Publication Date:
2021-06-25
Description:
Seeps are the expression of the migration of hydrocarbons from subsurface accumulations
to the surface in sedimentary basins. They may represent an important indication of the presence of
petroleum (gas and oil) reservoirs and faults, and are a natural source of greenhouse gas (methane)
and atmospheric pollutants (ethane, propane) to the atmosphere. Romania is one of the countries
with the largest number of seeps in the world, due to the high petroleum potential and active tectonics.
Based on a review of the available literature, and on the field surveys performed by the authors
during the last 17 years, we report the first comprehensive GIS-based inventory of 470 seeps in
Romania (HYSED-RO), including gas seeps (10.4% of the total), oil seeps (11.7%), mud volcanoes
(50.4%), gas-rich springs (12.6%), asphalt (solid) seeps (4.3%), unclassified manifestations (4.0%), and
uncertain seeps (6.6%). Seeps are typically located in correspondence with major faults and vertical
and fractured stratigraphic contacts associated to petroleum reservoirs (anticlines) in low heat flow
areas, and their gas-geochemistry reflects that of the subsurface reservoirs. The largest and most
active seeps occur in the Carpathian Foredeep, where they release thermogenic gas, and subordinately
in the Transylvanian Basin, where gas is mainly microbial. HYSED-RO may represent a key reference
for baseline characterization prior to subsurface petroleum extraction, for environmental studies, and
atmospheric greenhouse gas emission estimates in Romania.
Description:
Published
Description:
39
Description:
6A. Geochimica per l'ambiente
Description:
JCR Journal
Keywords:
hydrocarbon seeps
;
methane
;
mud volcanoes
;
petroleum systems
;
seep database
;
03.04. Chemical and biological
Repository Name:
Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV)
Type:
article
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