Surface Geochemical Exploration After 100 Years: Lessons Learned and What More Must Be Done

Abstract

The science of surface geochemical exploration for oil and gas has made much progress since observations in early 1900's of geochemical and mineralogic changes associated with soils and sediments above oil and gas fields in the Middle East and the US Gulf Coast. This was followed by development of many geochemical and non-seismic methods for detection of hydrocarbons in soils, sediments, waters, and atmosphere. There is today a wider acceptance of hydrocarbon microseepage and hydrocarbon detection surveys due to improved analytical techniques, a better understanding of the migration mechanism, improved survey design and sampling strategies, and improved interpretation skills. Well documented case histories of microseepage surveys appear regularly in peer-reviewed journals and books, and these illustrate the wide applications of this technology in all stages of exploration -- from frontier basin reconnaissance, to high-grading exploration leads and prospects based on their likely hydrocarbon charge, to identifying bypassed pay in mature fields, to monitoring production-related hydrocarbon drainage over time. Nevertheless, many explorationists remain skeptical about the benefits of this technology. What more must be done to increase the acceptance of this reliable but under-utilized technology by the exploration community? We need a unified hydrocarbon microseepage model that links the many seemingly unrelated hydrocarbon-induced changes to surface and near-surface sediments. This model should predict the observed geochemical, mineralogical, and geophysical changes in different geologic settings. Also helpful would be better and more consistent integration of surface and subsurface data. Inferring the depth of origin for hydrocarbons that have migrated to the surface remains impossible with rare exceptions, however, detailed chemical and isotopic characterization of the hydrocarbons in seepage anomalies shows promise for enabling us to more reliably infer a depth of origin in the future, as does integration of geochemical data with passive electromagnetic data and gas chimney data. Lastly, we should strive for real-time hydrocarbon data acquisition where possible. If we can accomplish most if not all of these tasks in the next 5-10 years, we may find that our exploration colleagues are not only more willing to add this technology to their exploration tool box, but may actually base exploration decisions on hydrocarbon microseepage data.

AAPG Datapages/Search and Discovery Article #90291 ©2017 AAPG Annual Convention and Exhibition, Houston, Texas, April 2-5, 2017