Methods of Microseepage

Detection:
Direct vs. Indirect
 Introduction
• The most common method for detecting and
delineating a surface geochemical anomaly
associated with a petroleum reservoir is
measuring vapor or liquid hydrocarbons that
have migrated to the surface or near-surface.
• There are two methods of collection and analysis:
– Soil-gas or vapor measurements: This methods
measure the amount of migrating hydrocarbons in the
vapor phase.
– Fluorescence techniques: This technique qualitatively
determines the amount of hydrocarbons present in
the soils.
 Sample collection method
• Gas is present in the soil and rock strata in the
sorbed, solute, and free-vapor state.
• The two most common forms of onshore
collection are
– Free-air and
– Head-space methods.
• Offshore techniques have been more readily
accepted because of the ability to acquire
undisturbed samples in the water column and
visibly identifiable the seeps.
 Sample collection method
• The soil-gas and fluorescence samples are
analyzed for methane through pentane.
• Methane may be generated by biological activity.
– Thus, methane alone is not useful exploration tool
because of the difficulty in separating the biologic
from the petroleum-generated methane.
• When methane along with other heavier
hydrocarbons, are present in greater quantities,
this scenario is typically indicative of the
petroleum reservoir.
 Concerns of sample collection
• Hydrocarbons usually found in the soil are
those commonly found in petroleum is
paraffins.
• Soil-gas composition may be affected by
indigenous organic matter.
• Specialized bacteria have been identified that
generate ethane and heavier hydrocarbons
through biological processes.
 Concerns of sample collection
• The ionic concentration, composition, temperature of a
solution will affect the migration of hydrocarbons through
the soil.
• The moisture content of the soil is another factor that may
affect the sampling process due to its temporal variation.
• The absorption ability of various soils depends on clay
composition, which can absorb and release hydrocarbons
as a function of cation exchange capabilities.
• Temperature plays a role in controlling rate of gas
migration, rates of chemical reactions, absorption, soil
conductivity, pH-Eh, and the impact of moisture.
 Concerns of sample collection
• The conclusion to be drawn from the
preceding list is that we must specifically
target the part of the soil that is reducing in
nature and that therefore allows the retention
and absorption of hydrocarbons.
 Soil-Gas Methods-Principal
• The method is applicable to
– Onshore
– Offshore
– Airborne platform
• Sampling techniques defines under conditions of
– Soil
– Weather
– Terrain
– Environment
Onshore Soil-Gas sample collection
Free-air method
Onshore free air sample collection
• Advantages
– The sampling procedure is very mobile.
– Portable gas chromatographs can be used directly in
the field or close to the survey area.
• Disadvantages
– It is difficult to identify which layer in the soil profile
the probe has entered.
– The method is useful only for ethane to butane.
– Method may not be applicable to detect trace amount
heavy hydrocarbons.
– Samples are useful for only a one-time analysis.
Onshore Head-Space Method: sample
collection
• A hole is drilled.
• The sample is placed in a
water bath and heated at
a set temperature.
• The gas accumulation
area is known as the
head-space.
• A set amount of gas is
extracted and then
injected into a gas
chromatograph.
Onshore Head-Space Method: sample
collection
• Advantages
– The clear advantage of the head-space method is
the acquisition of an actual sample of the soil
containing the gas.
• Disadvantages
– An undisturbed sample is not obtained.
– Flexibility is limited.
 Onshore Absorbed Hydrocarbons
Method: sample collection
• As gases migrate through the
soil, some of the hydrocarbons
are trapped and absorbed onto
clays.
• This method detects the
amount of hydrocarbons
absorbed onto the clays.
• A measured portion of the fine
soil fraction is placed in a sealed
tube with acid that will convert
the trapped hydrocarbons to
CO2.
• Gas is then injected into a
chromatograph for analysis.
 Onshore Absorbed Hydrocarbons
Method: sample collection
• Advantages
– The methods are not affected by
– Sudden barometric pressure changes
– Moisture variations
– Sampling inconsistencies
– A repeat analysis is possible
• Disadvantages
– This method requires extensive soil profiling to
determine types of clays present and organic matter
content.
 Onshore: Time delay Methods
• The detection or collection or
both, of gases occurs over an
extended period of continuous
time period or once at a later
date.
• A hole is augured to a specific
depth, typically above the
water table.
• The hole is thoroughly cleaned
of loose soil.
