Division of petroleum system by using biomarker analysis in CNPC concession blocks, Myanmar

China National Oil & Gas Exploration and Development Corporation (CNODC), CNPC, farmed in four blocks in Myanmar in 2001 and 2002. They were situated at the Central Myanmar Basin with a total area of 3514 km2. Due to the low exploration degree and high exploration risk in these blocks, it is necessary that the synthetic analyses of petroleum geology and resource potential be done as soon as possible. Twelve oil samples are picked up from different blocks and formations and the oil-oil correlation is carried out by biomarker analyses. Based on the oil-oil correlation by biomarker differences in different oils, three oil families in CNPC concession blocks are identified, and the studied areas are divided into three possible petroleum systems. The biomarker lupanes and bicadinanes have also been detected from all oil samples, suggesting these oils should be sourced from the Late Cretaceous or Tertiary terrestrial source rocks.