Solvent extraction efficiency of an Eocene-aged organic-rich lacustrine shale

Abstract To study nano-scale inorganic pore systems in shale plays, the removal of soluble organic matter (SOM) using solvent extraction is an important pre-treatment step to reduce the in-situ petroleum blockage effect in shale oil samples. However, factors controlling the extraction efficiency are not well-understood, making the reliability and consistency of this extraction process questionable. In this work, an oil window mature organic-rich lacustrine shale in the Bohai Bay Basin of East China was prepared in six different sample sizes (from 1 cm cubes down to