- Hydrocarbon accumulations are dynamic and their seals are imperfect
- Most productive basins leak
- Most accumulations leak
- The majority of oil/gas accumulations have a detectable surface geochemical expression
- Hydrocarbon seeps can be visible (macroseepage) or only chemically measurable (microseepage)
- Leakage is dynamic, and predominantly vertical
- Hydrocarbons can move vertically through hundreds of meters of strata without discernible faults or fractures in relatively short time of months to several years.
- Direct indicator of hydrocarbons
- Identify and map hc-induced alteration
- Discriminate between oil versus gas
- Prospects with an associated hydrocarbon microseepage anomaly are 4 to 6 times more likely to result in a commercial discovery than similar prospects lacking such an anomaly.
- Minimal environmental impact
