Potential for the use of biogeochemistry in the detection of petroleum

Conference · Fri Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1991 · AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States)

OSTI ID:5575386

Klusman, R W; Saeed, M A ^[1]; Abu-Ali, M A ^[2]

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1. Colorado School of Mines, Golden (United States)
2. ARAMCO, Golden, CO (United States)

Biogeochemistry was applied to the indirect detection of petroleum microseepage in the vicinity of the Eagle Springs oil field, Railroad Valley, Nevada and Cave Canyon field, Paradox basin, Utah. Trace elements were measured in native vegetation over and surrounding areas of production at the test sites. The oxidation of microseepage in the upper part of the soil column is postulated to cause an increase in plant uptake of transition trace elements such as iron, manganese, vanadium, and a decrease in plant uptake of alkaline earth elements such as calcium, strontium, and barium. An increase in uptake of transition trace elements and a decrease in alkaline earth elements was observed in Fourwing saltbush over the Eagle Springs field. The postulated increase in uptake of transition trace elements and decrease in alkaline earth elements was not observed in Big Sagebrush nor in Utah juniper over the Cave Canyon field. The observation of the postulated effects at Eagle Springs may be due to the relatively large rates of microseepage independently observed using other methods, or the loss of the light hydrocarbons and extensive faulting in Railroad Valley. The apparent failure to observed the same effect at Cave Canyon may reflect the lack of faulting and the retention of light hydrocarbons in the reservoir. Another possibility is that the available plant species at Cave Canyon do not exhibit the effect at the lower soil pH measured in the area. The theory predicts that the increased uptake of transition elements and decreased uptake of alkaline earth elements will be enhanced at high soil pH.

• OSTI ID: 5575386
• Report Number(s): CONF-910403--
• Conference Information: Journal Name: AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States) Journal Volume: 75:3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020200* -- Petroleum-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
03 NATURAL GAS
030200 -- Natural Gas-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
58 GEOSCIENCES
580000 -- Geosciences
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
BIOGEOCHEMISTRY
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
CHEMISTRY
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ELEMENTS
EXPLORATION
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
FEDERAL REGION IX
FEDERAL REGION VIII
GEOCHEMISTRY
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
HYDROCARBONS
IRON
MAGNESIUM
MATERIALS
METALS
MINERAL RESOURCES
NEVADA
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PARADOX BASIN
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
PH VALUE
PLANTS
RESOURCES
SEEPS
SOIL CHEMISTRY
TISSUE EXTRACTS
TRACE AMOUNTS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
USA
UTAH
VANADIUM