Comment on “Formation of nanoporous pyrobitumen residues during maturation of the Barnett Shale (Fort Worth Basin)” by Bernard et al. (2012).

Abstract: In their 2012 paper discussing the character of pores and organic matter in the Mississippian Barnett Shale, Bernard et al. (2012) identified only nonporous kerogen and nonporous solid bitumen in oil-window-maturity samples, but nanoporous pyrobitumen in gas-window-maturity samples. Our examination of samples from the same wells shows that pores are also present in organic matter from oil-window-maturity samples. We also argue that some of the pores we identified in gas-window-maturity samples are developed in organic matter that is unlikely to be pyrobitumen. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]