Description
Organic material from which oil or gas matures with time, under burial temperatures and pressures. They differ with origin - e.g. marine seaweeds, or terrestrial trees. Of the marine types, the presence of Algal Sapropel and Way Sapropel in a formation is prospective for oil, while of the terrestrial types, Vitrinite is generally prospective for gas, and Inertinite is not prospective. In addition the degree of reflectivity of Vitrinite samples is used as an indication of the maturity of a formation for the presence of hydrocarbons.
Source :
Alpha Thames Ltd 2004