Bicyclic sesquiterpenoids as maturity indicator in oils of Qingdong Sag, Bohai Bay Basin, China

Immature oils were proved to be existed in Es4u reservoirs based on GC-MS and carbon isotope analysis of oil sand and source rocks in Qingdong sag. By comprehensive discussion with compositional data from different sags in China, bicyclic sesquiterpenoids are related to thermal maturity and can be used in oil maturity identification. A new indicator, 4,4,8,9,9-pentamethyl decahydronaphthalene /8β(H)-homodrimane, is proposed for distinguishing immature and mature oils in the study area. It signifies mature when this ratio value is higher than 0.34, and immature when the value is lower than 0.34. The varying structures of the two compounds determines their stability.