Mineralogy and its contribution to anisotropy and kerogen stiffness variations with maturity in the Bakken Shales

Mineralogy of eleven Bakken shale samples with varying thermal maturities were studied as a function of their contribution to anisotropy and kerogen stiffness variations between the shales. It was found that anisotropy increased with increasing clay content and that kerogen stiffness increased with maturity. The understanding of the controls on anisotropy and stiffness of the soft components (kerogens and clays) of organic‐rich shales is important in developing methods for indirect and in‐situ detection of maturity.