Organic Geochemistry of Hydrothermal-petroleum Seepage at the Geothermal Region of Waiotapu, North Island, New Zealand

Abstract

Hydrothermal-petroleum and hydrothermally-altered mud in Mud Volcano were collected from the geothermal region of Waiotapu, North Island, New Zealand. Biomarker composition and carbon isotopic composition of individual n-alkanes were examined for these samples, and a characterization was carried for a comparison with hydrothermal-petroleum, hydrothermally-altered mud, and reservoir petroleum.
The hydrothermal-petroleum, and hydrothermally-altered mud are characterized by low CPI, low Ts/ (Ts + Tm) ratio, a significant amount of anteiso-alkane and 17 β (H) -hopane, a small amount of isoprenoid alkane and UCM, and lack of hopene and sterene.