1887
Volume 28, Issue 2
  • ISSN: 1354-0793
  • E-ISSN:

Abstract

The Barents Sea basin is an oil and gas province containing more than 760 million tons of oil equivalents. The reservoir geology of the Barents Sea is complex due to multiple episodes of subsidence, uplift and erosion, which opened a network of extensional and wrench related faults allowing for fluid migration. The multifaceted geological history complicates efforts to describe the source and characteristics of natural gas in the subsurface Barents Sea. Here we apply stable isotopes, including methane clumped isotope measurements, to thirteen natural gases from five (Skrugard Appraisal, Havis, Alta, Filicudi, and Svanefjell) reservoirs in the Loppa High area in the southwestern Barents Sea to estimate the origins of methane. We compare estimates of methane formation temperature based on clumped isotopes to thermal evolution models for the region. We find that the methane has diverse origins including microbial and thermogenic sources forming and equilibrating at temperatures ranging from 34–238°C. Our clumped isotope temperature estimates are consistent with thermal evolution models for the area. These temperatures can be explained by gas generation and expulsion in the oil and gas window followed by isotopic re-equilibration in some reservoirs due to microbial methanogenesis and/or anaerobic oxidation of methane. Gases from the Skrugard Appraisal, Havis and Alta have methane equilibration temperatures consistent with maximum burial temperatures, while gases from Svanefjell have methane equilibration temperatures consistent with current reservoir temperature, suggesting isotope re-equilibration in the shallow reservoir. Gases from Filicudi on the other hand are consistent with generation over multiple points over its thermal history.

Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/10.1144/petgeo2021-037
2022-04-04
2024-03-29
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

