Horizon have entered into an informal arrangement with
Envirogene, a UK based company, to promote and undertake surface geochemistry studies using the
Petrogene™ microbial DNA technique for microseep identification and characterisation.
PetroGene™ quantifies metabolic genes from soil microbes that degrade the migrant petroleum. The results are used in geo-spatial context to forecast the location and extent of sub-surface accumulations. PetroGene™ is capable of detecting seepage at very low levels, well below the minimum detection limits of conventional geochemical survey tools. Used in conjunction with seismic surveys, it helps reduce the frequency of dry holes and thus save on exploration costs.
PetroGene™ is the very latest development in the geomicrobial prospecting domain. It currently targets three main hydrocarbon fractions via the DNA of the soil microbes that consume them, namely:
- Methane (pMoA assay)
- Higher alkanes, presumed to be C5+ (Alk-B assay)
- Monoaromatics (the ToM and XyM assays)
The total microbial abundance and an environmental marker are also measured for the purpose of normalising the hydrocarbon markers.
PetroGene™’s strengths lie in two key innovations, namely:
- Quantitation of genes controlling microbial
metabolism of specific hydrocarbon fractions, rather
than targeting microbial species or genera, and
- Normalisation for environmental interferences such as soil type.
The advantages inherent in DNA survey include:
- Super sensitivity - 6 orders of magnitude greater than conventional geochemistry
- Low in-field contamination risk
- Rapid laboratory turnaround (results within days)
The unique efficiency of DNA analysis opens the door to cost-effective high resolution survey – a major step towards geologically realistic imaging of microseepage.
