Organic Geochemistry In Petroleum Exploration

This book is intended primarily as a textbook for geolo gists engaged in petroleum exploration. Its purpose is to introduce the reader to organic geochemistry and to show how to apply geochemistry advantageously in an explora tion program. I have made the explicit assumption that most readers will have a sound background in geology but far less knowledge of, or interest in, chemistry. Be cause there is no need for an exploration geologist to be an expert in organic chemistry, the amount of chemistry used in the book is rather modest. It is, however, often important for a geologist to understand some basic vocab ulary. The emphasis in this book is on applications of geo _chemistry to hydrocarbon exploration. Most of the analyt ical techniques are discussed only briefly, because although a geologist should know what a gas chro matograph is, he or she is unlikely to be asked to repair one. If more detailed knowledge does prove necessary, a laboratory is the proper place to learn. The strengths and weaknesses of the various analytical techniques are discussed so that a geologist will be able to anticipate pitfalls, cull bad data, and choose an appropri ate analytical program. On-the-job experience will prove invaluable in converting the basic information from this text into a practical working knowledge.

This volume presents the most significant papers given during the 13th International Meeting in Organic Geochemistry. The intention of the publication is to provide the scholars of this science with its state-of-the-art and recent papers not only in academic research but above all in practical applications. Several papers attest to an increased use of organic geochemistry not only in the oil industry, during all phases of petroleum exploration, but also in the other research areas of coal origin and structure, metallogeny, sedimentology, molecular palaeontology, biochemistry and pollution.

Petroleum geochemistry has turned out to be more than another step in the direction to quantify geology and geosciences in general. Petroleum geochemistry as it is today may very well be the triggering event that brings the other branches of geosciences like sedimentology, stratigraphy, structural geology, geophysics and others to a fruitful synthesis as evidenced by integrated basin studies.

This book reviews the present status of organic geochemistry and its application to Petroleum Exploration. It is intended to be as practical as possible with all aspects of geochemistry illustrated by a great number of examples taken from case histories from all over the world which show that geochemistry must be used in the framework of a good geological/geophysical background. This book is written for: petroleum geologists and geophysicists; managers who should integrate the impact of geochemistry in exploration decision-making; specialized geochemists who need an accurate panorama of other aspects of geochemistry; university professors and students in petroleum geology.

Petroleum Geochemistry and Exploration in the Afro-Asian Region includes 29 papers presented at the 6th International Conference on Petroleum Geochemistry and Exploration in the Afro-Asian Region.Petroleum geochemistry has played a crucial role in determining effective source rocks, classifying petroleum systems and delineating the geneses of conve

The science of organic Geochemistry bridges the gap between living and fossil organisms. It is concerned with the processes by which organic material changes after death, during sediment burial, diagenesis and maturation, to produce gas, liquid petroleum and coal. It is equally concerned with the way in which organic matter of geological origin enters the biosphere and interacts with living organisms. Applications of organic geochemistry to the petroleum industry include exploration (developing the ability to predict the occurrence of petroleum within a sedimentary basin) and production (predicting the response of reservoir rocks to interaction with organic-rich pore fluids) as well as in fingerprinting oil spills.