Differential aerobic and anaerobic oxidation of hydrocarbon gases discharged at mud volcanoes in the Nile deep-sea fan

The present study investigates hydrocarbon oxidation processes at Isis and Amon mud volcanoes (MV's), in the eastern Nile deep-sea fan. In the water column, molecular and carbon isotopic signatures of light hydrocarbons indicate that gases rapidly dissolve in seawater and are partially oxidized. In the upper sediments, anaerobic oxidation of the light hydrocarbons takes place, as clearly shown by their molecular and isotopic composition. These processes lead to the presence of a distinct Sulfate-Hydrocarbon Interface at 120-145 cm and 2050 cm below the seafloor, for Isis and Amon MV's, respectively. In contrast to processes occurring in the water column, a clear preferential oxidation of methane, propane and n-butane over ethane and i-butane is observed in the anoxic sediments. Furthermore, for the first time, fractionation factors have been determined for the anaerobic oxidation of propane and butane, being respectively -4.80 parts per thousand and -0.7 parts per thousand for delta C-13, and -43.3 parts per thousand for delta H-2 of propane. (C) 2009 Published by Elsevier Ltd.