The Biomarker Guide, Volume 2: Biomarkers and Isotopes in the Petroleum Exploration and Earth History

702 Pages·2005·31.999 MB·English

by  Peters K.E., Walters C.C., Moldowan J.M.

TheBiomarkerGuide
SecondEdition
Volume2
ThesecondeditionofTheBiomarkerGuideisafullyupdated
and expanded version of this essential reference. Now in two
volumes,itprovidesacomprehensiveaccountoftherolethat
biomarkertechnologyplaysbothinpetroleumexplorationand
inunderstandingEarthhistoryandprocesses.
Biomarkers and Isotopes in Petroleum Exploration and
Earth History itemizes parameters used to genetically corre-
late petroleum and interpret thermal maturity and extent of
biodegradation.Itdocumentsmostknownpetroleumsystems
bygeologicagethroughoutEarthhistory.
The Biomarker Guide is an invaluable resource for geol-
ogists, petroleum geochemists, biogeochemists, and environ-
mentalscientists.
KE.PiscurrentlySeniorResearchGeologistat
theUSGeologicalSurveyinMenloPark,California,wherehe
isinvolvedinthree-dimensionalpetroleumsystemmodelingfor
theNorthSlopeofAlaska,theSanJoaquinBasin,andelsewhere.
Hehas25yearsofresearchexperiencewithChevron,Mobil,
and ExxonMobil. Ken taught formal courses in petroleum
geochemistry and thermal modeling both in industry and at
variousuniversities.HewasChairoftheOrganicGeochemistry
DivisionoftheGeochemicalSociety(2001–2004).
C C. W is Senior Research Associate with
theExxonMobilResearchandEngineeringCompany,wherehe
modelsoilgenerationandreservoirtransformations,geomicro-
biology,andprocessesofsolidsformation.Hehasover20years
ofindustrialexperience,includingresearchatSunExploration
andProductionCompany,andMobil.
J. M M is Professor (Research) in the
Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences at
Stanford University. He joined Chevron’s Biomarker Group
in1974,which,undertheleadershipofthelateDrWolfgang
K.Seifert,islargelycreditedwithpioneeringtheapplicationof
biologicalmarkertechnologytopetroleumexploration.

The Biomarker Guide
Second Edition
II. Biomarkers and Isotopes in Petroleum Systems
and Earth History
K. E. Peters
USGeologicalSurvey,MenloPark,CA,USA
C. C. Walters
ExxonMobilResearchandEngineeringCo.,
CorporateStrategicResearch,Annandale,NJ,USA
J. M. Moldowan
DepartmentofGeologicalandEnvironmentalSciences,
SchoolofEarthSciences,Stanford,CA,USA
  
Cambridge,NewYork,Melbourne,Madrid,CapeTown,Singapore,S~aoPaulo
CambridgeUniversityPress
TheEdinburghBuilding,CambridgeCB22RU,UK
PublishedintheUnitedStatesofAmericabyCambridgeUniversityPress.NewYork
www.cambridge.org
Informationonthistitle:www.cambridge.org/9780521837620
Firstedition(cid:1)C ChevronTexacoExplorationandProductionCompany1993
Secondedition(cid:1)C CambridgeUniversityPress2005
Thispublicationisincopyright.Subjecttostatutoryexception
andtotheprovisionsofrelevantcollectivelicensingagreements,
noreproductionofanypartmaytakeplacewithout
thewrittenpermissionofCambridgeUniversityPress.
Firstpublished1993byPrenticeHall,Inc.
Secondeditionpublished2005byCambridgeUniversityPress
Reprintedwithcorrections2005
PrintedintheUnitedKingdomattheUniversityPress,Cambridge
ArecordforthispublicationisavailablefromtheBritishLibrary
LibraryofCongressCataloginginPublicationdata
Peters,KennethE.
Thebiomarkerguide.–2nded./K.E.Peters,C.C.Walters,andJ.M.Moldowan.
p. cm.
Includesbibliographicalreferencesandindex.
Contents:1.Biomarkersintheenvironmentandhumanhistory–2.BiomarkersinpetroleumsystemsandEarthhistory.
ISBN0521781582
1.Petroleum–Prospecting. 2.Biogeochemicalprospecting. 3.Biochemicalmarkers. I.Walters,C.C.(CliffordC.)
II.Moldowan,J.M.(J.Michael),1946– III.Title.
TN271.P4P463 2004
622(cid:2).1828–dc22 2003065416
ISBN-13978-0-521-78158-9 hardbackvol.1
ISBN-100-521-78158-2 hardbackvol.1
ISBN-13978-0-521-83762-0 hardbackvol.2
ISBN-100-521-83762-6 hardbackvol.2
ISBN-13978-0-521-83763-7 setoftwovols.
ISBN-100-521-83763-4 setoftwovols.
Dedicatedto
Vanessa,Brent,andMiwok
Johnet
Mary

