Science-Technology Conference “30 Years Petroleum Industry: New Challenges and Opportunities”-24-25 August 2005

SOURCE ROCKS AND FLUID HYDROCARBONS OF THE NAM CON SON BASIN

Vo Thi Hai Quan

Vietnam Petroleum Institute

ABSTRACT
The Nam Con Son basin with total area of approximately 100,000 km2 offshore
Southern Vietnam is one of the basins where commercial oil and gas have been discovered
through a large number of exploration and exploitation activities for many years. Thus, study
of petroleum products and initial source materials within the basin has attracted to
Geologists, and particularly to Geochemists.
Source rocks of the Nam Con Son basin were mainly found in lower part of Middle
Miocene, Lower Miocene and Oligocene. These source rocks have rich organic matter that
indicates high potential of oil and gas generation. They occur predominantly on the eastern
and central parts of the basin, vary from strongly oil to gas prone of kerogens type III/II, and
they were mainly derived from higher plant, algal and bacterial source materials preserved
and degraded under high to medium oxidizing conditions of fluvial-deltaic, lacustrine and
nearshore environments. Much of the source rocks are thermally mature and have already
entered into the main phase of petroleum generation.
Fluid hydrocarbons in the Nam Con Son basin consist of black oils/light
oils/condensates produced mainly from higher plant and algal source materials deposited in
fluvial-deltaic and lacustrine environments. Based on the different geochemical
characteristics of initial source materials, these oils were classified as three types:
• Terrestrial oils derived from higher plant with their gravity from medium to high, high
waxy and low sulfur contents. They contain abundant higher plant resin and low
concentrations of steranes, predominantly C29 steranes.
• Lacustrine oils derived from freshwater algae which are generally low-medium gravity,
high waxy, low sulfur contents and often contain high concentration of C30 4-methyl
steranes.
• Mixed oils derived from mixture of fluvial-deltaic and lacustrine organic matters.
INTRODUCTION
This paper focused on Oligocene, Lower Miocene sediments with thicknesses ranging
from 100-500m and 100-1000 m respectively, and oil samples from some wells. Source rocks
in the Nam Con Son basin can be subdivided into different lithologic facies: coal, coaly shale
and claystone. Based on the results of integrating geochemical data, oils were classified
according to its genetic types as terrestrial, lacustrine and mixed oils.
Therefore, the primary objectives of this paper are to (1) categorise the source rocks
producing hydrocarbon in the Nam Con Son basin; (2) to classify oil and define the relation
between oil and source rock.
GEOLOGICAL EVOLUTION
Nam Con Son is a large Tertiary basin with high hydrocarbon potential, formed within
the continental crust and having a complex geological structure. The basin’s forming related
to the collision of three large plates: Eurasia, India-Australia and Pacific plates. The Eurasia
was considered the most stable plate among them; the India-Australia plate moved towards

