Petroleum system identification
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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 list below outlines the steps required to identify a petroleum system.
- Find some indication of the presence of petroleum.
- 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.
- Name the petroleum system