− | Hydrocarbon seep composition can play an important role in evaluating the exploration potential of a basin, play, or prospect. Petroleum in most visible oil and gas seeps (i.e., macroseeps) generally has been altered by processes such as biodegradation, water washing, and evaporative loss of volatile components. Despite these changes, chemical and iso-topic analysis of such seeps can enable inferences about the nature of the source rock facies and maturity as well as permit correlation with known source rocks and reservoired petroleum. | + | Hydrocarbon seep composition can play an important role in evaluating the exploration potential of a basin, play, or prospect. Petroleum in most visible oil and gas seeps (i.e., macroseeps) generally has been altered by processes such as [ http://www.oiltracers.com/services/exploration-geochemistry/oil-biodegradation.aspx biodegradation], water washing, and evaporative loss of volatile components. Despite these changes, chemical and iso-topic analysis of such seeps can enable inferences about the nature of the source rock facies and maturity as well as permit correlation with known source rocks and reservoired petroleum. |