1
Science-Technology Conference “30 Years Petroleum Industry: New Challenges and Opportunities”-24-25 August 2005

Northwest, and Pacific plate moved westward and plunged into the others. Geological
evolution of the basin was divided into three phases as following:
Paleocene phase: this period is a strong rifting phase, sagging and rapidly sediments
infilling. At this time, the entire of Sunda continental shelf including the Nam Con Son basin
came to stage of peneplaination from Middle Oligocene to Late Oligocene. Under influence
of East Vietnam sea-floor spreading phase, the whole basin was suffered from rifting
extension stress. Extensional tectonic activities following the fault systems proceeded from
the basement are motivation in creating the initial east-west trending grabens in the basin, and
were filled up by lacustrine and deltaic/ baymouth sediments with a thickness of thousands
meters. However, at the same time of rifting extension movement in creating local grabens,
the adjacent pre-Kainozoi basement blocks was raising resulted in forming small horsts. As a
consequence, the later stratigraphical structures developing in younger sediments have
important significance for petroleum, typically as Mang Cau high. Thus, Paleocene phase is
the initial period of basin’s formation, creating grabens and half grabens separated by
basement highs and limited by deep faults. Therefore, Paleocene formations (Oligocene) is
thin westward, and thick eastward with thousands meters of thickness.
Miocene phase:
Early Miocene: the whole region was subsidence; marine transgression from the east
to west, terrestrial formations of littoral and shallow marine facies were formed and grouped
in Dua Formation. This is stage of sagging and extending basin and in some areas of basin
was experienced a westnorthwest-eastsoutheast trending extension pulse, however, this
tectonic activity was not strong, and long period either, and was stable by early Middle
Miocene. The sagging resulted in expanding of sedimentary accumulation areas over blocks
04, 10, 11, 21, etc.
Middle to Late Miocene: in this period, uplift and inverse movements were observed
in some areas in the basin. These probably were happened in mid Middle Miocene which was
demonstrated by truncation of sediments in basin margin and forming of several local
structures. Due to inverse movements, particularly in the Northern part, the Mang Cau and
Con Son highs were extended eastward and northeastward (block 04) resulting in separate the
northern trough from central trough. Several structures also formed within block 11. This
event was strengthened (late Middle Miocene) by increasing angular unconformity between
Middle Miocene and Upper Miocene, and fiercely eroding in some areas. In early Late
Miocene, another marine transgression came from the east with marine transgression
sediments overlying unconformably on the late Middle Miocene sediments. At near the end of
Late Miocene, the whole region was risen again, marine regression eastward, ending phase of
sagging and stretching basin. Tectonic activities in Late Miocene have a large influence
affected not only the Nam Con Son basin but also other areas of Vietnam continent shelf and
southeast Asia.
Pliocene-Tertiary phase: this is the period of marine open and developing continent
shelf not only in the Nam Con Son but also in other basins of the region. Marine transgression
sediments speedily covered over the Con Son, Khorat-Natuna highs, so the structural
planimetric map of the basin was not followed by former period, it tended to incline to East
Sea trend, and marine facies sediments were classified by Bien Dong formation. At the same
time, invasive wedge shaly sandstones of shallow marine-deep marine containing
hydrocarbons were accumulated in several structures in the basin (Figure 1).

2
Science-Technology Conference “30 Years Petroleum Industry: New Challenges and Opportunities”-24-25 August 2005

Figure 1: Tectono-stratigraphy of the Nam Con Son basin

GEOCHEMICAL ASSESSMENT
Sample localities and database
All samples were selected for this study are coal, coaly shale and claystone from
different areas in the Nam Con Son basin such as blocks 04, 05, 06 in the eastern area, blocks
10, 11, 12 in the central area and blocks 20, 21, 22, 28&29 in the western area.
In the context of this paper, we try to represent all the major hydrocarbon producing
sources in the Nam Con Son basin. Oil classification bases on detailed geochemical data of
more than sixty selected samples including oils, light oils and condensates. Identification of
source rocks and oils within the basin are primarily from published data and our own
experiences about this basin.
1. Source rock characterization
The organic matter in a sediment can broadly be derived from three sources: higher
plants (trees, ferns, etc.), lower plants (planktonic, algae, etc.), and bacteria. Volumetrically,
animal tissue makes only a minor contribution to kerogen. In addition, hydrocarbon source
rocks are characterized by the type of its intrinsic organic matters.
Source rock characteristics of the Nam Con Son basin vary from both planimetric map
and depth, especially from west to east. Upper Miocene and Middle Miocene sediments are
very poor in organic matter content except the lower section of Middle Miocene. Therefore,
oil and gas discovered so far in the Nam Con Son basin were mainly related to Lower
Miocene and Oligocene source rocks. These consist of thin layers of coal, coaly shale
(approximately 20% in lithology) interbedded with light gray to dark gray and brown
claystones distributed in the eastern and central parts of the basin.
More than 1000 samples of cutting, sidewall core and core from blocks 04, 05, 06, 10,
11, 12, 20, 21 were taken to measure the total organic content (TOC), Rock-Eval pyrolysis
analysis for hydrocarbon generated potential evaluation.
a. Organic Enrichment and Type of Organic Matter

