Research Projects - Study of Hydrocarbon-Induced Rock Alterations
We are testing the hypothesis that surficial rocks in oilfields are caused by leaking of hydrocarbons from petroleum reservoirs. Long-term hydrocarbon microseepages develop diverse arrays of chemical and mineralogical changes in the form of alterations of rocks and soils. The resulting alterations could include: the formation of kaolinite, calcite, pyrite, uraninite, certain magnetic iron oxides and iron sulphides, bleaching of red beds, clay mineral alteration, geomorphic anomalies, etc.
Though many claims of success have been made for exploration methods based on these anomalies rarely these claims are supported by scientific data. Also some researers have called this hypothesis into question, giving more weight to the influence of injected gases and waters used to maintain reservoir pressures in the field, rather than microseeping hydrocarbons. We are using spectroscopy, hyperspectral remote sensing and geochemistry data to identify and map the alterations caused by hydrocarbon microseepages in several oilfields in western United States.
Publications
- Khan, S. D., Jacobson, S., 2008. "Remote Sensing and Geochemistry for Detecting Hydrocarbon Microseepages." Geological Society of America Bulletin, 120(1-2), 96-105.
- Petrovic, A., Khan, S.D., Chafetz, H., 2008. "Remote detection and geochemical studies for finding hydrocarbon-induced alterations in Lisbon Valley, Utah." Journal of Marine and Petroleum Geology, Marine and Petroleum Geology, 25, 696-705.
Abstracts
- Petrovic, A., and Khan, S. D., 2008. "Remote Sensing Mapping of Hydrocarbon-Induced Rock Alterations in Lisbon Valley, Utah." GSA Meeting to be held in October 2008.
- Petrovic, A., and Khan, S. D., 2008. "Remote detection and geochemical studies for finding hydrocarbon-induced alterations in Lisbon Valley, Utah, and Garza Field, Texas." Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, 39(6), 572.
- Jacobson, S., Khan, S. D., 2007. "Identifying Surface Alterations Caused by Hydrocarbon Microseepages in the Patrick Draw Area of Southwest Wyoming Using Image Spectroscopy and Hyperspectral Remote Sensing." AAPG annual convection.
- Petrovic, A., Khan, S. D., Chafetz. H., 2006. "Finding Hydrocarbon-Induced Alterations in Lisbon Valley, Utah: Hyperspectral Remote Sensing and Geochemical Studies." AAPG annual convention.
- Jacobson, S., Khan, S. D., 2005. "Mapping alterations caused by hydrocarbon microseepages in the Patrick Draw area of Southwest Wyoming, using image spectroscopy and hyperspectral remote sensing." 75th Ann. Mtg., SEG, Exp. Abs.
- Petrovic, A., Khan, S.D., 2005. Remote detection and geochemical studies for finding hydrocarbon-induced alterations in Lisbon Valley, Utah." 75th Ann. Mtg., SEG, Exp. Abs.
Theses/Dissertations
- Petrovic, A., 2006. "Remote detection and geochemical studies for finding hydrocarbon-induced alterations in Lisbon valley, Utah." M.S., Thesis, University of Houston.
Source of Funding
- Department of Energy
- StatOilHydro
