Due to the difference of the physical and chemical properties between the normal paraffin and the isoalkane which have the same molecular weight,they are affected by the physical and chemical property of soil substrate and other external environmental factors and are hence likely to have some differentiation effects during migration,rendering their distribution in space characterized by some signature and regularity.Isomerization rate indicators φ_iC4 /φ_nC4 and φ_iC5 /φ_nC5 can expose to some extent the characteristics and regularity.With the isomerization rate indicators φ_iC4 /φ_nC4 and φ_iC5 /φ_nC5 ,we can determine organic maturity,path and direction of light hydrocarbon migration and light hydrocarbon generating environment,and study biochemical degradation of light hydrocarbon.