FROM PETROLEUM TO DIAMONDS - SOIL GAS HYDROCARBONS - A DUAL PURPOSE GEOCHEMICAL TOOL IN EXPLORATION

Soil Gas Hydrocarbons (SGH) is an extractive procedure which releases organic compounds adsorbed on soil samples. Soil acts as a long-term collector of organic compounds that are released by bacteriological activity and migrate to the surface from both hydrocarbon and mineral based plays. Soil Gas Hydrocarbon surveys are focused on the hydrocarbons in the C5-C18 carbon series range, which are very stable. Through analysis of the extracts with Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS), the SGH procedure provides a highly selective and sensitive method which can detect down to the parts-per-trillion (ppt) range. Over 160 specific hydrocarbons are reported for each sample to obtain detailed target signatures. Survey datasets are typically very clean and easily interpretable.

Geochemical anomalies of these bacteriological related hydrocarbons over petroleum bodies have been noted in the literature for several decades. Similarly, it has been proven over deeply buried mineralization and kimberlite formations more recently. These hydrocarbon anomalies may arise through current flows from oxidation-reduction cells. Researchers also suggest that hydrocarbons may be able to migrate as microgas bubbles through thousands of metres of cover. SGH has dual capabilities in the ability to vector to the vertical projection of a target as well as identify the type of buried target studied through forensically determined signatures. These capabilities have been researched and developed for over 10 years

SGH surveys have been conducted over several petroleum fields in Southwestern Ontario and Southeastern Saskatchewan, Canada, having depth to the play at up to 3,000 metres. Some case studies including those of Gold surveys in Australia and Diamonds in Canada will be shown in this presentation.