Abstract
Large H2S accumulations in deep carbonate reservoirs have been attributed to thermochemical sulphate reduction. Although organic matter has been invoked as the reducing agent, individual reactants in specific environments have hitherto not been identified. Carbon isotope data reveal that light hydrocarbon gases have been effective reducing agents in some Palaeozoic foothill reservoirs of western Canada.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Hitchon, B. J. Can. petrol. Technol. 2, 100–116 (1963).
Anisimov, L. A. Int. geol. Rev. 13, 191–197 (1971).
Hyne, J. B., Lau, C. S. C., Dowling, N. I., Davis, P. & Lesage, K. Alberta Sulphur Research Ltd Report XXII No. 1, 25–39 (1985).
Anisimov, L. A. Geochem. int. 15, 63–71 (1978).
Harben, P. Mining Mag. 155, 374–379 (1986).
Orr, W. L. Am. Assoc. petrol. geol. Bull. 50, 2295–2318 (1974).
Orr, W. L. Advances in Organic Geochemistry 1975, Madrid, Enadisma (eds Campos, R. & Goni, J.) 571–597 (1977).
Krouse, H. R. J. geochem. Explor. 7, 189–211 (1977).
Bely, V. M. & Vinogradov, V. I. Geologiya Nefti Gaza N2, 37–41 (1972).
Toland, W. G. J. Amer. chem. Soc. 82, 1911–1916 (1960).
Kiyosu, Y. Chem. Geol. 30, 47–56 (1980).
Trudinger, P. A., Chambers, L. A. & Smith, J. W. Can. J. Earth Sci. 22, 1910–1918 (1985).
Orr, W. L. Geol. Soc. Am. Abstr. Progm. 14, 580 (1982).
Eliuk, L. S. & Hunter, D. F. in 13th Can. Soc. Petrol. Geol. Core Conf. (eds F. Krause and G. Burrowes) 39–62 (1987).
Claypool, G. E., Holser, W. T., Kaplan, I. R., Sakai, H. & Zak, I. Chem. Geol. 28, 199–260 (1980).
Harrison, A. G. & Thode, H. G. Trans. Faraday Soc. 53, 1648–1651 (1957).
Grinenko, V. A., Grinenko, L. N. & Zagryazhskaya, G. D. Geokhimya 4, 484–491 (1969).
Husain, S. A. & Krouse, H. R. New Zealand Department Scientific and Industrial Research Bull. 220, 207–210 (1978).
Krouse, H. R. Final Report Alberta-Canada Energy Resources research fund, agreement U-30, 145 pp. (1983).
Baas Becking, L. G. M. Ann. Bot. 39, 613–650 (1925).
Krouse, H. R. in Proc. 10th World Petrol. Congress Vol. 10, 85–92 (1980).
Thode, H. G., Wanless, R. K. & Wallouch, R. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 5, 286–298 (1954).
Feely, H. W. & Kulp, J. L. Am. Assoc. petrol. geol. Bull. 41, 1802–1853 (1957).
Davis, J. B. & Kirkland, D. W. Econ. Geol. 65, 107–121 (1970).
James, A. T. & Burns, B. J. Am. Assoc. petrol. geol. Bull. 68, 957–960 (1984).
Stahl, W. Chem. Geol. 20, 121–149 (1977).
Bally, A. W., Gordy, P. L. & Stewart, G. A. Bull. Can. Petrol. Geol. 14, 337–381 (1966).
Woll, W. Erdöl Kohle Erdgas Petrochem. 99, 297–300 (1983).
Eliuk, L. S. 1984 Can. Soc. Petrol. Geol. Core Conf. 245–289 (1984).
Berner, R. A. Am. J. Sci. 278, 1235–1252 (1978).
Stahl, W. & Carey, B. C. Chem. Geol. 16, 257–267 (1975).
James, A. T. Am. Assoc. Petrol. Geol. Bull. 67, 1176–1191 (1983).
Schoell, V. M. Am. Assoc. Petrol. Geol. Bull. 67, 2225–2238 (1983).
Harland, W. B. et al. A Geologic Time Scale: Cambridge Earth science series (Cambridge Univ. Press, 1982).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Krouse, H., Viau, C., Eliuk, L. et al. Chemical and isotopic evidence of thermochemical sulphate reduction by light hydrocarbon gases in deep carbonate reservoirs. Nature 333, 415–419 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1038/333415a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/333415a0
This article is cited by
-
Diamondoids and thiadiamondoids generated from hydrothermal pyrolysis of crude oil and TSR experiments
Scientific Reports (2022)
-
Characterization of chemical and carbon isotopic compositions of gases during thermochemical sulfate reduction and implications for gas origin and content
Scientific Reports (2022)
-
Carbon-initiated sulfate reduction in a closed hydrous system: implications for the formation of H2S in deeply buried petroleum reservoirs
Arabian Journal of Geosciences (2021)
-
Fractionation of carbon and hydrogen isotopes of TSR-altered gas products under closed system pyrolysis
Scientific Reports (2020)
-
Hydrocarbon generation from lacustrine shales with retained oil during thermal maturation
Petroleum Science (2020)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.