Application of Low-Temperature Thermochronology to Hydrocarbon Exploration

The maturation of organic material into petroleum in a sedimentary basin is controlled by the maximum temperatures attained by the source rock and the thermal history of the basin. A cycle of continuous deposition into the basin (burial) and regional basin inversions represented by unconformities (unroofing) may complicate the simple thermal development of the basin. Applications of low-temperature thermochronology via fission-track (FT) and (U–Th)/He dating coupled with independent measurements (vitrinite reflectance, Rock-Eval) resolving the paleothermal maximum are the ideal approach to illuminate the relationship between time and temperature. In this contribution, we review the basics of low-temperature thermochronology in the context of a project workflow, from sampling to modeling, for resolving the thermal evolution of a hydrocarbon-bearing sedimentary basin. We specifically highlight the application of multi-kinetic apatite FT dating, emphasizing the usefulness of the rmr0 parameter for interpreting complex apatite age populations that are often present in sedimentary rocks. Still a rapidly advancing science, thermochronology can yield a rich and effective dataset when the minerals are carefully and properly characterized, particularly with regard to mineral chemistry and radiation damage.