Isolation Procedures for Kerogens and Associated Soluble Organic Materials

Abstract

Kerogens are of geochemical interest because they represent one of the most abundant forms of carbonaceous materials. The term “kerogen”, or “oil-former”, was originally given to the organic matter in oil shales, torbanite, kukersite, and others. Recently, broader usage has been made of the term in describing the insoluble organic material present in nonreservoir sedimentary rocks and other rocks. The soluble organic materials associated with oil-shale kerogens are of particular interest because they are usually indigenous to the formation and have had little opportunity for migration because of the low porosity and low permeability of the formations.