Unified Source Rock- A New Concept in Petroleum Exploration

Abstract

All Concepts of source rock are based on biogenic theory of petroleum generation but it is not decided which organic matter is responsible for petroleum generation. Therefore all the source rock (marine, lacustrine & terrestrial) concepts consider all organic matters to be responsible for petroleum generation. Since 1926 AAPG together with USGS tried to find out source rock character by research but the attempt was not successful because technology was not developed. In the present work attempt is made to solve the problem related to which organic matter is responsible for petroleum generation and it has been established that only Lower Paleozoic marine organic matters were capable to generate petroleum. Based on this a unified source rock theory is proposed here suggesting there is only one episode of source rock deposition during Lower Paleozoic in our earth.