The Molecular Organic
Geochemistry Industrial Affiliates
(MOGIA) Program
& its relationship to
The Basin and Petroleum
System Modeling Affiliates
(BPSM) Program
MOGIA program functions
● Conduct fundamental & applied research on organic
geochemistry
MOGIA delivers
Educational –
● Professional / scientific training (M.Ss & Ph.Ds) in energyrelated
geosciences
Scientific –
● Novel technology to determine petroleum provenance and
basin development
● Detailed petroleum systems studies that can reduce risk and
expand potential for exploration and development
MOGIA link with BPSM
● Sound basin models require in-depth understanding of
petroleum systems: hydrocarbon sources, migration,
maturation, biodegradation risk
Participants in Research of the
Molecular Organic Geochemistry Laboratory
Stanford faculty
Other Research Participants
Prof. Mike Moldowan, Director
Dr. Frank Picha
Prof. Stephen Graham
Gerard Demaison
Dr. Kenneth Peters (Consulting Prof.)
Dr. Alla Rovenskaya
Prof. Christopher Francis
Dr. Marcio Mello
Dr. Andre Bender
Laboratory staff and students
Dr. Silvana Barbanti
Dr. Jeremy Dahl
Fred Fago
Visiting Scholars and Researchers
Ye Wang (Ph.D.)
Meng He (Ph.D.)
Dr. David Zinniker
Dr. Zhonghong Chen (China)
Keisha Durant (M.S.)
Waleed Bazeed (Ph.D.)(Egypt)
Paul Lipton
Furat Saleh (Ph.D.)(Iraq)
Dr. Peter Denisevich
Shaun Moldowan
Participants in Research of the
Molecular Organic Geochemistry Laboratory
Affiliate members (2008 and/or 2009)
Aramco (Saudi Arabia)
Ecopetrol (Colombia)
ENI (Italy)
HRT petroleum (Brazil)
Participating laboratories and
JOGMEC (Japan)
organizations
Petrobrás (Brazil)
Petrobrás (Brazil)
PetroChina (China)
ChevronTexaco (USA)
Shell (International)
l’Université Louis Pasteur (France)
StatoilHydro (Norway)
GB Scientific, Inc. (USA)
Shell (International)
United States Geological Survey
Aramco (Saudi Arabia)
RIPED (PetroChina)
HRTpetroleum (Brazil)
Fundamental Research Topics of MOGIA
of Possible Interest to BPSM
Ultra high maturity assessment/oil cracking to gas
Determine oil cracking to gas
Identify oil and gas/condensate mixes
Determine sources of the mix components
Model kinetics using individual compounds
Oil degradation
Thermochemical sulfate reduction (H2S prediction)
Reservoir continuity of biodegraded/heavy oil
Anaerobic versus aerobic biodegradation
Factors influencing thermal degradation
Tracing biodegradation levels in detail
Age-related biomarkers for oil-source age determination
Applications to specific basins or
regions
Alaska North Slope – reported to MOGIA
Barents Sea, Timan-Pechora – in progress
Ghana, West Africa – postponed/planned
Talara Basin, Peru - pub. AAPG Bull
Nigeria – in progress
Saudi Arabia - reported to MOGIA
West Siberia - planned (focus northern area)
Iraq - beginning and in progress
Egypt - in progress
China - numerous basins reported
Current research protocols in basin
studies
1. Perform high quality molecular/biomarker correlation
2. Assess mixes using combined biomarker and
compound specific isotope analysis (CSIA)
3. Focus on black oil contributed by sources in the oil
window mixed with post oil-window condensate/gas
Diamondoid-biomarker cracking method
Biomarkers
Low Maturity
No Cracking
High Maturity
No Cracking
Slightly Cracked
Diamondoids
Intensely Cracked
Dahl et al., Nature,
1999
Deep gas and condensate
bubble up through the oil
reservoir.
Diamondoids and light
hydrocarbons from deep
source dissolve in the oil.
Oil Window Source Rock
Gas Window Source Rock
 Problem: We Can Only
See the Less-Mature Source
OIL MIXING: BIOMARKERS AND DIAMONDOIDS
Mixed Oils from High and Low Maturity Sources
Contain Abundant Diamondoids and Biomarkers
Cracked Oil
High Diamondoids
Low Biomarkers
“Black Oil”
High Biomarkers
Low Diamondoids
Recognition of Mixed Oils
Low Maturity
No Cracking
Biomarkers
Mixed oils from
Normal Maturity and
Highly Cracked Sources
High Maturity
No Cracking
Slightly Cracked
Diamondoids
Intensely Cracked
Dahl et al., Nature,
1999
Deep Source Identification Leads to New
Oil and Gas Plays Through More
Accurate Basin Models
Contribution from
Márcio R. Mello (HRT)
André A. Bender (HRT)
Evolution of Flowpaths and Accumulations When
Only the Shallow Source Is Considered
52.8 Ma
Accumulations in the One SR Scenario, Albian/marine
Evolution of Flowpaths and Accumulations When
Only the Shallow Source Is Considered
0 Ma
Accumulations in the One SR Scenario , Albian/marine
Evolution of Flowpaths and Accumulations When
Deep Source Is Included
52.8 Ma
Accumulations in the TWO SRs Scenario, Albian + Coquina
Evolution of Flowpaths and Accumulations When
Deep Source Is Included
0 Ma
Accumulations in the TWO SRs Scenario , Albian + Coquina
Accumulations -> One SR Scenario
ONE SR
The same accumulation has smaller
GOR and volume in the One SR
scenario. The right pizza diagram
shows clearly the additional
amount of gas that originated from
the deep sources.
TWO SRs
CONCLUSION
Recognizing the deep source
dramatically changes the basin model