Geochemical effects of cap-rock leakage above gas reservoirs: Distribution of light hydrocarbons to monitor diffusive losses

An aspect of greater interest to hydrocarbon exploration in certain areas concerns the sealing efficiency of cap-rocks above gas reservoirs. In order to search for evidence of diffusive gas losses through cap-rocks, the distribution of light hydrocarbon (C1-C6) was studied in a gas-bearing sequence of NW-Germany. From an exploration well in Northwest-Germany 340 fresh cutting samples covering a depth range from 2750m down to 3986m were sealed in metal cans and immediately analyzed by Headspace-Gas-Chromatography (HS-GC). Some method development had to be carried out to ensure satisfying gas recovery rates from cutting samples and reproducible compound separation and identification. Two main intervals have been studied by closely spaced samples within the Permian Zechstein and the Triassic Bunter. The Zechstein sequence included the carbonate gas reservoir horizon (Ca2) and cap rock lithologies of anhydrites and halite of 300 m thickness. The Bunter interval mainly consisted of gas-bearing sandstones overlayed by thick homogeneous claystones of several meters thickness that could be examined for evidence of diffusive gas losses. The analytical requirement was to fully separate the LHC from C1 to C6 in order to allow calculation of selected compound ratios which are likely to indicate redistribution of light hydrocarbon by diffusion, e.g.more » compound of high diffusivity in relation to compounds of low diffusivity. This approach does not require the determination of absolute amounts of gaseous hydrocarbons which causes problems with respect to accuracy and reproducibility. Furthermore, TC-, TOC-, TIC- and sulfur-contents were measured to verify whether indigenous organic matter contents lead to in situ generation of gaseous hydrocarbons in those cap-rock sequences.« less