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Title: Analysis of gases in the earth's crust. Annual report, March 1985-February 1986

Abstract

In order to investigate the origin and fate of natural gas in the earth's crust, approximately 700 gas samples have been analyzed for chemical composition and stable isotopic ratios of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulfur and oxygen. During the current reporting period, helium isotope measurements confirmed the presence of mantle volatiles in the Sacramento basin, a dry gas province in northern California (Section 3.1). Methane carbon isotope ratios and N/sub 2/Ar ratios suggest that Sacramento basin commercial gases with up to 88% nitrogen are derived from metasedimentary rocks. Studies of seep gases in Los Angeles indicate that ethane and higher hydrocarbons may be retarded during natural gas migration and that propane is selectively attacked during bacterial alteration. Carbon dioxide reduction and acetate dissimilation, the two main pathways for microbial methane formation, are characterized by different methane hydrogen isotope ratios. Hydrogen isotope ratios of methane and carbon isotope ratios of carbon dioxide and ethane help to distinguish microbial gases, thermogenic gases, and mixed gases (Section 3.2).

Authors:
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Global Geochemistry Corp., Canoga Park, CA (USA)
OSTI Identifier:
6968165
Report Number(s):
PB-87-116257/XAB
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
03 NATURAL GAS; EARTH CRUST; NATURAL GAS; CHEMICAL ANALYSIS; CALIFORNIA; ENERGY SOURCES; GAS ANALYSIS; GEOCHEMISTRY; HYDROCARBONS; ISOTOPE RATIO; METHANE; RARE GASES; SAMPLING; ALKANES; CHEMISTRY; ELEMENTS; FEDERAL REGION IX; FLUIDS; FOSSIL FUELS; FUEL GAS; FUELS; GAS FUELS; GASES; NONMETALS; NORTH AMERICA; ORGANIC COMPOUNDS; USA; 033000* - Natural Gas- Properties & Composition

Citation Formats

Jenden, P D. Analysis of gases in the earth's crust. Annual report, March 1985-February 1986. United States: N. p., 1986. Web.
Jenden, P D. Analysis of gases in the earth's crust. Annual report, March 1985-February 1986. United States.
Jenden, P D. 1986. "Analysis of gases in the earth's crust. Annual report, March 1985-February 1986". United States.
@article{osti_6968165,
title = {Analysis of gases in the earth's crust. Annual report, March 1985-February 1986},
author = {Jenden, P D},
abstractNote = {In order to investigate the origin and fate of natural gas in the earth's crust, approximately 700 gas samples have been analyzed for chemical composition and stable isotopic ratios of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulfur and oxygen. During the current reporting period, helium isotope measurements confirmed the presence of mantle volatiles in the Sacramento basin, a dry gas province in northern California (Section 3.1). Methane carbon isotope ratios and N/sub 2/Ar ratios suggest that Sacramento basin commercial gases with up to 88% nitrogen are derived from metasedimentary rocks. Studies of seep gases in Los Angeles indicate that ethane and higher hydrocarbons may be retarded during natural gas migration and that propane is selectively attacked during bacterial alteration. Carbon dioxide reduction and acetate dissimilation, the two main pathways for microbial methane formation, are characterized by different methane hydrogen isotope ratios. Hydrogen isotope ratios of methane and carbon isotope ratios of carbon dioxide and ethane help to distinguish microbial gases, thermogenic gases, and mixed gases (Section 3.2).},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6968165}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1986},
month = {Thu May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1986}
}

Technical Report:
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