Geochemical characteristics of abiogenic alkane gases

Recently abiogenic alkanes have been found in various locations in the world and other celestial bodies. The chemical composition of abiogenic alkane gases varies widely. The content of methane is low and nearly no C2+ is found in the abiogenic alkane gases from fluid inclusions in volcanic rocks or hot springs in China. In the unsedimented submarine hydrothermal vent system C1/C2+ ratios are much greater than those for the thermogenic gases, mostly ＞800 and in some cases up to 8,000. In the Songliao Basin, China, C1/C2+ of some abiogenic gases are often less than 150. Abiogenic alkane gases which have been found in nature often have carbon isotopic reversal among C1-C4 alkanes (δ13C1＞δ13C2＞δ13C3＞δ13C4), whereas both regular and reversed hydrogen isotope distribution pattern among C1-C4 alkanes have been reported. The δ13C of abiogenic methane is mainly greater than -30‰though laboratory synthesized methane can have δ13C as low as -57‰, and its δD1 values vary widely and overlap with biogenic gases. High 3He/4He ratios often indicate the addition of mantle-derived helium and are related to abiogenic gases. However, some biogenic gases can also have high 3He/4He ratios up to 8.The CH4/3He end-member is often lower than 106 for abiogenic alkane gases while greater than 1013 for biogenic gases, and the values between these two end-members often reflect the mixing of biogenic and abiogenic gases.     

无机成因油气论和无机成因的气田(藏)概略

我国无机成因油气理论的研究走在世界的前沿。科学实践证明,在油气中很大部分,特别是石油是有机成因的,然而并不排除在油气中相当多的部分,特别是天然气是无机成因的。无机成因的烷烃气的甲烷一般δ¹³C₁>-30‰,具负碳同位素系列,甲烷的CH₄/ ³He值为n×10^5~7。无机成因的二氧化碳的δ¹³C_CO2>-8‰。我国的昌德气田可能是迄今为止发现的第一个以烷烃气为主的无机成因气藏。无机成因二氧化碳和烷烃气有利发育带主要分布在:莫霍面隆起或地幔柱上隆地区;热流值大于1.3HFU,地温梯度大于3.5℃/100m的高热-热构造区带;R/Ra>1正异常带,特别在R/Ra>2的地带往往发现气藏;近期或较新时代玄武岩或岩浆活动带,以及沿气源断裂 区等。     

Characteristics of carbon isotopes of organic alkane gases in petroliferous basins of China

Based on analytical data of gas samples from some gas- and oilfields in China, this article describes characteristics of alkane gases (C_1–4) with different origins and occurrences. It is found that δ¹³C values of organic alkane gas increase with increasing maturity (R₀). The δ¹³C values of synchronous and isogenous methane and its homologues are found to increase with the increase in carbon number of alkane gas molecules. The δ¹³C values of methane and its homologues of coal-type gas are heavier than those of corresponding components of oil-type gas, both from source rocks with the same or similar maturity. Part of the components of methane and its homologues were oxidized by bacteria which resulted in heavier carbon isotopes compared to the remaining components.     

THE MANY ORIGINS OF NATURAL GAS

Thermodynamic calculations for the C-O-S-Hsystem indicate that at a fixed oxygen fugacity methane is in a stable phase relative to carbon dioxide at high pressures and low temperatures. At a constant temperature and pressure, methane is favored at low oxygen fugacities. Volcanic gases and near-surface igneous rocks exhibit high values of oxygen fugacity. However, direct measurement of the oxygen fugacity of spinels from peridotites of deep origin indicate that the oxygen fugacity of these rocks is low, corresponding to an iron-wüstite buffer. The relative abundance of the carbon isotopes C¹² and C¹³ varies widely in natural gases. Methane formed by bacterial fermentation is highly enriched in the lighter isotope, while methane from deep deposits is much less so as is the methane flowing from hydrothermal vents on the East Pacific Rise. Except in extreme cases, the carbon isotope ratio cannot be used alone to assess whether methane is biogenic or abiogenic. The carbon isotope ratio in coexisting methane and carbon dioxide can be used to estimate the temperature at which the two gases came into isotopic equilibrium. This ratio indicates a high temperature of equilibration for a number of gas deposits. The carbon and helium isotope ratios together with their geologic settings are strongly suggestive that the large quantities of methane in Lake Kivu and the gases venting along the East Pacific Rise are abiogenic. Methane associated with the Red Sea brines and various geothermal areas may also be in part abiogenic. The high abundance of carbon in the Sun, the atmosphere of the outer planets, carbonaceous chondrites and comets, suggests that carbon may be more abundant in the Earth than it is in near-surface igneous rocks. Such a high abundance could lead to a progressive outgassing of methane at depth, which then is oxidized near the surface or in the atmosphere. Methane hydrates are stable at low temperatures and high pressures. Today, methane hydrates are found in areas of permafrost and in ocean sediments. Methane hydrates in ocean sediments were first formed about 20 mya (million years ago) when the Antarctic ice sheet reached sea level. Terrestrial methane hydrates formed more recently during the glaciations beginning 1.6 mya. Methane hydrates and trapped gas are probably abundant under the Antarctic ice sheet. The formation of methane hydrates may be related to the low values of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere some 20,000 years ago.     

GEOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF NATURAL GAS AT GIANT ACCUMULATIONS IN CHINA

A total of six giant gasfields each with proven reserves of more than 100 billion cubic metres are present in the Ordos and Tarim Basins, China. The gasfields are Sulige, Yulin, Wushenqi, Da'niudi and Jingbian in the Ordos Basin, and Kela 2 in the Tarim Basin. In this paper, we report on the geochemical characteristics of the natural gas at these fields based on studies of gas composition (150 samples), together with stable isotope data (143 samples) and helium isotope data (21 samples). Results show that the gases have high contents of C_1-4 alkanes (generally over 90%) and minor contents of CO₂ (below 3%). The generally high δ¹³C values of C₁-C₄ hydrocarbons indicates a significant contribution from humic source rocks such as Permian-Carboniferous and Mid-Lower Jurassic coal measures. δ¹³ C₁, δ¹³C₂, δ¹³C₃ and δ¹³C₄ values for gases in Upper Palaeozoic reservoirs were -35 to -32‰, -28 to -24‰, -27 to -24‰, and -23.5 to -22‰, respectively. The δ¹³C_iC4 value is higher than that of the δ¹³C_nC4•
He³/He⁴ ratios vary from 10^-7 to 10^-8, indicating that the helium is of crustal (as opposed to mantle) origin. The CH₄/ He³ ratio is 10¹⁰ - 10¹¹, indicating that the CH₄ is of biogenic origin. None of the data is consistent with an abiogenic origin for gas in the Ordos Basin.     

THERMAL DECOMPOSITION OF SAUDI CRUDE OIL ASPHALTENES

Abstract

Asphaltenes precipitated by the use of pentane, heptane and decane solvents from Saudi Arabian Light (AL) and Saudi Arabian Heavy (AH) crude oils 370^°C + residua have been investigated by thermal gravimetric analysis and pyrolysis - gas chromatographic analysis at 350^°C and 520^°C. Gas chromatographic analysis of the gases evolved during pyrolysis has shown that CO, CO₂ and CH₄ constitute the major portion of the gases evolved at 350^°C from pentane and heptane asphaltenes of AH residue and from pentane asphaltenes of AL residue. Whereas gases evolved from decane asphaltenes are dominated by CO₂ and C₂-C₄ hydrocarbon gases. At 520^°C, hydrogen and methane represent 56-80 vol %of the gases evolved from all the four asphaltenes. The amounts of C₁-C₄ hydrocarbon gases increased with an increase in the carbon number of the precipitating solvent at 350^°C and decreased at 520^°C. The presence of up to C₃₆ normal alkane hydrocarbon has been indicated in the maltenes produced from these asphaltenes. The loss of nitrogen from AH asphaltenes during pyrolysis remained low (1-6 wt %), whereas the losses of oxygen and sulphur ranged from 58 to 74 wt % and 10 to 29 wt %, respectively.     

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对鄂尔多斯盆地上古生界存在幔源成因无机气以及盆地的构造特征有利于幔源气上涌的观点进行置疑。鄂尔多斯盆地构造稳定，断裂主要集中在周缘，而且以挤压性质为主，并不利于幔源气的上涌；通过对天然气地球化学特征的分析，上古生界的天然气主要是上古生界石炭—二叠系煤系为烃源岩的煤成气组成：大部分甲烷的δ13C₁＜－30‰，显示有机成因，而部分δ13C₁＞－30‰是由于高成熟或者过成熟煤成气甲烷较重的结果；烷烃气虽发生单项碳同位素倒转，属于煤系不同源气或同源不同期煤成气的混合结果，烷烃气均为有机成因；部分二氧化碳气藏具有δ13C_CO2≥－8‰，为无机成因，是碳酸盐岩水解或者酸溶作用的结果；对盆地中氦的分析结果表明主要为壳源成因     

