yield of individual hydrocarbon phases are primarily a function of the kinetics of the kerogen-hydrocarbon conversion. Burial history and catalytic effects, due to source rock matrix chemistry, affect the rate of generation, although these effects are secondary to the kinetic effects.

The depth of hydrocarbon generation and the yield of individual hydrocarbon phases are primarily a function of the kinetics of the kerogen-hydrocarbon conversion. Burial history and catalytic effects, due to source rock matrix chemistry, affect the rate of generation, although these effects are secondary to the kinetic effects.

The following hydrocarbon generation vs. depth plots ([[:file:evaluating-source-rocks_fig6-15.png|Figure 1]] for types I (left) and III (right) kerogens are based on identical burial and thermal conditions. Thus, they depict the difference in the depth of hydrocarbon generation, based on kerogen type alone. Type I kerogen generally has a shallower liquid hydrocarbon zone and generates significantly larger amounts of hydrocarbons. The onset of generation is indicated by the change in the slope of the curves.

The following hydrocarbon generation vs. depth plots ([[:file:evaluating-source-rocks_fig6-15.png|Figure 1]] for types I (left) and III (right) kerogens) are based on identical burial and thermal conditions. Thus, they depict the difference in the depth of hydrocarbon generation, based on kerogen type alone. Type I kerogen generally has a shallower liquid hydrocarbon zone and generates significantly larger amounts of hydrocarbons. The onset of generation is indicated by the change in the slope of the curves.

[[file:evaluating-source-rocks_fig6-16.png|thumb|{{figure number|2}}See text for explanation.]]

[[file:evaluating-source-rocks_fig6-16.png|thumb|{{figure number|2}}See text for explanation.]]