Geochemical Exploration Strategies for Southeast Asia

It has been well documented that most oil and gas accumulations leak hydrocarbons, that this leakage (or microseepage) is predominantly vertical, and that this leakage can be detected and mapped using any of several geochemical and non-seismic geophysical methods. While seismic data are unsurpassed for imaging trap and reservoir geometry, in many geological settings seismic data yield no information about whether a trap is charged with hydrocarbons.

Despite obvious logistical challenges, jungles and highlands in Southeast Asia are well suited for hydrocarbon detection surveys using a variety of surface geochemical and non-seismic geophysical hydrocarbon detection methods. These methods can reliably detect surface or near-surface occurrences of hydrocarbons and their alteration products. The noninvasive, low-impact nature of these techniques makes them ideally suited for use in an early-stage evaluation of remote and sometimes environmentally sensitive areas that characterize jungles and highlands. Properly designed surveys can document the presence of a petroleum system, and quickly identify those parts of the area possessing the highest petroleum potential. Use of such an exploration strategy protects the greater part of the area from more costly and more invasive exploration methods by focusing attention and resources on a relatively small number of high-potential sites.