Carbon and hydrogen isotopic reversals in deep basin gas: Evidence for limits to the stability of hydrocarbons by Burruss and Laughrey (Organic Geochemistry 41, 1285–1296) – Discussion

This discussion reevaluates the data provided by Burruss and Laughrey (2010) (Carbon and hydrogen isotopic reversals in deep basin gas: Evidence for limits to the stability of hydrocarbons. Organic Geochemistry 41, 1285–1296). It indicates that gas diffusive migration plays an important role in regulating the isotopic reversals in samples from the Silurian and Ordovician formations in the Appalachian Basin. Carbon and hydrogen isotopic reversals in deep basin gas cannot be attributed to the stability of hydrocarbons in shale-gas and tight-sand-gas accumulations, if gas diffusive migration in the subsurface is not considered.