화학공학소재연구정보센터
Journal of Petroleum Geology, Vol.33, No.3, 255-267, 2010
MAIN FACTORS CONTROLLING THE COMPOSITIONAL VARIABILITY OF SEEPAGE OILS FROM TRUJILLO STATE, WESTERN VENEZUELA
The seepage oils have been modified as a result of water washing and biodegradation. A first group of samples were slightly biodegraded with the partial loss of n- and iso-alkanes. Other samples fall into two groups: those that are moderately degraded, with partial depletion of acyclic isoprenoids; and those that are severely altered, as indicated by the partial or total absence of hopanes. One objective of this work was to evaluate the factors influencing the compositional differences of the three samples sets. In-situ measurements, together with the interpretation of the geochemical data, suggest that diverse factors were responsible for these variations. These included different degrees of alteration due to biodegradation and water washing, as well as differences in flow rate towards the surface.