Surface sediment gases as indicators of subsurface hydrocarbons – examining the record in laboratory and field studies

Abrams, Michael A.; Dahdah, Nicola F.

doi:10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2009.08.005

Cited by 20 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 5 publications

(24 reference statements)

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“…Gases derived from these different processes will display a distinctive hydrocarbon and non-hydrocarbon composition and compound-specific isotopic signature. Examination of seabed geochemical signatures from worldwide surveys suggest the near-surface sediment gas and isotopic signatures are different than expected due to in situ microbial alteration, partitioning between vapour, solute, and sorbed phases, mixing with gases from multiple origins, degassing fractionation from sample collection and fractionation related to the gas extraction method [2,3].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Sediment gases can reside in the interstitial spaces, bound to mineral or organic surfaces, and/or entrapped in carbonate inclusions [2,3]. The interstitial sediment gases are those gases contained within the sediment pore space, either dissolved in the pore waters (solute) or as free gas (vapour) [4].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The bound gases are believed to be attached to organic and/or mineral surfaces, entrapped in structured water or entrapped in authigenic carbonate inclusions [3,[5][6][7]. Horvitz [6,8] pioneered the concept of bound sediment gas analysis with his acid extraction adsorbed gas analysis.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There are multiple protocols to collect, prepare, extract and analyse near-surface gases from marine sediments [3,10]. Many of the sediment gas extraction procedures currently used by industry were based on sampling and laboratory protocols designed for well cuttings and not rigorously tested to evaluate their effectiveness with unconsolidated marine sediments.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Many of the sediment gas extraction procedures currently used by industry were based on sampling and laboratory protocols designed for well cuttings and not rigorously tested to evaluate their effectiveness with unconsolidated marine sediments. Numerous publications have shown that different sediment gas extraction procedures provide different results on replicate samples [1,3,5,6,8,11]. Few of these published studies compare the surface sediment gas compositions and compound-specific isotopes to the subsurface reservoir gases or conducted laboratory experiments to test their effectiveness.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Evaluation of Near-Surface Gases in Marine Sediments to Assess Subsurface Petroleum Gas Generation and Entrapment

Abrams

2017

Geosciences

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Gases contained within near-surface marine sediments can be derived from multiple sources: shallow microbial activity, thermal cracking of organic matter and inorganic materials, or magmatic-mantle degassing. Each origin will display a distinctive hydrocarbon and non-hydrocarbon composition as well as compound-specific isotope signature and thus the interpretation of origin should be relatively straightforward. Unfortunately, this is not always the case due to in situ microbial alteration, non-equilibrium phase partitioning, mixing, and fractionation related to the gas extraction method. Sediment gases can reside in the interstitial spaces, bound to mineral or organic surfaces and/or entrapped in carbonate inclusions. The interstitial sediment gases are contained within the sediment pore space, either dissolved in the pore waters (solute) or as free (vapour) gas. The bound gases are believed to be attached to organic and/or mineral surfaces, entrapped in structured water or entrapped in authigenic carbonate inclusions. The purpose of this paper is to provide a review of the gas types found within shallow marine sediments and examine issues related to gas sampling and extraction. In addition, the paper will discuss how to recognise mixing, alteration and fractionation issues to best interpret the seabed geochemical results and determine gas origin to assess subsurface petroleum gas generation and entrapment.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Evaluation of Near-Surface Gases in Marine Sediments to Assess Subsurface Petroleum Gas Generation and Entrapment

Abrams

2017

Geosciences

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Detecting and Measuring Gas Seepage

Etiope

2015

Natural Gas Seepage

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This chapter provides a representative overview of current methodologies for detection of gas seepage on Earth's surface, both on land and in aquatic environments (rivers, lakes, oceans). Most of the techniques described can be utilised to discover gas seepage independent of the study objective (i.e. whether for petroleum exploration, geo-hazards, or environmental studies). Most of these techniques can also be used to measure anthropogenic gas leaks, such as fugitive emissions from petroleum production and distribution facilities. Applications to petroleum exploration, as well as related interpretative tools and limits, with references to microseepage detection, are discussed in Chap. 5.The goal of this chapter is not (and cannot be) an exhaustive manual or review for all of the currently available surface seepage prospecting methods. As outlined in the sections below, several traditional techniques have been described in review papers. Here, a synthetic and synoptic picture for several currently available methodologies is provided, including the latest techniques and capabilities offered by new generation instruments. The discussion provided here focuses on direct gas detection methods. The use of gas seepage in petroleum exploration is outlined in Chap. 5. Indirect methods, including geophysical techniques and measurements of chemical, physical, or microbiological parameters in soils, water, rocks, or vegetation, modified by the presence of hydrocarbons, are briefly illustrated. Specific references, as well as a few case histories, are provided for those interested in a deeper reading of the technical details of sensing principles and instrumentation design. The detection of oil is not the objective of this book. Gas Detection MethodsAs illustrated in Fig. 4.1, gas seepage can be detected above the ground (atmospheric measurements), in the ground (soils and well head-space), and in water bodies (shallow aquifers, springs, rivers, bogs, lakes, and seas). Several of the methodologies are visually reviewed in the tree diagram shown in Fig. 4.2.

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Can hydrocarbons entrapped in seep carbonates serve as gas geochemistry recorder?

Blumenberg

Pape

Seifert³

et al. 2017

Geo-Mar Lett

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Surface sediment gases as indicators of subsurface hydrocarbons – examining the record in laboratory and field studies

Cited by 20 publications

References 5 publications

Evaluation of Near-Surface Gases in Marine Sediments to Assess Subsurface Petroleum Gas Generation and Entrapment

Evaluation of Near-Surface Gases in Marine Sediments to Assess Subsurface Petroleum Gas Generation and Entrapment

Detecting and Measuring Gas Seepage

Can hydrocarbons entrapped in seep carbonates serve as gas geochemistry recorder?

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