Correlation of Trace Elements with Hydrocarbon Microseepage

Abstract

Direct correlation have been observed between certain trace element and hydrocarbon anomalies in the near subsurface soils of Vindhyan basin, India. This relationship with hydrocarbon is very useful in hydrocarbon exploration. 52 soil samples from Vindhyan basin were collected from a depth of 2.5m. All the soil samples were analyzed for light hydrocarbon, isotope and trace element concentrations. The adsorbed light gaseous hydrocarbon analyses show the presence of methane (8 - 328 ppb), ethane (0 - 27 ppb) and propane (0 -11 ppb) respectively and these values indicate the presence of hydrocarbon micro-seepage in the study area. The carbon isotopic values determined for methane and ethane for these soil samples are (-26.41 to -47.70 ‰ PDB) and (-20.07 to -35.30 ‰ PDB) respectively and they are thermogenic in nature. The trace element concentrations of nickel (33-220 ppm), vanadium (72-226 ppm), copper (20- 131 ppm), chromium (94-205 ppm), zinc (66-561 ppm) and cobalt (9-39 ppm) have higher than the normal concentrations in soils. Trace element concentrations are used to plot with the data obtained from light gaseous hydrocarbon concentrations and carbon isotopic values of soil samples of the Vindhyan basin. Trace element anomalies have been observed around the hydrocarbon anomalies in the study area.