References

  1. Chung, H.M., Gormly, J.R. and Squires, R.M . 1988. Origin of gaseous hydrocarbons in subsurface environments: theoretical considerations of carbon isotope distribution. Chemical Geology, 71, 97–104, https://doi.org/10.1016/0009-2541(88)90108-8
    [Google Scholar]
  2. Crémière, A., Lepland, A. et al. .2016. Timescales of methane seepage on the Norwegian margin following collapse of the Scandinavian Ice Sheet. Nature Communications, 7, 11509, https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms11509
    [Google Scholar]
  3. Dong, G., Xie, H., Formolo, M., Lawson, M., Sessions, A. and Eiler, J . 2021. Clumped isotope effects of thermogenic methane formation: insights from pyrolysis of hydrocarbons. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 303, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2021.03.009
    [Google Scholar]
  4. Douglas, P.M.J., Stolper, D.A. et al. .2017. Methane clumped isotopes: Progress and potential for a new isotopic tracer. Organic Geochemistry, 113, 262–282, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.orggeochem.2017.07.016
    [Google Scholar]
  5. Eldridge, D.L., Korol, R., Lloyd, M.K., Turner, A.C., Webb, M.A., Miller, T.F. and Stolper, D.A . 2019. Comparison of experimental vs. theoretical abundances of 13CH3D and 12CH2D2 for isotopically equilibrated systems from 1 to 500°C. ACS Earth and Space Chemistry, 3, 2747–2764, https://doi.org/10.1021/acsearthspacechem.9b00244
    [Google Scholar]
  6. Gilbert, A., Sherwood Lollar, B. et al. 2019. Intramolecular isotopic evidence for bacterial oxidation of propane in subsurface natural gas reservoirs. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 116, 6653, https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1817784116
    [Google Scholar]
  7. Giunta, T., Young, E.D. et al. 2019. Methane sources and sinks in continental sedimentary systems: new insights from paired clumped isotopologues 13CH3D and 12CH2D2. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 245, 327–351, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2018.10.030
    [Google Scholar]
  8. Gradstein, F., Brunstad, H., Trondsen, I., Charnock, M., van Wenum, E. and Polonio, I. 2019. Lundin at a Glance: stratigraphic leaflets for the Norwegian Continental Shelf.
  9. Gruen, D.S., Wang, D.T. et al. 2018. Experimental investigation on the controls of clumped isotopologue and hydrogen isotope ratios in microbial methane. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 237, 339–356, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2018.06.029
    [Google Scholar]
  10. Henriksen, E., Ryseth, A.E., Larssen, G.B., Heide, T., Rønning, K., Sollid, K. and Stoupakova, A.V . 2011a. Chapter 10 Tectonostratigraphy of the greater Barents Sea: implications for petroleum systems. Geological Society, London, Memoirs, 35, 163, https://doi.org/10.1144/M35.10
    [Google Scholar]
  11. Henriksen, E., Bjørnseth, H.M. et al. .2011b. Chapter 17 Uplift and erosion of the greater Barents Sea: impact on prospectivity and petroleum systems. Geological Society, London, Memoirs, 35, 271, https://doi.org/10.1144/M35.17
    [Google Scholar]
  12. Martini, A.M., Budai, J.M., Walter, L.M. and Schoell, M . 1996. Microbial generation of economic accumulations of methane within a shallow organic-rich shale. Nature, 383, 155–158, https://doi.org/10.1038/383155a0
    [Google Scholar]
  13. Matapour, Z. and Karlsen, D.A . 2017. Geochemical characteristics of the skrugard oil discovery, Barents Sea, Arctic Norway: a ‘palaeo-biodegraded – gas reactivated’ hydrocarbon accumulation. Journal of Petroleum Geology, 40, 125–152, https://doi.org/10.1111/jpg.12669
    [Google Scholar]
  14. Milkov, A.V . 2011. Worldwide distribution and significance of secondary microbial methane formed during petroleum biodegradation in conventional reservoirs. Organic Geochemistry, 42, 184–207, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.orggeochem.2010.12.003
    [Google Scholar]
  15. Milkov, A.V. and Dzou, L . 2007. Geochemical evidence of secondary microbial methane from very slight biodegradation of undersaturated oils in a deep hot reservoir. Geology, 35, 455–458, https://doi.org/10.1130/g23557a.1
    [Google Scholar]
  16. Milkov, A.V. and Etiope, G . 2018. Revised genetic diagrams for natural gases based on a global dataset of >20 000 samples. Organic Geochemistry, 125, 109–120, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.orggeochem.2018.09.002
    [Google Scholar]
  17. Ni, Y., Ma, Q., Ellis, G.S., Dai, J., Katz, B., Zhang, S. and Tang, Y . 2011. Fundamental studies on kinetic isotope effect (KIE) of hydrogen isotope fractionation in natural gas systems. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 75, 2696–2707, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2011.02.016
    [Google Scholar]
  18. Ono, S., Rhim, J.H., Gruen, D.S., Taubner, H., Kölling, M. and Wegener, G . 2021. Clumped isotopologue fractionation by microbial cultures performing the anaerobic oxidation of methane. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 293, 70–85, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2020.10.015
    [Google Scholar]
  19. Pallasser, R.J . 2000. Recognising biodegradation in gas/oil accumulations through the δ 13C compositions of gas components. Organic Geochemistry, 31, 1363–1373, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0146-6380(00)00101-7
    [Google Scholar]
  20. Radke, M . 1988. Application of aromatic compounds as maturity indicators in source rocks and crude oils. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 5, 224–236, https://doi.org/10.1016/0264-8172(88)90003-7
    [Google Scholar]
  21. Rice, D.D. and Claypool, G.E . 1981. Generation, accumulation and resource potential of biogenic gas. AAPG Bulletin, 65, 5–25.
    [Google Scholar]
  22. Schoell, M . 1980. The hydrogen and carbon isotopic composition of methane from natural gases of various origins. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 44, 649–661, https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-7037(80)90155-6
    [Google Scholar]
  23. Shuai, Y., Douglas, P.M.J. et al. .2018a. Equilibrium and non-equilibrium controls on the abundances of clumped isotopologues of methane during thermogenic formation in laboratory experiments: implications for the chemistry of pyrolysis and the origins of natural gases. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 223, 159–174, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2017.11.024
