Abstract: A method of identifying hydrocarbon seeps that are connected to hydrocarbon reservoirs and for identifying in situ conditions of hydrocarbon reservoirs is disclosed. The method comprises, obtaining a sample from an area of interest, such as a sediment sample or water column sample near a hydrocarbon seep; analyzing the sample to detect microbial signatures that are specific to families associated with hydrocarbon reservoirs; and using the signature to determine whether the hydrocarbon seep is connected to a hydrocarbon reservoir and to identify properties of the hydrocarbon reservoir.

Abstract: Techniques and methods are provided for isolating nucleic acids from a sample. The methods include adding a chelating agent to the sample to block nucleic acid binding sites on contaminants in the sample; heating the sample to remove hydrocarbons; and lysing the cells using freeze-thaw cycles.

Abstract: A method of identifying in situ conditions of a hydrocarbon reservoir is disclosed. The method comprises, obtaining a sample from an area of interest, such as a sediment sample or water column sample near a hydrocarbon seep; analyzing the sample to detect lipid, protein, and/or nucleic acid signatures that are indicative of the Thermotogales order; identifying the relative abundance of the different genera and/or species of the Thermotogales present in the sample to generate a taxonomy signature of the sample; and then using the taxonomy signature to determine conditions, such as temperature, of the hydrocarbon reservoir.

Abstract: A method of identifying in situ conditions of a hydrocarbon reservoir is disclosed. The method comprises, obtaining a sample from an area of interest, such as a sediment sample or water column sample near a hydrocarbon seep; analyzing the sample to detect nucleic acid signatures that are indicative of microbes associated with hypersaline aquifers; and using the signature to determine the salinity of the hydrocarbon reservoir.

Abstract: Provided are methods of estimating a volume of a biogenic gas for an area of interest. The method includes predicting a methanogenesis rate for one or more of the periods of time for the area of interest based on energy available for microbial activity and calculating the volume of the biogenic gas based on the predicted methanogenesis rate for the one or more of the periods of time for the area of interest.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for determining a presence, type, quality and/or volume of a subsurface hydrocarbon accumulation from a sample related thereto. The method may include obtaining sample data associated with a subsurface hydrocarbon accumulation, wherein the sample data includes a noble gas signature, a clumped isotope signature and/or a ecology signature. From the signatures, relationships between the noble gas signature; the clumped isotope signature and the ecology signature are identified and stored in memory.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for determining for determining a presence, type, quality and/or volume of a subsurface hydrocarbon accumulation from a sample related thereto. The method may include determining a noble gas signature of a sample and at least one or more of determining a clumped isotope signature of the sample and characterizing the ecology signature of the sample. Then, the method integrates signatures to determine information about the subsurface accumulation, such as the location, fluid type and quality, and volume of a subsurface hydrocarbon accumulation.

Abstract: A method of identifying in situ conditions of a hydrocarbon reservoir is disclosed. The method comprises, obtaining a sample from an area of interest, such as a sediment sample or water column sample near a hydrocarbon seep; analyzing the sample to detect lipid, protein, and/or nucleic acid signatures that are indicative of the Thermotogales order; identifying the relative abundance of the different genera and/or species of the Thermotogales present in the sample to generate a taxonomy signature of the sample; and then using the taxonomy signature to determine conditions, such as temperature, of the hydrocarbon reservoir.

Abstract: A method of identifying in situ conditions of a hydrocarbon reservoir is disclosed. The method comprises, obtaining a sample from an area of interest, such as a sediment sample or water column sample near a hydrocarbon seep; analyzing the sample to detect nucleic acid signatures that are indicative of microbes associated with hypersaline aquifers; and using the signature to determine the salinity of the hydrocarbon reservoir.

Abstract: A method of identifying hydrocarbon seeps that are connected to hydrocarbon reservoirs and for identifying in situ conditions of hydrocarbon reservoirs is disclosed. The method comprises, obtaining a sample from an area of interest, such as a sediment sample or water column sample near a hydrocarbon seep; analyzing the sample to detect microbial signatures that are specific to families associated with hydrocarbon reservoirs; and using the signature to determine whether the hydrocarbon seep is connected to a hydrocarbon reservoir and to identify properties of the hydrocarbon reservoir.

Abstract: Techniques and methods are provided for isolating nucleic acids from a sample. The methods include adding a chelating agent to the sample to block nucleic acid binding sites on contaminants in the sample; heating the sample to remove hydrocarbons; and lysing the cells using freeze-thaw cycles.

Abstract: Provided are methods of estimating a volume of a biogenic gas for an area of interest. The method includes predicting a methanogenesis rate for one or more of the periods of time for the area of interest based on energy available for microbial activity and calculating the volume of the biogenic gas based on the predicted methanogenesis rate for the one or more of the periods of time for the area of interest.

Abstract: Method and system is described for marine surveying. The method involves operations for exploring and developing hydrocarbons with one or more unmanned vehicles. The unmanned vehicles are used to perform marine surveying and to obtain one or more samples that may be used to identify chemical, hydrocarbon and/or biologic information, which may be used for environmental monitoring of bodies of water.

Abstract: A method for detecting hydrocarbons is described. The method includes performing a remote sensing survey of a survey location to identify a target location. Then, an underwater vehicle (UV) is deployed into a body of water and directed to the target location. The UV collects measurement data within the body of water at the target location, which is then analyzed to determine whether hydrocarbons are present at the target location.

Abstract: Method and system is described for hydrocarbon exploration and development. The method and system include one or more remote devices, such as buoys, which are utilized to identify and collect samples of target materials. The buoys include measurement components, sampling components and storage components to manage the obtained samples.

Abstract: Method and system is described for hydrocarbon exploration and development. The method and system include one or more remote devices, such as buoys, which are utilized to identify and collect samples of target materials. The buoys include measurement components, sampling components and storage components to manage the obtained samples.

Abstract: Method and system is described for marine surveying. The method involves operations for exploring and developing hydrocarbons with one or more unmanned vehicles. The unmanned vehicles are used to perform marine surveying and to obtain one or more samples that may be used to identify chemical, hydrocarbon and/or biologic information, which may be used for environmental monitoring of bodies of water.

Abstract: A method for detecting hydrocarbons with an underwater vehicle equipped with one or more measurement components is described. The method includes navigating the UV within the body of water; monitoring the body of water with measurement components associated with the UV to collect measurement data. The collected data from the UV is used to determine whether hydrocarbons are present and at the location.

Abstract: A method of identifying a hydrocarbon system is disclosed A sample from an area of interest is obtained. A first plurality of analyses is used to determine a community structure of an ecology of the sample. A second plurality of analyses is used to determine a community function of the ecology of the sample. The community structure and the community function are used to determine whether the ecology of the sample matches a characteristic ecology of a hydrocarbon system. When the ecology of the sample matches the characteristic ecology, the sample is identified as part of the hydrocarbon system.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for determining for determining a presence, type, quality and/or volume of a subsurface hydrocarbon accumulation from a sample related thereto. The method may include determining a noble gas signature of a sample and at least one or more of determining a clumped isotope signature of the sample and characterizing the ecology signature of the sample. Then, the method integrates signatures to determine information about the subsurface accumulation, such as the location, fluid type and quality, and volume of a subsurface hydrocarbon accumulation.