Formation temperatures of thermogenic and biogenic methane
Science
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Abstract
Methane is an important greenhouse gas and energy resource generated dominantly by methanogens at low temperatures and through the breakdown of organic molecules at high temperatures. However, methane-formation temperatures in nature are often poorly constrained. We measured formation temperatures of thermogenic and biogenic methane using a “clumped isotope” technique. Thermogenic gases yield formation temperatures between 157° and 221°C, within the nominal gas window, and biogenic gases yield formation temperatures consistent with their comparatively lower-temperature formational environments (<50°C). In systems where gases have migrated and other proxies for gas-generation temperature yield ambiguous results, methane clumped-isotope temperatures distinguish among and allow for independent tests of possible gas-formation models.
Suggested Citation
Stolper, D., Lawson, M., Davis, C., Ferreira, A., Santos Neto, E.V., Ellis, G., Lewan, M.D., Martini, A.M., Tang, Y., Schoell, M., Sessions, A., Eiler, J., 2014, Formation temperatures of thermogenic and biogenic methane: Science, v. 344, no. 6191, p. 1500-1503, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1254509.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Formation temperatures of thermogenic and biogenic methane |
| Series title | Science |
| DOI | 10.1126/science.1254509 |
| Volume | 344 |
| Issue | 6191 |
| Year Published | 2014 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | American Association for the Advancement of Science |
| Contributing office(s) | Central Energy Resources Science Center |
| Description | 4 p. |
| First page | 1500 |
| Last page | 1503 |