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Fluid and gas migration in the North German Basin: fluid inclusion and stable isotope constraints

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Abstract

Fluid inclusions have been studied in minerals infilling fissures (quartz, calcite, fluorite, anhydrite) hosted by Carboniferous and Permian strata from wells in the central and eastern part of the North German Basin in order to decipher the fluid and gas migration related to basin tectonics. The microthermometric data and the results of laser Raman spectroscopy reveal compelling evidence for multiple events of fluid migration. The fluid systems evolved from a H2O–NaCl±KCl type during early stage of basin subsidence to a H2O–NaCl–CaCl2 type during further burial. Locally, fluid inclusions are enriched in K, Cs, Li, B, Rb and other cations indicating intensive fluid–rock interaction of the saline brines with Lower Permian volcanic rocks or sediments. Fluid migration through Carboniferous sediments was often accompanied by the migration of gases. Aqueous fluid inclusions in quartz from fissures in Carboniferous sedimentary rocks are commonly associated with co-genetically trapped CH4–CO2 inclusions. P–T conditions estimated, via isochore construction, yield pressure conditions between 620 and 1,650 bar and temperatures between 170 and 300°C during fluid entrapment. The migration of CH4-rich gases within the Carboniferous rocks can be related to the main stage of basin subsidence and stages of basin uplift. A different situation is recorded in fluid inclusions in fissure minerals hosted by Permian sandstones and carbonates: aqueous fluid inclusions in calcite, quartz, fluorite and anhydrite are always H2O–NaCl–CaCl2-rich and show homogenization temperatures between 120 and 180°C. Co-genetically trapped gas inclusions are generally less frequent. When present, they show variable N2–CH4 compositions but contain no CO2. P–T reconstructions indicate low-pressure conditions during fluid entrapment, always below 500 bar. The entrapment of N2–CH4 inclusions seems to be related to phases of tectonic uplift during the Upper Cretaceous. A potential source for nitrogen in the inclusions and reservoirs is Corg-rich Carboniferous shales with high nitrogen content. Intensive interaction of brines with Carboniferous or even older shales is proposed from fluid inclusion data (enrichment in Li, Ba, Pb, Zn, Mg) and sulfur isotopic compositions of abundant anhydrite from fissures. The mainly light δ34S values of the fissure anhydrites suggest that sulfate is either derived through oxidation and re-deposition of biogenic sulfur or through mixing of SO 2−4 -rich formation waters with variable amounts of dissolved biogenic sulfide. An igneous source for nitrogen seems to be unlikely since these rocks have low total nitrogen content and, furthermore, even extremely altered volcanic rocks from the study area do not show a decrease in total nitrogen content.

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Acknowledgements

This paper benefited significantly from reviews by Rudy Svennen (Leuven) and a (nearly) unknown reviewer of the International Journal of Sciences (Geologische Rundschau). We are indebted to EEG Berlin/Gaz de France, BEB Hannover and ExxonMobil Hannover/Celle for providing sample material. The study received financial support from the Deutsche Forschungsgesellschaft (DFG) Bonn.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam, Telegrafenberg, 14473, Potsdam, Germany

    Volker Lüders & Birgit Mingram

  2. Geowissenschaftliches Zentrum Göttingen, Goldschmidtstr. 1-3, 37077, Göttingen, Germany

    Christian Reutel

  3. Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe, Dienstbereich Berlin, Wilhelmstraße 25-30, 13593, Berlin, Germany

    Peer Hoth

  4. School of Earth Sciences, University of Leeds, LS29JT, Leeds, UK

    David A. Banks

  5. Department of Earth Sciences, Institute for Isotope Geochemistry and Mineral Resources, ETH Zürich, Sonneggstr. 5, CH-8092, Zurich, Switzerland

    Thomas Pettke

Authors
  1. Volker Lüders
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  2. Christian Reutel
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  3. Peer Hoth
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  4. David A. Banks
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  5. Birgit Mingram
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  6. Thomas Pettke
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Correspondence to Volker Lüders.

Appendix

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Table 4 Fluid inclusion microthermometric data
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Lüders, V., Reutel, C., Hoth, P. et al. Fluid and gas migration in the North German Basin: fluid inclusion and stable isotope constraints. Int J Earth Sci (Geol Rundsch) 94, 990–1009 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00531-005-0013-2

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