Visualizing information in multivariate data: Applications to petroleum geochemistry : Part 2. Interpretation and correlation of north sea oils by using three different biomarker fractions

Pentacyclic triterpanes, steranes and aromatic steroids of thirty-five North Sea crude oils are investigated for their usefulness in correlation and interpretation. Oblique components are necessary for obtaining data projections amenable to geochemical interpretation and for selecting molecular markers, i.e., compounds related to specific geochemical factors. Normoretane is shown to be a specific maturity parameter for the North Sea oils examined.