3
Science-Technology Conference “30 Years Petroleum Industry: New Challenges and Opportunities”-24-25 August 2005

Lower Miocene source rocks

The organic carbon content (TOC) of the coals and coaly shale shown exceeding 10%
with its values ranged from ~6 up to ~84%. This is one of necessary prerequisite for being
hydrocarbon generated source rocks. Rock-Eval pyrolysis reveals that the generation potential
S2 of this section ranged from 2.8 to ~314Kg/T. For all samples, when their measured S2
values exceed 10Kg/T considered very good to excellent source-rock. In fact, almost samples
were shown corresponding to good or excellent petroleum source rock. Their organic matters
were mainly derived from the lignin components of higher plant of type III kerogens
deposited under high oxic condition of fluvial-deltaic environments, and a minor amount of
cuticle, resin or spores and pollen of type I kerogens that preserved in medium oxic condition
of freshwater setting with hydrogen index in this sediment ranging from 182-484mg/g, which
indicative oil generated potential (table 1 and fig.2).
Claystones are dominant in the eastern and central basin with their TOC values range
from 0.03-5.95%, and hydrocarbon yield (S2) values:0.04-25.74Kg/T were shown organic
richness and moderate to high source rock potential. These were also determined by the Rock-
Eval pyrolysis with hydrogen indices ranging from 10-718mg/g. However, most of samples
have HI values lower than 300mg/g with few exceed 300mg/g. Thus, this represent type III
kerogens mixed type I kerogens with gas-oil prone deposited in high to medium oxidizing
environments of fluvial-deltaic and lacustrine.
Oligocene source rocks
Oligocene coals and coaly shales with their TOC values mostly higher than 10%
ranging from ~2 to ~78%, and pyrolysis yield S2>10Kg/T indicate good to excellent source
potential. Moreover, most of samples were corresponding to oil-prone source rocks with type
III/I kerogens derived from higher plant/algal of fluvial-deltaic/lacustrine environments and
HI values exceed 300mg/g.
Other dark gray and brown claystones also shown the organic richness (TOC>1%), the
average pyrolysis yields ~2Kg/T, and most of them fall into gas-prone of type III kerogens
with HI values less than 300mg/g (Table 1 and Fig.2).
Table 1: Rock-Eval and vitrinite reflectance data for rock samples
Vitrinite
TOC and Rock-Eval pyrolysis
graphy
Strati-

reflectance
Lithology S1 S2 HI Tmax
TOC (%) %Ro
(Kg/T) (Kg/T) (mg/g) (oC)
Lower Miocene

Coal 17-84.98 1.00-44.89 2.80-314.96 182-482 320-469

Coaly
6.52-43.12 1.27-14.81 23.68-154.94 136-435 410-445 0.30-1.10
Claystone

Claystone 0.03-5.95 0.01-3.85 0.04-25.74 10-718 302-570

Coal 12.98-78.40 0.10-33.40 32.35-249.85 105-382 425-459

Oligocene

Coaly
Claystone 1.38-37.34 0.49-18.73 1.38-133.80 75-358 441-469 0.37-1.34

Claystone 0.04-5.91 0.01-7.86 0.04-70.49 22-950 348-479

Remark: TOC : Total Organic Carbon HI : Hydrogen Index

4
Science-Technology Conference “30 Years Petroleum Industry: New Challenges and Opportunities”-24-25 August 2005

S1 : Free hydrocarbon Tmax : The temperature for which the S2 peak is maximum
S2 : Present potential of source rock Ro : Vitrinite reflectance 17-84.98 = Min-max value
In summary, the coals, coaly shales and claystones from Lower Miocene and
Oligocene show residual source potential and organic richness, indicative of major input of
type III kerogens derived from higher plant materials and minor input of type I kerogens
derived from non-marine algal component, and have been probably deposited under very high
to moderate oxidizing conditions of fluvial-deltaic and lacustrine to nearshore/shallow marine
environments. Moreover, the claystones are poor to good source rocks mainly containing type
III kerogens for gas only. Hence these source rocks of the Miocene and Oligocene show the
same nature of source materials and depositional environments of fluvial-deltaic and
lacustrine. Thus, there are also considered terrestrial and lacustrine source rocks according to
source materials.
b. Thermal Maturity
One of the most regular methods for determining the maturity of sediments is to
measure vitrinite reflectance. Besides, Rock-Eval pyrolysis Tmax is also used as a function of
its thermal evolution, taking as a reference the vitrinite reflectance.
The selected Lower Miocene and Oligocene sediments in the Nam Con Son basin
contain mainly terrestrial higher plant, predominantly vitrinite with secondary amount of
cutinite and resinite. Measured vitrinite reflectance values display a regular increase in
thermal maturity with depth (table 2, fig.3) and vary from 0.30 to 1.34%. Rock-Eval pyrolysis
Tmax values range from 320 to 479oC are consistent with vitrinite reflectance measurements,
except two Ro values from block 05 reach 570oC.
Table 2: Thermal maturation threshold determined by %Ro and Tmax parameters
in the Nam Con Son basin
Thermal maturation thresholds %Ro Tmax (oC) Depth(m)
Mature 0.60 435 3420-3430
Oil window 0.72 438 3910-3920
Peak of HC generation 1.12 ~448 4120-4130
Wet gas and condensate 1.30 nd nd
Dry gas 2.00 nd nd
Remark: (nd) - not determined
Consequently, the source rocks below 3420-3430m are still currently within the
mature stage of generation. The source rocks below 3910-3920m were reached oil window
stage and entered into main phase of hydrocarbon generation, in the wet gas/condensate
generation and expulsion stages under 4120-4130m.

