Changes

  | part    = Predicting the occurrence of oil and gas traps

  | part    = Predicting the occurrence of oil and gas traps

  | chapter = Surface geochemical exploration for petroleum

  | chapter = Surface geochemical exploration for petroleum

  | frompg  = 18-1

  | frompg  = 18-12

  | topg    = 18-27

  | topg    = 18-13

  | author  = Dietmar Schumacher

  | author  = Dietmar Schumacher

  | link    = http://archives.datapages.com/data/specpubs/beaumont/ch18/ch18.htm

  | link    = http://archives.datapages.com/data/specpubs/beaumont/ch18/ch18.htm

==Detection of heavier hydrocarbons==

==Detection of heavier hydrocarbons==

Volatile and semivolatile heavier hydrocarbons such as aromatic compounds, gasoline-range hydrocarbons, and even normal or biodegraded oils can also be found, particularly where migration occurs along fault and fracture pathways. These different manifestations have led to the development of different techniques for sampling and analyzing hydrocarbons. It is beyond the scope of this chapter to discuss the advantages and limitations of specific methods or sampling procedures; however, such information is available in publications by Abrams<ref name=ch18r2>Abrams, M., A., 1996a, Distribution of subsurface hydrocarbon seepage in near-surface marine sediments, in Schumacher, D., Abrams, M., A., eds., Hydrocarbon Migration and Its Near-Surface Expression: AAPG Memoir 66, p. 1–14.</ref> Barwise and Hay<ref name=ch18r6>Barwise, T., Hay, S., 1996, Predicting oil properties from core fluorescence, in Schumacher, D., Abrams, M., A., eds., Hydrocarbon Migration and Its Near-Surface Expression: AAPG Memoir 66, p. 363–371.</ref> Brooks et al.<ref name=ch18r9>Brooks, J., M., Kennicutt, M., C., Carey, B., D., 1986, Offshore surface geochemical exploration: Oil & Gas Journal, October 20, p. 66–72.</ref> Horvitz<ref name=ch18r16>Horvitz, L., 1985, Geochemical exploration for petroleum: Science, vol. 229, p. 821–827., 10., 1126/science., 229., 4716., 821</ref> Jones and Drozd<ref name=ch18r17>Jones, V., T., Drozd, R., J., 1983, Predictions of oil or gas potential by near-surface geochemistry: AAPG Bulletin, vol. 67, p. 932–952.</ref> Klusman<ref name=ch18r18>Klusman, R., W., 1993, Soil gas and related methods for natural resource exploration: New York, John Wiley & Sons, 483 pp.</ref> Price<ref name=ch18r30>Price, L. C., 1986, A critical overview and proposed working model of surface geochemical exploration, in Davidson, M. J., ed., Unconventional Methods in Exploration for Petroleum and Natural Gas IV: Dallas, Texas, Southern Methodist Univ. Press, p. 81–129.</ref> Richers and Maxwell<ref name=ch18r34>Richers, D., M., Maxwell, L., E., 1991, Application and theory of soil gas geochemistry in petroleum exploration, in Merrill, R., K., ed., Source and Migration Processes and Techniques: AAPG Treatise of Petroleum Geology, Handbook of Petroleum Geology, p. 141–158.</ref> Schiemer et al.<ref name=ch18r38>Schiemer, E., J., Stober, G., Faber, E., 1985, Surface geochemical exploration for hydrocarbons in offshore areas—principles, methods and results, in Petroleum Geochemistry in Exploration of the Norwegian Shelf: London, Graham and Trotman, p. 223–238.</ref> and Schumacher and Abrams.<ref name=ch18r39>Schumacher, D., 1996, Hydrocarbon-induced alteration of soils and sediments, in Schumacher, D., Abrams, M., A., eds., Hydrocarbon Migration and Its Near-Surface Expression: AAPG Memoir 66, p. 71–89.</ref>

