Evidence of Hydrocarbon Migration in Volcanic Piles of Rift Systems

Yuriy Galant¹, Alfred Geptner², and Yuriy Pikovskiy^3
1Independent Researcher, Moshava Yokneam, Israel
²RAS Geological Institute, Moscow, Russia
³Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia

The tectonic-geochemical model of hydrocarbon migration is working out by tracing the Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) in the both non-altered and altered basalts in the Cenozoic and Recent Kura (Azerbaijan), Dead Sea (Israel) and Iceland rift systems.
In the Kura rift the Saatly super-deep well (8267 m) has passed a thickness of basalts and diabases. The PAH are represented by the high-temperature association: naphthalene, phenanthrene, pyrene, with admixture of biphenyl and fluorene. PAH content varies (ppb): biphenyl 26-69, naphthalene 86-27, non-substituted homologues 52-104 and a sum 200-500. The PAH association is carrying out by ascendant depth fluid with hydrocarbons of the Muradhalu and Samgory oil fields.
In basalts of the Dead Sea rift among PAH substituted homologues of naphthalene, benzofluorene, chrysene and pyrene, as well as unsubstituted individual components – pyrene and coronene were found out. The hydrothermal and oil PAH associations were disclosed in the altered basalts at the intersection of recent Earth's crust blocks indicating on the process of moving hydrocarbons by hydrothermal fluids.
In the Icelandic rift system among PAH three hydrocarbon associations were disclosed: a) high-temperature PAH trapped by cooling lava, b) hydrothermal PAH precipitating synchronous with other minerals, c) PAH taking part in composition of carboniferous substance (asphalt and asphaltite). In the recent rift zone a large amount (200-500 ppb) of PAH is carrying out to the surface by superheated thermal water.
The results evidence abiogenic genesis of hydrocarbons and their migration with fluids in the actives rift regions.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90072 © 2007 AAPG and AAPG European Region Conference, Athens, Greece