The genesis of hydrocarbons has been debated for more than 300 years and continues to the present. The discussion of the problem led to the formation of organic and inorganic scientific schools. Over time, the hypothesis of polygenesis was also formed.
With the development of engineering and technology, new concepts on the genesis of hydrocarbons and diamond-bearing structures were presented. One of these is the concept presented by us, according to which hydrocarbons and diamonds are formed not only at great depths of the mantle, but also at different depths of the Earth’s crust in different regions of the Earth, due to the dehydration of serpentinized rocks. Dehydration of rocks occurs in both oceanic and continental crust. Under the continental slope, due to the collision of the continental and oceanic crust, the dehydration of serpentinized rocks of the 3rd layer of the oceanic crust occurs.
Dehydration of rocks also occurs at various depths of the continental crust. Formed hydrocarbons and geofluids migrate to the upper horizons of the crust, differentiate and accumulate in fractured granites and sedimentary layers. Based on the proposed concept, the genesis of some giant deposits of the Earth, the Gulf of Mexico, the Caspian Depression, and Western Siberia is presented. According to laboratory studies, dehydration of rocks in the earth’s crust causes ultra-high pressures. Kimberlites and explosive tubes are formed from carbon-containing components present in the medium.
The proposed concept is characterized by more than 17 criteria that are set before prospecting and exploration in different regions of the Earth. The results obtained cover a wide range of issues of geology, geophysics and seismology. The results are presented to specialists for wide discussion. Further research is presented to the author in close cooperation with specialists from these fields of science from around the world.
Laboratory studies of rocks under high thermobaric conditions.Prospecting and exploration of various deposits, including oil, gas and diamonds, is based on regional geological studies, data on the structure and composition of the Earth’s crust of the studied region. For this purpose, since 1970, at the National Polytechnic University of Armenia, under high thermobaric conditions, studies of the physical and mechanical properties of rocks, including seismic, density and electrical ones, have been conducted. For different types of rocks, the intervals of changes in the velocities of seismic waves and density depending on pressure up to 20 kb.
The results were used to clarify the composition and structure of the Earth’s crust. Based on the results obtained, taking into account the actual geological and geophysical data, a petrophysical section and a model of the evolution of the Earth’s crust of the territory of the Lesser Caucasus were presented. Some geodynamic processes occurring at various depths associated with the dehydration of serpentinites and serpentinized ultrabasites have been studied.
Dehydration of rocks was accompanied by a sudden explosion with the release of gases and geofluids, with the formation of new minerals. Chromatographic studies have shown high-molecular and low-molecular hydrocarbons in the composition of geofluids.
Genesis and prevalence of serpentinized rocks in oceanic and continental crust. Serpentinized rocks are widely distributed at various depths, both in the continental and oceanic crust. The genesis of serpentinized rocks is widely discussed in the world literature. The Group of Experts believes that the serpentinization of the rocks of the Earth’s crust occurs due to the migration of products from the mantle, which react with minerals of the rocks of the Earth’s crust, subsequently serpentinized rocks are formed.
Another group of experts believes that serpentinization mainly occurs in the oceanic crust due to the seepage of oceanic water through the fractured basalt layer. Due to the hydration of pyroxenites of the upper mantle, the 3rd serpentinized layer of oceanic crust is formed under the basalt layer. Serpentinized rocks have low density, high plasticity in relation to the rocks of the overlying basalt rocks. Due to these properties, serpentinized rocks in the oceanic crust intrusively penetrate both transform faults and rift structures of the Mid-ridges. In the continental crust, where serpentinized rocks are submerged to various depths of the Earth’s crust, they intrusively penetrate to the Earth’s surface, forming ophiolite belts. These rocks, together with basalt, are also part of kimberlite structures.
