Final answer:
The correct condition to produce oil from kerogen is that the temperature must be between ~90 and 150 degrees Celsius, with the material buried under at least 2 km but not more than 4 km of rock to ensure proper cracking of organic molecules to form oil, rather than natural gas.
Step-by-step explanation:
To produce oil from kerogen, the ideal conditions include that the material must be buried and spend time under at least 2 km of rock to "crack" large organic molecules into smaller ones, suitable for use such as octane. However, the material must not be below about 4 km of rock depth or the pressure will "overcrack" the molecules to form natural gas instead. Therefore, the correct condition to produce oil from kerogen is that the temperature must be between ~90 and 150 degrees Celsius.
It is the combination of heat, pressure, and time that eventually transforms buried organic materials into oil. The source rock plays a crucial role, being a sedimentary rock rich in organic matter that has been subjected to sufficient heat to generate oil or gas. Throughout this process, attention to the temperature is essential, as too high temperatures, such as those above 400 degrees Celsius or depth over 25 km, would not yield oil, but might rather create other forms of hydrocarbons or lead to melting of the rock.
Moreover, the presence of oil-solubilizing prokaryotes in the ocean contributes to the process, showcasing the complexity of oil formation. It's also important to note that the economics of petroleum refining and its demand can influence the heating processes like cracking, which converts heavier hydrocarbons into more valuable lighter molecules through high-temperature reactions, and reforming, using catalysts like platinum.