Organic geochemistry of continental margin sediments Page: 1 of 67
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ABSTRACT
Well cuttings from two offshore Gulf Coast stratigraphic test wells (South
Padre and Mustang Island) have been analyzed for C^-C^ hydrocarbon distribu-
tions by thermal distillation-pyrolysis GC, for C^-C^ hydrocarbons by headspace
analysis and for C^+ hydrocarbons by extraction. The results from the
South Padre well show that the threshold of intensive hydrocarbon generation
starts around 10,000 feet and peaks around 14,000 feet. The distribution of
individual homologs within each hydrocarbon group indicates that the more vol-
atile members are migrating upward from the generation zone. Thus, n-pentane
(C ) peaks at 10,000 feet, and the higher homologs, C , C,, C.., C_ and C1ri
peak at successively greater depths to 15,000 feet. Benzene also peaks before
toluene which peaks before the xylenes. This phenomena was not observed in
the Mustang Island well where organic carbon contents and hydrocarbon yields
were lower, apparently too low to induce migration.
Cj—C^ hydrocarbon distributions also were studied by the headspace tech-
nique in offshore samples from the East Coast, Gulf of California and Gulf of
Maine. Hydrocarbon yields from wells east of Cape Hatteras and on the Blake-
Bahama Plateau were much lower than in most other areas analyzed to date. Some
Gulf of California samples had high gas yields due to hydrothermal intrusions
and igneous dikes raising sediment temperatures. Gulf of Maine samples were
unique in having no aromatic hydrocarbons.
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Hunt, J.M.; Whelan, J.K.; Huc, A.Y. & Pratt, M. Organic geochemistry of continental margin sediments, report, January 1, 1979; United States. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1097746/m1/1/: accessed March 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.