The genesis of hydrocarbons during the dehydration of serpentinized rocks in the oceanic crust. According to the publication in the oceanic crust, during serpentinization of rocks of the upper mantle, hydrogen is released, which, together with carbon-containing rocks, at shallow depths of the crust, generate hydrocarbons over the entire area of the oceans. Hydrocarbons, reacting with oceanic water, form low-power, shallow layers of carbohydrates, which are widely distributed throughout the the entire area of the oceanic crust.
According to the calculations presented in the publication, during serpentinization of rocks in the 3rd layer, horizontally directed bursting stresses reaching up to 70% are formed.
In the region of the Median Ridges, a frontal collision of serpentine layers occurs. Compressive stresses are formed along the vertically located axis of the ridge in the lower part, which gradually turn into tensile stresses in the vertical direction. In the lower part of the ridge, dehydration of serpentinized rocks occurs, as a result of which hydrocarbons and geofluids are formed, which manifest themselves in the form of black and white smokers in the upper part of the ridge. Tensile stresses in the upper part of the ridge form rift structures filled with serpentinized and igneous rocks of the main composition.
In the opposite side of the oceanic crust, under the continental slope, under the influence of laterally directed forces, the collision of oceanic and continental crust occurs. Collision under the slope leads to dehydration of serpentinized rocks and the genesis of hydrocarbons and geofluids, which in a mixed state with geofluids migrate to the upper horizons of water areas and accumulate in fractured granites, and in sedimentary layers with reservoir properties
The location of giant hydrocarbon deposits on the periphery of the continents, according to the proposed concept, is associated with a collision under the water areas of the continents.
As an example, the formation of hydrocarbon deposits in the Gulf of Mexico is presented. The Gulf of Mexico. According to the publication, a white stripe is shown under the water area of the gulf, under the hydrocarbon deposits with an unknown composition. According to the proposed concept, a collision of the continental and oceanic crust occurs under the water area, the collision is accompanied by the genesis of hydrocarbons and the formation of deposits in the specified bay.
The genesis of hydrocarbons during the dehydration of serpentinized rocks in the continental crust. According to the ideas of specialists of the new global tectonics, due to the closure of the paleocene, the 3rd serpentinized layer of the oceanic crust underwent subduction, obduction during a geological time, plunging to various depths of the earth’s crust, both in geosynclinal and platform areas of the continental crust.
Serpentinized rocks have low density and high plasticity in relation to the overlying basalts and granites. Under tectonic processes, a part of serpentinized rocks along deep faults protrusively penetrates into the upper horizons of the crust forming ophiolite belts. Some of these rocks, at the site of dehydration, turned into magmatic foci (in situ). During the dehydration of rocks, hydrogen, hydrogen-containing components, geofluids and gases are released. Hydrogen-containing components, reacting with carbon-containing components, form hydrocarbons, which with geofluids, in a mixed state, migrate along deep faults to the upper horizons of the crust, accumulate in fractured granites and sedimentary layers with reservoir properties.
The transfer of masses from the lower parts of the crust to the upper ones also occurs by volcanic processes. As a result, depression areas are formed with the presence of hydrocarbon deposits, deep faults, ophiolite belts, intrusive and effusive structures. It is appropriate to note that hydrocarbon deposits together with the mentioned structures form depressions in various regions of the Earth.
Based on the proposed concept, the genesis of some giant hydrocarbon deposits in different regions of the Earth was proposed. The Caspian basin. Known hydrocarbon deposits of the North Caucasus, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, the Volga region, etc. are located within and in adjacent areas of the Caspian Basin. According to a number of publications, the paleoceanic crust was pushed (subduction) under the continental crust here. The subduction naturally led to an increase in pressure and temperature with the consequence of dehydration of serpentinized rocks that are part of the 3rd layer of the oceanic crust.
It is acceptable to assume that some of the hydrocarbons in these deposits were also formed due to the metamorphosis of the organic matter of the sedimentary layer of the oceanic crust. Western Siberia. Geological and geophysical sections in the Urals and Western Siberia were obtained by outstanding geological and geophysical organizations.