• Gravel or sand is placed in the
lower 0.3 m (I ft) of the hole,
along with a small diameter
copper tube that extends to
the surface.
 Onshore: Time delay Methods
• The container is an inverted
glass tube placed in an
excavated hole .
• The base of the container is
open. Inside the container
is a ferromagnetic wire
with a charcoal absorbent.
• The charcoal absorbs
hydrocarbons that migrate
into the container.
 Onshore: Time delay Methods
• Advantages
– They will obtain an undisturbed sample by allowing
the soil to return to equilibrium over a period of time.
– Acquisition of a continuous or integrated sample from
the same site over a long period of time.
• Disadvantages
– The costs of collection procedure are extremely high.
– More time is required to complete the survey.
– Unable to distinguish between bacteriogenic
methane and hydrocarbon seepage.
 Onshore: Fluorescence Methods
• This method is based on
the concept that, as
petroleum leaks into the
soil, the lighter
hydrocarbons continue
upward into the
atmosphere but the
heavier hydrocarbons are
deposited in the soil
substrate.
• A spectrophotofluorometer
is used to analyze these soil
samples for hydrocarbons
 Onshore: Fluorescence Methods
• Advantages
– The technique directly analyzes hydrocarbons that
have been retained in the soil.
– There is a strong correlation between data from the
petroleum being produced and the interstitial soil-gas
data.
• Disadvantages
– Quick analysis of the sample is required to prevent the
loss of hydrocarbons.
– Dry gas areas may not be amenable to this method
since the lighter hydrocarbons leave the soil sample
relatively quickly.
 Airborne Methods
• Airborne methods comprise all
techniques that sample the
atmosphere for hydrocarbon
gases escaping from the earth's
surface.
• An analyzer continuously
monitors the air's hydrocarbon
content while the aircraft is in
flight.
• Recently, lasers have been
employed on airborne
platforms to analyze for
hydrocarbons (lasers are used
to detect hydrocarbons in the
same way fluorescence
methods work)
 Airborne Methods
• Advantages
– Advantageous in regional reconnaissance
surveying.
• Disadvantages
– It is dependent on large volumes of leakage which,
at present, seem to be associated only with very
large fields in new areas
 Offshore Methods
• Detecting hydrocarbons offshore has been a
standard part of exploration programs.
• Exploration techniques have detected visible
petroleum seeps rising from the ocean floor.
• These seeps have formed asphalt mounds on
the sea floor.
 Sampling Techniques
• Water sampling
– It is assumed that the hydrocarbons leaking from the
ocean floor form a plume is either directly (relatively)
above.
– A ship collects water samples along a grid either
continuously or at specific locations.
• Core sampling
– In another method, piston cores of the ocean floor
sediments are collected.
– Gas is extracted from the core and analyzed.
 Advantages/Disadvantages
• Disadvantages
– Biogenically derived hydrocarbons may present
and may lead to a erroneous conclusion.
• Advantages
– Detection of hydrocarbon plumes is often done in
combination with seismic acquisition.
– Significant amounts of gas in the section also
cause an effect on the seismic data that is easily
seen.
 Hydrocarbon Ratios and Predicting
Petroleum Generation
• The use of ratios in hydrocarbon data
evaluation was developed as a way to predict
the type of petroleum present at depth (wet
gas, dry gas, or oil).
• The formula is
 Hydrocarbon Ratios and Predicting
Petroleum Generation
• When plotted (Y-axis,
C1/C2… {ppm} in log
scale) the data
indicate the
petroleum
characteristics of
each sample and also
demonstrate a close
correlation with the
petroleum being
produced.
 Hydrocarbon Ratios and Predicting
Petroleum Generation
• The lower the ratio the greater the likelihood
that the sample is anomalous.
• It has been found that large volumes of the
heavy hydrocarbons and smaller ratios of the
lighter hydrocarbons generally imply economic
viability.
• A consistent conclusion is that the greater the
volumes of heavy hydrocarbons (butane, hexane,
and pentane), the more likely it is that a
significant accumulation is present.
 Hydrocarbon Ratios and Predicting
Petroleum Generation
• By comparing hydrocarbons from models of
different petroleum areas, predictions can be
made in terms of the type and possible target
reservoir in a prospect area.
• In recent years, soil-gas surveys have been
used in an attempt to evaluate the source rock
potential of an area.