Title

Dissolved carbon and 33-133-133-1anomalies in the water column caused by hydrocarbon seeps on the northwestern Gulf of Mexico slope

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-1-1992

Abstract

Alkalinity, dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), and δ C profiles from seep sites on the northwestern Gulf of Mexico upper slope show anomalously negative δ C values of up to -4.5‰ PDB, increased levels of DIC of up to 2.45 mmole/liter, and slight alkalinity rises of up to 2.54 meq/liter, relative to water column profiles from a seep-free site (0.63‰, 2.04 mmole/liter, and 2.39 meq/liter). The observed DIC enrichments coupled with the C-depletions are attributed to the release of CO by microbial oxidation of crude oil in the seep environment, and its migration into the water column. The δ C composition of the migrating CO is estimated to be -26.0‰ on the basis of dissolved carbon inventory. Manifestation of DIC and δ C anomalies in the water column caused by hydrocarbon seepage holds promise to be useful for hydrocarbon reconnaissance surveys over large offshore tracts on account of the simplicity of sampling acquisition, and rapidity of analytical techniques in the laboratory. © 1992 Springer-Verlag New York Inc. 13 13 13 13 13 2 2

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

Geo-Marine Letters

First Page

33

Last Page

40

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