Contents
Abouttheauthors page ix Porphyrins 635
Preface xi Exercise 636
Purpose xvi AppendixA:gaschromatogramsofcrude
Acknowledgments xvii oilsfromMoravia,CzechRepublic 638
AppendixB:terpanemass
PART II BIOMARKERS AND chromatogramsofcrudeoilsfrom
ISOTOPES IN PETROLEUM Moravia,CzechRepublic 639
SYSTEMS AND EARTH HISTORY AppendixC:steranemass
chromatogramsofcrudeoilsfrom
12 Geochemicalcorrelationand
Moravia,CzechRepublic 640
chemometrics 475
Oil–sourcerockcorrelation 475 15 Non-biomarkermaturityparameters 641
Oil–oilcorrelation 477 Alkanesandisoprenoids 641
Chemometricanalysisoflargedatasets 479 Aromatichydrocarbons 642
16 Biodegradationparameters 645
13 Source-andage-relatedbiomarker
Controlsonpetroleumbiodegradation 646
parameters 483
Ratesofaerobicandanaerobic
Source-relatedparameters 483
biodegradation 650
Predictionofsource-rockcharacterfrom
Predictionoftheoccurrenceandextentof
oilcomposition 487
biodegradation 650
Age-relatedparameters 490
Aerobichydrocarbondegradation
Alkanesandacyclicisoprenoids 493
pathways 650
Steranesanddiasteranes 524
Anaerobichydrocarbondegradation
Terpanesandsimilarcompounds 538
pathways 653
Aromaticbiomarkers 580
Biodegradationofmethane 656
Porphyrins 602
Biodegradationofsubsurfacecrudeoil:
Exercise 606
aerobicoranaerobic? 658
14 Maturity-relatedbiomarker Effectsofbiodegradationonpetroleum
parameters 608 composition 658
Criteriaforbiomarkermaturity Biodegradationparameters 664
parameters 609 Biodegradationofcoalsandkerogen 702
Maturityassessment 610 Biodegradationofoilseeps 704
Terpanes 613 Predictionofphysicalproperties 705
Polycadinenesandrelatedproducts 619 Exercise 705
Steranes 625
17 Tectonicandbiotichistoryofthe
Aromaticsteroids 631
Earth 709
Aromatichopanoids 634
Birthofthesolarsystem(∼4.7–4.6Ga) 709
vii
viii Contents
Originsoftheoceans,atmosphere,and Ordoviciansourcerocks 777
life:theHadeanEon(∼4.6–3.8Ga) 709 Siluriansourcerocks 790
Ageoftheprokaryotes:theArcheanEon Devoniansourcerocks 794
(∼3.8–2.5Ga) 711 Carboniferoussourcerocks 807
Theoxygenholocaust:theProterozoic Permiansourcerocks 812
Eon(∼2.5–1.0Ga) 714 MesozoicEra:Triassicsourcerocks 820
Riseoftheeukaryotes:the Jurassicsourcerocks 828
NeoproterozoicEra(1000–544Ma) 715 Cretaceoussourcerocks 834
Ageofthemetazoans:thePhanerozoic Tertiarysourcerocks 918
Eon(544Ma–present) 719 Exercise 961
Massextinctions 743
19 Problemareasandfurtherwork 964
Biomarkersandmassextinctions 749
Migration 964
Biomarkerkinetics 966
18 Petroleumsystemsthroughtime 751
Oil–oilandoil–sourcerockcorrelation 976
Petroleumsystemnomenclature 751
Source-rockagefrombiomarkers 979
Petroleumsystemsthroughtime 755
Extraterrestrialbiomarkers 980
Archeanpetroleumsystems 755
Sourceinputanddepositional
EarlyProterozoicpetroleumsystems 764
environment 982
MiddleProterozoicpetroleumsystems 764
LateProterozoicpetroleumsystems 768 Appendix:geologictimecharts 984
Phanerozoicpetroleumsystems 774 Glossary 986
PaleozoicEra:Cambriansource References 1030
rocks 774 Index 1132
About the authors
Kenneth E. Peters is currently Senior Research meteorites.HejoinedGulfResearchandDevelopment
