Petroleum generation and migration in submarine hydrothermal systems; An overview

Journal Article · Wed Feb 28 23:00:00 EST 1990 · Mining Engineering (Littleton, Colorado); (USA)

OSTI ID:7088340

Simoneit, B R.T. ^[1]

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1. College of Oceanography, Oregon State Univ., Corvallis, OR (US)

The conversion of organic matter to petroleum by hydrothermal activity is an easy process,occurring in nature in many types of environments. Geologically immature organic matter of mariner sediments is being altered by this process in Guaymas Basin (Gulf of California), Escanaba Trough and Middle Valley (northeast Pacific), Bransfield Strait (Antarctica), and Atlantis II and Kebrit Deeps (Red Sea). Contemporary organic detritus and viable microorganisms are also converted in part to petroleum-like products by the same process when present to become entrained, as for example on the East Pacific Rise at 13{degrees}N and 21{degrees}N and on the mid-Atlantic Ridge at 26{degrees}N. The hydrocarbon products (methane to asphalt) generated in all these areas have been elucidated in terms of composition, organic matter sources, and analogy to reservoir petroleum. This petroleum represents a major input of carbon to the primary chemosynthetic productivity of hydrothermal vent systems and may be important to interactions with metals in hydrothermal ore formation.

• OSTI ID: 7088340
• Journal Information: Mining Engineering (Littleton, Colorado); (USA), Journal Name: Mining Engineering (Littleton, Colorado); (USA) Vol. 42:3; ISSN MIENA; ISSN 0026-5187
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
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42 ENGINEERING
423000 -- Engineering-- Marine Engineering-- (1980-)
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
DOCUMENT TYPES
ENERGY SYSTEMS
GEOLOGY
GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS
HYDROTHERMAL SYSTEMS
MID-ATLANTIC RIDGE
ORGANIC MATTER
PETROLEUM GEOLOGY
RESOURCES
REVIEWS
SEAS
SEDIMENTS
SURFACE WATERS