Bakken/Madison petroleum systems in the Canadian Williston Basin. Part 4: diphenylmethanes and benzylcyclohexanes as indicators for oils derived from the Madison petroleum system

Alkyl derivatives of diphenylmethane and benzylcyclohexane were identified as significant components of the Family C oils, and related Mississippian source rocks, in the Canadian Williston Basin. The co-occurrence of these two structurally related compound classes in this specific source rock interval, and their relatively low abundance in other petroleum systems, indicates the great utility of these aromatic hydrocarbons as effective molecular markers for oil-oil and oil-source correlation, particularly for highly mature light oils.