Gordon Atkinson & Jerry J. Zuckerman 
Origin and Chemistry of Petroleum [PDF ebook] 
Proceedings of the Third Annual Karcher Symposium, Oklahoma, May 4, 1979

Origin and Chemistry of Petroleum explains that petroleum is produced from exceptionally disseminated organic matter of biological origin encased in extremely buried sediments. Production of petroleum starts when such sediments are exposed to higher temperatures resulting from increased depths of entombment in the sedimentary column. The book discusses that once the petroleum is created from source rocks, the material transfers into porous reservoir rocks. Such rocks, when discovered, will give enough supply of petroleum for commercial production. An evaluation of the molecular analysis of the thermal history of sediments is also discussed in the book. Concepts such as the biological marker compounds, stereochemical conversion, and lower Toarcian sediments are covered in detail. Analysis of organic matters, such as acyclic isoprenoids, steranes, hopanes, and porphyrins, is highlighted. The molecular distributions and stereochemical ratios are also covered in the book. The text can serve as a valuable tool for geologists, chemists, miners, students, and researchers in the field of chemistry.