Abstract
Summary Three parameters of natural gases, i.e. the 13C/12C and D/H ratio of methane and the C 2 + content have been arranged in new diagrams for the genetic characterisation of natural gases. The principal gas provinces of Central Europe are discussed with regard to the various processes of gas formation. Three gas producing geological ‘Stockwerke’ can be distinguished: (1) Palaeozoic: Producing mostly gases from coal measures (southern North Sea, the Netherlands, NW Germany) (2) Mesozoic: Predominantly gases associated with oils (northern North Sea, NW Germany, S Germany, Italy) (3) Tertiary: Bacterial gases reservoired in Tertiary basins and thermogenic or mixed gases accumulated in Tertiary and pre-Tertiary basins (S Germany, Austria, Italy). Isotopic and molecular changes found in all gases investigated can be explained by processes during formation of the gases (‘primary gases’) and simple process of mixing of primary gases. Specifically, isotope patterns in young sedimentary basins argue against diffusion as a dominant process that controls compositional variations in natural gases.
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