PetroStrat will attend and present at the AAPG Rockies and Andes Workshop 2026, held 5 to 6 March 2026 at the Sociedad Geológica del Perú in Lima, Peru. This cutting-edge technical poster will explore unconventional shale plays; a hot topic in exploration and energy security. This research shares some of our latest insights identifying potential producing targets in complex geological settings.
Navigating Energy Frontiers in South America
The workshop theme, Navigating Energy Frontiers, focuses on technical advancements in oil and gas exploration. As energy exploration moves into more challenging structural and stratigraphic settings in the Rockies and Andes, the need for high-resolution subsurface data becomes critical.
PetroStrat’s range of integrated geoscience services provides the ground truth necessary to reduce geological uncertainty in these frontier basins.
Identifying Producing Targets Through Geochemical Evaluation
Poster Title: Geochemical evaluation of unconventional shale plays to identify potential producing targets
Authors : Carolina Olivares, Douglas Rodrigues, Olaia Zarketa and Andrew Parry
Our research demonstrates how detailed geochemistry can be used to understand the potential productivity of unconventional assets. By analysing free and sorbed hydrocarbons, oil saturation index, oil and gas retained in situ and organic porosity, operators can make more informed decisions regarding unconventional targets and completion strategies.
Unconventional Shale plays are characterised by relatively high organic richness, relatively high thermal maturity and low porosity and permeability. Their geochemical makeup requires specific evaluation methods for their unconventional hydrocarbon potential
Harnessing the latest analytical workflows – Rock-Eval Bulk Rock and Shale Play
This study applies Rock-Eval Bulk Rock and Shale Play methods to Lower Cretaceous and Late Devonian mudstones. These methods offer a quick and low-cost evaluation solution for these plays to:
Create robust datasets to estimate;
- producible hydrocarbons
- organic porosity
- oil/gas retained
Allow analysis of the produced data to investigate;
- Kerogen type
- Unconventional plays
- Source rock potential
- Contamination
- Thermal maturity
Short bios of the PetroStrat authors
Carolina Olivares (Presenting)
Carolina Olivares brings over 30 years of international petroleum industry experience, with a technical focus on geochemistry, petroleum geochemistry, petroleum systems analysis and energy transition with a focus on natural hydrogen, helium and CCUS . She joined PetroStrat in 2018, following a career spanning operator roles and service company.
Douglas Rodrigues
Douglas has almost 10 years of experience in the oil and gas industry, working for both, operators and consultancy companies. His main technical experience relies on organic geochemistry for fluids and rocks, PSA, basin modelling, seismic interpretation and petrophysical evaluation.
Olaia Zarketa
Olaia Zarketa has worked for a geological consultancy for 20 years as a lab technician, including the past two years as a specialist technician. She has developed a broad experience across multiple laboratory disciplines, spanning from biostratigraphy, SEM and QEMSCAN. Her primary focus has been in geochemical analysis such as TOC determination, Rock Eval pyrolysis and gas chromatography. She has consistently been involved in delivering high-quality analytical results to support geological interpretation.
Andrew Parry
Andy Parry has worked in the laboratories for 42 years, and in that time, he has gained experience in most areas, including sample preparation and biostratigraphy. Andy’s main area of expertise is in the geochemistry labs, where he has been a laboratory specialist since 2005. Andy has experience of various screening analyses and solvent extraction techniques, but he is particularly specialised in Gas Chromatography analysis. Andy has also developed several in-house methods for GC and GC-MS and he is also skilled in maintenance of the lab equipment.
PetroStrat Laboratory & Geoscience Services – Providing Enhanced Subsurface Insight
Our fully ISO-certified laboratory facilities provide the essential data required for subsurface modelling to ensure comprehensive understanding of your assets. Our expert team process and analyse your samples to extract precise mineralogical, geochemical, and stratigraphic information.
- Our integrated geoscience services provide our clients with:
- High-resolution stratigraphic frameworks
- Reduced subsurface uncertainty in complex structural regimes
- Reservoir characterisation through unified workflows
- Maximised value of core and cuttings samples
- Support for data-led decision making in frontier exploration
Onsite deployment available, including wellsite
Thin section and sample preparations of various lithologies and materials
Biostratigraphy services (Paly, Micro, & Nanno)
Automated mineralogy & high-resolution imaging
Organic and in-organic Geochemistry
Hot-shot turnaround services
Our Expertise in South American Basins
PetroStrat possesses extensive regional experience across Latin America. Our multi-disciplinary team of geoscientists provide the stratigraphic and reservoir geology expertise required to navigate the unique challenges of South American basins.
We have experience across:
- Trinidad & Tobago
- Argentina
- Brazil
- Colombia
- Guyana
- Peru
- Suriname
Everything you need to know about IMOG 2025
Conference: AAPG Rockies and Andes Workshop 2026
Theme: Navigating Energy Frontiers in South America
Location: Lima, Peru
Venue: Sociedad Geológica del Perú
Date: 5 – 6 March 2026