    [Google Scholar]
  24. Shuai, Y., Etiope, G., Zhang, S., Douglas, P.M.J., Huang, L. and Eiler, J.M . 2018b. Methane clumped isotopes in the Songliao Basin (China): new insights into abiotic vs. biotic hydrocarbon formation. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 482, 213–221, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2017.10.057
    [Google Scholar]
  25. Stolper, D.A., Sessions, A.L. et al. 2014a. Combined 13C–D and D–D clumping in methane: methods and preliminary results. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 126, 169–191, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2013.10.045
    [Google Scholar]
  26. Stolper, D.A., Lawson, M. et al. 2014b. Formation temperatures of thermogenic and biogenic methane. Science, 344, 1500–1503, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1254509
    [Google Scholar]
  27. Stolper, D.A., Martini, A.M. et al. 2015. Distinguishing and understanding thermogenic and biogenic sources of methane using multiply substituted isotopologues. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 161, 219–247, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2015.04.015
    [Google Scholar]
  28. Stolper, D.A., Lawson, M., Formolo, M.J., Davis, C.L., Douglas, P.M.J. and Eiler, J.M . 2017. The utility of methane clumped isotopes to constrain the origins of methane in natural gas accumulations. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 468, https://doi.org/10.1144/SP468.3
    [Google Scholar]
  29. Stolper, D.A., Lawson, M., Formolo, M.J., Davis, C.L., Douglas, P.M.J. and Eiler, J.M. 2018. The utility of methane clumped isotopes to constrain the origins of methane in natural gas accumulations. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 468, 23, https://doi.org/10.1144/SP468.3
  30. Tang, Y., Perry, J.K., Jenden, P.D. and Schoell, M . 2000. Mathematical modeling of stable carbon isotope ratios in natural gases†. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 64, 2673–2687, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0016-7037(00)00377-X
    [Google Scholar]
  31. Thiagarajan, N., Kitchen, N., Xie, H., Ponton, C., Lawson, M., Formolo, M. and Eiler, J . 2020a. Identifying thermogenic and microbial methane in deep water Gulf of Mexico Reservoirs. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 275, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2020.02.016
    [Google Scholar]
  32. Thiagarajan, N., Xie, H. et al. 2020b. Isotopic evidence for quasi-equilibrium chemistry in thermally mature natural gases. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 201906507, https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1906507117
    [Google Scholar]
  33. Valentine, D.L., Chidthaisong, A., Rice, A., Reeburgh, W.S. and Tyler, S.C . 2004. Carbon and hydrogen isotope fractionation by moderately thermophilic methanogens. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 68, 1571–1590, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2003.10.012
    [Google Scholar]
  34. Wang, Z., Schauble, E.A. and Eiler, J.M . 2004. Equilibrium thermodynamics of multiply substituted isotopologues of molecular gases. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 68, 4779–4797, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2004.05.039
    [Google Scholar]
  35. Wang, D.T., Gruen, D.S. et al. 2015. Nonequilibrium clumped isotope signals in microbial methane. Science, 348, 428–431, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aaa4326
    [Google Scholar]
  36. Wang, D.T., Welander, P.V. and Ono, S . 2016. Fractionation of the methane isotopologues 13CH4, 12CH3D, and 13CH3D during aerobic oxidation of methane by Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath). Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 192, 186–202, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2016.07.031
    [Google Scholar]
  37. Whiticar, M.J. 1994. Correlation of natural gases with their sources. In: Magoon, L.B. and Dow, W.G. (eds) The Petroleum System-From Source to Trap, AAPG/Datapages.
    [Google Scholar]
  38. Whiticar, M.J . 1999. Carbon and hydrogen isotope systematics of bacterial formation and oxidation of methane. Chemical Geology, 161, 291–314, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0009-2541(99)00092-3
    [Google Scholar]
  39. Whiticar, M.J., Faber, E. and Schoell, M . 1986. Biogenic methane formation in marine and freshwater environments: CO2 reduction vs. acetate fermentation—Isotope evidence. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 50, 693–709, https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-7037(86)90346-7
    [Google Scholar]
  40. Xiao, Y . 2001. Modeling the kinetics and mechanisms of petroleum and natural gas generation: a first principles approach. Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, 42, 383–436, https://doi.org/10.2138/rmg.2001.42.11
    [Google Scholar]
  41. Xie, H., Dong, G. et al. 2021. The evolution of intra- and inter-molecular isotope equilibria in natural gases with thermal maturation. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 307, 22–41, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2021.05.012
    [Google Scholar]
  42. Yoshinaga, M.Y., Holler, T. et al. 2014. Carbon isotope equilibration during sulphate-limited anaerobic oxidation of methane. Nature Geoscience, 7, 190–194, https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo2069
    [Google Scholar]
  43. Young, E.D., Kohl, I.E. et al. 2017. The relative abundances of resolved l2CH2D2 and 13CH3D and mechanisms controlling isotopic bond ordering in abiotic and biotic methane gases. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 203, 235–264, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2016.12.041
    [Google Scholar]
http://instance.metastore.ingenta.com/content/journals/10.1144/petgeo2021-037
Loading
/content/journals/10.1144/petgeo2021-037
Loading

Data & Media loading...

  • Article Type: Research Article

Most Cited This Month Most Cited RSS feed

This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was a Success
Invalid data
An Error Occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error