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Armstrong, F.E. and R.J. Heemstra, 1973. Radiation halos and hydrocarbon reservoirs: A review.
U.S. Bureau of Mines Information Circular, 8579.
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Reviewed 237 papers on radiometric prospecting for oil and
gas. 85% reported that relationship exists. Balance disagree (reviewed by J.G.
Morse, et al., 1982).
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P. O. Banks and D. T. Ghahremani, Fracture control of radon leakage, Moreland Hills, Ohio:
Implications for shale gas exploration:
Association of Petroleum Geochemical Explorationists Bulletin, v. 3, n. 1, p. 40-55. 1987
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See paper below by Ghahremani.
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Card, J.W., K. Bell, G.M. Denham, and S.R.A. Shah. "Radon decay product measurements in radiometric uranium
exploration: implications for petroleum exploration." The Oil and Gas Journal 83 (June 24, 1985): 114(5).
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Includes a reference to a paper by Merritt, 1959 (see below).
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Dyck, W. and J.R.Jonason, 2000, Geochemical Remote Sensing of the Sub-Surface, Edited by: Hale, M. © 2000 Elsevier,
Chapter 11 on radon
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An extensive scientific discussion of the geochemistry of radon
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K. Fan, T. Kuo, Y. Han, C. Chen, C. Lin and C. Lee, 2007
Radon distribution in a gasoline-contaminated aquifer
Radiation Measurements
Volume 42, Issue 3, Pages 479-485
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Abstract:
"Naturally occurring radon-222 gas in groundwater was investigated as a partitioning tracer to detect non-aqueous phase liquid
(NAPL) in a gasoline-contaminated aquifer. The radon-222 activity of groundwater decreased significantly from an average
of 7.38 +/- 1.68 Bq/L measured in monitoring wells located upgradient in the uncontaminated zone to an average of
2.30 +/- 0.60 Bq/L measured in monitoring wells inside the NAPL source zone.
Meanwhile, the radium-226 concentrations measured in aquifer matrix were virtually homogeneous at several locations
both upgradient of and inside the NAPL source zone. Furthermore, the NAPL concentration obtained from the
Radon Deficit Factor agrees reasonably with the results derived from direct sampling and chemical analysis of soil samples
taken from the residual NAPL source zone.
The field results of this study confirmed the general applicability of groundwater radon to detect residual NAPL source zone."
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J.E. Garcia-Gonzalez, M.F. Ortega, E. Chacon, LF. Mazadiego, E. De Miguel, 2008
Crupo de Ceoquimica Ambiental, Universidad Politecnica de Madrid, E.T.S. Ingenieros de Minas, Alenza 4, 28003 Madrid, Spain
Field validation of radon monitoring as a screening methodology
for NAPL-contaminated sites
Applied Geochemistry, Volume 23, Issue 9, September 2008, Pages 2753-2758
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If a non aqueous phase liquid (NAPL) is present,
radon is enriched in the NAPL and depleted in the gas phase.
There is less radon free to enter our sampling tool and we should find low radon values over
hydrocarbon enrichments.
Based on a field study of 67 station, the authors conclude:
"...as was
theoretically predicted, reductions of Rn concentration in
soil air above subsurface accumulations of hydrocarbons
can be deterministically differentiated from background
values (the former being between 5 and 10 times lower
than the latter) under real field conditions."
"Emanometry has the advantage that it can locate
and determine the boundaries of free-phase plumes of
contaminants even when the amount of organic vapors
reaching the surface is very low or non-existent."
The paper cites a number of studies which gave similar results.
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Ghahremani, D. T. 1985. Radon Prospecting for Hydrocarbon: Potential Strategy for Devonian Shale Gas
in N.E. Ohio; PhD Thesis, Department of Geological Sciences, Case Western Reserve University,
259p.
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They hypothesized that shale gas yields will be optimized where natural fracturing of the shales
is greatest, and that such fracturing will allow radon to migrate to surface causing radon
anomalies in soil gas.
They measured radon in soil gas at 600 sites and found localized anomalies associated with
bedrock
fracturing as revealed by topographic lineaments. They found anomalously high levels of light
and heavy hydrocarbons where radon levels were highest. The hydrocarbon composition is more
like Devonian shale gas than of Clinton or other gases.
See note below.
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SIGNIFICANCE OF RADON/HYDROCARBON SEEPS IN PETROLEUM EXPLORATION
Darioush T. Ghahreinani, TerraTech International, Inc.,
P.O. Box 22288, Cleveland, Ohio 44122, 1988?
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See paper above by Ghahremani.
