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Carbon isotope geochemistry of hydrocarbons in the Cerro Prieto geothermal field, Baja California Norte, MexicoHydrocarbon abundances and stable-isotopic compositions were measured in wells M5, M26, M35 and M102, which represent a range of depths (1270-2000 m) and temperatures (275-330 degrees C) in the field. In order to simulate the production of the geothermal hydrocarbons, gases were collected from the pyrolysis of lignite in the laboratory. This lignite was obtained from a well which sampled rock strata which are identical to those occurring in the field, but which have experienced much lower subsurface temperatures. In both the well and the laboratory observations, high-temperature environments favored higher relative concentrations of methane, ethane and benzene and generally higher delta 13C-values in the individual hydrocarbons. The best correlation between the laboratory and well data is obtained when laboratory-produced gases from experiments conducted at lower (400 degrees C) and higher (600 degrees C) temperatures are mixed. This improved correlation suggests that the wells are sampling hydrocarbons produced from a spectrum of depths and temperatures in the sediments.
Document ID
20040089070
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Des Marais, D. J.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field CA United States)
Stallard, M. L.
Nehring, N. L.
Truesdell, A. H.
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1988
Publication Information
Publication: Chemical geology
Volume: 71
ISSN: 0009-2541
Subject Category
Geosciences (General)
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
NASA Center ARC
NASA Discipline Exobiology

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