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A '''source rock''' is a rock that is capable of generating or that has generated movable quantities of hydrocarbons.
The first factor to be assessed in an exploration play in an area yet to be drilled is whether a source rock is present. If so, then we ask, “How good is it? Will it generate oil or gas? Has it generated hydrocarbons already?” To answer these questions, we must know the basics of what constitutes a source rock, how to classify source rocks, and how to estimate potential. This section provides a background in these fundamentals.
==Definitions of source rock types==
==Definitions of source rock types==
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==See also==
==Characterizing source rocks==
* [[Source rock basics]]
To be a source rock, a rock must have three features:
* [[Characterizing source rocks]]
* Quantity of organic matter
* Quality capable of yielding moveable hydrocarbons
* Thermal maturity
The first two components are products of the depositional setting. The third is a function of the structural and tectonic history of the province.
==Determining source rock potential==
The quantity of organic matter is commonly assessed by a measure of the total organic carbon (TOC) contained in a rock. Quality is measured by determining the types of kerogen contained in the organic matter. Thermal maturity is most often estimated by using vitrinite reflectance measurements and data from pyrolysis analyses.
The table below shows the most common methods used to determine the potential of a source rock.
{| class = "wikitable"
|-
! To determine…
! Measure…
|-
| Quantity of source rock
| Total organic carbon (TOC) present in the source rock
|-
| Quality of source rock
| * Proportions of individual kerogens * Prevalence of long-chain hydrocarbons
|-
| Thermal maturity of source rock
| * Vitrinite reflectance * Pyrolysis Tmax
|}
==External links==
==External links==