Improving the Detection and Analysis of Seafloor Macro-Seeps: An Example from the Marco Polo Field, Gulf of Mexico, USA

The hunt for seafloor hydrocarbon seeps has become an important component of many deepwater exploration<br>programs. Finding thermogenic hydrocarbons at the seafloor is evidence of a working petroleum system and the<br>recovered hydrocarbons can be used to give insight into the contents of the subsurface reservoir. But<br>hydrocarbon seeps are often small features not easily recognized on conventional seismic data and sampled<br>seep oils often mix with recent organic matter and experience biodegradation that hamper the interpretation of<br>thermogenic hydrocarbons.