Organic compounds in deep natural waters

 

Scope
Very little is known about the kind and concentration of organic compounds in formation waters, pore waters, oilfield waters and gas hydrates. These substances may originate from biological or diagenetic processes and therefore provide information on the workings of the deep biosphere and transport processes involving petroleum and heavy metals.

Our investigations will focus on the composition and concentration of the organic substrate fraction dissolved in “geologic” waters, as well as the detection of compound-specific carbon and hydrogen isotope compositions that will help to differentiate the origin of the organic substances and will tell something about ongoing processes.

Our methods will also be applied in projects investigating energy storage in aquifers and sequestration of CO2.