Abstract
Gas adsorption in unconventional petroleum source rocks, e.g. organic-rich mudrocks and shales, is influenced by significant heterogeneities in organic and inorganic composition, structure, and pore networks. An understanding of the interplay between these properties is essential for optimizing hydrocarbon extraction, CO2 sequestration, and hydrogen storage in such reservoirs. Herein, the factors controlling hydrogen, methane, and CO2 adsorption in unconventional organic-rich Jordan source rock samples are investigated, focusing on the roles of organic matter, mineral composition, and textural properties. The samples are characterized via multiple techniques, followed by adsorption experiments. The results reveal that H2 has the lowest adsorption capacity, being influenced by kerogen structure and organic nanopores, while CH4 adsorption increases with pressure and is primarily controlled by pore volume and surface area. The highest adsorption capacity is exhibited by CO2 due to electrostatic and van der Waals interactions with both organic and mineral phases. After fast pyrolysis to remove organic matter, the H2 adsorption is reduced and the CH4 and CO2 adsorptions enhanced. These results highlight the dependence of H2 adsorption on the presence of organic matter, while CH4 and CO2 adsorption are strongly influenced by pore structure and development. Mineralogy plays a secondary but complex role, with quartz-rich samples exhibiting slightly higher adsorption than carbonate-rich samples. These findings reveal the interdependence between organic matter, mineral composition, and textural properties in governing gas adsorption in source rocks. This study offers critical insights for optimizing gas storage and improving energy recovery from unconventional reservoirs, along with effective strategies for CO2 sequestration.
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of Publication
6-1-2026
Volume
413
Publication Title
Fuel
Publisher
Elsevier
School
School of Engineering
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License
Comments
Usman, M., Ali, M., Matamba, T., Keshavarz, A., Iglauer, S., Hoteit, H., & Vahrenkamp, V. (2025). Gas adsorption behavior in organic-rich carbonate source rocks: Insights into hydrogen storage, methane recovery, and CO2 sequestration in oil shales. Fuel, 413, 138184. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2025.138184