Volatile and semivolatile heavier hydrocarbons such as aromatic compounds, gasoline-range hydrocarbons, and even normal or [http://www.oiltracers.com/services/exploration-geochemistry/oil-biodegradation.aspx biodegraded] oils can also be found, particularly where migration occurs along fault and [[fracture]] pathways. These different manifestations have led to the development of different techniques for sampling and analyzing hydrocarbons. It is beyond the scope of this chapter to discuss the advantages and limitations of specific methods or sampling procedures; however, such information is available in publications by Abrams<ref name=ch18r2>Abrams, M., A., 1996, [http://archives.datapages.com/data/specpubs/memoir66/01/0001.htm Distribution of subsurface hydrocarbon seepage in near-surface marine sediments], in Schumacher, D., Abrams, M., A., eds., Hydrocarbon Migration and Its Near-Surface Expression: [http://store.aapg.org/detail.aspx?id=75 AAPG Memoir 66], p. 1–14.</ref> Barwise and Hay<ref name=ch18r6>Barwise, T., Hay, S., 1996, [http://archives.datapages.com/data/specpubs/memoir66/28/0363.htm Predicting oil properties from core fluorescence], in Schumacher, D., Abrams, M., A., eds., Hydrocarbon Migration and Its Near-Surface Expression: [http://store.aapg.org/detail.aspx?id=75 AAPG Memoir 66], p. 363–371.</ref> Brooks et al.<ref name=ch18r9>Brooks, J., M., Kennicutt, M., C., Carey, B., D., 1986, Offshore surface geochemical exploration: Oil & Gas Journal, October 20, p. 66–72.</ref> Horvitz<ref name=ch18r16>Horvitz, L., 1985, Geochemical exploration for petroleum: Science, vol. 229, p. 821–827., 10., 1126/science., 229., 4716., 821</ref> Jones and Drozd<ref name=ch18r17>Jones, V., T., Drozd, R., J., 1983, [http://archives.datapages.com/data/bulletns/1982-83/data/pg/0067/0006/0900/0932.htm Predictions of oil or gas potential by near-surface geochemistry]: AAPG Bulletin, vol. 67, p. 932–952.</ref> Klusman<ref name=ch18r18>Klusman, R., W., 1993, Soil gas and related methods for natural resource exploration: New York, John Wiley & Sons, 483 pp.</ref> Price<ref name=ch18r30>Price, L. C., 1986, A critical overview and proposed working model of surface geochemical exploration, in Davidson, M. J., ed., Unconventional Methods in Exploration for Petroleum and Natural Gas IV: Dallas, Texas, Southern Methodist Univ. Press, p. 81–129.</ref> Richers and Maxwell<ref name=ch18r34>Richers, D., M., Maxwell, L., E., 1991, [http://archives.datapages.com/data/specpubs/geochem1/data/a037/a037/0001/0100/0141.htm Application and theory of soil gas geochemistry in petroleum exploration], in Merrill, R., K., ed., Source and Migration Processes and Techniques: [http://store.aapg.org/detail.aspx?id=436 AAPG Treatise of Petroleum Geology No. 1], Handbook of Petroleum Geology, p. 141–158.</ref> Schiemer et al.<ref name=ch18r38>Schiemer, E., J., Stober, G., Faber, E., 1985, Surface geochemical exploration for hydrocarbons in offshore areas—principles, methods and results, in Petroleum Geochemistry in Exploration of the Norwegian Shelf: London, Graham and Trotman, p. 223–238.</ref> and Schumacher and Abrams.<ref name=ch18r39>Schumacher, D., 1996, [http://archives.datapages.com/data/specpubs/memoir66/06/0071.htm Hydrocarbon-induced alteration of soils and sediments], in Schumacher, D., Abrams, M., A., eds., Hydrocarbon Migration and Its Near-Surface Expression: [http://store.aapg.org/detail.aspx?id=75 AAPG Memoir 66], p. 71–89.</ref>

==Indirect methods==

==Indirect methods==

The formation of radiation anomalies and other secondary alteration anomalies (soil carbonate, iodine, trace metal, Eh, pH, electrical, magnetic, geobotanical, etc.) is less well understood. The cause of these altered soils and sediments may well be seepage related, but migrating hydrocarbons are an indirect cause at best and not always the most probable cause. Even if due to hydrocarbons, the cause could be shallow biogenic gas and thus unrelated to leakage from deeper oil and gas accumulations.

The formation of radiation anomalies and other secondary alteration anomalies (soil carbonate, iodine, trace metal, Eh, pH, electrical, magnetic, geobotanical, etc.) is less well understood. The cause of these altered soils and sediments may well be seepage related, but migrating hydrocarbons are an indirect cause at best and not always the most probable cause. Even if due to hydrocarbons, the cause could be shallow biogenic gas and thus unrelated to leakage from deeper oil and gas accumulations.

