I'm a Ph.D. student and a research assistant at the Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering (FSIM) of the Babes-Bolyai University (UBB) from Cluj-Napoca, Romania. My research interest is in the field of gas geochemistry. I study mainly the gas geochemistry of methane in different geological manifestations.
My primary goal is to identify different gas seeps that are from geological sources, on Romania's territory. After identifying possible seep locations, I try to measure the flux of methane and carbon dioxide. by measuring the flux of the two gases I try evaluating the emission of these green house gases (GHG) to the atmosphere. If there is a significant amount of emission of methane, I also sample gas for molecular and isotopic analysis. By performing these analysis I try to evaluate the origin and secondary processes that can effect the gas composition.
Romania is one of the most richest countries in Europe, regarding geological gas manifestations. These manifestation include both carbon dioxide and methane emissions. Methane emissions include: mud volcanoes, "everlasting fires", bubbling springs or pools and soil degassing. In the case of carbon dioxide we can mention bubbling pools or springs, soil degassing and mofettas.
The "richness" of Romania's gas emissions are due to the specific geology of Romania. We can find also active tectonic setting (Vrancea area), and also sedimentary basins. The majority of the seeps are located in the Tarnsylvanian Basin, and the outer sedimentary basin rim of the Carpathians.
In order two have a seeps we need to have 3 main parts. The first is an underground reservoir, that contains the natural gas; the seconds is the "channel" that connects the reservoir with surface manifestation. When we have all these 3 parts, than we can talk about a seep. The connection between surface manifestation and the underground reservoir is usually a fault. That can be active or inactive, depending on geology of the surrounding area.Seeps in a more practical way could be considered natural "boreholes", that can help us to explore the subsurface.
On the field I usually work by making the above mentioned flux measurements, taking GPS coordinates, but also try to characterize the geomorphology of the site.
After the acquisition of the data, I calculate the gas emission. Then if possible I create 2D or 3D flux maps of the seepage area. Having gas sample I make the molecular analysis of the gas, but also the isotopic analysis of methane. If I have water samples first I degas the water, after which I do the above mentioned analyses. When having the molecular and isotopic data I use geochemical plots to characterize the gases genetic origin or its secondary alterations.
Seeps are also a source not only of GHG emissions, but also of photochemical pollutants, like ethane and propane. When I have the molecular data, I also calculate the emissions of these gases.
I also use GIS (Geographical Information System) to create maps, to evaluate the links, between seeps, reservoirs and fault. In this case I use DEM's, digitized maps of faults and natural gas or petroleum reservoirs.
