Kerogen to oil conversion in source rocks. Pore-pressure build-up and effects on seismic velocities

The aim of this work is to obtain a model for source rocks relating to kerogen–oil conversion and pore pressure to seismic velocity and anisotropy. The source rock is described by a porous transversely isotropic medium composed of illite/smectite and organic matter. The rock has a very low permeability and pore-pressure build-up occurs. We consider a basin-evolution model with constant sedimentation rate and geothermal gradient. Kerogen–oil conversion starts at a given depth in a volume whose permeability is sufficiently low so that the increase in pressure due to oil generation greatly exceeds the dissipation of pressure by flow. Assuming a first-order kinetic reaction, with a reaction rate satisfying the Arrhenius equation, the kerogen–oil conversion fraction is calculated. Pore-pressure changes affect the dry-rock stiffnesses, which have an influence on seismic velocities. The properties of the kerogen–oil mixture are obtained with the Kuster and Toksöz model, assuming that oil is the inclusion in a kerogen matrix. We use Gassmann's equations generalized to the anisotropic case to obtain the seismic velocities of the source rock as a function of depth, pressure and oil saturation. The procedure is to obtain the dry-rock stiffnesses by assuming a Poisson medium for the mineral material constrained by the physical stability conditions at the calibration confining pressures.The example considers a sample of the North-Sea Kimmeridge shale. At a given depth, the conversion increases with increasing geothermal gradient and decreasing sedimentation rate, and the porosity increases with depth due to the conversion. As expected, the horizontal velocities are greater than the vertical velocities and the degree of anisotropy increases with depth. The analysis reveals that the vertical P-wave velocity is the main indicator of overpressure.

Research highlights
► We show a basin evolution model of a source-rock volume at constant sedimentation rate and geothermal gradient.
► Considering the Monterey and North-Sea Kimmeridge shales we obtain the increase in pressure due to oil generation from kerogen.
► We use Gassmann's equations generalized to the anisotropic case.
► We obtain the seismic velocities of the source rock as a function of depth, pressure and oil saturation.
► The analysis reveals that the vertical P-wave velocity is the main indicator of overpressure.