5
Science-Technology Conference “30 Years Petroleum Industry: New Challenges and Opportunities”-24-25 August 2005

Tmax
(oC) Ro (%)
400 420 440 460 0.1 1 10
1600

Marginal mature
Immature

Oil window

Mature
Mature
2000

Wet gas & condensate

Immature

Oil window

Dry gas
2400

2800

3200

3600

4000

4400

4800

Lower Miocene Oligocene

Figure 2: Change of Tmax and Ro with depth showing level of thermal maturity
2. Characteristics of oils and oil/source rock correlation
Fluid hydrocarbons discovered in the basin so far are the black oils, light oils and
condensates from Upper Miocene, Middle Miocene, Lower Miocene, Oligocene and
basement reservoirs of the blocks: 04, 05,06, 10, 11, 12 produced from the two main source
materials which are different in lithologic facies: coal, coaly shale and claystone of Lower
Miocene and Oligocene. Thus, it is best described in terms of a classification into three groups
as terrestrial, lacustrine and mixed oils.
a. Bulk properties of the oils
The oils from terrigenous materials in the Nam Con Son basin mainly produced from
source rocks containing type III kerogens with major input of the cuticular waxes of higher
plants (Angiosperm and Gymnosperm), which deposited under high oxidizing conditions.
They are classified as D, E classes (after classification of Barwise A.J.G., 1984) and made
reference to the fact that these type oils will be high waxy, low sulfur contents, occurred from
Cretaceous to present-day (Hedburg, 1968 and Adam et al., 1991). They contain medium to
very light API gravity ranging from 29.10 to 50.12oAPI, wax contents: ~1-21.68%, very low
sulfur contents: 0.01-0.084%, very high ratios of pristane and phytane: 2.86-10.30 and ratios
of Ni and V of more than 2 (37-~52) (fig.3). Another common bulk property of terrestrial oils
reflects the composition of the oils in terms of various proportions of saturate/aromatic/polar
asphaltene fractions. For the most part, the waxy nature means that the major fraction of these
oils is the saturate fraction. In many cases, this may correspond to 92% of the total oil (e.g.
oils and condensates of the DH field).

6
Science-Technology Conference “30 Years Petroleum Industry: New Challenges and Opportunities”-24-25 August 2005

Oils derived from lacustrine organic sources in the basin, were discovered presently in
blocks 05&06. The lacustrine oils are characterized by major contribution of freshwater
algal/bacterial materials into source materials that favorably preserved in medium oxidizing
conditions. The studied lacustrine oils, taken from the depths of 2864.5m, 2480m, 3996-
4117m, 3285m in wells 05.2-NT-1X, 06-LD-1X, 04.3-BC-1X and 11.1-CC-1X respectively,
are heavy oils with API gravity ranging from 11.50 to 17.30oAPI that were slightly
biodegraded, thus having low sulfur content (0.2%) and very low wax contents 0.80-2.66%.

Figure 3: Plot of oils derived from terrestrial sources of the Nam Con Son basin
(after Barwise’s classification)
The mixed oils produced from mixture of organic matter inputs of higher plant land
and freshwater algal materials, preserved in transitional zone being high oxidizing conditions.
Therefore, bulk properties of the oils are not mentioned in this study.
b. Non-biomarker (GC) and biomarker (GCMS) assessments for source rocks and oils
The most characteristic of oils derived from terrigenous source materials is their waxy
nature (Hedburg, 1968) and predominance of nC20+ range, especially with a strong or
moderate odd-over-oven predominance, especially in nC25, nC27 nC29, therefore this is
influenced by maturity level (CPI-1: 1-1.21). The ratios of pristane and phytane are very high
(2.86-10.30), indicating high oxidizing environment of deposition. The oils derived from
lacustrine source materials also have high wax contents, therefore, the n-alkane distributions
of them maximize in the range nC15-nC18, especially predominance of odd-over-oven in nC20+

