Stable carbon isotope geochemistry of adsorbed alkane gases in near-surface soils of the Saurashtra Basin, India

The stable carbon isotopic compositions of light hydrocarbon gases adsorbed in near-surface soil and sediments from the Saurashtra basin were characterized for their origin and maturity. Saurashtra is considered geologically prospective for oil and gas reserves; however, a major part of the basin is covered by the Deccan Traps, hindering the exploration of Mesozoic hydrocarbon targets. Surface geochemical prospecting, based on micro-seepage of hydrocarbons from subsurface accumulations, could be advantageous in such areas. In light of this, 150 soil samples were collected from the northwestern part of Saurashtra, around the Jamnagar area, where a thick sedimentary sequence of about 2–3 km exists under 1–1.5 km of Deccan basalt. The concentration of acid desorbed alkane gases from soil samples was found to vary (in ppb) as: methane (C1) = 3–518; ethane (C2) = 0–430; propane (C3) = 0–331; i-butane (iC4) = 0–297; n-butane (nC4) = 2–116; i-pentane (iC5) = 0–31 and n-pentane (nC5) = 0–23, respectively.Fifteen samples with high concentrations of alkane gases were measured for their δ13C1; δ13C2 and δ13C3 compositions using gas chromatography–combustion-isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC–C-IRMS). The values for methane varied from − 27 to − 45.4‰, ethane from − 20.9 to − 27.6‰, and propane from − 20.4 to − 29.1‰ versus the Vienna PeeDee Belemnite (VPDB). The carbon isotope ratio distribution pattern represents isotopic characteristics pertaining to hydrocarbon gases derived from thermogenic sources. Comparisons of carbon isotopic signatures and compositional variations with the standard carbon isotopic models suggest that hydrocarbon gases found in the shallow depths of the study area are not of bacterial origin but are formed thermally from deeply buried organic matter, likely to be mainly a terrestrial source rock with a partial contribution from a marine source. These gases may have migrated to the near-surface environment, where they represent an admixture of thermally generated hydrocarbon gases from mixed sources and maturity. The maturity scale (δ13C versus Log Ro %) applied to the surface sediment samples of the Jamnagar area indicated the source material to be capable of generating oil and gas. The detection of thermogenic alkane gases in near-surface sediments offers the possibility of hydrocarbons at depth in Saurashtra.

Research Highlights
► High concentration of adsorbed C1 to C5 was found in the Jamnagar area, Saurashtra.
► δ13C signatures of alkane gases determined by GC–C-IRMS showed thermogenic origin.
► Comparisons with genetic models suggested the gases to derive from mixed sources.
► Maturity scale showed the source material to be capable of generating oil and gas.