Stress distribution around kerogen particles as a measure of the initiation of bitumen-filled microfractures in organic-rich source rocks
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 30, 2025

Stress Distribution During Cold Compression of Rocks and Mineral Aggregates Using Synchrotron-based X-Ray Diffraction
Published on: May 20, 2018
Akbar N Wicaksono1, Israa S Abu-Mahfouz1,2, Erdem Idiz3
1Ali I. Al-Naimi Petroleum Engineering Research Centre, King Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955 Saudi Arabia.
Abstract:
In this article, we present a method used to model the initiation of bitumen-filled microfractures in immature, organic-rich source rocks. The first part presents the method used to calculate the stress distribution around the kerogen particles. The second part explains the method used to calculate the pressure change as a function of the transformation ratio and the resulting overpressure.•The effective principal stresses acting on the kerogen boundary were calculated.•Kerogen geometries were determined using the measured aspect ratio of the kerogen traces obtained from the petrography observation.•To estimate overpressure, the increase in pressure due to the transformation of kerogen to bitumen was calculated.
More Related Videos
08:38Microfluidic Devices for Characterizing Pore-scale Event Processes in Porous Media for Oil Recovery Applications
Published on: January 16, 2018
12:18Pore-scale Imaging and Characterization of Hydrocarbon Reservoir Rock Wettability at Subsurface Conditions Using X-ray Microtomography
Published on: October 21, 2018
Related Concept Videos
Stress-Strain Diagram - Brittle Materials
Microcracking in Concrete
Stress Concentrations
Elastic Strain Energy for Shearing Stresses
Combustion Energy: A Measure of Stability in Alkanes and Cycloalkanes
Alkanes undergo combustion in the presence of excess oxygen and high-temperature conditions to give carbon dioxide and water. A combustion reaction is the energy source in natural gas, liquified...
Mass Spectrometry: Branched Alkane Fragmentation