Reservoir Geochemistry of the Kuche Petroleum System in the Tarim Basin, China

The geochemical characteristics of crude oils and reservoir core extracts from the Kuche petroleum system are described and studied systematically by means of various geochemical techniques and methods to acquire molecular information. The results suggest crude oils from the petroleum system can be divided into two groups: marine oils and non-marine oils. The former represents the dominant oils found in the area. Tar mats were firstly discovered and determined accurately in terrestrial oil and gas reservoirs, with Lower Tertiary sandstone reservoirs in the Yaha oilfield of the Tarim Basin. However, based on the ratio of 20S/(20S 20R)C29 sterane as a maturity parameter, lacustrine oils filled into the Tertiary reservoirs in the direction toward the western part of the petroleum system. In contrast, according to the fact that methylcyclohexane indices of eastern oils are greater than those of western oils, the location in which coalgenerated oils filled into the Tertiary reservoirs lies in the eastern part of the petroleum system.     

Compositional characteristics and geochemical significance of light hydrocarbons for crude oils in Tarim Basin, China

Light hydrocarbons, especially C7 isoalkanes, cyclopentanes, cyclohexanes and n-heptane in 540 oils from the Tarim Basin were studied systematically. The results suggested the K1 values [ （2-MH＋ 2,3-DMP）/（3-MH ＋ 2,4-DMP） ] of crude oils vary from a lowest value of 0.78, to a highest value of 1.54, but the K1 values of the majority of oil samples （80%） range from 0.90 to 1.20. However, the absolute contents of （ 2-methylhexane ＋ 2,3-dimethylpentane） and （ 3-methylhexane ＋ 2,4-dimethylpentane） in the total light hydrocarbons （ C4-C7 ） show a similar variation trend. The variation of K1 values of crude oils can suggest a typical sedimentary environment for source rocks. Therefore, according to the compositional characteristics of C7 light hydrocarbons in light of the steady-state catalytic hypothesis, nonmarine oils from the Yingmaili area and marine oils from the Tazhong uplift in the Tarim Basin were genetically classified.     

Ore-forming Fluid Systems and Mineralization in the Eastern Jiangnan Uplift in the Border Area of Anhui and Jiangxi Provinces, China

Obvious differences in mineralization characteristics exist between the southern and northern parts of the eastern part of the Jiangnan Uplift in northern Jiangxi Province and southern Anhui Province. The regional metallogeny is discussed, and the ore-forming fluid systems are classified in this article. It is proposed that the fluid ore-forming activities in the Jiangnan Uplift both in northern Jiangxi and southern Anhui have close relationships with the crust-mantle interaction and magmatic-tectonic activities. The types and scales of the mineralization on the both sides of the eastern Jiangnan Uplift were determined by fluid ore-forming systems and geological backgrounds.     

STRATIGRAPHIC SECTION OF TACAN WELL 1,THE DEEPEST ON-LAND WELL IN CHINA: DISCRIPTION AND DISCUSSIONS

1. Introduction Tacan 1 well (TC1 for short) is an important exploration well drilled by Tarim Oil Field Company, PetroChina in the central part of the Tarim Basin, NW China. It is located in the Tazhong Uplift, the Central (Tarim) Rise, 14km southeast of TZ4 well and 3.35km southwest of TZ401 well (Fig. 1). It finished at the depth of 7200m where the granodiorite under the Cambrian was drilled 31 m and the designed geological purpose is reached. Up to now, it is the deepest on-land…     

Petroleum Migration Direction of the Silurian Paleo-pools in the Tarim Basin, Northwest China

