Imprint of minute hydrocarbon seepage on solid phase and pore water geochemistry in organic-poor subseafloor sediment

Schnabel, Ellen; Stammeier, Jessica A.; Poetz, Stefanie; Mangelsdorf, Kai; Vuillemin, Aurèle; di Primio, Rolando; Kallmeyer, Jens; the PROSPECTOMICS Consortium,

doi:10.5194/bg-23-1383-2026

Articles | Volume 23, issue 4

https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-23-1383-2026

© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-23-1383-2026

© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Articles | Volume 23, issue 4

Research article

|

23 Feb 2026

Research article |

| 23 Feb 2026

Imprint of minute hydrocarbon seepage on solid phase and pore water geochemistry in organic-poor subseafloor sediment

Ellen Schnabel, Jessica A. Stammeier, Stefanie Poetz, Kai Mangelsdorf, Aurèle Vuillemin, Rolando di Primio, Jens Kallmeyer, and the PROSPECTOMICS Consortium

Supplement

https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-23-1383-2026-supplement

Data sets

Pore water solutes, total cell counts, dissolved gases and sulfate reduction rates of the 50 gravity cores of the PROSPECTOMICS project Ellen Schnabel et al. https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.974341

XRF measurements of major oxides and trace elements on bulk sediment of the 50 gravity cores of the PROSPECTOMICS project Ellen Schnabel et al. https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.974346

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Short summary

Even minor hydrocarbon seepage from reservoirs into overlying seafloor can affect marine sediment biogeochemistry. Our analysis of 50 sediment cores from the Barents Sea revealed that subtle seepage alters chemical balances and stimulates carbonate and sulfide mineral formation. The cores also showed strong local and spatial variation, highlighting patchy migration pathways. Minerals and pore water chemistry together provide clues to identify both past and ongoing seepage activity.