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Mineralogy and its contribution to anisotropy and kerogen stiffness variations with maturity in the Bakken shales
Mba, Kene
Mba, Kene
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2010
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Abstract
The understanding of the controls on anisotropy and stiffness of the soft components (kerogens and clays) of organic-rich shales is important in developing methods for indirect and in-situ detection of maturity. Mineralogy of eleven Bakken shale samples with varying thermal maturities was studied to determine the contribution of mineralogy to anisotropy and kerogen stiffness variations between the shales. It was found that anisotropy increased with increasing clay content and that kerogen stiffness increased with maturity. Increasing clay content allows for increased micro-cracking during hydrocarbon expulsion, and so increased anisotropy. This clay-related anisotropy is independent of depth. Rock physics models aimed at the indirect prediction of maturity in organic-rich shales need to account for clay-related anisotropy and kerogen stiffness changes for better accuracy in impedance modeling.
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