Additional information about these various indirect geochemical methods can be found in Al Shaieb et al. (general),<ref name=ch18r5>Al Shaieb, Z., Cairns, J., Puckette, J., 1994, Hydrocarbon-induced diagenetic aureoles: indicators of deeper, leaky reservoirs: Assoc. of Petroleum Geochemical Explorationists Bulletin, vol. 10, p. 24–48.</ref> Beghtel et al. (microbial),<ref name=ch18r7>Beghtel, F., W., Hitzman, D., O., Sundberg, K., R., 1987, Microbial oil survey technique (MOST) evaluation of new field wildcat wells in Kansas: Assoc. of Petroleum Geochemical Explorationists Bulletin, vol. 3, p. 1–14.</ref>  Cunningham et al. (helium),<ref name=ch18r10>Cunningham, K., I., Roberts, A., A., Donovan, T., J., 1987, Horizontal-gradient magnetic and helium surveys, in Bird, K., J., Magoon, L., B., eds., Petroleum Geology of the Northern Part of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska: USGS Bulletin 1178, p. 209–218.</ref> Curry (radiometrics),<ref name=ch18r11>Curry, W., H., III, 1984, Evaluation of surface gamma radiation surveys for petroleum exploration in the deep Powder River basin, Wyoming, in Davidson, M., J., ed., Unconventional Methods in Exploration for Petroleum and Natural Gas III: Dallas, Southern Methodist Univ. Press, p. 25–39.</ref>  Duchscherer (soil carbonate),<ref name=ch18r12>Duchscherer, W., Jr., 1984, Geochemical hydrocarbon prospecting, with case histories: Tulsa, PennWell Publishing Co., 196 p.</ref> Foote ([[magnetics]]),<ref name=ch18r13>Foote, R. S., 1996, Relationship of near-surface magnetic anomalies to oil- and gas-producing areas, in Schumacher, D., Abrams, M. A., eds., Hydrocarbon Migration and Its Near-Surface Expression: AAPG Memoir 66, p. 111–126.</ref> Klusman (general),<ref name=ch18r18 /> Machel (magnetics),<ref name=ch18r24>Machel, H., G., 1996, Magnetic contrasts as a result of hydrocarbon seepage and migration, in Schumacher, D., Abrams, M., A., eds., Hydrocarbon Migration and Its Near-Surface Expression: AAPG Memoir 66, p. 99–109.</ref> Price (microbial),<ref name=ch18r31>Price, L. C., 1993, Microbial soil surveying: preliminary results and implications for surface geochemical oil exploration: Assoc. Petroleum Geochemical Explorationists Bulletin, vol. 9, p. 81–129.</ref> Rock (geobotany),<ref name=ch18r35>Rock, B., N., 1984, Remote detection of geobotanical anomalies associated with hydrocarbon microseepage using Thematic Mapper Simulation (TMS) and Airborne Imaging Spectrometer (AIS) data: International Union of Geological Sciences and UNESCO, BRGM document no. 82, p. 299–309.</ref>  Saunders et al. (general),<ref name=ch18r37>Saunders, D., F., Burson, K., R., Brown, J., J., Thompson, C., K., 1999, Model for hydrocarbon microseepage and related near-surface alterations: AAPG Bulletin, vol. 83, p. 170–185.</ref> Schumacher (general),<ref name=ch18r39 />  Schumacher and Abrams (general),<ref name=ch18r39 /> Sternberg 1991{{Citation needed}} (electrical), Tedesco (iodine),<ref name=ch18r44>Tedesco, S., A., 1995, Surface Geochemistry in Petroleum Exploration: New York, Chapman and Hall, Inc., 206 p.</ref> and Weart and Heimberg (radiometrics).<ref name=ch18r48>Weart, R., C., Heimberg, G., 1981, Exploration radiometrics: post-survey drilling results, in Davidson, M., J., Gottlieb, B., M., eds., Unconventional Methods in Exploration for Petroleum and Natural Gas II: Dallas, Southern Methodist Univ. Press, p. 116–123.</ref>

