D. L. Gautier J. W. Schmoker 1989 <p><span>Porosity decrease of sandstones, carbonates, and shales during burial is modeled here in terms of time-temperature exposure rather than in terms of depth. Loss of porosity (ϕ) in the subsurface is represented by a power function, ϕ =&nbsp;</span><i>A</i><span>(</span><i>M</i><span>)</span>^<i>B</i><span>, where&nbsp;</span><i>A</i><span>&nbsp;and&nbsp;</span><i>B</i><span>&nbsp;are constants and&nbsp;</span><i>M</i><span>&nbsp;is a measure of integrated time-temperature history. Regression lines of carbonate and sandstone porosity upon Lopatin's time-temperature index of thermal maturity (TTI) generally fall within a rather narrow envelope whose axis is approximated by ϕ = 30(TTI)</span>^−0.33<span>. This equation is useful for regional modeling of carbonate and sandstone compaction. Dependence of porosity upon integrated time-temperature history implies that basin sediments are not in equilibrium but compact through geologic time. Calculations show that subsidence resulting from the loss of porosity with increasing time-temperature exposure (as opposed to deeper burial) can produce a second-stage, passively formed basin containing many hundreds of meters of sediments.</span></p> application/pdf 10.1029/JB094iB06p07379 en American Geophysical Union Compaction of basin sediments: Modeling based on time-temperature history article