Gas-geochemical evaluation of the the petroleum potential of the Birofeld graben of the Middle Amur sedimentary basin (Russian Far East)

The results of the gas-geochemical investigations obtained in the Birofeld graben of the Middle Amur sedimentary basin during several years are considered together with the coal prospecting and geological-geophysical information. Data on the gas composition of soil, snow cover, groundwater, and surface water are reported. Gas-geochemical and genetic indicators are used for revealing the hydrocarbon (HC) gases of different origins and establishing the principal regularities of their distribution, which allows the prospects of the petroleum potential of the graben to be preliminarily assessed.