ABSTRACT
The first detailed comparison of hydrocarbon biomarker maturity parameters with two newly developed porphyrin parameters (C 32 DPEP/C 30 ETIO and C 31 DPEP/C 32 ETIO) is described. Using crude oils from three different fields McKittrick field and San Joaquin, California, and Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, it is shown that porphyrin parameters are more sensitive to subtle maturity changes than are hydrocarbon biomarker parameters. Maturity differentiation by porphyrins is demonstrated for mature oils as well as heavily biodegraded oils. No one parameter, but a combination of porphyrin and hydrocarbon biomarker parameters, was able to provide conclusive results on oil maturity ranking in these basin studies.
