Stratum

Sulfur comes mainly from the decomposition of organic matter, and one observes that with the passage of time and of gradual settling of material into strata, the crude oils lose their sulfur in the form of H2S that appears in the associated gas, a small portion stays with the liquid. Another possible origin of H2S is the reduction of sulfates by hydrogen by bacterial action of the type desulforibrio desulfuricans (Equation 8.1) ... 

The maturation of source rocks is followed by the migration of the produced hydrocarbons from the deeper, hotter parts of the basin into suitable structures. Hydrocarbons are lighter than water and will therefore move upwards through permeable strata. 

Stratigraphic traps where impermeable strata seals the reservoir... 

Even if all of the elements described so far have been present within a sedimentary basin an accumulation will not necessarily be encountered. One of the crucial questions in prospect evaluation is about the timing of events. The deformation of strata into a suitable trap has to precede the maturation and migration of petroleum. The reservoir seal must have been intact throughout geologic time. If a leak occurred sometime in the past, the exploration well will only encounter small amounts of residual hydrocarbons. Conversely, a seal such as a fault may have developed early on in the field s history and prevented the migration of hydrocarbons into the structure. 

To detect surface anomalies caused by hydrocarbon accumulations often very small amounts of petroleum compounds have leaked into the overlying strata and to the surface. On land, these compounds, mostly gases, may be detectable in soil samples. 

Formation breakdown and subsequent liquefaction of the near surface strata and the initiation of cratering below the rig. This will result in a surface blowout... 

A sampling plan that divides the population into distinct strata from which random samples are collected. 

Wet gas unprocessed or partially processed natural gas produced from strata containing condensible hydrocarbons. 

The acid content of cmde petroleum varies from 0—3%, with cmdes from California, Venezuela, Russia, and Romania having the highest content. Smaller amounts are found ia U.S. Gulf Coast cmdes, whereas Httie or no naphthenic acids are found ia Pennsylvania, Iraq, or Saudi Arabia cmdes. Typical concentrations are shown ia Table 2. Minor amounts of naphthenic acids are also found ia bituminous oil sands, but these are not economically recoverable. Identification of naphthenic acids ia water from oil-beating strata is being examined as a potential method of petroleum exploration (18). 

Quartz-Pebble Conglomerate Deposits. Known quartz-pebble conglomerate ores are restricted to a specific period of geologic time. These ore types occur in basal Lower Proterozoic beds unconformably situated above Archaean basement rocks composed of granitic and metamorphic strata. A number of commercial deposits are located in Canada and South Africa. Some subeconomic occurrences have been reported in Brazil and India... 

Volcanic Deposits. Uranium deposits of volcanic deposits type are strata-bound and stmcture-bound concentrations in acid volcanic rocks. Uranium is commonly associated with molybdenum, fluorine, etc. Examples are the uranium deposits in Michelin, Canada Nopal I in Chihualiua, Mexico Macusani in Pern and numerous deposits in China and the CIS (16). 

Natural Deposits. Natural deposits, eg, minerals and fossil fuels, are located by drilling operations. An auger, eg, a screw or worm, is turned in the earth and pulled out, and material is scraped from the auger for analysis. Alternatively, samples can be taken by hoUow core drills which, when withdrawn, enclose a core of the earth that is representative of the strata through which the drill has passed. Such core samples are used in geological surveys for fossil fuels. As the drill drives deeper into the strata, each core is extracted and placed in a shallow box and coded so that a complete cross section of the geological strata can be reconstmcted. From this, the relative thickness of coal and mineral seams can be directly measured. 

Most copper deposits are (/) porphyry deposits and vein replacement deposits, (2) strata-bound deposits in sedimentary rocks, (J) massive sulfide deposits in volcanic rocks, (4) magmatic segregates associated with nickel in mafic intmsives, or (5) native copper, typified by the lava-associated deposits of the Keweenaw Peninsula, Michigan. 

Diatomaceous earth, natural, across strata Hair felt (perpendicular to fibers) 17 30. 021... 

Although most of the volatile components are released to the atmosphere, a small fraction is dissolved and/or carried away with the water in the soil matiix. Leached waters are carried with the water as it percolates through the underlying soil strata. Most of the organic constituents contained in the leachate receive additional treatment as they pass through the soil cohimn. Leached wastes can also be lost in surface rtinoff. 

Periodic samples should he taken to assess the extent of completion of the hioconversion process. Core samples should he taken annually to monitor the movement of leached wastes in the underlying strata. 

From their focal point to the earth s surface seismic w-aves travel through the earth s crust and the soil. The stratification of soil, i.e. the earth s layers above the crust, plays an important role, as the intensity and frequencies of an earthquake, as felt on the earth s surface, will depend upon the type of soil strata. 

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