RECOVERY OF ASPHALTENES FROM TAR SAND BY SUPERCRITICAL FLUID EXTRACTION

ABSTRACT

Many non-oil producing countries are enriched with other sources of energy, for example tar sand, oil shale, coal, biomass, and uranium, that are not fully utilized. Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) of tar sand was carried out in a batch autoclave at different temperatures. Extracts recovered from SFE were fractionated into oils, asphaltenes, preasphaltenes and gases by solvent extraction. The highest yield) of SFE (24.3 wt % dry basis) from tar sand was obtained with n-pentane/benzene (1/1, v/v’) mixture at 655 K. Comparison of the amount of n-alkanes (C1–C4) evolved at 585 K and 685 K shows that the amount of methane is significantly increased at 685 K whereas the amount of C4 alkane is reduced. At 685 K, hydrogen and methane represent 45·1 vol % of the gases evolved from the SFE. The yields of C1–C3 alkane hydrocarbons were higher for supercritical fluid extracts at 685 K as compared to those obtained at 585 K. The quantity of olefines (C₂H₄ + C₃H₆) was found between 5·1 and 10·1 vol %.     

曾母盆地中部地区天然气与凝析油地球化学特征及成因

在广泛收集和总结前人资料的基础上,依据曾母盆地中部地区10个天然气样品的地球化学组成及碳同位素组成特征,系统分析了天然气地球化学特征及成因;同时对与天然气相伴生的凝析油的生物标志化合物特征进行分析,探讨了其油源。研究表明,曾母盆地中部地区天然气中烃类气体以甲烷为主,干燥系数(C₁/C _1-5)值介于0.68~0.97之间,既有干气也有湿气,天然气碳同位素具有正序列排列特征,其中δ¹³C₁值介于-45.6‰~-31.5‰之间,δ¹³C₂值介于-32.7‰~-24‰之间,δ¹³C₃值介于-30.1‰~-23.4‰之间,为干酪根初次裂解的有机成因气,既有油型气,又有煤型气;而非烃类气体以CO₂和N₂为主,含量介于11.44%~80.18%之间,且CO₂碳同位素值较高,介于-10.8‰~-2.4‰之间,为无机成因;与天然气伴生的凝析油具有较高的姥植比,高含量的奥利烷和双杜松烷,与盆地内发育的煤系泥质烃源岩地球化学特征具有较好的可比性,表明凝析油油源为煤系烃源岩。     

The Influence of Basic Volcanic Fluids on Gaseous Products of Source Rocks

The aspects, such as composition, temperature, viscosity, and fluidity, of basic volcanic fluids are greatly different from acidic volcanic fluids. In order to further complement the conceptual model of the influence of volcanic fluids on source rocks in petroliferous basins, this research uses the thermal simulation experiment to analyze the characteristics and reasons of the ratio of alkanes to acid, dry coefficient, and carbon isotope in the dry and fluid systems. The results show that, the ratio of alkanes to acid of all samples in the two systems will increase with the rise of temperature and presents features of the dry system higher than the fluid system, which indicates that the basic volcanic fluids restrain the generation of gaseous hydrocarbons. The dry coefficient of the fluid system at the range of 300–400°C is greater than that of the dry system, while smaller at the range of 400–450°C, which indicates that the basic volcanic fluids promote the generation of CH₄ in low temperature. In the two systems, δ¹³CO₂ of all samples have no obvious change as the rising of temperature, but in the fluid system the proportion of carbon isotopic will increase with the rising of temperature, which shows that carbonate exists in the volcanic fluids. The carbon isotopes of gaseous hydrocarbon in three samples are presented as δ¹³C₁ < δ¹³C₂ < δ¹³C₃, and it accords to general pyrolysis regularity without reversal phenomenon, which indicates alkane gases produced by pyrolysis of three samples are of organic origin.     