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Heemstra, R.J. and R.M. May, T.C. Weeson, J.R. Abrams, and G.A. Moore, 1979. A critical
laboratory and field evaluation of selected surface prospecting techniques for locating oil
and natural gas. BETC/RI-78-18. U.S. Department of Energy, January.
|
This paper looks interesting. It discusses the upward
movement or radium in solution in formation waters. I am still trying to find the paper. |
| R. W. Klusman and J. A. Jaacks, Environmental influences upon mercury, radon and helium
concentrations in soil gases at a site near Denver, Colorado:
Journal of Geochemical Exploration, v. 27, p. 259-280. 1987
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annotations later |
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Langford, G.T., 1962. Radiation surveys and oil search. World Oil, pp114-118, April.
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annotations later |
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LeSchack, L.A., and D.R. Van Alstine, 2002, High-resolution ground-magnetic (HRGM) and
radiometric surveys for hydrocarbon exploration: six case histories in Western Canada,
in Surface exploration case histories: Applications of geochemistry, magnetics
and remote sensing, D. Schumacher and L.A. LeSchack, eds., AAPG Studies in Geology No. 48
and SEG Geophysical References Series No. 11, p. 67-156.
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see http://www.cseg.ca/publications/recorder/1994/10oct/oct94-magnetic-horizontal.pdf
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Yan-Li Li and Chun-Ming Lin,
Exploration methods for late Quaternary shallow biogenic gas reservoirs in the Hangzhou Bay area, eastern China
AAPG Bulletin November 2010 v. 94 no. 11 p. 1741-1759
| annotations later
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Li Y.L., Yuan G.-J. and Peng D., 2006.
Discussion on geochemical exploration predicts the depth of oil reservoir (Chinese).
Wutan Huatan Jisuan Jushu 2006 28/4 (367-371). Abstract in Geological Abstracts 2007 #2973.
|
We only have the abstract. The authors claim that the
pattern of radon values at
surface can help predict the depth of an oil reservoir.
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Mansker, William L.,(1989)
Applied Radon Geochemistry in Oil and Gas Exploration: ABSTRACT, AAPG Bulletin Volume 73, p1166
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"...uranium tends to remain in residual hydrocarbon fluids, whereas radium tends to associate with brines.
Upward microseepage of brines transports and precipitates radium within reduced geochemical columns.
Positive radon anomalies over reservoirs are associated with transported subsurface and near-surface radium."
States that good radon anomalies found over fields at depths greater than 6,000 feet and
"...high-resolution traverses appear to sharply define reservoir boundaries."
Unfortunately, we only have the abstract, and none of these claims are referenced.
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Matolin, M.; Abraham, M.; Hanak, J.; Kasparec, I.; Stranik, Z.
GEOCHEMICAL AND GEOPHYSICAL ANOMALIES AT THE ZDANICE OIL- AND GASFIELD, SE CZECH REPUBLIC,
Journal of Petroleum Geology, Volume 31, Number 1, January 2008 , pp. 97-108(12).
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We only have the abstract. It includes much of the same data, interpretation and conclusions as
the next paper, plus they also analysed a number of rock samples and noted the same decrease
in K, U and Th levels over the OPZ.
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M. Matolin, Z. Stranik, Radioactivity of sedimentary rocks over the Ždánice
hydrocarbon field
Geophysical Journal International, vol. 167, no 3, pp1491-1500, 2006
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At the Ždánice field in the Czech Republic the oil and gas reservoir is at a
depth of 900 meters. The paper gives results of gamma-ray spectrometry and radon and thoron
determinations at 388 stations along two profiles of 6880 and 8335 meters length.
Gamma-ray spectrometry shows decreases of K, U and Th over the oil productive zone (OPZ) which
the authors ascribe to "leaching of natural radioelements caused by hydrocarbon-generated
groundwater acids." They also noted increased levels of radon and thoron over the OPZ, which
they attribute to enhanced gas emanation from U- and Th-bearing minerals decomposed by these same
groundwater acids ("enhanced emanation power").
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MA Zhi-fei LIU Hong-fu ZHANG Xin-jun
Analysis of The Cause of Radon Anomaly over Oil and Gas Reservior Based on Theory of
Helium-Radon Clusters
MA Zhi-fei LIU Hong-fu ZHANG Xin-jun,
Taiyuan University of Technology
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They report a halo-like radon anomaly over an oil and gas
reservoir. The link to the left has the abstract in English. The abstract is brief and we
have copied it as follows:
"The halo-like radon anomaly over oil and gas reservior can instruct the border clearly and it may provide some useful
information for oil and gas exploration. This paper analysied and summaried the general understanding of its causes firstly,
then used the theory of helium-radon cluster to explain the phenomenon, provided some enlightenments for basic theoretical
researching of oil and gas exploration by using radon."