7
Science-Technology Conference “30 Years Petroleum Industry: New Challenges and Opportunities”-24-25 August 2005

range (nC23, nC25, nC27, nC29) in light oils/condensates. Moderate ratios of pristane and
phytane (1.38-3.74) show that they are preserved in low to moderate oxic condition of
lacustrine environment. Mixed oils also show a predominance of nC15-nC18 and nC20+ range
with an odd-over-oven predominance. Relative high ratios of pristane and phytane (1.82-5.24)
indicate they fall into transition zone of terrestrial and lacustrine oils.
Biomarkers are complex molecular fossils derived from once living organisms and
thus it provides information on the source rock provenance and maturity and environmental
conditions during its deposition and burial. Thus depending on different characteristics of
source materials which determined above it is well established that there are many major
accumulations of oils/light oils/condensates that are derived predominantly from higher plant
and algal/bacterial materials of fluvial-deltaic and lacustrine or nearshore/shallow marine
environments and deposited under favorable conditions for preserving organic matters. They
were described and summarized in table 3 by using biomarker parameters.
Source materials and depositional environments
Biomarkers that easily recognized on m/z 191 of the alkanes fraction by different
basically in source materials of terrestrial and lacustrine source materials those are 18α(H)-
Oleanane (named as peak O1), bicadinane (W,T,R) and resin (R1, R2, R3). These indicators
originated from angiosperms and gymnosperms of higher plants evolved in late Cretaceous to
recent. The parameters of the terrestrial source rocks confirm a predominantly terrestrial
source for the organic matter with oleanane, bicadinane and resin present in major to abundant
amounts (H15=4-290; H18=3.13-78; H19=0-254) and C30-4methyl steranes minor amounts
(S8=0-11.67), showing minor lacustrine matter input. Similarly they are also found in
terrestrial oils with major concentrations (H15=12.66-121.88, H18=40.63-190.39, H19=11.98-
236) and trace of freshwater algae.
Whereas lacustrine source rocks and oils are predominant in C30-4methyl steranes,
relating to dinoflagellates which particularly appearing dominant in the salinity/low
salinity/freshwater settings, besides an influence of minor amounts of 18 α (H)-oleanane
(H15=11.46-26.23), indicating a minor terrigenous material input. The indicators are also
found in lacustrine oils with abundant amount (S8~45) and a little amount of Oleanane from
higher plant (H15=10.17-11.83). In addition, the presence of tricyclic terpanes (identified on
m/z 191 as peaks T1-T11) shows that they are often associated with source materials from
lacustrine origin and sometimes-marine origin, but appear absent in higher plant. Thus,
relative high concentrations of C23 tricyclic terpanes calculated by H11 parameter for the
source rocks: 2.05-11.37 and oils ~61.21, indicating significant contribution of freshwater
algae to source materials (Figs 3, 4). It is suggested that mixed oils derived from combination
of source materials producing terrestrial oils and lacustrine oils those are higher plants,
bacteria and freshwater algae (H15=8.48-16.82, H18=8.91-50, H19=6.41-161.76 and S8=20.87-
80).
It is suggested that the terrestrial and lacustrine oils bear source materials resemblance
to its source rocks (Figs 3, 4). Besides, all the studied oils generally show the predominance
of C29 sterane, indicating moderate to high oxidizing conditions of deltaic and lacustrine
environments (Fig.4).

8
Science-Technology Conference “30 Years Petroleum Industry: New Challenges and Opportunities”-24-25 August 2005

C28%

Source Rocks Oils

C27% C29%

Figure 4: Ternary diagram of C27-C28-C29 steranes

Maturity
Plot of pr/nC17 and phy/nC18 (Fig. 3) displays the oils falling into range of terrigenous
organic matter and peat-swamp areas where thermally high matured in fluvial-deltaic mainly
containing bacterial, higher plant materials and lacustrine mostly composing freshwater
algae/bacteria; the source rocks were in moderate to high mature stage. In addition, the other
parameters: CPI-1, S1 and H6 also show that levels of thermal maturity of the source rocks
range from moderate to high mature which reached to oil window where hydrocarbons had
enough conditions to be generated and expelled (Table 3). Thus the oils discovered in the
basin which expulsed from the terrestrial and lacustrine source rocks within the basin reveal a
similar in levels of thermal maturity. Mixed oils contain a combining characteristics of
terrestrial and lacustrine oils, thus they possibly produced from mixed both source rocks
within the Nam Con Son basin.
Table 3: Biomarker parameters for source rocks and oils

