Geochemical Data for Northwest German, Upper Carboniferous, Upper Permian and Lower Triassic Gases.

The Northwest German, Upper Carboniferous, Upper Permian and Lower Triassic gases were produced by thermocatalytic cracking of Upper Carboniferous, terrestrial organic matter. The Upper Permian and Lower Triassic gases migrated mostly vertically, probably by following fault systems. The chemistry of the Upper Permian gases shows that there are small amounts of locally produced hydrocarbons and nitrogen of marine origin, which have mixed with themigrated terrestrial gases. The chemistry of the natural gases is found to change along with the increasing maturation of the organic substance in the Upper Carboniferous layers.