Analysis of gases in the earth's crust. Annual report, March 1986-February 1987

Technical Report · Fri May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1987

OSTI ID:5754314

Jenden, P D

During the current reporting period, 131 natural gas samples were collected for chemical analysis and stable isotopic measurements of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulfur and helium. Studies of these and earlier samples have improved geochemical models for hydrocarbon exploration by: (1) augmenting the understanding of the origin and distribution of microbial gases; (2) introducing more-effective ways of recognizing mixing between microbial and thermogenic gases; and, (3) documenting a novel instance of reservoir alteration by bacteria. Based on the characteristics commonly attributed to deep-earth gas, the authors conclude that deep-earth hydrocarbons are a minor component in most oil and gas reservoirs. Deep-earth carbon dioxide and nitrogen could be volumetrically more significant. These conclusions are currently being tested in the supergiant Hugoton-Panhandle gas production area of the U.S. Mid-continent.

• Research Organization: Global Geochemistry Corp., Canoga Park, CA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5754314
• Report Number(s): PB-88-141619/XAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
033000* -- Natural Gas-- Properties & Composition
ALKANES
CALIFORNIA
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CHEMISTRY
EARTH CRUST
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
FEDERAL REGION IX
FEDERAL REGION VI
FEDERAL REGION VII
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS ANALYSIS
GAS FUELS
GASES
GEOCHEMISTRY
HYDROCARBONS
ISOTOPES
KANSAS
METHANE
NATURAL GAS
NONMETALS
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
RARE GASES
SAMPLING
STABLE ISOTOPES
TEXAS
USA