According to the presented sections, the continental crust of the Urals and Western Siberia were formulated from the Paleouralian Ocean. Under the Urals, at a depth of 41…46 km, an amphibolized-serpentinized transition layer (KM) is shown, which disappears during the transition to Western Siberia. According to proposed concepts, the specified layer with a capacity of 5…6 km is dehydrated, as a result of which fluid-saturated regions appear throughout the crust of Western Siberia. It is permissible to assume that the hydrocarbon deposits, including the Bazhenite hydrocarbon formation, within the Frolov depression of Western Siberia, have a genesis associated with the dehydration of the serpentinized layer of the Paleouralian Ocean. The West Siberian traps formed in the Florovskaya Depression are also the most important criterion of our proposed concept. A similar mechanism of volcanic processes took place in many regions of the Earth, including on the territory of Armenia.
Polygenesis of hydrocarbons. According to the results of studies on the genesis of hydrocarbons, a group of experts believe that hydrocarbons are formed both in organic and inorganic ways. The publication presents a scheme on which hydrocarbons are formed on the passive margin of the continental platform.
According to the organic hypothesis, sediments accumulating on the continental margins always contain organic matter. Sometimes (as, for example, in the deltas of the largest rivers) its concentration reaches several percent, although usually the organic matter content in such precipitation does not exceed 1%. As the continental margin descends and gradually falls asleep with precipitation, the lower layers of the sedimentary strata are compacted and warmed up by the heat flow coming from below. As a result, the sediments are lithified (converted into sedimentary rocks), and the organic matter contained in them undergoes thermolysis and gradually turns into hydrocarbons. In the presented diagram, the formation of a magmatic focus and structure within sedimentary layers at shallow depths is unlikely.
According to our proposed concept, in the presented subduction zone, at a certain depth, the dehydration of serpentinized rocks of the 3rd layer of the oceanic crust occurs, the formation of a magmatic hearth with the release of hydrogen, hydrogen-containing products and hydrocarbons. Further, volcanism occurs, the migration of these products into the upper horizons of the crust, mixing them with hydrocarbons of organic origin and accumulation in rocks with reservoir properties. The presented mechanism is one of the examples of polygenesis of hydrocarbons.
On earth, such structures include modern zones of plate displacement, active margins of continents, and foothill deflections. Application of the new concept to identify oil and gas bearing structures in different regions of the Earth. It is proposed to apply a new concept with appropriate criteria for the region for the search and exploration of oil and gas and diamond-bearing structures. As an example, the territory of Armenia was chosen. Based on the results of studies of seismic and density properties of rocks under high thermobaric conditions, as well as numerous geological and geophysical evidence, a petrophysical section and a model of the evolution of the Earth’s crust of the territory of Armenia were presented. The seismic section obtained after the 1988 Spitak catastrophic earthquake, together with the identified 15 criteria, were used to clarify possible oil and gas structures on the territory of Armenia.
The serpentinized layer located at a depth of 35…45 km, as a result of tectonic processes, underwent dehydration, after which hydrocarbons and geofluids were formed, which migrated along deep faults to the upper horizons of the crust and accumulated in structures located at a depth of 4.0…12.0 km. Above these structures are low-power cover layers. It is proposed after conducting a detailed seismic survey or radar (radio-location sounding), to clarify the point of the drilling rig.
The genesis of diamond-bearing structures in the continental crust. Due to global tectonic processes, relics of serpentinized rocks of the Paleocene are preserved at different depths of the continental crust, including in ancient shields and platforms. Due to changes in tectonic conditions and regional metamorphism, thermobaric parameters increase. Dehydration in various regions naturally leads to an explosion and the creation of super-high pressures and temperatures, as a result of which metamorphogenic diamonds are formed from carbon-containing components in the medium. It is proposed to consider vertically arranged, high-resistance two structures as explosive tubes, with exploration work for diamond content. Depending on the depth of the dehydrating masses, the following are formed: a) kimberlite structures with their shallow laying, b) explosion tubes with their deep laying.
