Biomarker chemistry and flux quantification methods for natural petroleum seeps and produced oils, offshore southern California
Scientific Investigations Report
2011-5210
In cooperation with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
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Abstract
Sustained, natural oil seepage from the seafloor is common off southern California, and is of great interest to resource managers, who are tasked with distinguishing natural from anthropogenic oil sources. The major purpose of this study was to build upon the work previously funded by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) that has refined the oil-fingerprinting process to enable differentiation of the highly similar Monterey Formation oils from Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) production and adjacent natural seeps. In these initial studies, biomarker and stable carbon isotope ratios were used to infer the age, lithology, organic-matter input, and depositional environment of the source rocks for 388 samples of produced crude oil, seep oil, and tarballs mainly from coastal California. The analysis resulted in a predictive model of oil source families that could be applied to samples of unknown origin.
Suggested Citation
Lorenson, T., Leifer, I., Wong, F.L., Rosenbauer, R.J., Campbell, P.L., Lam, A., Hostettler, F.D., Greinert, J., Finlayson, D.P., Bradley, E.S., Luyendyk, B.P., 2011, Biomarker chemistry and flux quantification methods for natural petroleum seeps and produced oils, offshore southern California: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2011-5210, v, 42 p.; Appendix; Tables 1-4 Folder; Readme TXT; Metadata Folder; KMZ Download of Google Earth; ZIP Download of GIS Data Package, https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20115210.
ISSN: 2328-0328 (online)
| Publication type | Report |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | USGS Numbered Series |
| Title | Biomarker chemistry and flux quantification methods for natural petroleum seeps and produced oils, offshore southern California |
| Series title | Scientific Investigations Report |
| Series number | 2011-5210 |
| Subseries | Bureau of Ocean Energy Management OCS Study BOEM 2011?016 |
| DOI | 10.3133/sir20115210 |
| Year Published | 2011 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | U.S. Geological Survey |
| Publisher location | Reston, VA |
| Contributing office(s) | Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center |
| Description | v, 42 p.; Appendix; Tables 1-4 Folder; Readme TXT; Metadata Folder; KMZ Download of Google Earth; ZIP Download of GIS Data Package |
| First page | i |
| Last page | 45 |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| Online Only (Y/N) | Y |
| Additional Online Files (Y/N) | Y |