--> Three Common Source Rock Evaluation Errors Made by Geologists, by Harry Dembicki; #90052 (2006)
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Three Common Previous HitSourceNext Hit Previous HitRockNext Hit Evaluation Errors Made by Geologists

Harry Dembicki
Anadarko Petroleum Corp, Houston, TX

Geologists are frequently called upon to evaluate the Previous HitsourceNext Hit rocks associated with their exploration prospects or plays. While assessing the hydrocarbon generating potential of these sediments, they will look at a sediment's capacity for hydrocarbon generation, the type of organic matter present, and its thermal maturity.

The techniques most frequently used to appraise these characteristics of Previous HitsourceNext Hit rocks are TOC, Previous HitRockNext Hit-Eval pyrolysis, and vitrinite reflectance. So it is not surprising that when a prospect goes through a project review the most common questions asked and answered about the Previous HitsourceNext Hit Previous HitrockNext Hit are "What's the TOC?", "What kerogen type does Previous HitRockNext Hit-Eval indicate?", and "What maturity level does the vitrinite data point to?"

The answers to these seemingly innocuous questions may in fact be providing a false sense of security about the Previous HitsourceNext Hit Previous HitrockNext Hit in question. It is important to understand how this line of questioning can lead you astray and make you the victim of The TOC Myth (“If I have high TOC, I have a good Previous HitsourceNext Hit Previous HitrockNext Hit.”), The Previous HitRockNext Hit-Eval Fallacy (“The Previous HitRockNext Hit-Eval data tells me what kind of kerogen is in my Previous HitsourceNext Hit Previous HitrockNext Hit."), and The Vitrinite Reflectance Shortcoming ("Vitrinite reflectance will tell me if my Previous HitsourceNext Hit Previous HitrockTop is generating.”). The roots of these hazards are examined as well as ways to avoid them.