Additional information about these various indirect geochemical methods can be found in Al Shaieb et al. (general),<ref name=ch18r5>Al Shaieb, Z., Cairns, J., Puckette, J., 1994, Hydrocarbon-induced diagenetic aureoles: indicators of deeper, leaky reservoirs: Assoc. of Petroleum Geochemical Explorationists Bulletin, vol. 10, p. 24–48.</ref> Beghtel et al. (microbial),<ref name=ch18r7>Beghtel, F., W., Hitzman, D., O., Sundberg, K., R., 1987, Microbial oil survey technique (MOST) evaluation of new field wildcat wells in Kansas: Assoc. of Petroleum Geochemical Explorationists Bulletin, vol. 3, p. 1–14.</ref>  Cunningham et al. (helium),<ref name=ch18r10>Cunningham, K., I., Roberts, A., A., Donovan, T., J., 1987, Horizontal-gradient magnetic and helium surveys, in Bird, K., J., Magoon, L., B., eds., Petroleum Geology of the Northern Part of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska: USGS Bulletin 1178, p. 209–218.</ref> Curry (radiometrics),<ref name=ch18r11>Curry, W., H., III, 1984, Evaluation of surface gamma radiation surveys for petroleum exploration in the deep Powder River basin, Wyoming, in Davidson, M., J., ed., Unconventional Methods in Exploration for Petroleum and Natural Gas III: Dallas, Southern Methodist Univ. Press, p. 25–39.</ref>  Duchscherer (soil carbonate),<ref name=ch18r12>Duchscherer, W., Jr., 1984, Geochemical hydrocarbon prospecting, with case histories: Tulsa, PennWell Publishing Co., 196 p.</ref> Foote ([[magnetics]]),<ref name=ch18r13>Foote, R. S., 1996, [http://archives.datapages.com/data/specpubs/memoir66/09/0111.htm Relationship of near-surface magnetic anomalies to oil- and gas-producing areas], in Schumacher, D., Abrams, M. A., eds., Hydrocarbon Migration and Its Near-Surface Expression: [http://store.aapg.org/detail.aspx?id=75 AAPG Memoir 66], p. 111–126.</ref> Klusman (general),<ref name=ch18r18 /> Machel (magnetics),<ref name=ch18r24>Machel, H., G., 1996, [http://archives.datapages.com/data/specpubs/memoir66/08/0100.htm Magnetic contrasts as a result of hydrocarbon seepage and migration], in Schumacher, D., Abrams, M., A., eds., Hydrocarbon Migration and Its Near-Surface Expression: [http://store.aapg.org/detail.aspx?id=75 AAPG Memoir 66], p. 99–109.</ref> Price (microbial),<ref name=ch18r31>Price, L. C., 1993, Microbial soil surveying: preliminary results and implications for surface geochemical oil exploration: Assoc. Petroleum Geochemical Explorationists Bulletin, vol. 9, p. 81–129.</ref> Rock (geobotany),<ref name=ch18r35>Rock, B., N., 1984, Remote detection of geobotanical anomalies associated with hydrocarbon microseepage using Thematic Mapper Simulation (TMS) and Airborne Imaging Spectrometer (AIS) data: International Union of Geological Sciences and UNESCO, BRGM document no. 82, p. 299–309.</ref>  Saunders et al. (general),<ref name=ch18r37>Saunders, D., F., Burson, K., R., Brown, J., J., Thompson, C., K., 1999, [http://archives.datapages.com/data/bulletns/1999/01jan/0170/0170.htm Model for hydrocarbon microseepage and related near-surface alterations]: AAPG Bulletin, vol. 83, p. 170–185.</ref> Schumacher (general),<ref name=ch18r39 />  Schumacher and Abrams (general),<ref name=ch18r39 /> Sternberg 1991{{Citation needed}} (electrical), Tedesco (iodine),<ref name=ch18r44>Tedesco, S., A., 1995, Surface Geochemistry in Petroleum Exploration: New York, Chapman and Hall, Inc., 206 p.</ref> and Weart and Heimberg (radiometrics).<ref name=ch18r48>Weart, R., C., Heimberg, G., 1981, Exploration radiometrics: post-survey drilling results, in Davidson, M., J., Gottlieb, B., M., eds., Unconventional Methods in Exploration for Petroleum and Natural Gas II: Dallas, Southern Methodist Univ. Press, p. 116–123.</ref>

==See also==

==See also==

* [[Designing surface geochemical surveys]]

* [[Surficial geochemical survey objectives]]

* [[Geochemical survey objectives]]

* [[Selecting a surficial geochemistry survey method]]

* [[Selecting a survey method]]

* [[Designing a surficial geochemical survey]]

* [[Designing a geochemical survey]]

* [[Surficial geochemical interpretation guidelines]]

* [[Interpretation guidelines]]

==References==

==References==

[[Category:Predicting the occurrence of oil and gas traps]]  

[[Category:Predicting the occurrence of oil and gas traps]]  

[[Category:Surface geochemical exploration for petroleum]]

[[Category:Surface geochemical exploration for petroleum]]