The Biomarker Guide: Interpreting Molecular Fossils in Petroleum and Ancient Sediments

by Kenneth E. Peters, J. Michael Moldowan

Biomarkers are compounds found in crude oil with structures inherited from once-living organisms. They persist in oil spills, refinery products and archaeological artifacts, and can be used to identify the origin, geological age and environmental conditions prevalent during their formation and alteration. These two volumes will be an invaluable resource for geologists, petroleum geochemists, biogeochemists, environmental and forensic scientists, natural product chemists and archaeologists. The first of two volumes of The Biomarker Guide discusses the origins of biomarkers and introduces basic chemical principles relevant to their study. It goes on to discuss analytical techniques, and the applications of biomarkers in environmental and archaeological problems.

This indispensable reference provides the only comprehensive discussion of biomarkers and how they are used with other geochemical methods to reduce the risk associated with exploration for petroleum. The guide brings together information on biomarkers and related technology that is now disseminated in hundreds of research papers, and creates general guidelines for the use of selected parameters. For a broad audience including company exploration geologies, geochemists, geochemical coordinators, and managers.

363 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 1992