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Characterization and Comparative Study of Onshore Hydrocarbon Seepages and Petroleum Plays in Central Iran and Southeastern Brazil using Spectral Remote Sensing

Grant number: 15/06663-7
Support Opportunities:Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
Start date: March 01, 2016
End date: February 28, 2018
Field of knowledge:Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Geosciences - Geology
Principal Investigator:Carlos Roberto de Souza Filho
Grantee:Saeid Asadzadeh
Host Institution: Instituto de Geociências (IG). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Hydrocarbon (HC) reservoirs leak to the surface over time and produce discernible physio-chemical and mineralogical transformations on the surface, which are described within microseepage theory. Microseepage-induced surfaces are characterized by (1) anomalous gas concentration; (2) microbial and geobotanical anomalies; (3) mineralogical changes such as clay alterations, and the formation of carbonates, sulfides, and elemental sulfur; (4) bleached facies; (5) electrochemical changes; (6) magmatic iron oxides and sulfides; and (7) radiation anomalies. Many of these mineral collections (e.g. clays, carbonates, and iron oxides) show diagnostic spectral features within visible-near infrared and shortwave infrared wavelengths. Accordingly they have been the subject of many remote sensing-based studies. Despite the many attempts to develop a fast, and cost-effective remote sensing (RS) tool for target generation, play evaluation, and risk reduction, there is still a large gap between the capability of RS, the achieved results, and the demand of industry. Iran holds one of the largest reserves of onshore HCs in the world, while being ruled by semi-arid climate. As a result, most of its HC-prone expanses have exceptionally well-exposed bedrocks. Considering the Qom sedimentary basin in Iran as a control area, this research aims to employ state-of-the-art technology in a multi-scale framework to reveal the presence of HC on the surface, understand the chemical and physical processes responsible for lithological alteration, assess the effects of climate and weathering, and then establish HC-induced mineralogical indicators that would be detectable by RS approaches. To achieve such objectives, this work will integrate evidence from (1) broad-scale alteration maps extracted from ASTER, Landsat, and WorldView-3 satellite datasets, (2) field investigation and extensive sampling scheme, (3) close-range spectroscopy, and (4) analytical geochemistry. To build up a clear picture of the changes, the mineralogy, geochemistry, and petrography of the seep-affected facies will be contrasted with intact outcrops.There are several lines of evidence that suggest similarities in mineralogy between exhumed HC reservoirs and microseepage-induced facies. To have a deeper understanding of such indications, and to draw an analogy between these two phenomena, we have devised a second study case in the Anhembi area, in southeastern of Brazil, within which a series of close-range spectral measurements, as well as far-range WorldView-3 orbital data is incorporated.Given the level of exposure of the bedrock lithology in the Qom study area and large extent of red beds, it is an ideal laboratory to study seepage phenomenology on outcrop to reservoir scale and establish representative models and methods that could be used worldwide in areas that are geologically poorly known, or where accesses to the bedrock is limited by environmental constraints.

News published in Agência FAPESP Newsletter about the scholarship:
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Scientific publications (7)
(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)
ASADZADEH, SAEID; DE SOUZA FILHO, CARLOS ROBERTO; NANNI, MARCOS R.; BATEZELLI, ALESSANDRO. Multi-scale mapping of oil-sands in Anhembi (Brazil) using imaging spectroscopy. International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation, v. 82, . (17/25002-7, 15/06663-7)
DE SOUZA FILHO, CARLOS ROBERTO; ASADZADE, SAEID; IEEE. MULTI-SCALE INVESTIGATION OF HYDROCARBON PLAYS: AN ASSESSMENT BASED ON ORBITAL MULTISPECTRAL, AIRBORNE AND CLOSE-RANGE HYPERSPECTRAL DATA. IGARSS 2018 - 2018 IEEE INTERNATIONAL GEOSCIENCE AND REMOTE SENSING SYMPOSIUM, v. N/A, p. 3-pg., . (15/06663-7)
ASADZADEH, SAEID; DE SOUZA FILHO, CARLOS ROBERTO; NANNI, MARCOS R.; BATEZELLI, ALESSANDRO. Multi-scale mapping of oil-sands in Anhembi (Brazil) using imaging spectroscopy. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF APPLIED EARTH OBSERVATION AND GEOINFORMATION, v. 82, p. 13-pg., . (17/25002-7, 15/06663-7)
ASADZADEH, SAEID; DE SOUZA FILHO, CARLOS ROBERTO. Iterative Curve Fitting: A Robust Technique to Estimate the Wavelength Position and Depth of Absorption Features From Spectral Data. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON GEOSCIENCE AND REMOTE SENSING, v. 54, n. 10, p. 5964-5974, . (15/06663-7)
ASADZADEH, SAEID; DE SOUZA FILHO, CARLOS ROBERTO. Spectral remote sensing for onshore seepage characterization: A critical overview. EARTH-SCIENCE REVIEWS, v. 168, p. 48-72, . (15/06663-7)
Academic Publications
(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)