An Overview of Factors Controlling Rates of Compaction, Fluid Generation and Flow in Sedimentary Basins

Rocks consist of solid phases and fluid phases. The percentage of fluids by volume is defined as the porosity. At the time of deposition, the solid phases in clastic sedimentary rocks consist of mineral grains, rock fragments, and sometimes also amorphous material. Minerals precipitated after deposition are referred to as authigenic, and they fill the primary pore space or replace detrital grains. The fluid phases may consist of liquid phases like water and oil and gasses like CH₄ and CO₂. Both minerals and water have a low volume compressibility (van Balen and Cloetingh, 1993) while gasses are more compressible and this has important effects on fluid flow.