Method for exploiting a sedimentary basin, in which an image is constructed that quantifies a hydrocarbon potential of said sedimentary basin, characterized in that the following steps are carried out: a) said sedimentary basin is broken down into geological layers, each geological layer corresponding to a deposition of sediments for a given duration; b) the composition of said geological layers is determined by means of a coupling between a stratigraphic simulation and a model of production and breakdown of organic matter, by determining said composition of said geological layers by means of an iterative stratigraphic simulation, from the past to a more recent time, within each geological layer, by means of a stratigraphic model and of a model of production and breakdown of organic matter, by implementing the following steps: i) the production of said organic matter within said geological layer is determined by means of said model of production and breakdown of organic matter; ii) the transport of the sediments and of said organic matter produced is modelled by means of said stratigraphic model; iii) the breakdown of said organic matter during said transport is determined by means of said model of production and breakdown of organic matter; iv) the stratigraphy of said basin is determined by taking account of the conservation of the masses by means of said transport of sediments and of the breakdown of the organic matter; and v) the breakdown of the organic matter within said stratigraphy is determined by means of said model of production and breakdown of organic matter; c) the hydrocarbon potential of said geological layers of said sedimentary basin is quantified on the basis of said composition, steps a) to c) being implemented by computer; and d) said sedimentary basin is exploited in dependence on said quantification. a) said sedimentary basin is broken down into geological layers, each geological layer corresponding to a deposition of sediments for a given duration; b) the composition of said geological layers is determined by means of a coupling between a stratigraphic simulation and a model of production and breakdown of organic matter, by determining said composition of said geological layers by means of an iterative stratigraphic simulation, from the past to a more recent time, within each geological layer, by means of a stratigraphic model and of a model of production and breakdown of organic matter, by implementing the following steps: i) the production of said organic matter within said geological layer is determined by means of said model of production and breakdown of organic matter; ii) the transport of the sediments and of said organic matter produced is modelled by means of said stratigraphic model; iii) the breakdown of said organic matter during said transport is determined by means of said model of production and breakdown of organic matter; iv) the stratigraphy of said basin is determined by taking account of the conservation of the masses by means of said transport of sediments and of the breakdown of the organic matter; and v) the breakdown of the organic matter within said stratigraphy is determined by means of said model of production and breakdown of organic matter; i) the production of said organic matter within said geological layer is determined by means of said model of production and breakdown of organic matter; ii) the transport of the sediments and of said organic matter produced is modelled by means of said stratigraphic model; iii) the breakdown of said organic matter during said transport is determined by means of said model of production and breakdown of organic matter; iv) the stratigraphy of said basin is determined by taking account of the conservation of the masses by means of said transport of sediments and of the breakdown of the organic matter; and v) the breakdown of the organic matter within said stratigraphy is determined by means of said model of production and breakdown of organic matter; c) the hydrocarbon potential of said geological layers of said sedimentary basin is quantified on the basis of said composition, steps a) to c) being implemented by computer; and d) said sedimentary basin is exploited in dependence on said quantification.