Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-xbtfd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-19T23:15:25.715Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The replacement of sandstones by uraniferous hydrocarbons: significance for petroleum migration

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 July 2018

John Parnell  and
Paul Eakin
John Parnell
Affiliation:
Department of Geology, Queen's University, Belfast BT7 1NN, U.K.
Paul Eakin
Affiliation:
Department of Geology, Queen's University, Belfast BT7 1NN, U.K.
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Hydrocarbons (bitumens sensu lato) in sandstones have been recorded in several instances to have partially replaced their host rock, including quartz grains. Many replacive hydrocarbons are uranium-rich: associated non-uraniferous hydrocarbons are not replacive. Uranium is transported as carbonate complexes, which may be decomposed by organic acids to yield UO22+ ions and CO2. The UO22+ will be absorbed onto hydrocarbons before reduction to a mineral phase, generally uraninite; and the CO2 may be aggressive towards the silicate grains of the host sandstone. Accretionary nodules of replacive uraniferous hydrocarbon in red beds (e.g. at the cores of reduction spots) can provide valuable information about petroleum migration. They occur particularly in the vicinity of faults, and may record the interactions between metal-rich groundwaters and hydrocarbons leaking along a fault from an underlying reservoir. A trial study in Devonian sandstones of Easter Ross successfully traced a hydrocarbon-bearing sandstone reservoir from an occurrence of uraniferous hydrocarbon nodules.

Keywords

hydrocarbonssandstonesuraniumuraninitepetroleum migration
Type
Mineralogy and petroleum genesis
Information
Mineralogical Magazine , Volume 51 , Issue 362 , October 1987 , pp. 505 - 515
Copyright
Copyright © The Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland 1987