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松辽盆地自1994年发现肇州西和昌德两个无机烷烃气藏以来,近几年生产实践中发现了一批无机成因烷烃气和幔源CO2气井,对老井资料复查地发现一些井中有无机成因烷烃气的存在,使松辽盆地无机成因烷烃气的分布有所扩大。在松辽分轩的气藏中无机成因烷烃气、幔源CO2气与生物成因的烷烃气、CO2气的组合模型有以下几种：纯无机成因烷烃气藏,纯幔源CO2气藏、无机成因烷烃气与幔源CO2气的混合气藏、无机成因烷烃气与有机成因CO2气的混合气藏、下部为无机成因烷烃气上部为有机成因烷烃气的叠合气藏等五种。证明松辽盆地存在着无机成因与有机成因烷烃气与CO2气,并且具有商业价值。     

Geochemistry and origin of the world's largest gas field from Persian Gulf,Iran

The South Pars field, which is the Iranian part of the world largest non-associated gas accumulation (taking into account its Qatari part, North Field, with 1342 tcf proved reserve), is hosted by Upper Permian Dalan and Lower Triassic Kangan carbonates. Carbon isotopic and molecular composition studies were undertaken to investigate the origin of non-associated gases from this field. In general, evaluation of the δ¹³C values of methane, ethane and propane and gas wetness (C₂–C₅/C₁–C₅) indicates a thermogenic origin. On the other hand, results of the isotopic analyses showed no mixing of biogenic gases in all of the analyzed gas samples. A further evaluation using natural gas plot, carbon isotopic composition of methane to pentane vs. 1 / n, showed δ¹³C₁ < δ¹³C₂ < δ¹³C₃ as normal trend. However, the carbon isotopic compositions of butane and pentane indicate a minor reverse trend in the normal progression of carbon isotopic compositions. This reversal in carbon isotope ratio among butane and pentane is interpreted as a consequence of mixing from multiple sources with different maturities.δ¹³C_CO2 in South Pars field is similar with those of thermogenic origin. The diagram of δ¹³C_CO2 vs. δ¹³C_CH4 indicates that South Pars gases plot into the isotopic compositional field for methane derived from thermogenic origin. The H₂S concentration is much lower than the Khuff Formation and it seems it has originated from different processes. Apparently, the Lower Silurian organic-rich shales, which are the main source for hydrocarbons in the Arabian Plate and southern Iran, including South Pars field, generally contain kerogen type II with some contribution of type III in some areas.Burial history modeling indicates that at the end of the Cretaceous time pre-Permian sediments remained immature in the Qatar Arch, and their present day maturity is lower than values obtained based on isotopic data. Therefore, lateral migration of gas from the nearby Silurian source rock kitchens towards the north and south of the Qatar Arch is the most probable origin for the significant natural gas accumulations in South Pars field.     

Characteristics and origin of desorption gas of a transitional shale: A case study from the Lower Permian Taiyuan Formation shale,Ordos Basin,northern China

In China, marine shale and terrestrial shale have achieved significant breakthroughs. Comparing with marine shale and terrestrial shale, the research and exploration of transitional shale are still in the preliminary stage, and the content and origin of desorbed gas from transitional shales are poorly documented, thus limiting the understanding of gas generation and potential play elements. Geochemical characteristics of desorbed gas, including content and origin, are analyzed from 9 core samples of the Lower Taiyuan Formation shale from well SSL23 in the Ordos Basin, northern China. The results show that the Taiyuan Formation shale in the study area are characterized by high total organic carbon content of 2.70–9.00%, type III organic matter, and high T_max ranging from 461 to 520°C. The desorbed gas content of the shale samples varies from 0.79 to 2.37 m³/t, with an average of 1.35 m³/t. The gases are dominated by hydrocarbons (83.72–98.62%), with small amounts of non-hydrocarbons (1.38–16.28%) and the methane is the dominant component of the desorbed gases. The carbon isotope δ¹³C₁ ranges from ?43.9 to ?26.3 ‰, the δ¹³C₂ ranges from ?27.2 to ?23.1 ‰ and the δ¹³C₃ ranges from ?25.3 to ?11.6 ‰, respectively. The Whiticar chart and the plot of δ¹³C₁-δ¹³C₂ suggest that gases released from the Taiyuan Formation shale are thermogenic in origin and possibly coal-derived.     

