Applications in frontier basins

Single well studies or data derived from outcrop locations will form the basis of any initial interpretation. At the earlier stages it will be necessary to identify likely source rock horizons and have at least some idea at what depths we expect these source to start generating free hydrocarbons.

A number of screening techniques are available to assess both the source rock potential and maturity gradient. During the early stages of exploration, simple 1-D burial history models should be built and calibrated for drilled locations. The constraints can then be extrapolated to seismically defined depocentres and both the timing and extent of hydrocarbon generation can be investigated.

At the earliest possible chance, a coherent unified database should be implemented and routinely update with new data.