noun
- organic matter in sedimentary rocks that can be converted into oil and gas through heating and pressure
Usage: geology; petroleum science
Examples
- Kerogen is the precursor to petroleum found in oil shale.
- The type of kerogen determines what kind of hydrocarbons will form.
- Geologists study kerogen to assess the oil potential of rock formations.
- Heat and pressure convert kerogen into crude oil over millions of years.
- Oil shale contains large amounts of kerogen that can be processed into synthetic fuel.
- The maturity of kerogen indicates how much oil generation has occurred.