Parame- Source rocks Oils/light oils/Condensates

Assessment
ters Terrestrial Lacustrine Terrestrial Lacustrine Mixed oils
H11 0-24 2.05-11.37 0-11.34 61.21 0-16.71
H15 4-290 11.46- 12.66- 10.17- 8.48-16.82
H18 3.13-78 26.23 121.88 11.83 8.91-50
Source H19 0-254 - 40.63- - 6.41-
materials S3-3 36-76 - 190.39 - 161.76
S8 0-11.67 34-39 11.98-236 21-29 17-48
12.47- Trace-100 45 20.87-80
51.46 -
CPI-1 0.97-2.25 1.12-1.13 1.01-1.25 1.10 0.79-1.06
Maturity H6 0.02-0.63 0.14-0.46 0.04-0.68 0.52-0.74 0.59-0.70
H2 0.36-0.62 0.31-0.44 0.40-0.68 0.43-0.60 0.44-0.94
S1 0.08-0.69 0.06-0.48 0.18-0.66 0.45-0.58 0.35-0.49
Remark: (-) not determined
H11=T5/G H19=(W+T+R)/G H6=Ts/(Ts+Tm)
H15=O1/G S3-3=34/(25+34+38) H2=N/(N+O)

9
Science-Technology Conference “30 Years Petroleum Industry: New Challenges and Opportunities”-24-25 August 2005

H18=(R1+R2+R3)/G S8=42/38 S1=35/(35+38)

CPI-1=[(C21+C23+C25+C27)/(C20+C22+C24+C26)]+[(C21+C23+C25+C27)/(C22+C24+C26+C28)]

CONCLUSION
This investigation confirms the value of a combined geological, geochemical and
biological marker approach, using petroleum source rocks: coal, coaly shale and claystone
samples and oils/light oils/condensates, in the assessment and differentiation of source
materials, depositional environments and maturity. The results reveal significant differences
of the two source rocks of Lower Miocene and Oligocene within the basin as follows:
The terrestrial source rocks mainly contain organic richment of higher plants
(angiosperm and gymnosperm) derived from type III kerogens and a limited amount of
freshwater algae/bacteria of type I kerogens. They were generally deposited in high oxygen
conditions of fluvial-deltaic environments, mainly producing gas. The lacustrine source rocks
principally contain organic-rich of freshwater algal/bacterial materials from type I kerogens
and a little amount of higher plants from type III kerogens. They were preserved in medium
oxygen conditions of lacustrine environments, generating oil and gas.
Fluid hydrocarbons can be classified as terrestrial, lacustrine and mixed oils based on
a combination of geochemical data. The terrestrial oils generated from mature source rocks,
which deposited in fluvial-deltaic environments, mainly contain input of higher plants. The
lacustrine oils produced from source rocks which preserved in lacustrine/shoreline
environments. Mixed oils exhibit combination characteristics of terrestrial and lacustrine oils.
All the oils expelled from the source rocks within the basin at the same levels of thermal
maturity.

REFERENCES
1. Gwang H. Lee, Keumsuk Lee, and Joel S. Watkins, 2000. Geologic evolution of the Cuu
Long and Nam Con Son basins, offshore southern Vietnam, South China Sea.
2. S.J. Matthews, A.J. Fraser, S. Lowe, S.P. Todd & F.J. Peel, 1997. Structure, stratigraphy
and petroleum geology of the SE Nam Con Son basin, offshore Vietnam.
3. Do Bat, Phan Huy Quynh, Nguyen Duc Tung, Nguyen Van Hoi, 1993. Tertiary
biostratigraphy of the Nam Con Son basin, Vietnam.
4. S.J. Mathews, S.P. Todd, Stockley Park. A tectonostratigraphic model for the Southern
Nam Con Son basin, offshore Vietnam
5. Kenneth E. Peters and J. Michael Moldowan. The biomarker guide interpreting molecular
fossils in petroleum and ancient sediments
6. Tran Cong Tao, 1997. Geochemical evaluation of the source rocks and oils in the Nam
Con Son basin.
7. Pham Thi Toan and colleagues, 1994-2003. Geochemical reports for source rocks and
oils in the Cuu Long and Nam Con Son basins.
8. Pham Thi Toan, 2000-2003. Geochemical reports for wells of Dai Hung field.
9. M.E.Dunn 1994. Geochemical analysis of sediment samples and thermal modeling for the
05.2-NT-1RX well, Nam Con Son basin, offshore Vietnam.

10
Science-Technology Conference “30 Years Petroleum Industry: New Challenges and Opportunities”-24-25 August 2005

10. Lasmo company, 1995. Geochemical reports for rocks and oils of block 04.
11. BP research, 1990. Geochemistry for exploration and production.

11