Kerogen (IMAGE)

Rice University

Kerogen

Caption

Rice University research scientist Philip Singer holds kerogen, a component of oil shale, extracted and compressed for study into a pellet. Because natural gas escapes from kerogen at atmospheric pressure, the Rice lab reloads it with gas at pressures up to 5,000 psi and then probes it with a nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer. The results are used to validate molecular simulations that may someday help characterize wells before their hydrocarbons are extracted.

Credit

Jeff Fitlow/Rice University

Usage Restrictions

For news releases purposes only.

License

Licensed content

Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.