The results obtained in this paper indicate that carbazole-type compounds have high thermal stability and also show stability in oxidation and bio-degradation. This kind of compounds still has a high concentration and complete distribution in the analyzed dry asphalt samples, showing that they are particularly useful in studying petroleum migration of paleo-pool. During the basin＇s first-stage of oil-gas pool formation in the Silurian in Tazhong and Tabei areas of Tarim Basin （at the end of Silurian period） and the second-stage in the Awati area （in Permian）, the petroleum experienced a long-distance migration. During the formation of the Silurian paleo-pools in Tazhong Uplift at the end of Silurian, the petroleum mainly came from the lower and middle Cambrian source rocks in the Manjiaer sag. The petroleum migrated towards the southwest-south entering the Silurian reservoir beds in Tazhong first. Then, it further migrated within Silurian from northwest to southeast along the highs of the Structural Belts to the region of the Silurian pinchout boundary in Tazhong. In Tabei Uplift, during the first-stage of pool formation, the petroleum was also from the lower and middle Cambrian source rocks in the Manjiaer sag. It migrated northwest entering the Silurian reservoir beds in the Tabei Uplift firstly, and then the migration continued in the same direction within the Silurian reservoirs and finally the petroleum was trapped in higher positions. During the second-stage pool formation in the Silurian beds in the areas around Awati sag, the petroleum mainly came from the lower-middle Cambrian source rocks in the Awati sag. The petroleum migrated from the generation center to Silurian reservoirs in all directions around the sag through major paths, and the petroleum was finally trapped in higher locations.     

Reservoir geochemistry of the Tazhong Oilfield in the Tarim Basin, China, Part II. Migration, accumulation and mixing of crude oils

Measurements of the absolute and relative concentrations of nitrogen-containing compounds in crude oils from different reservoir strata (Ordovician, Silurian and Carboniferous) in the Tazhong region of the Tarim Basin, Xinjiang, China, showed that even though there are quite a number of factors affecting the distributional and compositional characteristics of neutral nitrogen-containing compounds in crude oils, the distributional and compositional characteristics of crude oils whose source conditions are approximate to one another are influenced mainly by the migration and fractionation effects in the process of formation of oil reservoirs. In addition, crude oils in the Tazhong region show obvious migration-fractionation effects in the vertical direction. Carboniferous crude oils are characterized by high migration parameters and low compound concentrations, just in contrast to Ordovician crude oils. This indicates that crude oils from shallow-level oil reservoirs were derived from those of deep-level oil reservoirs via faults, unconformable contact or carrier beds. Crude oils from the Tazhong region show some migration-fractionation effects in the lateral direction, but mixing of crude oils derived from different hydrocarbon source rocks in the process of formation of oil reservoirs made it more complicated the migration and accumulation of crude oils, as well as the formation of oil reservoirs.     

Compositional and geochemical characteristics of light hydrocarbons for typical marine oils and typical coal-generated oils in China

Different types of crude oils have different light hydrocarbon compositional and geochemical characteristics. Based on the light hydrocarbon data from two kinds of oils, i.e., coal-generated oils and marine oils in China, light hydrocarbons in marine oils in the Tazhong area are generally relatively enriched in n-heptane, and coal-generated oils from the Turpan Basin are enriched in methylcyclohexane. The K1 values, reported by Mango （1987）, range from 0.97 to 1.19 in marine oils, basically consistent with what was reported by Mango on light hydrocarbons in terms of the majority of the crude oil data. But the K1 values of coal-generated oils are particularly high （1.35-1.66） and far greater than those of marine oils; heptane values in marine oils, ranging from 32.3% to 45.4%, and isoheptane values, ranging from 1.9 to 3.7, are respectively higher than those of coal-generated oils, indicating that the oils are in the high-maturity stage. In addition, expulsion temperatures of coal-generated oils from the Turpan Basin are obviously lower than those of marine oils from the Tazhong area.     

Distribution and Significance of Carbazole Compounds in Palaeozoic Oils from the Tazhong Uplift, Tarim

Carbazole compounds in crude oils from the Tazhong uplift of the Tarim basin have been fractionated and detected and successfully used to study petroleum migration and trace source rocks in the study area. Alkylcarbazoles have been found in large amounts in the oil samples analyzed and alkylbenzocarbazoles detected in a small concentration only in part of the samples, but alkyldibenzocarbazoles have not been found in oils. Based on the distribution of G1, G2 and G3 of C2-alkylcarbazoles, the ratio of C3-carbazoles to C2-carbazoles and the relative amounts of alkylcarbazoles and alkylbenzocarbazoles, one can know that the vertical oil migration in the Tazhong uplift is generally from below upward, i.e. from the Ordovician through the Silurian to the Carboniferous. Evidently, source rocks in the uplift should be lower Palaeozoic strata (Ordovician and Cambrian). This study shows that carbazoles are of great importance in the study of petroleum migration and source rocks.     

Origin of the Silurian Crude Oils and Reservoir Formation Characteristics in the Tazhong Uplift

<正>The Silurian stratum in the Tazhong uplift is an important horizon for exploration because it preserves some features of the hydrocarbons produced from multi-stage tectonic evolution.For this reason,the study of the origin of the Silurian oils and their formation characteristics constitutes a major part in revealing the mechanisms for the composite hydrocarbon accumulation zone in the Tazhong area.Geochemical investigations indicate that the physical properties of the Silurian oils in Tazhong vary with belts and blocks,i.e.,heavy oils are distributed in the TZ47-15 well-block in the North Slope while normal and light oils in the No.Ⅰfault belt and the TZ16 well-block,which means that the oil properties are controlled by structural patterns.Most biomarkers in the Silurian oils are similar to that of the Mid-Upper Ordovician source rocks,suggesting a good genetic relationship. However,the compound specific isotope of n-alkanes in the oils and the chemical components of the hydrocarbons in fluid inclusions indicate that these oils are mixed oils derived from both the Mid-Upper Ordovician and the Cambrian-Lower Ordovician source rocks.Most Silurian oils have a record of secondary alterations like earlier biodegradation,including the occurrence of "UCM" humps in the total ion current(TIC) chromatogram of saturated and aromatic hydrocarbons and 25-norhopane in saturated hydrocarbons of the crude oils,and regular changes in the abundances of light and heavy components from the structural low to the structural high.The fact that the Silurian oils are enriched in chain alkanes,e.g.,n-alkanes and 25-norhopane,suggests that they were mixed oils of the earlier degraded oils with the later normal oils.It is suggested that the Silurian oils experienced at least three episodes of petroleum charging according to the composition and distribution as well as the maturity of reservoir crude oils and the oils in fluid inclusions.The migration and accumulation models of these oils in the TZ47-15 well-blocks,the No.Ⅰfault belt and the TZ16 well-block are different from but related to each other.The investigation of the origin of the mixed oils and the hydrocarbon migration and accumulation mechanisms in different charging periods is of great significance to petroleum exploration in this area.     

Geochemical characteristics of saturate hydrocarbons in crude oils and source rocks of the Qaidam, Tarim, Tupran basins, NW China

Based on the systematic analyses of fifteen typical crude oils and ten typical potential source rocks col-lected from the Qaidam,Tarim and Turpan basins,Northwest China,the geochemical characteristics of the oils and source rocks were investigated and oil-source rock correlations undertaken.The oils and source rocks deposited in saline lacustrine environment from the western Qaidam Basin were characterized by n-alkanes with even car-bon-number preference in the C20-C28 range,low pristane/phytane(Pr/Ph) ratios(less than 0.5),and high abundances of C27 steranes,gammacerane and C35 hopanes.The oils and source rocks deposited in marine environment from the Tarim Basin were characterized by n-alkanes with even carbon-number preference in the C14-C18 range,relatively low Pr/Ph ratios(near to 1),high abundance of C28 steranes,and relatively high gammacerane.In contrast,the oils and source rocks deposited in terrigenous bog environment from the Turpan Basin were characterized by relatively high Pr/Ph ratios(oil samples greater than 6) high abundance of C29 steranes,and relatively low gammacerane and C31-35 hopanes.The higher amounts of C37 and C38 n-alkanes of source rocks from the western Qaidam Basin and the Tarim Basin suggest an origin of these alkanes from functionalized C37 and C38 n-alkadienes and alkenones in prymnesiophytes living in lacustrine and marine environments.Oil-source rock correlations suggest oils in the west-ern Qaidam Basin were derived from the Oligocene Lower Ganchaigou Formation(E3),oils in the Tabei and Tazhong uplifts from the Tarim Basin have a genetic relationship with the Middle-Upper Ordovician source beds.Oils in the Turpan Basin generally fall into two genetic types.Most oils in the Taibei depression from the Turpan Basin were derived from the Lower-Middle Jurassic coal measures,but the fewer oils in this region are a mixed source derived from the Lower-Middle Jurassic coal measure and the Upper Permian source rocks.     