You can see the full text (5 pages) in Chinese at
http://www.paper.edu.cn/en/downloadpaper.php?serial_number=200804-142&type=1.
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Merritt, J.W., 1959
Geochemistry and radiation surveying for oil and gas.
Proc. 20th International Geological Congess, Cuidad de Mexico, 1956, Symposium de
Exploracion Geoquimica, v. 2, p283-302.
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I haven't yet found this paper. As referenced in Card and Denham (see above), it contains a
report of a "spectacular
gamma-ray anomaly associated with the margins of East Texas field".
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Morse, J.G., M.H. Rana and L. Morse, Radon mapping as indicators of subsurface oil and gas:
Oil & Gas Journal 80(May 10, 1982) p.227-246.
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Their model calls for radon anomalies at surface due to dissolved radium in upward
migrating formation water, and possibly radon carried by upward moving gaseous hydrocarbons.
This would result in anomalously high radon values over the edge of the trap, and anomalously
low values over the inside of the trap, ideally in the form of a halo.
They surveyed radon in soil gas over a portion of the Irondale field in the Denver basin, which
produces oil from a depth of 7,000 feet. They used an RD-200 portable radon detector,
the same type of
instrument which we provide.
Their results show a well defined band of high radon values between a producing well and
a dry hole, suggesting the boundary or halo effect described above.
See note below.
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Radon Measurement for Oil & Gas Exploration, Pakistan Institute of Science and Technology
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annotations later |
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Soil radon gas surveying: an exploration tool for oil and natural gas,
Presented at Saudi Aramco (30 June, 1996).
|
annotations later |
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Sikka, D. B. 1959. A Radiometric Survey of Redwater Oilfield, Alberta, Canada; Ph.D. Thesis, McGill
University, Montreal, P.Q., p.218.
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annotations later |
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Sikka, D.B. and R.B.K. Shives, 2001. Mechanisms to Explain the Formation of Geochemical Anomalies Over Oilfields
AAPG HEDBERG CONFERENCE
"Near-Surface Hydrocarbon Migration: Mechanisms and Seepage Rates"
SEPTEMBER 16-19, 2001, VANCOUVER, BC, CANADA
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annotations later |
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Sikka, D.B. and R.B.K. Shives, 2002. Radiometric Surveys of Redwater Oilfield, Alberta: Early Surface
Exploration Case Histories Suggest Mechanisms for the Development of Hydrocarbon-related
Geochemical Anomalies, in Surface exploration case histories: Applications of geochemistry, magnetics
and remote sensing, D. Schumacher and L.A. LeSchack, eds., AAPG Studies in Geology No. 48
and SEG Geophysical References Series No. 11, 243-297.
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annotations later |
Saunders, Donald F. and Martin J. Davidson
Radiometric methods, 1945-2002 in
Articles and scientific papers on surface geochemical exploration for petroleum.
A collection in the DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University
Link
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56 references |
Integrated radiometric prospecting for petroleum in the Kailu Basin, Inner Mongolia, China
Sun Zhongjun, Zhu Bingqiu, Du Guangtong, Yu Hui, Wang Wei and Liu Haisheng
Institute of Geophysical and Geochemical Exploration, Langfang, Hebei 102849, China
Journal of Geochemical Exploration
Volume 55, Issues 1-3, December 1995, Pages 275-282
Geochemical Exploration 1993
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annotations later |
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Tilsley, J.E. and R.J. Nicholls, 1993.
Investigation of soil gas radon as a petroleum exploration technique,
Ontario Geological Survey, Open File Report No. 5876
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After this web site opens, you have to go down on the left and click on "ofr5876.pdf"
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Tripp, R. Maurice, 1945.
Measurement of soil-air ions over the Fort Collins Anticline.
Geophysics, Vol. X, p238-247
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He used an ionization chamber to measure radon in soil gas
and corrected the data for temperature, barometric pressure and wind condition. "Stations
which were reoccupied at successive intervals over a period of several days or weeks checked
very well." He tested 53 points and contoured the results to compare them with the structural
contours of the anticline. Correlation of radon values with the anticline is good.
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Weart R C, Heimberg G., 1981. Exploration Radiometrics: Postsurvey Drilling Results, Unconventional Methods in
Exploration for Petroleum and Natural Gas .Southern Methodist Univ Press,1981, pages 116-123.
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I am still looking for this paper. |
Note: It is likely that if the authors had used our formula to distinguish between
radon and thoron,
and plotted both the radon and radon/thoron ratios, results would have been better.
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