Research paperGround-based hyperspectral remote sensing of hydrocarbon-induced rock alterations at cement, Oklahoma

- This study used ground-based hyperspectral remote sensing to detect alterations.
- This study identified bleaching of ferric iron and cementation of carbonates.
- This study discussed mechanisms of rock alterations and hydrocarbon seepage.
- This study differentiated different types of ferric iron from spectral signatures.

Hydrocarbon seepages bring oil and gas from petroleum reservoirs to the surface, these hydrocarbons can generate various kinds of rock alterations, including bleaching of red beds and mineralogical changes. Satellite and airborne remote sensing techniques have been utilized in the detection of rock alterations and hydrocarbon seepages; however, they have limited resolutions and are unable to map vertical outcrops. Ground-based remote sensing techniques hold great potential to characterize rocks with great precisions and resolutions. This study used ground-based Specim hyperspectral data to detect hydrocarbon-induced rock alterations of the Rush Springs sandstone at the Cement field in southeast Anadarko basin, Oklahoma. Hyperspectral data of outcrops and hand specimens were examined, and spectral angle mapper technique was used to compare spectral similarity between image pixels and reference spectra. Laboratory spectroscopy was used to assist with mineral identification and image classification. Remote sensing data detected bleaching of red beds and carbonate cementation. Combining lithological, spectroscopic, remote sensing and geochemical data, this study built a model for petroleum seepage and related rock alterations, and provided a workflow for employing remote sensing techniques in resource exploration.