Fifteen samples with high concentrations of alkane gases were measured for their δ13C1; δ13C2 and δ13C3 compositions using gas chromatography–combustion-isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC–C-IRMS). The values for methane varied from − 27 to − 45.4‰, ethane from − 20.9 to − 27.6‰, and propane from − 20.4 to − 29.1‰ versus the Vienna PeeDee Belemnite (VPDB). The carbon isotope ratio distribution pattern represents isotopic characteristics pertaining to hydrocarbon gases derived from thermogenic sources. Comparisons of carbon isotopic signatures and compositional variations with the standard carbon isotopic models suggest that hydrocarbon gases found in the shallow depths of the study area are not of bacterial origin but are formed thermally from deeply buried organic matter, likely to be mainly a terrestrial source rock with a partial contribution from a marine source. These gases may have migrated to the near-surface environment, where they represent an admixture of thermally generated hydrocarbon gases from mixed sources and maturity. The maturity scale (δ13C versus Log Ro % ) applied to the surface sediment samples of the Jamnagar area indicated the source material to be capable of generating oil and gas. The detection of thermogenic alkane gases in near-surface sediments offers the possibility of hydrocarbons at depth in Saurashtra.