It just means that you need to have both a source rock (organic matter trapped in sediment in sufficient volumes) and heat (from burial, usually, but possibly in some cases from some nearby igneous body) in order to generate oil. Without heat, source rocks are 'immature,' have not generated liquid or gaseous hydrocarbons. Without adequate source rocks, no amount of heat will do anything to barren rocks to produce hydrocarbons. It means you can (must) come at exploration from both directions, seeking adequate source rocks AND a geologic history (usually the burial history) sufficient to generate the heat to properly "cook" the source rocks. Too little heat, nothing happens (immature), too much, the hydrocarbons volatilize and the rocks are overmature. So timing is a factor too: how long have the source rocks been at the right temperature to provide the proper heat history to make them mature, and generating hydrocarbons, oil and/or natural gas. I would actually hardly have called it a theory, more just two parallel necessities for oil generation, just as you also have to have a reservoir (rocks that can contain the oil or gas), a trap (geometry that allows the oil or gas to accumulate in the reservoir) and a seal (rock that prevents the oil or gas from escaping from the reservoir in the trap).
Very impressive research and analysis.
Question: what is the theory of co-control of source and heat?
It just means that you need to have both a source rock (organic matter trapped in sediment in sufficient volumes) and heat (from burial, usually, but possibly in some cases from some nearby igneous body) in order to generate oil. Without heat, source rocks are 'immature,' have not generated liquid or gaseous hydrocarbons. Without adequate source rocks, no amount of heat will do anything to barren rocks to produce hydrocarbons. It means you can (must) come at exploration from both directions, seeking adequate source rocks AND a geologic history (usually the burial history) sufficient to generate the heat to properly "cook" the source rocks. Too little heat, nothing happens (immature), too much, the hydrocarbons volatilize and the rocks are overmature. So timing is a factor too: how long have the source rocks been at the right temperature to provide the proper heat history to make them mature, and generating hydrocarbons, oil and/or natural gas. I would actually hardly have called it a theory, more just two parallel necessities for oil generation, just as you also have to have a reservoir (rocks that can contain the oil or gas), a trap (geometry that allows the oil or gas to accumulate in the reservoir) and a seal (rock that prevents the oil or gas from escaping from the reservoir in the trap).
Thank you for taking the time and effort to provide such a clear and detailed explanation. A fascinating topic!