Method of geochemical exploration

Claim 1

A METHOD OF GEOCHEMICAL PROSPECTING THE STEPS COMPRISING: EXTRACTING SOLUBLE ORGANIC MATTER FROM A SAMPLE OBTAINED FROM AN ORGANIC MATTER-CONTAINING FORMATION IN THE EARTH''S CRUST TO OBTAIN A ROCK RESIDUE CONTAINING INSOLUBLE ORGANIC MATTER; DISPOSING SAID ROCK RESIDUE CONTAINING INSOLUBLE ORGANIC MATTER IN A NONCOMBUSTION-SUPPORTING ENVIRONMENT IN THE PRESENCE OF WATER; HEATING SAID ROCK RESIDUE AT A CONSTANT ELEVATED TEMPERATURE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD; MEASURING AFTER SAID HEATING THE AMOUNT GENERATED BY SAID HEATING OF SOLUBLE ORGANIC MATTER; AND MEASURING THE QUANTITY OF EXTRACTABLE ORGANIC MATTER FROM SAID ROCK RESIDUE RELATIVE TO THE INSOLUBLE ORGANIC MATTER OF SAID ORIGINAL ROCK TO DETERMINE THE OIL GENERATION CAPABILITY OF SAID FORMATION.

Claim 2

A METHOD OF GEOCHEMICAL PROSPECTING THE STEPS COMPRISING: EXTRACTING SOLUBLE ORGANIC MATTER FROM A SAMPLE OBTAINED FROM AN ORGANIC MATTER-CONTAINING FORMATION IN THE EARTH''S CRUST TO OBTAIN A ROCK RESIDUE CONTAINING INSOLUBLE ORGANIC MATTER; DISPOSING SAID ROCK RESIDUE CONTAINING INSOLUBLE ORGANIC MATTER IN A NONCOMBUSTION-SUPPORTING ENVIRONMENT IN THE PRESENCE OF WATER; HEATING SAID ROCK RESIDUE AT A CONSTANT ELEVATED TEMPERATURE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD; MEASURING AFTER SAID HEATING THE AMOUNT GENERATED BY SAID HEATING OF SOLUBLE ORGANIC MATTER; AND MEASURING THE QUANTITY OF EXTRACTABLE ORGANIC MATTER FROM SAID ROCK RESIDUE RELATIVE TO THE INSOLUBLE ORGANIC MATTER OF SAID ORIGINAL ROCK TO DETERMINE THE OIL GENERATION CAPABILITY OF SAID FORMATION.

Claim 3

A method of geochemical exploration comprising: solvent extracting soluble organic matter from a sample obtained from an organic matter-containing formation in the earth''s crust to obtain a first fraction comprising soluble organic matter and a rock residue comprising insoluble organic matter; evaporating said first fraction comprising soluble organic matter to obtain a residue comprising soluble organic matter; separating said residue comprising soluble organic matter into a fraction comprising saturates; separating from said fractiOn comprising saturates a fraction comprising normal alkanes; determining the normal alkane distribution; reconstituting with water said rock residue containing insoluble organic matter; disposing said water-reconstituted rock residue in a noncombustion-supporting environment; heating said reconstituted rock residue at a constant elevated temperature for an extended period of time; solvent extracting said heated reconstituted rock residue to obtain a second fraction comprising soluble organic matter; evaporating said second fraction comprising soluble organic matter to obtain a residue comprising soluble organic matter; separating said residue comprising soluble organic matter into a fraction comprising saturates; separating from said fraction comprising saturates a fraction comprising normal alkanes; determining the normal alkane distribution; and comparing the percent extractable oil, the ratio of extractable oil to total oil and the normal alkane distribution of the orginala sample and the reconstituted rock residue.

Claim 4

A method of geochemical exploration comprising: solvent extracting soluble organic matter from a sample obtained from an organic matter-containing formation in the earth''s crust to obtain a first fraction comprising soluble organic matter and a rock residue comprising insoluble organic matter; evaporating said first fraction comprising soluble organic matter to obtain a residue comprising soluble organic matter; separating said residue comprising soluble organic matter into a fraction comprising saturates; separating from said fractiOn comprising saturates a fraction comprising normal alkanes; determining the normal alkane distribution; reconstituting with water said rock residue containing insoluble organic matter; disposing said water-reconstituted rock residue in a noncombustion-supporting environment; heating said reconstituted rock residue at a constant elevated temperature for an extended period of time; solvent extracting said heated reconstituted rock residue to obtain a second fraction comprising soluble organic matter; evaporating said second fraction comprising soluble organic matter to obtain a residue comprising soluble organic matter; separating said residue comprising soluble organic matter into a fraction comprising saturates; separating from said fraction comprising saturates a fraction comprising normal alkanes; determining the normal alkane distribution; and comparing the percent extractable oil, the ratio of extractable oil to total oil and the normal alkane distribution of the orginala sample and the reconstituted rock residue.