LIGHT HYDROCARBONS IN SOIL GAS ABOVE PROSPECTIVE OIL‐ AND GAS‐BEARING STRUCTURES: POMERANIAN SYNCLINORIUM,NW POLAND

The occurrence of methane and heavier homologues and unsaturated hydrocarbons was recorded in 226 soil gas samples recovered from a study area in the Pomeranian Synclinorium, NW Poland. Samples were collected at stations located along three survey lines (I–I', II–II’ and III–III') at a 200 m spacing. Concentrations of methane, total alkanes (C₂‐C₄) and total alkenes (C₂‐C₄) reached 13.7 vol. %, 18.4 ppm and 0.56 ppm, respectively. Soil gas alkanes heavier than methane were interpreted to be derived from subsurface hydrocarbon accumulations. These hydrocarbons migrated up into the near‐surface zone along structural discontinuities and fractures which were observed on seismic profiles. The migration rate of hydrocarbons from subsurface accumulations towards the surface was determined by the ethane/ethylene (C₂/C₂₌) ratio. The statistical distribution of the ethane:propane (C₂/C₃) ratio and plots of the C₂/C₃+C₄ and C₁/C₂+C₃ ratios indicated that accumulations of condensate, gas or oil with a gas cap probably occur in the study area. Variations in normalized values of total alkane C₂‐C₄ concentrations allowed surface geochemical anomaly zones to be identified. These anomaly zones were evidence for the occurrence of subsurface hydrocarbon accumulations. Hydrocarbon accumulations are most likely to occur beneath the central part of profile II–II' and may also occur in the SW and NE parts of profile III–III' where both the Carboniferous and the Zechstein Main Dolomite are prospective. In these areas, hydrocarbon accumulations may occur in fault‐bounded anticlinal highs. Surface geochemical anomalies also confirm the presence of a non‐commercial hydrocarbon accumulation in the Main Dolomite which was discovered by the D‐1 well, and the possibility of another subsurface accumulation in an adjacent tectonic block. Soil gas analyses combined with seismic data provide evidence for the hydrocarbon prospectivity of the study area.     

Origin of shale gas in the Triassic Yanchang Formation,Ordos Basin,China

The Chang 7 Member shale gas of the Upper Triassic Yanchang Formation, Ordos Basin, is a representative of continental shale gas in China. The Chang 7 shale is currently in the oil window, suggesting it should primarily be producing oil, but an exploratory well found high levels of gas production. In addition, the methane carbon isotopic composition (δ¹³C₁) of Chang 7 shale gas is generally depleted in ¹³C relative to that calculated by Ro, according to the δ¹³C-Ro equation. It is uncertain whether Chang 7 shale gas has mixed with biogenic gas or early thermogenic gas. In this study, over 100 samples of fresh shale cores were collected from the Yanchang Formation, and on-site gas desorption experiments and experimental analysis were carried out. Measured shale gas content was considerable, and was found to be proportional to the abundance of organic matter. Through comprehensive evaluation of the gas composition and δ¹³C₁, it was concluded that there was no biogenic gas contribution to the shale gas in the study area. The negative δ¹³C₁ of shale gas was due to the different formation mechanisms of shale gas and conventional natural gas. Methane in shale gas reservoirs is the result of methane accumulation at all stages, which increases the shale gas content.     

徐家围子断陷烷烃气碳同位素反序机制

松辽盆地徐家围子断陷深层天然气甲烷碳同位素重,且烷烃碳同位素序列大部分为倒转和反序。关于这些碳同位素反序的天然气是有机成因还是无机成因,一直存在争议。为此,进行了一系列烃类生成和合成实验。利用徐家围子断陷幔源二氧化碳进行了费-托合成实验,其烃产物大部分未发生碳同位素反序。选取松辽盆地深层沙河子组低成熟烃源岩,开展了生气模拟实验,并在对模拟产物进行化学组成和碳同位素测定的基础上,根据模拟实验温度条件与地质条件的差异,客观地选定了化学组成和碳同位素特征均与徐家围子断陷深层天然气一致的端元气,进行泥岩和煤生成的烃气产物在理论上的混合。混合结果表明,两种有机成因的端元气,在一定的混合比例区间内,会发生碳同位素倒转和反序。因此,无机合成的烃气碳同位素并不一定反序,而有机成因天然气混合也可能出现碳同位素反序现象。对生气模拟实验结果、现代火山泉水逸出气以及研究区源岩生烃条件综合分析表明,徐家围子断陷深层天然气以有机成因气为主。     

Geochemical characteristics of shale gas and its response to thermal maturity (Ro) in the Longmaxi formation,Dingshan area,Southeast Sichuan

The composition and carbon isotope distribution of shale gas from the Longmaxi Formation in the Dingshan area were measured, and their responses to thermal maturity (Ro) were analyzed. The results show that the shale gas is mainly composed of methane (97.98–98.99%), ethane, propane and nonhydrocarbon gases (N₂ and CO₂) and is an organic high temperature oil-type cracked gas. The wetness value [(C₂+C₃)/(C₁+C₂+C₃) × 100%] ranges from 0.39% to 0.74%. The early (Ro > 1.3%) residual kerogen and crude oil cracking gas was mixed with the late (Ro > 2.0%) secondary cracking gas, resulting in the full inversion of the carbon isotope sequence (δ¹³C₁?>?δ¹³C₂?>?δ¹³C₃).     