GeologistattheUSGeologicalSurveyinMenloPark, in1982,whereheimplementedaprograminbiological
California, where he is involved in one-dimensional markercompounds.In1984,hemovedtoSunExplo-
(1D), two-dimensional (2D), and three-dimensional ration & Production Company, where he was respon-
(3D) petroleum system modeling of the North Slope sible for technical service and establishing biomarker
of Alaska, the San Joaquin Basin, and elsewhere. He geochemistry and thermal modeling as routine explo-
attainedB.A.andM.A.degreesingeologyfromUni- ration tools. Mobil’s Dallas Research Lab hired Cliff
versityofCalifornia,SantaBarbara,andaPh.D.ingeo- in1988,wherehebecameSupervisoroftheGeochem-
chemistryfromUniversityofCalifornia,LosAngeles, ical Laboratories in 1991. He is now Senior Research
(UCLA)in1978.Hisexperienceincludes15yearswith AssociatewithExxonMobilResearchandEngineering
Chevron,6yearswithMobil,and2yearsasSeniorRe- Company,whereheconductsworkonthemodelingof
searchAssociatewithExxonMobil.Kentaughtformal oilgenerationandreservoirtransformations,geomicro-
coursesinpetroleumgeochemistryandthermalmodel- biology, and processes of solids formation. Cliff pub-
ingforChevron,Mobil,ExxonMobil,OilandGasCon- lished numerous papers, served as Editor of the ACS
sultants International, and at various universities, in- GeochemistryDivisionfrom1990to1992,andisacur-
cludingUniversityofCalifornia,Berkeley,andStanford rentAssociateEditorofOrganicGeochemistry.
University. He served as Associate Editor for Organic J.MichaelMoldowanattainedaB.S.inchemistry
GeochemistryandtheAmericanAssociationofPetroleum fromWayneStateUniversity,Detroit,Michigan,anda
Geologists Bulletin. Ken and co-authors received the Ph.D.inchemistryfromtheUniversityofMichiganin
OrganicGeochemistryDivisionoftheGeochemicalSo- 1972.Followingapostdoctoralfellowshipinmarinenat-
ciety Best Paper Awards for publications in 1981 and uralproductswithProfessorCarlDjerassiatStanford
1989.HeservedasChairoftheGordonResearchCon- University, he joined Chevron’s Biomarker Group in
ferenceonOrganicGeochemistry(1998)andChairof 1974. The Chevron biomarker team, led by the late
theOrganicGeochemistryDivisionoftheGeochemical Dr.WolfgangK.Seifertinthemid1970stoearly1980s,
Society(2001–2004). islargelycreditedwithpioneeringtheapplicationofbi-
Clifford C. Walters received Bachelor degrees ological marker technology to petroleum exploration.
in chemistry and biology from Boston University in Mike joined the Department of Geological and Envi-
1976.HeattendedtheUniversityofMaryland,where ronmental Sciences of Stanford University as Profes-
he worked on the chemistry of Martian soil and con- sor(Research)in1993.In1986,heservedasChairof
ductedfieldandlaboratoryresearchonmetasediments theDivisionofGeochemistryoftheAmericanChemi-
from Isua, Greenland, the oldest sedimentary rocks calSociety,andhehastwicebeenawardedtheOrganic
on Earth. After receiving a Ph.D. in geochemistry in GeochemistryDivisionoftheGeochemicalSocietyBest
1981,Cliffcontinuedwithpostdoctoralresearchonthe Paper Award for publications he co-authored in 1978
organic geochemistry of Precambrian sediments and and1989.
ix