A computer-implemented method for exploration, production and development of hydrocarbons comprising: obtaining a sample comprising hydrocarbons; analyzing the sample for a geochemical signature, wherein the geochemical signature comprises one or more of a multiply substituted isotopologue signature and a position specific isotope signature; the method further characterised in that it comprises: determining a process responsible for alteration and quantifying the extent of the alteration recorded by the multiply substituted isotopologue signature and/or the position specific isotope signature of any hydrocarbon compound that records alteration; determining signatures recorded by the multiply substituted isotopologue signature and/or the position specific isotope signature of multiple hydrocarbon compounds that record historical temperature as well as alteration; determining historical temperatures recorded by multiply substituted isotopologue signature and/or position specific isotope signature for multiple hydrocarbon compounds with different kinetic properties; determining alteration timing from one or more of the multiply substituted isotopologue signature and position specific isotope signature; and developing or refining an exploration, development or production strategy based on the determined alteration timing, wherein determining alteration timing comprises: determining a thermal history of a depth of interest from a basin model and one or more of the multiply substituted isotopologue signature and position specific isotope signature; determining the alteration timing from a residence time of multiple hydrocarbon compounds that are by-products of a process of alteration and are sensitive to temperature in the rock of interest; wherein the residence time is determined based on historical temperatures of hydrocarbon compounds and the thermal history of a depth of interest; and wherein a timing of hydrocarbon alteration is utilized in the developing or refining an exploration, development or production strategy. obtaining a sample comprising hydrocarbons; analyzing the sample for a geochemical signature, wherein the geochemical signature comprises one or more of a multiply substituted isotopologue signature and a position specific isotope signature; the method further characterised in that it comprises: determining a process responsible for alteration and quantifying the extent of the alteration recorded by the multiply substituted isotopologue signature and/or the position specific isotope signature of any hydrocarbon compound that records alteration; determining signatures recorded by the multiply substituted isotopologue signature and/or the position specific isotope signature of multiple hydrocarbon compounds that record historical temperature as well as alteration; determining historical temperatures recorded by multiply substituted isotopologue signature and/or position specific isotope signature for multiple hydrocarbon compounds with different kinetic properties; determining alteration timing from one or more of the multiply substituted isotopologue signature and position specific isotope signature; and developing or refining an exploration, development or production strategy based on the determined alteration timing, determining a process responsible for alteration and quantifying the extent of the alteration recorded by the multiply substituted isotopologue signature and/or the position specific isotope signature of any hydrocarbon compound that records alteration; determining signatures recorded by the multiply substituted isotopologue signature and/or the position specific isotope signature of multiple hydrocarbon compounds that record historical temperature as well as alteration; determining historical temperatures recorded by multiply substituted isotopologue signature and/or position specific isotope signature for multiple hydrocarbon compounds with different kinetic properties; determining alteration timing from one or more of the multiply substituted isotopologue signature and position specific isotope signature; and developing or refining an exploration, development or production strategy based on the determined alteration timing, wherein determining alteration timing comprises: determining a thermal history of a depth of interest from a basin model and one or more of the multiply substituted isotopologue signature and position specific isotope signature; determining the alteration timing from a residence time of multiple hydrocarbon compounds that are by-products of a process of alteration and are sensitive to temperature in the rock of interest; wherein the residence time is determined based on historical temperatures of hydrocarbon compounds and the thermal history of a depth of interest; and determining a thermal history of a depth of interest from a basin model and one or more of the multiply substituted isotopologue signature and position specific isotope signature; determining the alteration timing from a residence time of multiple hydrocarbon compounds that are by-products of a process of alteration and are sensitive to temperature in the rock of interest; wherein the residence time is determined based on historical temperatures of hydrocarbon compounds and the thermal history of a depth of interest; and wherein a timing of hydrocarbon alteration is utilized in the developing or refining an exploration, development or production strategy.