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Adams, S. S, Curtis, H.S. and Hafen, P.L. (1974) Alteration of detrital magnetite-ilmenite in continental sandstones of the Morrison Formation, New Mexico. In Formation of Uranium Ore deposits. Int. Atomic Energy Agency, 219-53.Google Scholar
AI-Shaieb, Z. and Shelton, J.W. (1981) Migration of hydrocarbons and secondary porosity in sandstones. Bull. Am. Assoc. Petrol. Geol. 65, 2433-6.Google Scholar
Angelilli, V. (1956) Distribution and characteristics of the uranium deposits and occurrences in the Argentine Republic. Proc. Int. Conf. Peaceful Uses Atomic Energy. 6, 63-74.Google Scholar
Bell, K.G. (1960) Uranium and other trace elements in petroleums and rock asphalts. Prof. Paper U.S. Geol. Surv. 365B.Google Scholar
Breger, I.A. and Deul, M. (1959) Association of uranium with carbonaceous materials, with special reference to Temple Mountain region Ibid. 320.Google Scholar
Calvo, M.M. (1974) Consideraciones sobre el papel que desempefian las sustancias organicas naturales de caracter humico en la concentracion del uranio. In Formation of Uranium Ore Deposits Int. Atomic Energy Agency, 125-35.Google Scholar
Chepikov, P., Yermolova, Ye. P. and Orlova, N.A. (1961) Corrosion of quartz grains and examples of the possible effect of oil on the reservoir properties of sandy rocks. Doklady Acad. Sci. USSR Earth Sci. Sect. 140, 1111-3.Google Scholar
Colombo, U., Denti, E. andSironi, G. (1964) A geochemical investigation upon the effects of ionizing radiation on hydrocarbons. J. Inst. Petrol. 50, 228-37.Google Scholar
Cope, F.W. (1951) Oil occurrences in south-west Lancashire. Geol. Surv. Great Brit. Bull. 2, 18-25.Google Scholar
Corniciuc, I. (1974) Lithological features and facies of uranium ore deposits in formation in the Socialist Republic of Romania. In Formation of Uranium Ore Deposits Int. Atomic Energy Agency, 343-57.Google Scholar
Curiale, J.A., Bloch, S., Rafalska-Bloch, J. and Harrison, W.E. (1983) Petroleum-related origin for uraniferous organic-rich nodules of southwestern Oklahoma. Bull. Am. Assoc. Petrol. Geol. 67, 588-608.Google Scholar
Darnley, A.G. (1958) Geol. Surv. Great Brit. Atomic Energy Division MineralogicalReport 787 (unpubl.).Google Scholar
Davidson, C.F. and Bowie, S.H. U. (1951) On thucholite and related hydrocarbon-uraninite complexes. Geol. Surv. Great Brit. Bull. 3, 1-18.Google Scholar
Dunsmore, H.E. and Shearman, D.J. (1977) Mississippi Valley-type lead-zinc orebodies: a sedimentary and diagenetic origin. In Proceedings of the Forum on oil and ore in sediments (P. Garrard,ed.). Imperial College, London, 189–201.Google Scholar
Ebbern, J. (1981) The geology of the Morecambe gas field. In Petroleum Geology of the continental Shelf of North-West Europe (L. V. Illing and G. D. Hobson, eds.). Inst. Petroleum, London, 485-93.Google Scholar
Germanov, A.I. (1963) Role of organic substances in the formation of hydrothermal sulfide deposits. Int. Geol. Rev. 5, 379-94.Google Scholar
Granger, H.G., Santos, E.S.,Dean, B.G. and Moore, F.B. (1961) Sandstone type uranium deposits at Ambrosia lake, New Mexico-—-an interim report. Econ. Geol. 56, 1179-210.Google Scholar
Griffith, A.E. (1983) The search for petroleum in Northern Ireland. In Petroleum geochemistry and exploration of Europe (J. Brooks, ed.) Blackwells, 213-22.Google Scholar
Haji-Vassiliou, A. and Kerr, P.R. (1972) Uraniumorganic matter association at La Bajada, New Mexico. Econ. Geol. 75, 609-17.Google Scholar
Harrison, R.K. (1970) Hydrocarbon bearing nodules from Heysham, Lancashire. geol. J. 7, 101-10.Google Scholar
Harrison, R.K. (1975) Concretionary concentrations of the rarer elements in Permo-Triassic red beds of south-west England. Geol. Surv. Great Brit. Bull. 52, 1-26.Google Scholar
Harshman, E.N. (1970) Uranium ore rolls in the United States. In Uranium Exploration Geology. Int. Atomic Energy Agency, 219-32.Google Scholar
Hausen, D.M. (1956) Paragenesis of the Temple Mountain uraniferous asphaltites. Bull. Geol. Soc. Am. 67, 19-75.Google Scholar
Hawley, C.C., Robeck, R.C. and Dyer, H.B. (1968) Geology altered rocks, and ore deposits of the San Rafael swell, Emery County, Utah. Bull. U.S. Geol. Surv. 1239.Google Scholar
Hawley, C.C., Wyant, D.G. and Brooks, D.B. (1965) Geology and uranium deposits of the Temple Mountain District, Emery County, Utah. Ibid. 1192.Google Scholar
Hess, F.L. (1922) Uranium-bearing asphaltite sediments of Utah. Eng. Mining J. 114, 272-6.Google Scholar
Horne, J. and Hinxman, L.W. (1914) The Geology of the Country round Beauly and Inverness, including a part of the Black Isle. Mem. Geol. Surv. Scot.Google Scholar
