Composition of organic matter from North Atlantic Kimmeridgian shales

Infrared (IR) analyses of kerogen may be a valuable tool in maturity analyses. The combination of traditional vitrinite reflectance measurements and IR analyses seems to give favorable results. Samples analyzed from Wimanfjellet (Svalbard) and Andoya (northern Norway) contain relatively more marine-derived kerogen than equivalent beds from well 17/11-1 (North Sea) and Yorkshire. The Wimanfjellet and Andoya shales have lower organic matter maturity than those from well 17/11-1 and Yorkshire.