System and method for determining stratigraphic location and areal extent of total organic carbon using an integrated stratigraphic approach

A method, comprising:

• performing a geochemical analysis method to create a geochemical dataset, the geochemical analysis method comprising at least one of:
• (a) performing a production analysis of organic matter in the past on a sample extracted from a rock formation;
• (b) determining an amount of sediment dilution in the rock formation;
• or (c) performing a redox analysis on the sample extracted from the rock formation;
• performing a chronostratigraphic method to create a chronostratigraphic dataset, the chronostratigraphic method comprising at least one of:
• (1) performing a paleomagnetic (PMAG) procedure using a magnetic measuring device to measure changes in direction of magnetism in the rock formation;
• (2) performing a biostratigraphy procedure to determine time or age of deposition of sediment using flora or fauna dating, or both, if fauna or flora, or both, is found in the rock formation;
• (3) performing a bentonite analysis procedure;
• (4) performing a cyclostratigraphy procedure;
• or (5) performing a Rhenium-Osmium (Re—OS) chronology procedure if an amount of total organic carbon (TOC) or Pyrite determined using the geochemical analysis method is equal to or greater than approximately 1.5%;
• measuring changes in preserved organic carbon δ13Corg or changes in dissolved inorganic carbon δ13Ccarb, or both, to recognize global changes in oceanic dissolved inorganic carbon;
• performing a graphic correlation of the chronostratigaphic dataset;
• determining a sequence stratigraphic model based on the graphic correlation;
• and
• generating a palaeogeographic reconstruction through time by integrating the sequence stratigraphic model with the geochemical dataset to construct a predictive depositional model and determine a location and areal extent of total organic carbon of shale within the rock formation at present day.