“威远气田的气源以有机成因气为主”——与张虎权等同志再商榷

有机成因烷烃气具有以下规律：碳同位素值δ¹³C₁＜δ¹³C₂＜δ¹³C₃＜δ¹³C₄，一般δ¹³C₁＜－30‰；CH₄/³He为10⁹～10¹²。有机成因二氧化碳的δ¹³C_CO2＜－10‰。威远气田天然气的δ¹³C₁值从－31.96‰～－35.7‰，均小于－30‰，δ¹³C₁＜δ¹³C₂，CH₄/³He为1.1734×10¹⁰～2.8811×10¹⁰。其δ¹³C_CO2值从－11.16‰～－15.81‰，均小于－10‰。加之，威远气田烷烃气和二氧化碳占气体组成的主要区间为89.84%～97.16%。因此，威远气田的天然气以有机成因为主。     

Significance of GC/FT-IR and GC/MS in recognizing the sources of organic materials from sediments along the Suez Gulf Shoreline,Egypt

The present work aims to using the application of GC, GC/MS, UV, and FT/IR spectroscopy organic matters extracted from sedimentary hydrocarbons from six coastal stations located in the Gulf of Suez and proposed to evaluate hydrocarbons in the sediments. The results the origins of hydrocarbons are multiple sources from terrestrial inputs, biogenic, and pyrolytic. Abundance of vascular plant n C₂₃– n C₃₃ alkanes with a high odd-to-even predominance, pristane, and phytane beside nC₂₉/nC₁₇ ratios and the presence of biogenic hopanes indicate the predominance of biogenic in combination with petrogenic hydrocarbons. FT-IR spectroscopic analysis indicates high concentrations of aliphatic hydrocarbons as well as mono- and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons are useful tool in organic geochemistry studies. UV analysis for organic matters incorporated in sediments reveals that oil pollutants have considerable amounts of aromatic compounds.     

Influence of soil moisture on the results of surface geochemical survey applied to petroleum exploration

The quality of results obtained from surface geochemical exploration depends not only on the character of deep petroleum accumulations but also on the influence of many sub-surface factors. One of important factors is the presence of soil moisture in the sampling interval. This research presents the influence of soil moisture on concentrations of gaseous hydrocarbons in sampled soil gases. The comparative analysis was made on for two populations of gaseous hydrocarbon (methane, ethane, propane, i-butane, n-butane, propylene, 1-butene) concentrations measured in soil gas samples collected from the water-saturated (“wet” sampling interval) and water-free (“dry” sampling interval) environments. The comparison was based upon chromatographic analyses of 2974 samples of soil gas, in which 684 samples originated from “wet” sampling intervals and 2290 samples were taken from “dry” interval. Samples were collected in the areas of known gas deposits located in the Fore-sudetic Monocline (SW Poland). Samples collected from the “wet” intervals reveal higher concentrations of almost all analyzed hydrocarbons in comparison with samples from “dry” intervals. Highest differences were observed for methane concentrations and lowest — for total alkanes C₂–C₄. The increase of concentrations in “wet” sampling intervals can be explained by sub-surface accumulation of hydrocarbons caused by decreasing permeability of water-saturated soils, by the different solubilities of alkanes and alkenes in water as well as by recent generation of methane and alkenes. Considering the results obtained from the area of the Tarchaly gas deposit, it was found that surface pattern of methane anomalies does not reflect the presence of deep gas accumulations, as well as the total alkanes C₂–C₄ distribution. Hence, the procedure was proposed of elimination of soil moisture influence on the pattern of surface methane anomalies. The procedure includes normalization of measured methane concentrations to the reference levels of geochemical background, which characterize “wet” and “dry” sampling intervals. As a result, the distribution of anomalous methane concentrations was obtained, which, along with the distribution of total alkanes C₂–C₄, confirms the presence of assessed accumulation of gaseous hydrocarbons. Therefore, the proposed method is correct and supports the application of methane indicator as a petroleum exploration tool.