Oil and Water – Intimate Conversations

Re-Os geochronology is a powerful tool for unravelling the complexity of petroleum systems. Because of their organophile nature, Re and Os are enriched in sedimentary organic matter and the hydrocarbons it produces upon heating. Rhenium and Os isotopes are used to date hydrocarbon generation, to fingerprint oils, to distinguish different pulses of oil generation, and to determine interactions between oil, host rock, and formation water. Here we summarize knowledge on the content, distribution, and isotopic composition of Re and Os in petroleum and associated waters, highlight the main technical advances for Re-Os analyses, review experimental studies on water–oil interaction, and discuss the diverse Re-Os applications to petroleum systems.