Mercury in Gas and Oil Deposits
N.A. OZEROVA, N.P. MASIIYANOV, Yu. 1. PIKOVSKY, V.V. RYZHov, A.E. CHERNOVA,
A.A. GANEEV, S.E. SIIOLUPOV, and L.A. DOBRYANSKY
The main regularities of location of mercury-bearing gas and oil deposits are discussed. The mantle
source of mercury in these deposits is debated. Correlative relations of mercury with other elements are
described. Some evaluation examples of reserves of mercury in gas and oil deposits with high mercury
content are given. Examples of regional and local prognosis of mercury-bearing deposits are shown.
1
Introduction
The study of mercury occurrences in oil and gas deposits was started in the
1960s. The paragenesis of mercury with hydrocarbons was not suggested earlier.
Pioneer works in this direction were published by Bailey et a1. (1961); Acterberg
and Zaanen (1972); Morrison (1972); Tunn (1973, 1976); Dickenstein et a1. (1973);
Glogoczowsky et a1. (1977). Our investigations in the areas of the former Soviet
Union (fSU) are also related to this period: Saukov et a1. (1972) and Ozerova et al.
(1974). More intensive studies began to be produced in the 1980s and 1990S. Our
study took place in different parts of the fSU, such as Central Asia, Kazakhstan,
North Caucasus, Caspian Region, Ukraine, Kamchatka and Siberia. Work in
Croatia was also carried out. We do not propose to make a detailed examination
of mercury behaviour in gas and oil deposits in the current chapter. Our main
task is to report the main regularities of mercury distribution in these deposits.
The same applies to methods of mercury analysis: we give an account of only the
principles of mercury determination and mention the appropriate papers for a
fuller explanation of the methods.
2
Methods of Determination of Mercury
We used chemical methods of determination of mercury during the first period
of investigation.
Gas was pumped through the barbater with a known mercury absorber, iodine
solution in iodine potash, at 40-60 l!h. The volume of pumped air is about n· 100
Environmental Science
Mercury Contaminated Sites (ed. by R. Ebinghaus et al.)
© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 1999
N.A. OZEROVA, N.P. MASIIYANOV, Yu. 1. PIKOVSKY, V.V. RYZHov, A.E. CHERNOVA,
A.A. GANEEV, S.E. SIIOLUPOV, and L.A. DOBRYANSKY
The main regularities of location of mercury-bearing gas and oil deposits are discussed. The mantle
source of mercury in these deposits is debated. Correlative relations of mercury with other elements are
described. Some evaluation examples of reserves of mercury in gas and oil deposits with high mercury
content are given. Examples of regional and local prognosis of mercury-bearing deposits are shown.
1
Introduction
The study of mercury occurrences in oil and gas deposits was started in the
1960s. The paragenesis of mercury with hydrocarbons was not suggested earlier.
Pioneer works in this direction were published by Bailey et a1. (1961); Acterberg
and Zaanen (1972); Morrison (1972); Tunn (1973, 1976); Dickenstein et a1. (1973);
Glogoczowsky et a1. (1977). Our investigations in the areas of the former Soviet
Union (fSU) are also related to this period: Saukov et a1. (1972) and Ozerova et al.
(1974). More intensive studies began to be produced in the 1980s and 1990S. Our
study took place in different parts of the fSU, such as Central Asia, Kazakhstan,
North Caucasus, Caspian Region, Ukraine, Kamchatka and Siberia. Work in
Croatia was also carried out. We do not propose to make a detailed examination
of mercury behaviour in gas and oil deposits in the current chapter. Our main
task is to report the main regularities of mercury distribution in these deposits.
The same applies to methods of mercury analysis: we give an account of only the
principles of mercury determination and mention the appropriate papers for a
fuller explanation of the methods.
2
Methods of Determination of Mercury
We used chemical methods of determination of mercury during the first period
of investigation.
Gas was pumped through the barbater with a known mercury absorber, iodine
solution in iodine potash, at 40-60 l!h. The volume of pumped air is about n· 100
Environmental Science
Mercury Contaminated Sites (ed. by R. Ebinghaus et al.)
© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 1999