Published online by Cambridge University Press: 09 July 2018
A parallel reaction model is developed for describing the conversion of smectite to illite. Each reaction represents a group of similar smectite layers that require the same activation energy and have the same illitization rate. The model considers that the rate-determining reactant is smectite itself which follows first-order Arrhenius kinetics. By modelling the data from hydrothermal illitization experiments and from a Gulf Coast well, the activation energies are found to be distributed in the range of 11–24 kcal/mol with a maximum reaction at 18 kcal/mol, which involves 65% of reactive smectite. A frequency factor in the order of 10−3–10−4/s, obtained from the data fitting, appears to be adequate for modelling natural diagenesis in sedimentary basins. The distribution pattern of activation energies is considered to be controlled by the degree of heterogeneity of the initial smectite and the degree of electrostatic interactions between smectite layers and the newly formed illite layers during reaction.