Reconnaissance survey for lightweight and carbon tetrachloride extractable hydrocarbons in the central and eastern basins of Lake Erie: September 1978
A reconnaissance survey of the central and eastern basins of Lake Erie (22,240 km/sup 2/) was conducted from September 17 to 27, 1978. The survey provided baseline information on natural gas and oil losses from geologic formations, prior to any potential development of natural gas resources beneath the United States portion of the Lake. Lightweight hydrocarbons indicative of natural gas (methane, ethane, propane, isobutane, and n-butane) are introduced into the waters of Lake Erie by escape from geologic formations and by biological/photochemical processes. The geochemical exploration technique of hydrocarbon sniffing provided enough data to reveal significant distribution patterns, approximate concentrations, and potential sources. Twelve sites with elevated lightweight hydrocarbon concentrations had a composition similar to natural gas. In one area of natural gas input, data analysis suggested a potential negative effect of natural gas on phytoplanktonic metabolism (i.e., ethylene concentration). Samples taken for liquid hydrocarbon analysis (carbon tetrachloride extractable hydrocarbons) correlated best with biologically derived lightweight hydrocarbons.
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-31-109-ENG-38
- OSTI ID:
- 6834507
- Report Number(s):
- ANL/ES-87
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
02 PETROLEUM
NATURAL GAS
EXPLORATION
GEOCHEMICAL SURVEYS
PETROLEUM
2-METHYLPROPANE
BUTANE
DATA COMPILATION
ETHANE
ETHYLENE
LAKE ERIE
METABOLISM
METHANE
PHYTOPLANKTON
PROPANE
QUANTITY RATIO
SAMPLING
SURFACES
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
TURBIDITY
WIND
ALKANES
ALKENES
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
DATA
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
GREAT LAKES
HYDROCARBONS
INFORMATION
LAKES
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PLANKTON
SURFACE WATERS
SURVEYS
030200* - Natural Gas- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
020200 - Petroleum- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration