Abstract
This research project addresses the question: do the isotopes of carbon in the organic matter of the sediments within and around the Buccaneer Field indicate that any alteration of the sedimentary organic matter has resulted from drilling and producing operations? Isotopes are a potentially useful tool to use in this inquiry, because various possible sources of carbon are characterized by distinctive stable isotope ratios and/or radiocarbon contents. Crude oil is commonly isotopically lighter than organic matter in recent marine sediments by more than 5 per mil δ13C; and, of course, any carbon brought up from an oil or gas field would be devoid of radiocarbon.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Calder, J. A., 1969, “Carbon Isotope Effects in Biochemical Systems.” Ph.D. Thesis, The University of Texas at Austin.
Gearing, P. J., 1975, “Organic Carbon Stable Isotope Ratios in Continental Margin Sediments.” Ph.D. Thesis, The University of Texas at Austin.
Gearing, P. J., Plucker, F. E., and Parker, P. L., 1977, “Organic carbon stable isotope ratios of continental margin sediments,” Mar. Chem., 5:251.
Land, L. S., Behrens, E. W., and Frishman, S. A., 1979, “The ooids of Baffin Bay, Texas,” J. Sedimentary Petrol., 49:1269.
Nelson, H. F., and Bray, E. E., 1970, “Stratigraphy and history of the Holocene sediments in the Sabine — High Island area, Gulf of Mexico,” in: Morgan, J. P. (ed.), “Deltaic Sedimentation.” Soc. Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists Special Publication No. 15, Tulsa, Oklahoma, p. 48.
Parker, P. L., Behrens, E. W., Calder, J. A., and Schultz, D., 1972, “Stable carbon isotope ratio variations in the organic carbon from Gulf of Mexico sediments,” Contrib. Mar. Sci., 16:139.
Plucker, F. E., 1970, “Stable Carbon Isotope Ratios of Organic Matter of Gulf of Mexico Shelf Sediments.” M.S. Thesis, The University of Texas at Austin.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1981 Plenum Press, New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
William Behrens, E. (1981). Total Organic Carbon and Carbon Isotopes of Sediments. In: Middleditch, B.S. (eds) Environmental Effects of Offshore Oil Production. Marine Science, vol 14. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-1110-2_6
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-1110-2_6
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-1112-6
Online ISBN: 978-1-4684-1110-2
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive