A comparison of the distributions of carbazoles and dibenzothiophenes in western Qaidam Basin,Northwest China

Variations in the distributions of carbazoles and dibenzothiophenes were investigated in a set of source rocks, which differ mainly in their maturity levels during immature-mature stages. A comparison of the distributions of carbazoles and dibenzothiophenes has revealed the main results as follows- ① variations in the relative amounts of C0-, C1-, C2-dibenzothiophenes show a low correlation with that of the corresponding carbazoles, with the for- mer＇s being much higher than the latter＇s; ② variations in the relative amounts of methyldibenzothiophene isomers also display a low correlation with that of the corresponding methylcarbazoles, with 4-/4- ＋1-methyldibenzothio- phene ratio ranging from 0.52 to 0.96, while the corresponding carbazole ratio of 1-/1- ＋4-methylcarbazole only being 0.71-0.05; ③ the maturity parameter for 4,6-/4,6- ＋l,4-dimethyldibenzothiohene, ranging from 0.34 to 0.75, shows a remarkable linear correlation with the corresponding ratio of 1,8-/1,8- ＋1,4-dimethylcarbazole （R2〉0.84）. The un-correlation may indicate some different geological-geochemical fates for some isomers of dibenzothiophenes and carbazoles. The high correlation may reveal a strong maturation dependence on the dimethylcarbazole distribu- tions, indicating that attention should be paid when 1,8-/1,8- ＋1,4-dimethylcarbazole is used as a petroleum migra- tion indicator.     

Study on secondary migration of hydrocarbons in Tazhong area of Tarim Basin in terms of carbazole compounds

Fractionated carbazoles have been detected for the first time in crude oils from the Tazhong area of the Tarim Basin, and these nitrogen compounds were successfully utilized in the study of petroleum migration. Alkylcarbazoles are quite abundant in all the samples analyzed; small amounts of benzocarbazoles were detected only in some of the sample, and dibenzocarbazoles were not found in the oils. Based on the distributions of G1, G2 and G3 types of C₂-alkylcarbazoles, the ratio of C₃-/C₂-carbazoles and the relative concentrations of alkylcarbazole and alkylbenzocarbazole, oils in the Carboniferous C_III reservoir in the Tazhong uplift are thought to have laterally migrated to the high level of Tazhong structure No. 4 from both northwest and southeast. The study here also shows that oils in the area may have undergone long-distance migration. This project is financially supported by the China National Petroleum Corporation and the State Educational Commission.     

准噶尔盆地北三台地区湖相原油咔唑类化合物的地球化学特征

准噶尔盆地北三台地区北 82井、北 83井和沙 10 8井湖相原油咔唑类化合物的分布特征表明,油气运移作用是影响该区原油中咔唑类化合物分布的重要因素。沿油气运移方面,咔唑类化合物具有明显的分馏效应。总的趋势是原油中咔唑类化合物、高分子量的烷基咔唑化合物和苯并咔唑化合物的含量逐渐减少,低分子量咔唑和甲基咔唑,以及具屏蔽效应的二甲基咔唑和苯并 [a]咔唑异构体的相对含量则逐渐增加。利用咔唑类化合物的分馏效应,可有效地指示油气运移方向。     

煤和泥岩不同温度条件下非烃中咔唑类化合物的演化特征

在密闭体系中,200～450℃的条件下进行了煤和泥岩加水的模拟实验,分析了实验产物非烃中咔唑类化合物的演化特征,并讨论了不同温度条件下非烃中咔唑类化合物的演化的机理.实验结果表明,非烃中咔唑类化合物是沉积有机质成岩过程的产物,其含量和组成受有机质成熟度影响较大.该研究结果不仅加深了对非烃中咔唑类化合物演化机理的认识,而...     

Release of organic nitrogen compounds from Kerogen via catalytic hydropyrolysis

High hydrogen pressure pyrolysis (hydropyrolysis) was performed on samples of solvent extracted Kimmeridge Clay Formation source rock with a maturity equivalent to ca. 0.35% vitrinite reflectance. We describe the types and distributions of organic nitrogen compounds in the pyrolysis products (hydropyrolysates) using GC-MS. Compounds identified included alkyl-substituted indoles, carbazoles, benzocarbazoles, quinolines and benzoquinolines. The distributions of the isomers of methylcarbazoles, C₂-alkylcarbazoles and benzocarbazoles in the hydropyrolysates were compared to a typical North Sea oil. The hydropyrolysates compared to the North Sea oil, showed increased contributions from alkylcarbazole isomers where the nitrogen group is "exposed" (no alkyl substituents adjacent to the nitrogen functionality) and appreciable levels of benzo[b]carbazole relative to benzo[a]- and benzo[c]carbazoles. Hydropyrolysis is found to be an ideal technique for liberating appreciable quantities of heterocyclic organic nitrogen compounds from geomacromolecules. The products released from the immature Kimmeridge Clay are thought to represent a potential source of nitrogen compounds in the bound phase (kerogen) able to contribute to the free bitumen phase during catagenesis.     

Data modelling for crude oil migration studies using ranking method: a rapid geo-tracer technique for geochemists

The direction of oil charges within a field in the Niger Delta, Nigeria was determined by the sum of differences ranking method of carbazole concentrations after ascertaining other possible geological constraints on their compositional variations. The principle is that the smaller the sum, the closer the well to the source kitchen. The approach makes use of carbazoles’ interaction with the matrix, which leads to a reduction in their concentration with increasing distance from the source kitchen, allowing prediction of the charging direction. A wide range of compositional variations was observed for C₁ (806.72–2152.90 μg/g) and C₂ (767–2469.72 μg/g) carbazoles within the field. Based on these results, we inferred a filling pathway orientation from west to east. This suggests that the source kitchen—the most promising region for oil exploration—is located in the western part of the oil field.     

酒西盆地石油非均质性的控制因素

运用先进的分析测试手段对来自酒西盆地六个油田的 2 0多个油样进行了全油碳同位素、饱和烃气相色谱与质量色谱及正构烷烃分子碳同位素等较为全面的分析与研究。确定源岩相、水洗、生物降解作用与成熟度不是酒西盆地石油非均质性的控制因素。最后选取 1 5个油样进行中性吡咯氮化合物分析,用中性吡咯氮中的咔唑类化合物作为运移参数,较为详细地研究原油的运移分馏作用。此类化合物作为运移参数的基本原理是石油运移过程中,不同结构的咔唑类化合物与水及岩石中矿物发生吸咐作用的强烈程度不同,导致不同的运移分馏作用。根据咔唑类化合物的变化得出控制酒西盆地石油组成非均质性的主要因素是油气运移分馏作用,证实酒西盆地石油运移方向主要是从西至东,青西凹陷是其油源区。     

Applicability of Carbazole Migration Indices in Continental Rift Basins: A Case Study of Western Lujiapu Depression in Kailu Basin, NE China

<正>Kailu Basin in which the Western Lujiapu Depression is located is a typical continental rift basin.Biomarker parameters of the oils indicate that depositional facies and environments vary between the Bao 1 and Bao 14 fault blocks with a higher saline environment in the Bao 1 fault block, but such difference has no significant impact on carbazole abundance and distribution.Maturity and migration distance are the main controls on carbazole abundance and distribution in the Western Lujiapu Depression.The commonly used migration indices,such as ratios of nitrogen shield isomers to nitrogen exposed isomers(1-/4-methylcarbazole ratio,1,8-/2,4-dimethylcarbazole(DMC) ratio and half-shield/exposed-DMC ratio),absolute concentrations of alkylated carbazoles and BC ratio(=benzo [a]carbazole/(benzo[a]carbazole+benzo[c]carbazole)) increase at the low mature range and decrease at a higher mature range with increasing maturity.At relatively low maturity stage(Rc0.77%), maturation has reversal effects with migration on the ratios of nitrogen shield isomers to nitrogen exposed isomers,which may cover migration influence and makes these parameters fail to indicate migration effects.Valid migration indicators at this maturity stage are concentrations of alkylated carbazoles and BC ratios,which can provide ideal tools for migration direction assessment even within short migration distance.Maturity effects should be taken into account when carbazole compounds are applied to indicate migration direction,and at different maturity stages,these commonly used parameters have different validity in tracing migration direction.Coupled with our previous study in the Eastern Lujiapu Depression,a conceptual model of the variation of nitrogen migration indices can be established for terrestrial rifted basins,that is,strong fractionation lateral migration model through sandy beds,weak fractionation vertical migration model along faults,and maturity impacts on migration assessment.     

低熟油、烃源岩中含氮化合物分布规律及其地球化学意义

对八面河地区原油、油砂以及不同成熟度和岩性有异的烃源岩中吡咯类化俣物的分布特征及其潜在的地球化学意义进行了探讨。结果表明，随着成熟度的增加，八面河地区烃源岩中吡咯类化合物中屏蔽化程度高的异构体比屏蔽化程度低的异构体富集，咔唑及苯并咔唑系列中低相对分子质量的同系物比高相对分子质量的同系物富集，苯并[a]咔唑比苯并[c]咔唑富集。八面河地区原油中吡咯类化合物有较为明显的运移分馏效应，观察到高、低相对分子质量的同系物间的运移分馏效应比不同类型异构体间的分馏效应更为显著，而前者受成熟度的影响可能相对小于后者；发现吡咯类化合物的油气运移分馏效应不仅体现于不同氮官能团屏蔽、半屏蔽和暴露三类异构体间，同样体现于同一类型的同分导师构体之间，指示此类化合物有较强的活性。吡咯类化俣物与烃类化合物一样具有多方面潜在的地球化学意义。     

Determination of vertical and horizontal pathways of injected fresh wastewater into a deep saline aquifer (Florida, USA) using natural chemical tracers

Two deep-well injection sites in south Florida, USA, inject an average of 430 million liters per day (MLD) of treated domestic fresh wastewater into a deep saline aquifer 900 m below land surface. Elevated levels of NH₃ (highest concentration 939?µmol) in the overlying aquifer above ambient concentrations (concentration less than 30?µmol) were evidence of the upward migration of injected fluids. Three pathways were distinguished based on ammonium, chloride and bromide ratios, and temperature. At the South District Wastewater Treatment Plant, the tracer ratios showed that the injectate remained chemically distinct as it migrated upwards through rapid vertical pathways via density-driven buoyancy. The warmer injectate (mean 28°C) retained the temperature signal as it vertically migrated upwards; however, the temperature signal did not persist as the injectate moved horizontally into the overlying aquifers. Once introduced, the injectate moved slowly horizontally through the aquifer and mixed with ambient water. At the North District Wastewater Treatment Plant, data provide strong evidence of a one-time pulse of injectate into the overlying aquifers due to improper well construction. No evidence of rapid vertical pathways was observed at the North District Wastewater Treatment Plant.     

Oil geochemistry derived from the Qinjiatun–Qikeshu oilfields: insight from light hydrocarbons

A suite of 27 oils from the Qinjiatun–Qikeshu oilfields in the Lishu Fault Depression of the Songliao Basin was analyzed using whole oil gas chromatography. In combination with the relative distribution of C₂₇, C₂₈, and C₂₉ regular steranes, detailed geochemical analyses of light hydrocarbons in oil samples revealed crude oils characterized by the dual input of lower aquatic organisms and higher terrestrial plants. Several light hydrocarbon indicators suggest that the liquid hydrocarbons have maturities equivalent to vitrinite reflectances of around 0.78%–0.93%. This is consistent with the maturity determination of steranes C₂₉ 20S/(20S + 20R) and C₂₉ ααβ/(ααα + αββ). Crude oils derived from the two distinct oilfields likely both have source rocks deposited in a lacustrine environment based on light hydrocarbon parameters and on higher molecular weight hydrocarbon parameters. The results show that light hydrocarbon data in crude oils can provide important information for understanding the geochemical characteristics of the Qinjiatun–Qikeshu oils during geologic evolution.     

Biodegradation of petroleum by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Klebsiella pneumoniae</Emphasis> isolated from drilling fluid

The removal of petroleum and petroleum-based products from the environment is of great importance. The objectives of this study were to investigate the most suitable physiological conditions and the effects of additional carbon, nitrogen and surfactant sources on petroleum biodegradation by Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC13883 isolated from drilling fluid and to evaluate petroleum biodegradation with detailed hydrocarbon analysis by GC–MS. The results indicated that the highest biodegradation rate of 66.5% for K. pneumoniae was obtained under the conditions of pH 7, petroleum concentration 1% (v/v) and 7-day incubation at 150 rpm and 25 °C, proving to be the most effective physical conditions for petroleum biodegradation in this present study. Additional sources such as Triton X: 100, glucose and yeast extract significantly enhanced the petroleum biodegradation of K. pneumoniae to 68, 71 and 72.5%, respectively. In the last stage of this study, biodegradation rates were above 90% for hydrocarbons ranging from C₁₀ and C₂₀, above 70% for hydrocarbons ranging from C₂₁ and C₂₂ and above 40% for hydrocarbons ranging from C₃₁ and C₃₂. In conclusion, oil field adapted K. pneumoniae could efficiently degrade short-, medium- and long-chain alkanes in petroleum and thus is a potential source for advanced petroleum treatment.     

胡庆油田湖相原油咔唑类化合物的地球化学特征

胡庆油田湖相原油成熟度低，多为低成熟原油，生物降解作用轻微，原油中含有丰富的咔唑类化合物。分析表明，原油成熟度对咔唑类化合物含量及相对组分影响明显，源岩沉积环境对其也有一定的影响，而生物降解作用对咔唑类化合物含量及相对组分影响很小。原油中咔唑类化合物含量、链基咔唑/苯并咔唑及苯并咔唑比值受原油成熟度与沉积环境影响明显，已不适合用来指示油气运移距离，而二甲基咔唑同分异构体比值所受影响小，仍可作为油气运移的有效参数。     

Indication of methane movement from petroleum reservoir to surface, Löningen oilfield, NW-Germany

An existing method of detecting microgas seeps was applied in a free soil gas investigation above the Löningen oilfield, NW-Germany. Simple gas surveying was combined with sampling of soil gases for gas-chromatographic treatment and examination of the carbon isotopic composition. A zone of biological gas formation and an area of thermocatalytic methane were discovered, the latter probably caused by migration from the subsurface petroleum accumulation.The methane in the reservoir differs in isotopic composition depending on its origin: gas from gascap or petroleum. Methane dissolved from petroleum is depleted in ¹²C by about 5 ppt compared to methane from the gascap. In relation to the reservoir a general ¹³C-enrichment between 2.5 and 4.6 ppt is observed in the soil gas methanes which is supposedly due to isotopic fractionation during migration. The two species of reservoir methane are still distinguishable on the surface by their different composition. Gaseous hydrocarbons from C₂ to C₄ seem to be restricted by migration. Bacterial oxidation appears not to affect the isotopic composition of the thermocatalytic methane seriously.     

Molecular structure parameters and thermal stabilities of benzocarbazoles

The distance between 4-H and adjacent H on the substitutional benzene ring in benzo[c]carbazole was calculated in terms of molecular structure parameters. The result showed that the distance is shorter than the sum of van der Vaals＇ radii of two hydrogen atoms. This means that there is a steric hinderance between them. This effect will make the bond angle stretch and the bond length extend, or cause the molecule to distort, thus making benzo[c]carbazoles become unstable in thermodynamics. On the contrary there is no such effect for benzo[a]carbazoles. This conclusion has been confirmed by the result of calculation of the distance between the same two atoms with software GaussView. So the skeleton of benzo[c]carbazoles in sediments may be breached or isomerized with increasing maturity. It is consistent with the decrease of the ratio of benzo[c]carbazole to benzo[a]carbazole in hydrocarbon migration, suggesting that [c]/[a] not only changes with the distance of migration, but also may be influenced by maturity.     

Hydrodynamic behavior of Kangan gas-capped deep confined aquifer in Iran

The Kangan aquifer (KA) is located beneath the Kangan gas reservoir (KGR), 2,885 m below the ground surface. The gas reservoir formations are classified into nine non-gas reservoir units and eight gas reservoir units based on the porosity, water and gas saturation, lithology, and gas production potential using the logs of 36 production wells. The gas reservoir units are composed of limestone and dolomite, whereas the non-gas reservoir units consist of compacted limestone and dolomite, gypsum and shale. The lithology of KA is the same as KGR with a total dissolved solid of 333,000 mg/l. The source of aquifer water is evaporated seawater. The static pressure on the Gas–Water Contact (GWC) was 244 atm before gas production, but it has continuously decreased during 15 years of gas production, resulting in a 50 m uprising of the GWC and the expansion of KA water and intergranular water inside the gas reservoir. The general flow direction of the KA is toward the northern coast of the Persian Gulf due to the migration of water to the overlying formations via a trust fault. The KA is a gas-capped deep confined aquifer (GCDCA) with special characteristics differing from a shallow confined aquifer. The main characteristics of a GCDCA are unsaturated intergranular water below the confining layers, no direct contact of the water table (GWC) with the confining layers, no vertical flow via the cap rock, permanent uprising of the GWC during gas production, and permanent descend of GWC during water exploitation.     

Numerical simulation of carbon dioxide migration in a sandstone aquifer considering the fluid–solid coupling

Very limited investigations have been done on the numerical simulation of carbon dioxide (CO₂) migration in sandstone aquifers taking consideration of the interactions between fluid flow and rock stress. Based on the poroelasticity theory and multiphase flow theory, this study establishes a mathematical model to describe CO₂ migration, coupling the flow and stress fields. Both finite difference method (FDM) and finite element method (FEM) were used to discretize the mathematical model and generate a numerical model. A case study was carried out using the numerical model on the Jiangling sandstone aquifer in the Jianghan basin, China. The rock mechanics parameters of reservoir and overlying strata of Jiangling depression were obtained by triaxial tests. A two-dimensional model was then built to simulate carbon dioxide migration in the sandstone aquifer. The numerical simulation analyzes the carbon dioxide migration distribution rule with and without considering capillary pressure. Time-dependent migration of CO₂ in the sandstone aquifer was analyzed, and the result from the coupled model was compared with that from a traditional non-coupled model. The calculation result indicates a good consistency between the coupled model and the non-coupled model. At the injection point, the CO₂ saturation given by the coupled model is 15.39 % higher than that given by the non-coupled model; while the pore pressure given by the coupled model is 4.8 % lower than that given by the non-coupled model. Therefore, it is necessary to consider the coupling of flow and stress fields while simulating CO₂ migration for CO₂ disposal in sandstone aquifers. The result from the coupled model was also sensitized to several parameters including reservoir permeability, porosity, and CO₂ injection rate. Sensitivity analyses show that CO₂ saturation is increased non-linearly with CO₂ injection rate and decreased non-linearly with reservoir porosity. Pore pressure is decreased non-linearly with reservoir porosity and permeability, and increased non-linearly with CO₂ injection rate. When the capillary pressure was considered, the computed gas saturation of carbon dioxide was increased by 10.75 % and the pore pressure was reduced by 0.615 %.     

Effect of artificial maturation on carbazole distributions, as revealed by the hydrous pyrolysis of an organic-sulphur-rich source rock (Ghareb Formation, Jordan)

Hydrous pyrolysis experiments were performed on the Ghareb Formation (Upper Cretaceous, Jordan), a carbonate- and organic-rich (TOC 19.6%) source rock, using a temperature range of 200 to 360°C (72 h). The original sediment contains only low amounts of carbazoles, (maximum 2.2 μg/g bitumen for 1-methylcarbazole). With increasing thermal maturation, intense generation begins at temperatures only in excess of 300°C, reaching a maximum at 360°C. Likewise, during natural maturation, generation occurs at later stages of maturity (e.g. for Tithonian source rocks at >0.81% R_r and for Posidonia Shale at >0.88% R_r). Some isomeric changes during hydrous pyrolysis do not resemble those in nature whereas others do. The relative abundances of selected C₁- and C₂-alkylcarbazoles on ternary diagrams reveal differences, whereas the benzo[a]carbazole/benzo[a]carbazole+benzo[c]carbazole ratio is closely similar. The latter result supports the contention that maturation plays a key role in controlling carbazole distributions in source rocks. However, the results for alkylcarbazoles, especially the C₂-carbazoles, are not easy to interpret.     

Polar non-hydrocarbon contaminants in reservoir core extracts

A geochemical investigation of oils in sandstone core plugs and drill stem test oils was carried out on samples from a North Sea reservoir. A sample of diesel used as a constituent of the drilling fluids was also analysed. The aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons and polar non-hydrocarbons were isolated using solid phase extraction methods. GC analysis of the hydrocarbon fraction of the core extract indicated that contamination may be diesel derived. From analysis of diesel some compound classes are less likely to be affected by contamination from diesel itself including: steranes, hopanes, aromatic steroid hydrocarbons, benzocarbazoles and C₀–C₃-alkylphenols.     

Hydrocarbon migration in the Zagros Basin,offshore Iran,for understanding the fluid flow in the Oligocene–Miocene carbonate reservoirs

Kuh-e Mond Field is a conventional heavy oil resource in the Zagros foreland Basin, Iran, produced from the fractured carbonates partially filled by dolomite, calcite, and anhydrite cement. Vitrinite reflectance data from carbonate reservoir suggest low-maturation levels corresponding to paleotemperatures as low as 50 °C. The observed maturation level (< 0.5% Rmax) does not exceed values for simple burial maturation based on the estimated burial history. Oil inclusions within fracture-filled calcite and dolomite cement indicate the key role of these fractures in oil migration.The fluid inclusion temperature profiles constructed from the available data revealed the occurrence of petroleum in dolomite, calcite, and anhydrite and characterize the distinct variations in the homogenization temperatures (T_h). Fluid inclusions in syntectonic calcite veins homogenize between 22 °C and 90 °C, showing a salinity decrease from 22 to 18 eq. wt.% NaCl. Fluid inclusions in anhydrite homogenize at < 50 °C, showing that the pore fluids became warmer and more saline during burial. The T_h range in the calcite-dolomite cement depicts a change in water composition; therefore, we infer these cements precipitated from petroleum-derived fluids. The microthermometry data on the petroleum fluid inclusions suggest that the reservoir was filled with heavy black oils and high-salinity waters and indicate that undersaturated oil was present in a hydrostatically pressured reservoir.The T_h data do not support vertical migration of hot fluids througout the section, but extensive lateral fluid migration, most likely, drove tectonically dewatering in the south or west of the pool.