Abstract

Surface geochemical exploration for petroleum is the search for chemically identifiable surface or near-surface occurrences of hydrocarbons, or hydrocarbon-induced changes, as clues to the location of oil and gas accumulations. It extends through a range of observations from clearly visible oil and gas seepage (macro seepage) at one extreme to identification of minute traces of hydrocarbons (micro seepage) or hydrocarbon-induced changes at the other.