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Secondary Microbial Gas

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Hydrocarbons, Oils and Lipids: Diversity, Origin, Chemistry and Fate

Part of the book series: Handbook of Hydrocarbon and Lipid Microbiology ((HHLM))

Abstract

Secondary microbial gas is produced by microbes during biodegradation of petroleum. Methane is the terminal product of petroleum biodegradation and is the dominant hydrocarbon component of secondary microbial gas. Secondary microbial gas is often mixed with thermogenic gas and primary microbial gas in shallow biodegraded petroleum accumulations and in petroleum seeps, and an integrated geochemical–geological approach is needed to recognize its presence. Significant 13C-enrichment of associated CO2 (δ13C > +2‰) is perhaps the best geochemical indicator of secondary microbial gas. Recent assessments suggest that secondary microbial gas may be more abundant in petroleum accumulations than primary microbial gas.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology and Geological Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, USA

    Alexei V. Milkov

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  1. Alexei V. Milkov
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Correspondence to Alexei V. Milkov .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. ICBM, Inst Chemistry, Biology Marine Env, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg ICBM, Inst Chemistry, Biology Marine Env, Oldenburg, Niedersachsen, Germany

    Heinz Wilkes

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Milkov, A.V. (2018). Secondary Microbial Gas. In: Wilkes, H. (eds) Hydrocarbons, Oils and Lipids: Diversity, Origin, Chemistry and Fate. Handbook of Hydrocarbon and Lipid Microbiology . Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-54529-5_22-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-54529-5_22-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-54529-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-54529-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Biomedicine and Life SciencesReference Module Biomedical and Life Sciences

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