Method of Early Prediction on Source Rocks in Basins with Low Exploration Activity

Low exploration activity fields (deep formation, deep water and new exploration areas) are important for petroleum exploration. Source rock evaluation, the result of which will determine the exploration potential of a basin, is one of the most important aspects. Because all the evaluation parameters are almost unknown in an area of low exploration activity with sparse wells, the early evaluation of source rock is somewhat contradictory. Based on the framework of sequence stratigraphy, this paper presents a method of early prediction and comprehensive evaluation of source rocks. The method includes four aspects: (1) analysis of sequence stratigraphy to determine the main formation of source rocks; (2) prediction of seismic velocity and lithology to determine the thickness of source rocks; (3) prediction of vitrinite reflectance, based on seismic data to determine the maturation of source rocks; (4) comprehensive source rock evaluation. Using the method of sequence stratigraphy and geophysical techniques, this method successively solves the contradiction between low exploration activity and early evaluation of source rock and provides a new choice for an early prediction on source rocks in fields of low exploration activity.