Characterizing geologic areas based on comparative compositional analysis

A method of evaluating the oil-producing capability of at least one part of a geologic unit comprising:

• (a) analyzing the amount of each of 1-9 organic compounds in a first fluid material sample from a fluid sample location in the geologic unit, the analysis comprising subjecting the first fluid material sample to a process that determines the amount of each of the 1-9 organic compounds in the first fluid material sample;
• (b) analyzing the amount of each of 1-9 organic compounds in a second solid material sample from a solid sample location that is (1) in an oil well in the geologic unit or (2) from a location within the geologic unit that is not in an oil well but is in fluid communication with the fluid sample location, each of the 1-9 organic compounds in the second solid material sample being identified as corresponding to one of the 1-9 organic compounds in the first fluid material sample by (A) having the same composition and structure as one of the 1-9 organic compounds in the first fluid material sample or (B) being a compound that differs from the 1-9 organic compounds in the first fluid material sample but has a carbon atom content that differs from one of the organic compounds of the 1-9 organic compounds in the first fluid material sample by 0, 1, or 2 carbon atoms, comprising subjecting the second solid material sample to a process that determines the amount of each of the 1-9 organic compounds in the second solid material sample;
• (c) comparing the amount of each of the 1-9 organic compounds in the first fluid material sample to the amount of the corresponding 1-9 organic compound in the second solid material sample;
• (d) determining from the comparison performed in step (c) whether at least 50% of the first fluid material sample originates from the solid sample location, and if at least 50% of the first fluid material sample originates from the solid sample location, using the comparison of step (c) to evaluate the oil-producing capability of the solid sample location:
• (e) if the result of the determination of step (d) is that less than 50% of the first fluid material sample originates from the solid sample location, analyzing the amount of each of 1-9 organic compounds in each of one or more additional solid material samples from one or more additional solid sample locations that are (1) in an oil well in the geologic unit or (2) from one or more locations that are not in an oil well of the geologic unit but are in fluid communication with the fluid sample location, each of the 1-9 organic compounds in the one or more additional solid material samples being identified as corresponding to one of the 1-9 organic compounds in the first fluid material sample by (A) having the same composition and structure as one of the 1-9 organic compounds in the first fluid material sample or (B) being a compound that differs from the 1-9 organic compounds in the first fluid material sample but has a carbon atom content that differs from a corresponding organic compound of the 1-9 organic compounds in the first fluid material sample by 0, 1, or 2 carbon atoms, by subjecting each of the one or more additional solid material samples to a process that determines the amount of each of the 1-9 organic compounds in each of the one or more additional solid material samples;
• and
• (f) if step (e) of the method is performed, evaluating the oil-producing capability of the one or more additional solid sample locations by comparing the amount of each of the 1-9 organic compounds in the first fluid material sample to the amount of each of the corresponding 1-9 organic compounds in the one or more additional solid material samples.