--> Results of Surface Geochemistry Survey over the Vernon Field, Isabella County, MI, by T. J. Bornhorst, J. R. Wood, S. D. Chittick, W. B. Harrison, and D. Barnes; #90900 (2001)
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Results of Previous HitSurfaceNext Hit Geochemistry Survey over the Vernon Field, Isabella County, MI

T. J. Bornhorst1, J. R. Wood1, S. D. Chittick1, W. B. Harrison2, and D. Barnes2
1Michigan Tech. Univ., Houghton, MI
2Western Michigan Univ., Kalamazoo, MI

Four Previous HitsurfaceNext Hit Previous HitgeochemicalNext Hit techniques have been tested at the Vernon Field in support of a demonstration project partially sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy to detect and recover bypassed oil. The techniques included Previous HitsurfaceNext Hit iodine, enzyme leach, microbial and soil gas. The most extensive sampling (350+ samples) was for the microbial oil survey technique in which microorganisms are cultured from soil taken 20 cm beneath the Previous HitsurfaceNext Hit. Results from a smaller number of iodine samples (collected from soil within an inch of the Previous HitsurfaceNext Hit), headspace soil gases (collected from 1 meter beneath the Previous HitsurfaceNext Hit) and selectively extracted trace elements (from the top of the B-horizon) and soil gas hydrocarbons (extracted from soil of the top of the B-horizon) will be presented as well.

The detection of subsurface accumulation of oil and/or gas by Previous HitsurfaceNext Hit Previous HitgeochemicalNext Hit techniques is based on microseepage of reservoired hydrocarbons to the Previous HitsurfaceNext Hit and has been used elsewhere in combination with other data to reduce drilling risk. Except for the enzyme leach techniques, the Previous HitsurfaceNext Hit Previous HitgeochemicalNext Hit signal recorded is transient (i.e. not cummulative) and will respond to changes in the reservoir. Only transient techniques are useful to detect by-passed oil. The microbial anomaly was apical while the others are best interpreted as edge anomalies or halos around the target.

The initial collection of Previous HitgeochemicalNext Hit samples was completed during the summer of 2000 and sampling will be continued during the summer of 2001. The challenge with all of the Previous HitsurfaceNext Hit Previous HitgeochemicalNext Hit techniques is definition of anomalies and their interpretation. The cause of the Previous HitsurfaceNext Hit Previous HitgeochemicalNext Hit anomaly can be from a variety of depths beneath the Previous HitsurfaceNext Hit. The initial results demonstrate that hydrocarbon microseepage from the Dundee reservoir is detectable by Previous HitsurfaceNext Hit soil Previous HitgeochemicalTop techniques.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90900©2001 AAPG Eastern Section Meeting, Kalamazoo, Michigan