Carbon Isotopes in Oil-Gas Geology

摘要

Analysis of variations in the natural abundances of the carbon isotopes C12 and C13 in petroleum, gases, bitumens, and other materials is treated. A theoretical-calculation division gives data on the thermodynamic isotope effects of organic compounds, and presents a theory of biogenic isotope equilibria and intramolecular isotope nonuniformity of bio-organic compounds. Laboratory studies of processes simulating natural fractionation of carbon isotopes are emphasized; included are data on the isotopic composition of individual hydrocarbons. Possible pathways of their formation were examined, and a general model of the petroleum-forming process is proposed. Within the bounds of a specific region, genetical types of petroleum are found, and their areal and profile distributions were determined. (Author)