Hostetler, P.B. and Garrels, R.M. (1962) Transportation and precipitation of uranium and vanadium at low temperatures, with special reference to sandstone- type uranium deposits. Econ. Geol. 57, 137-67.Google Scholar
Isachsen, Y.W. (1956) Geology of uranium deposits of the Shinarump and Chinle Formations on the Colorado Plateau. Proc. Int. Conf. Peaceful Uses Atomic Energy. 6, 350-70.Google Scholar
Kelley, D.R. and Kerr, P.F. (1958) Urano-organic ore at Temple mountain, Utah. Bull. Geol. Soc. Am. 69, 701-56.Google Scholar
Keys, W.S. (1956) Deep drilling in the Temple Mountain Collapse, San Rafael swell, Utah. Proc. Int. Conf. Peaceful Uses Atomic Energy. 6, 371-8.Google Scholar
Koglin, E., Schenk, H.J. and Schwochau, K. (1978) Spectroscopic studies on the binding of uranium by brown coal. Appl. Spectros. 32, 486-8.Google Scholar
Lahee, F.H. (1932) Oil Seepages and oil production associated with volcanic plugs in Mendoza Province, Argentina. Bull. Am. Assoc. Petrol. Geol. 16, 319-24.Google Scholar
Leroy, J. (1978) The Margnac and Fanay uranium deposits of the La Crouzille district (Western Massif Central, France): geologic and fluid inclusion studies. Econ. Geol. 73, 1611-34.Google Scholar
Leventhal, J.S., Daws, T.A. and Frye, J.S. (1986) Organic geochemical analysis of sedimentary organic matter associated with uranium. Applied Geochem. 1, 241-7.Google Scholar
Leventhal, J.S., Daws, T.A. and Frye, J.S. and Threlkeld, C. N. (1978)Carbon-13/Carbon-12 isotope fractionation of organic matter associated with uranium ores induced by alpha irradiation. Scienc. 202, 430-2.Google Scholar
Linares, E. (1956) The ‘Eva Peron’ deposit, Malargue, Mendoza. Proc. Int. Conf. Peaceful Uses Atomic Energ. 6, 75-81.Google Scholar
Michie, U. McL. and Cooper, D.C. (1979) Uranium in the Old Red Sandstone of Orkney. Report Inst. Geol. Sci. 78/16.Google Scholar
Moench, R.H. and Schlee, J.S. (1967) Geology and uranium deposits of the Laguna district, New Mexico. Prof. Paper U.S. Geol. Surv. 519.Google Scholar
Nash, J.T., Granger, H.C. and Adams, S.S. (1981) Geology and concepts of genesis of important types of uranium deposits. Econ. Geol. 75th Anniv. Vol. 63-116.Google Scholar
Parnell, J. (1983a) The distribution of hydrocarbon minerals in the Welsh Borderlands and adjacent areas. Geol. J. 18, 129-39.Google Scholar
Parnell, J. (1983b) The distribution of hydrocarbon minerals in the Orcadian Basin. Scott. J. Geol. 19, 205-13.Google Scholar
Parnell, J. (1985a) Uranium/rare earth-enriched hydrocarbons in Devonian sandstones, northern Scotland. NeuesJahrb. Mineral. Mh. 132-44.Google Scholar
Parnell, J. (1985b) Hydrocarbon sources rocks, reservoir rocks and migration in the Orcadian Basin. Scott. J. Geol. 21, 321-36.Google Scholar
Pierce, A.P., Gott, G.B. and Mytton, J.W. (1964) Uranium and helium in the Panhandle Gas Field, Texas, and adjacent areas. Prof Paper U.S. Geol. Surv. 454G.Google Scholar
Poty, B.P., Leroy, J. and Cuney, M. (1974) Les inclusions fluides dans les minerais des gisements d'uranium intragranitiques du Limousin et du Forez (Massif Central, France). In Formation of Uranium Ore Deposits Int. Atomic Energy Agency, 569-82.Google Scholar
Reynolds, R.L., Goldhaber, M.B. and Carpenter, D.J. (1982) Biogenic and nonbiogenic ore forming processes in the South Texas Uranium District evidence from the Panna Maria Deposits. Econ. Geol. 77, 541— 56.Google Scholar
Rich, R.A., Holland, H.D. and Petersen, U. (1977) Hydrothermal Uranium Deposits. Elsevier.Google Scholar
Roberts, W.H. (1980) Design and function of oil and gas traps. AAPG Studies in Geology. 10, 317-40.Google Scholar
Rouzaud, J.N., Oberlin, A. and Trichet, J. (1980) Interaction of uranium and organic matter in uraniferous sediments. In Advances in Organic Geochemistry 1979 (A. G. Douglas and J. R. Maxwell, eds.), Pergamon Press, 505-16.Google Scholar
Sakhibgareyev, G. (1978) Corrosion of mineral by oils and bitumens. Petrol. Geol. 15, 536.Google Scholar
Schmidt, V. and McDonald, D.A. (1979) The role of secondary porosity in the course of sandstone diagenesis. SEPM Spec. Publ. 26, 175-207.Google Scholar
Shanmugam, G. (1985) Significance of secondary porosity in interpreting sandstone composition. Bull. Am. Assoc. Petrol. Geol. 69, 378-84.Google Scholar
Turner-Peterson, C.E. (1985) Lacustrine-humate model for primary uranium ore deposits, Grants uranium region, New Mexico. Ibid. 69,1999-2020.Google Scholar
Vassiliou, A. (1980) The form of occurrence of uranium in deposits associated with organic matter. Econ. Geol. 75, 609-17.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Watson, J.V. and Plant, J. (1979) Regional geochemistry of uranium as a guide to deposit formation. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. A. 291, 321-38.Google Scholar