Petroleomics: Fundaments and application on the geochemical assessment of crude oil and source rock samples

Abstract

This work presents the state of the art of Petroleomics, focusing on the issues traditionally addressed in Organic Geochemistry field, an indispensable tool in the petroleum exploration and evaluation of the exploratory risk of the sedimentary basins. Petroleomics is the field of science whose purpose is to perform a global characterization of petroleum at the molecular level, identifying thousands of hydrocarbon and polar compounds. This technology is in the forefront of knowledge, responsible for identifying new compounds that are now available to be applied to research related to the entire oil industry chain. It can be used in studies from oil generation to refining and may represent a link between upstream and downstream activities. Among the main applications, we highlight the geochemical assessment of the depositional environment of the organic matter, the evaluation of the thermal evolution in which the oil was generated and expelled and, finally, the post-accumulation processes that can significantly alter the oil composition, such as biodegradation.