Organic biogeochemical study of deeper southeastern Bengal Basin sediments in West Bengal, India. (August 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Behera, Pravat Kumar; Das, Supriyo Kumar; Ghosh, Devanita; Mani, Devleena; Kalpana, M.S.; Ikehara, Minoru; Patel, Priyank Pravin
• Is Part Of: Organic geochemistry. Volume 170(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-08
• Subjects: Bengal Basin -- Kerogen type and maturity -- Stable isotopes -- Methanogenic archaea -- Alkanes; Organic geochemistry -- Periodicals; Biogeochemistry -- Periodicals; Géochimie organique -- Périodiques; 553.205
• DOI: 10.1016/j.orggeochem.2022.104451
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0146-6380

Abstract

Highlights: Aquatic and C3 terrestrial plant sources in Miocene-Pleistocene sediments. Tidal flat and marshy conditions of sediment deposition. Isoprenoid alkanes indicate oxic-suboxic depositional environments. Presence of Type III and Type IV kerogen in sedimentary organic matter. E-DNA shows the presence of methanogenic archaea in deep Miocene sediments. Abstract: The Bengal Basin is a fluvio-deltaic basin spanning Bangladesh and part of east and northeast India. The evolution of the peripheral foreland basin has been studied, but published literature on depositional conditions, source and maturity of organic matter in the deeper sediments of the Indian section of the basin is rare, despite the fact that natural gas is often encountered during hydrocarbon exploration. Our research assesses the depositional environment and source of the organic matter (OM) in the Pleistocene-Miocene sediments from five wells drilled by Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited in the southeastern Bengal Basin, West Bengal, India and aims to understand its maturity and potential to yield natural gas. The total organic carbon/nitrogen ratio and stable isotope (δ 13 C and δ 15 N) signature indicate primarily aquatic and C3 terrestrial plant sources of the OM and deposition under tidal flat and marshy environments. The n -alkane and isoprenoid alkane distribution are consistent with an autochthonous source of OM and terrestrial oxic-suboxic shallow-water depositional setting. The Rock-Eval parameters, such as maximal pyrolysis temperature, hydrogen and oxygen indices, indicate the immature nature of Type III and Type IV kerogen. The presence of methanogenic archaea, as indicated by phylogenetic analysis, in two Miocene sediment samples from one well indicates an active microbial activity in Type III immature OM, derived from C3 marsh vegetation and deposited under oxic shallow-water conditions. Our research describes the presence of methanogenic archaea for the first time in Miocene Bengal Basin sediments and is one of the few reports of their presence in deep (> 4000 m) horizons.