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[[file:oiloil-and-oilsource-rock-correlations_fig8-52.png|thumb|300px|{{figure number|2}}Isotope data used to support oil–oil and oil–source rock correlations for the NL oils of the Zala basin. From Clayton & Koncz;<ref name=ch08r6 /> reprinted with permission from AAPG.]]

[[file:oiloil-and-oilsource-rock-correlations_fig8-52.png|thumb|300px|{{figure number|2}}Isotope data used to support oil–oil and oil–source rock correlations for the NL oils of the Zala basin. From Clayton & Koncz;<ref name=ch08r6 /> reprinted with permission from AAPG.]]

The 21 oils can be grouped into at least three families, corresponding roughly to existing fields: the Nagylengyel (NL), Szentgyörgyvölgy (Szen), and Szilvágy (Szil). This article concerns the characteristics and source of the NL oils, which, on the basis of isotopic and molecular criteria (e.g., lack of oleananes), are distinct from the Szen and Szil families. The NL family, reservoired in Upper Cretaceous and Triassic rocks, is characterized by a low pristane–phytane ratio, significant amounts of at least one C₂₄ tetracyclic terpane, and high concentrations of vanadium and nickel. In general, these characteristics suggest a carbonate-rich source rock. Its age, inferred from the absence of oleanane in the oils, may be older than Late Cretaceous, although oleanane is often absent in carbonates due to lack of terrestrial input.

The 21 oils can be grouped into at least three families, corresponding roughly to existing fields: the Nagylengyel (NL), Szentgyörgyvölgy (Szen), and Szilvágy (Szil). This article concerns the characteristics and source of the NL oils, which, on the basis of [[Wikipedia:Isotope geochemistry|isotopic]] and molecular criteria (e.g., lack of oleananes), are distinct from the Szen and Szil families. The NL family, reservoired in Upper Cretaceous and Triassic rocks, is characterized by a low pristane–phytane ratio, significant amounts of at least one C₂₄ tetracyclic terpane, and high concentrations of vanadium and nickel. In general, these characteristics suggest a carbonate-rich source rock. Its age, inferred from the absence of oleanane in the oils, may be older than Late Cretaceous, although oleanane is often absent in carbonates due to lack of terrestrial input.

After establishing the NL oils as a single type, Clayton and Koncz<ref name=ch08r6 /> determined the source potential for the available sedimentary section using 26 core samples and attempted to correlate the NL oils to each of the possible sources. Just as the first screening step for the oil–oil correlation involved δ¹³C values of the aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, the first screening step for the oil–source rock correlation effort involved comparing δ¹³C of the whole oils and bitumens from the source candidates. Their results indicate that two potential sources [the Upper Triassic Kössen Marl and the Sarmatian (middle Miocene) shales] have very similar δ¹³C values. When these carbon isotope data are combined with oleanane–hopane ratios and C₂₇–C₂₉ sterane distributions, cluster analysis comparison supports a dominantly Upper Triassic source for the NL oils, with possibly a minor contribution from the Sarmatian (middle Miocene) shales.

After establishing the NL oils as a single type, Clayton and Koncz<ref name=ch08r6 /> determined the source potential for the available sedimentary section using 26 core samples and attempted to correlate the NL oils to each of the possible sources. Just as the first screening step for the oil–oil correlation involved δ¹³C values of the aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, the first screening step for the oil–source rock correlation effort involved comparing δ¹³C of the whole oils and bitumens from the source candidates. Their results indicate that two potential sources [the Upper Triassic Kössen Marl and the Sarmatian (middle Miocene) shales] have very similar δ¹³C values. When these carbon isotope data are combined with oleanane–hopane ratios and C₂₇–C₂₉ sterane distributions, cluster analysis comparison supports a dominantly Upper Triassic source for the NL oils, with possibly a minor contribution from the Sarmatian (middle Miocene) shales.