From the above factual data, it becomes clear that there are no diamond-bearing structures in the oceanic crust, due to the non-creation of ultrahigh pressures there. The petrophysical section, the evolution of the Earth’s crust of the region, as well as the above geological and geophysical data made it possible to present a new concept for the simultaneous and joint genesis of earthquakes, hydrocarbons, diamond-bearing structures, geofluids, mud volcanoes and deposits of precious and non-ferrous metals within the earth’s crust.
The proposed concept is characterized by more than 17 criteria that ensure the success of prospecting and exploration of oil and gas and diamond-bearing structures in various regions of the Earth. The results of the research are summarized in the following diagram.
Main conclusions
- Based on the results of studies of seismic and density properties of rocks at high pressures and temperatures, as well as taking into account numerous geological and geophysical data, the composition, structure and evolution of the Earth’s crust of the studied region, the Lesser Caucasus, is proposed.
- Under high thermobaric conditions, the geodynamic process associated with the dehydration of serpentinized rocks, which are widespread both in the continental and oceanic crust, has been studied. Dehydration causes an explosion, ultrahigh pressures, and the release of hydrogen, hydrogen-containing components, geofluids, and other components.
- As a result of chemical reactions between hydrogen-containing and carbon-containing components, hydrocarbons are formed.
- Hydrocarbons and geofluids in a mixed state migrate to the upper horizons of the crust and accumulate both in fractured granites and in sedimentary layers with reservoir properties.
- Calculations show that due to serpentinization in the 3rd layer of the oceanic crust, horizontally directed bursting stresses reaching up to 70% are formed over the entire area of the oceans.
- These stresses under the water areas of the continents create a collision, as a result of which the dehydration of serpentinized ultrabasic occurs, geofluids, hydrogen, and hydrogen-containing components are released, which form carbohydrates with carbon-containing components. Geofluids and hydrocarbons in a mixed state migrate to the upper horizons, and accumulate in the sedimentary layers of the shelf and the continental slope. The proof is the hydrocarbon deposits on the periphery of the continents.
- In the Middle ridges, due to a frontal collision, dehydration also occurs in the lower part of the ridge due to horizontally directed compressive forces. Along the vertically positioned axis of the ridge, the compressive forces gradually shift to the stretching ones, as a result of which the median ridges are formed. Protrusions of serpentinized rocks are also found in transform faults.
- As a result of global tectonic processes, the relics of the paleoceanic crust appeared at various depths of the continental crust. Changes in thermobaric conditions in various regions of the Earth lead to the dehydration of serpentinized rocks, which is accompanied by an explosion, the formation of an igneous hearth (in situ), and the release of geofluids and hydrocarbons. Then they migrated to the upper horizons of the crust and accumulated in fractured granites, and in sedimentary layers with reservoir properties. Part of the serpentinized rocks protrusively penetrated through deep faults into the upper parts of the crust, forming ophiolite structures.
- Migration along deep faults of huge masses from the lower part of the crust, as well as volcanism to the upper horizons, led to the formation of depressions in various regions of the Earth. These include the well-known hydrocarbon deposits of the Caspian and Frolov depression (Western Siberia).
- Dehydration causes ultra-high pressures. Diamond-bearing kimberlites and explosion tubes are formed from the carbon and carbon-containing components existing in the volume, at sufficient pressure.
- Based on the research results, a new concept is presented called “Dehydration of rocks as a source of the genesis of earthquakes, hydrocarbons, diamond-bearing structures, geofluids, deposits of non-ferrous and precious metals, mud volcanoes in different depths of the Earth’s crust in different regions of the Earth.”
- In addition to the results presented in publications, the formation of earthquake foci, mud volcanoes, deposits of non-ferrous and precious metals, as well as the mechanism of tsunami formation associated with landslide phenomena within the Middle Ridges are presented.
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