Changes

  | part    = Critical elements of the petroleum system

  | part    = Critical elements of the petroleum system

  | chapter = Evaluating source rocks

  | chapter = Evaluating source rocks

  | frompg  = 6-1

  | frompg  = 6-4

  | topg    = 6-41

  | topg    = 6-6

  | author  = Carol A. Law

  | author  = Carol A. Law

  | link    = http://archives.datapages.com/data/specpubs/beaumont/ch06/ch06.htm

  | link    = http://archives.datapages.com/data/specpubs/beaumont/ch06/ch06.htm

[[File:MarcellusShaleCloseUp.jpg|thumb|400px|Marcellus Shale, New York|"Marcellus Shale Close Up" by Lvklock - Own work. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.]]

[[File:MarcellusShaleCloseUp.jpg|thumb|400px|Marcellus Shale, New York|"Marcellus Shale Close Up" by Lvklock - Own work. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.]]

A '''source rock''' is a rock that is capable of generating or that has generated movable quantities of [[hydrocarbon]]s.

A '''source rock''' is a rock that is capable of generating or that has generated movable quantities of [[hydrocarbon]]s.  

The first factor to be assessed in an exploration play in an area yet to be drilled is whether a source rock is present. If so, then we ask, “How good is it? Will it generate oil or gas? Has it generated hydrocarbons already?” To answer these questions, we must know the basics of what constitutes a source rock, how to classify source rocks, and how to estimate potential. This article provides a background in these fundamentals.

The first factor to be assessed in an exploration play in an area yet to be drilled is whether a source rock is present. If so, then we ask, “How good is it? Will it generate oil or gas? Has it generated hydrocarbons already?” To answer these questions, we must know the basics of what constitutes a source rock, how to classify source rocks, and how to estimate potential. This article provides a background in these fundamentals.

==Determining source rock potential==

==Determining source rock potential==

The quantity of organic matter is commonly assessed by a measure of the [[total organic carbon (TOC)]] contained in a rock. Quality is measured by determining the [[Kerogen types|types of kerogen]] contained in the organic matter. Thermal maturity is most often estimated by using [[vitrinite reflectance]] measurements and data from [[Pyrolysis gas chromatography|pyrolysis]] analyses.

The quantity of organic matter is commonly assessed by a measure of the [[total organic carbon (TOC)]] contained in a rock. Quality is measured by determining the types of [[kerogen]] contained in the organic matter. Thermal maturity is most often estimated by using [[vitrinite reflectance]] measurements and data from [[Pyrolysis gas chromatography|pyrolysis]] analyses.

The table below shows the most common methods used to determine the potential of a source rock.

The table below shows the most common methods used to determine the potential of a source rock.

* Pyrolysis [[Tmax]]

* Pyrolysis [[Tmax]]

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==External links==

==External links==

[[Category:Critical elements of the petroleum system]]  

[[Category:Critical elements of the petroleum system]]  

[[Category:Evaluating source rocks]]

[[Category:Evaluating source rocks]]