Geochemistry and field spectrometry for detecting hydrocarbon microseepage

Remote sensing detection of hydrocarbon reserves would be a valuable additi on to conventional methods used currently. Tests were made in a drilled, pr oven hydrocarbon area predominantly covered by wheat. Field-spectroradiomet ers measured spectral characteristics of wheat and soil associated with hyd rocarbon microseepage. Soil gas and secondary carbonate produced only by hy drocarbon microseepage were at anomalously high levels at the oil-water or gas-water boundaries. Kaolinite and illite in the soil have higher percenta ges above petroleum reservoirs. The inflection point positions of spectra o n oil-field wheat were shifted 7 nm to longer wavelengths than off-field wh eat samples. and can be positively correlated with the delta carbonate and soil-gas. The absorption of soil spectra at 2.346 mm is at least 0.2% highe r over oil-fields than off-fields. This research proves that remote sensing can be used in an monocultural agricultural area to detect hydrocarbon mic roseepage.