Carbon Isotopic Analysis
The analyses are made for Methane (C1) and, if concentrations permit, higher hydrocarbon gases such as ethane and propane.
It is necessary to have gas extractions from Acid Extracted Soil Gas (AE) or other soil gas methods.

Solvent Extraction and Chromatography
This method provides more detailed geochemical characterization of the migrating oil or condensate than is possible from just gas analyses alone. Soil or sediment samples from within seepage anomalies are extracted using a solvent, and then analyzed by chromatography to characterize the C10+ hydrocarbons.

Biomarker Analysis
Such data provide the MOS complete information about the nature of the source facies, its maturity, and often even its geologic age. Biomarker data can be correlated with comparable data from reservoired oils, source rock extracts, oil stains and oil shows, and previously described petroleum systems.