Evolution of Quaternary Depositional Environments in Lop Nor,Xinjiang:Sedimentary Records from LDK01 Drilling

正Lop Nur is located in the interior of Asian and the lowest part in the eastern Tarim Basin.It is the final destination of major river systems in Tarim Basin and the accumulation center of salt materials(Xia,1987).As     

Origin of Crude Oil in the Lunnan Region,Tarim Basin

<正>The oil source of the Tarim Basin has been controversial over a long time.This study characterizes the crude oil and investigates the oil sources in the Lunnan region,Tarim Basin by adopting compound specific isotopes of n-alkanes and biomarkers approaches.Although the crude oil has a good correlation with the Middle-Upper Ordovician(O_(2+3)) source rocks and a poor correlation with the Cambrian-Lower Ordovician((?)-O_1) based on biomarkers,theδ~(13)C data of n-alkanes of the Lunnan oils show an intermediate value between(?)-O_1 and O_(2+3) genetic affinity oils,which suggests that the Lunnan oils are actually of an extensively mixed source.A quantification of oil mixing was performed and the results show that the contribution of the Cambrian-Lower Ordovician source rocks ranges from 11%to 70%(averaging 36%),slightly less than that of the Tazhong uplift.It is suggested that the inconsistency between the biomarkers andδ~(13)C in determining the oil sources in the Lunnan Region results from multiple petroleum charge episodes with different chemical components in one or more episode(s) and different sources.The widespread marine mixed-source oil in the basin indicates that significant petroleum potential in deep horizons is possible.To unravel hydrocarbons accumulation mechanisms for the Lunnan oils is crucial to further petroleum exploration and exploitation in the region.     

An Early Paleozoic Tectonic Mélange at the Western Margin of West Cathaysia: Constraints from Organic-walled Microfossils

The Jiangshan-Shaoxing-Pingxiang Fault(JSP Fault) is traditionally considered as the boundary between the Yangtze and Cathaysia blocks in South China. Whether the previously defined Shenshan and Kuli formations located along the JSP fault and near the Xinyu City, Jiangxi Province, are continuous strata or parts of a tectonic mélange is important for understanding the geological history of South China. A carbonaceous phyllite from the area, previously considered as part of the Neoproterozoic Shenshan and Kuli formations, is analyzed palynologically in this study. The AsteridiumComasphaeridium acritarch assemblage found in the slate can be correlated with the basal Cambrian AsteridiumHeliosphaeridium-Comasphaeridium(AHC) acritarch assemblage in Tarim and the Yangtze Block. The early Cambrian biostratigraphical age assignment for the carbonaceous phyllite indicates the presence of both Neoproterozoic and Cambrian rocks in the sedimentary package, and supports that the package is a part of tectonic mélange rather than a continuous Neoproterozoic strata. The Cambrian slate is the youngest known lithology in the mélange at present.     

Extensional tectonics and sedimentary response of the Early-Middle Cambrian passive continental margin, Tarim Basin, Northwest China

The fact that several half-grabens and normal faults developed in the Lower—Middle Cambrian of Tazhong(central Tarim Basin) and Bachu areas in Tarim Basin,northwest China,indicates that Tarim Basin was under extensional tectonic setting at this time.The half-grabens occur within a linear zone and the normal faults are arranged in en echelon patterns with gradually increasing displacement eastward.Extensional tectonics resulted in the formation of a passive continental margin in the southwest and a cratonic margin depression in the east,and most importantly,influenced the development of a three-pronged rift in the northeast margin of the Tarim Basin.The fault system controlled the development of platform-slope-bathyal facies sedimentation of mainly limestone-dolomite-gypsum rock-saline rock-red beds in the half-grabens.The NW-SE trending half-grabens reflect the distribution of buried basement faults.     

