thermal maturation

Thermal maturation is the process by which organic materials, like plant matter, are transformed through heat over millions of years underground. As buried organic material is exposed to increasing temperatures and pressures, it gradually breaks down and reorganizes into more stable forms, eventually forming fossil fuels such as oil and natural gas. This process involves chemical changes driven by heat, which determines the type and quality of the resulting hydrocarbons. In essence, thermal maturation is the natural cooking process that converts organic deposits into usable energy resources over geological time.