“…3D values of natural hydrocarbons have been used for exploration and paleoenvironmental reconstruction. However, we now recognize that hydrogen from water chemically participates in the thermal maturation of organic matter (Siskin and Katritzky, 1991;Price, 1994;Seewald et al, 1998), and becomes part of organic hydrogen (Hoering, 1984;Lewan, 1993Lewan, , 1997Seewald, 1994;Stalker et al, 1995Stalker et al, , 1998Junk and Catallo, 1997;Seewald et al, 1998;ACS, 1999;Schimmelmann et al, 1999;Leif and Simoneit, 2000). This challenges us to re-evaluate experimentally the utility of D/H ratios in thermally matured fossil fuels and formation waters for exploration and paleoenvironmental reconstructions.…”