Lampe, C. and Schwark, Lorenz (2012) USING GEOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS TO IDENTIFY A SPATIAL MATURITY ANOMALY-AN EXAMPLE FROM THE UPPER RHINE GRABEN, GERMANY. In: Analyzing the Thermal History of Sedimentary Basins: Methods and Case Studies. , ed. by Harris, N. B. and Peters, K. E.. Society for Sedimentary Geology Special Publication (103). S E P M - Soc Sedimentary Geology, Tulsa, pp. 187-198. ISBN 1060-071X978-1-56576-315-9

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Abstract

Measurements of dispersed vitrinite in several exploration wells within the Tertiary and Quaternary rift sediments of the northern Upper Rhine Graben indicate a complex thermal history. While most wells show "normal" increasing maturity trends with' depth, some lack any obvious trend. One of the investigated wells, Nordheim-1, even features a bell-shaped downhole anomaly having an inverse maturation trend. Abnormal maturation effects, such as oxidation, reworking, or deposition of previously coalified material from the hinterland, are ruled out as a result of the relative position of the well with respect to the graben shoulders or active fault systems. Thus, secondary maturation caused by focused, lateral hydrothermal fluid flow has been proposed. To verify the measured maturity anomaly organic (Rock-Eval pyrolysis, methylphenanthrene distribution), geochemical analyses were used to obtain independent data for comparison. T-max values from Rock-Eval pyrolysis and various ratios of methylphenanthrene isomers indicate abnormally high maturities at shallow depth. Like the vitrinite reflectance values, these techniques show maturities that are inconsistent with their present burial depth but support enhanced convective hydrothermal heat flow in these strata. The consistency of results obtained using independent techniques verifies a hydrothermal origin of the maturity anomaly and excludes other modes of alteration.

Document Type:	Book chapter
Additional Information:	Ucon Geoconsulting, D-50823 Cologne, Germany. Univ Kiel, Inst Geosci, D-24118 Kiel, Germany. Lampe, C (reprint author), Ucon Geoconsulting, Piusstr 22A, D-50823 Cologne, Germany. c.lampe@ucon4d.com
Keywords:	Upper Rhine Graben maturity anomaly convective heat flow methylphenanthrene index transient heat flow effects continental rift basins thermal history aromatic-hydrocarbons petroleum generation sedimentary basin alberta basin fluid-flow new-mexico model migration
Research affiliation:	Kiel University OceanRep > The Future Ocean - Cluster of Excellence
Publisher:	S E P M - Soc Sedimentary Geology
Projects:	Future Ocean
Date Deposited:	14 May 2014 09:52
Last Modified:	23 Sep 2019 23:14
URI:	https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/24081

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