Multistage Hydrocarbon Generation of Saline Lacustrine Source Rocks in Hydrous Pyrolysis: Insights from Clay Mineral-Organic Matter Interactions.

The organic matter (OM) in shale is closely associated with clay minerals, and its maturation is usually accompanied by the diagenesis of these minerals, especially smectite illitization. However, the effect of mineral transformation and its accompanying change of mineral-OM interactions in shale on hydrocarbon generation is still unclear. To investigate this question, smectite-rich immature shale was selected to carry out hydrous pyrolysis.