ISOTOPIC GEOCHEMISTRY OF MUD VOLCANO FLUIDS

Abstract

This work is focused on the study of isotope geochemical characteristics of mud volcano fluids on the basis of 39 objects of research within the territory of Shamakhy-Gobustan and Low Kura oil and gas bearing regions of Azerbaijan. Chemical and isotopic composition of gases and waters of mud volcanoes are considered in the paper. As the results of fluid studies show, methane (86-95%) is the predominant gas, the isotopic composition of methane carbon changes in the range from - 61‰ to -25‰, carbon dioxide - from -39.4‰ to +30.6‰, with the total concentration in the samples not exceeding 5%. The isotopic composition of nitrogen was considered for the first time and its average value doesn’t exceed -3‰.Water of mud volcanoes is represented mainly by hydrocarbonate-sodium type, and their formation depths are estimated at 2-5 km.