Origin of the Tertiary reservoired hydrocarbons along the central Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast rim
- BP Exploration, Inc., Houston, TX (USA)
- Louisiana State Univ., Baton Rouge (USA)
Tertiary reservoired hydrocarbons along the central Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast rim were most likely derived from Paleocene/Eocene Wilcox Group and Sparta Formation marine shales. Sixteen total soluble extracts and >200 oil samples were analyzed using carbon isotopic techniques ({delta}{sup 13}C) and gas chromatography-mass spectometry (GC-MS). Results demonstrated that interpretations must use all types of data because Cretaceous derived and Tertiary derived oils overlap in southern Louisiana. When isotopic, sterane, hopane, and light hydrocarbon data are combined separation of classes become possible. Cretaceous oils and extracts have a full range of extended hopanes, a characteristic peak eluting immediately after C{sub 30} hopane and no oleanane. Paleogene oils and extracts have oleanane and a restricted range of extended hopanes. Regional trends indicate that eastern Louisiana oils were derived from the Sparta or a Sparta/Wilcox mix, the Mississippi delta oils from a Cretaceous clastic source, and western Louisiana and Texas oils from the Wilcox source. Regional variations in GOR/CGR are a function of timing and mechanism of migration.
- OSTI ID:
- 7010722
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-900605--
- Journal Information:
- AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (USA), Journal Name: AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (USA) Vol. 74:5; ISSN AABUD; ISSN 0149-1423
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
580000* -- Geosciences
CARBON 13
CARBON ISOTOPES
CENOZOIC ERA
CHROMATOGRAPHY
CRETACEOUS PERIOD
ENERGY SOURCES
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
FEDERAL REGION VI
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS
GULF COAST
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
LOUISIANA
MASS SPECTROSCOPY
MESOZOIC ERA
MIGRATION
MINERAL RESOURCES
NORTH AMERICA
NUCLEI
PETROLEUM
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
RESERVOIR ROCK
RESOURCES
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SPECTROSCOPY
STABLE ISOTOPES
TERTIARY PERIOD
TEXAS
USA