Importance of sulfates from subsurface waters in prospecting for oil and gas in Dnepr-Donets trough

Abstract

The presence of oil and gas deposits by their geochemical influence on subsurface water result in a lower sulfate-ion concentration than analyses made of waters of other (salt-bearing and gypsiferous formations) deposits where the sulfate concentration approaches the point of saturation. The low solubility of sulfates is considered as is the existence of sulfate reduction in nature; however, sulfate-poor waters within the sphere of oil and gas deposits are genetically related to anaerobic oxidation of hydrocarbons and may be of value in oil and gas prospecting. — ICR Staff.