Petroleum system identification

Before a petroleum system can be investigated, it must be identified as being present.

Petroleum system identification

To identify a petroleum system, the explorationist must find some petroleum. Any quantity of petroleum, no matter how small, is proof of a petroleum system. An oil or gas seep, a show of oil or gas in a well, or an oil or gas accumulation demonstrates the presence of a petroleum system.

Procedure: identifying a petroleum system

The table below outlines the steps required to identify a petroleum system.

Step	Task
1	Find some indication of the presence of petroleum.
2	Determine the size of the petroleum system by the following series of steps: Group genetically related occurrences of petroleum by using geochemical characteristics and stratigraphic occurrences. Identify the source using petroleum-source rock correlations. Locate the general area of the pod of active source rock responsible for the genetically related petroleum occurrences. Make a table of accumulations to determine the amount of hydrocarbons in the petroleum system and which reservoir rock contains the most petroleum.
3	Name the petroleum system

See also

• The petroleum system concept
• Petroleum system naming
• Petroleum system: geographic, stratigraphic, and temporal extent
• Petroleum system size
• Mapping a petroleum system

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