Origin of natural gases and their differences between the eastern and western parts of central Tarim Basin

The origin of natural gases in central Tarim Basin is very complicated and there has been no definite conclusion in this aspect. Based on the results of systematic research on their composition and carbon isotopic characteristics, natural gases in central Tarim Basin are composed mainly of hydrocarbon gas, Ordovician natural gas with the characteristics of crude oil-cracking gas, and Carboniferous natural gas not only originating from kerogen cracking, but also from oil cracking. There are significant differences in composition and carbon isotope of natural gases between the eastern and western areas. The causes for the differences in geochemical characteristics of natural gases are presented as follows: different thermal evolution degrees of organic matter. Natural gases in the western region may have generated from the Middle- Upper Ordovician source rocks, and natural gases in the eatern region may be derived from the Cambrian source rocks, which entered into high to over mature stages; the gases migrated from west to east and caused the different compositional and carbon isotopic characteristics of natural gases; difference in the strength of thermal sulfate reduction between the eastern and western parts, with the reduction in the eastern part being stronger than that in the western part.     

Reservoir geochemistry of the Tazhong oilfield in the Tarim Basin, China, Part Ⅰ. Geochemical characteristics and genetic classification of crude oils

According to the assemblage characteristics of saturated hydrocarbon biomarkers in crude oils and their geochemical implications, this study has proposed, for the first time, the criteria for the genetic classification of crude oils in the Tazhong area of the Tarim Basin, China. Crude oils from the area studied are classified as three genetic types: type-Ⅰ is characterized by the low contents of C29 norhopane, extremely abundant contents of gammacerane, low contents of rearranged sterane and relatively high contents of regular C28 sterane; the geochemical properties of type-Ⅱ crude oils are opposite to those of type-Ⅰ crude oils; the parameters for type-Ⅲ crude oils are intermediate between type-Ⅰ and type-Ⅱ. Results of oil correlation indicated that type-Ⅰ crude oils were derived from Cambrian-Lower Ordovician hydrocarbon source rocks, type-Ⅱ curde oils originated from Middle-Upper Ordovician hydrocarbon source rocks and type-Ⅲ crude oils are of mixed origin.     

Reservoir geochemistry of the Tazhong oilfield in the Tarim Basin, China, Part Ⅰ. Geochemical characteristics and genetic classification of crude oils

According to the assemblage characteristics of saturated hydrocarbon biomarkers in crude oils and their geochemical implications, this study has proposed, for the first time, the criteria for the genetic classification of crude oils in the Tazhong area of the Tarim Basin, China. Crude oils from the area studied are classified as three genetic types： type-Ⅰ is characterized by the low contents of C29 norhopane, extremely abundant contents of gammacerane, low contents of rearranged sterane and relatively high contents of regular C28 sterane; the geochemical properties of type-Ⅱ crude oils are opposite to those of type-Ⅰ crude oils; the parameters for type-Ⅲ crude oils are intermediate between type-Ⅰ and type-Ⅱ. Results of oil correlation indicated that type-Ⅰ crude oils were derived from Cambrian-Lower Ordovician hydrocarbon source rocks, type-Ⅱ curde oils originated from Middle-Upper Ordovician hydrocarbon source rocks and type-Ⅲ crude oils are of mixed origin.     

Strike-Slip Faults and Their Control on Differential Hydrocarbon Enrichment in Carbonate Karst Reservoirs: A Case Study of Yingshan Formation on Northern Slope of Tazhong Uplift,Tarim Basin

正Objective Oil and gas are abundant in the Ordovician Yingshan Formation carbonate karst reservoirs on the northern slope of Tazhong uplift in the Tarim Basin,and have extremely complicated oil-gas-water distribution,however.The     

Distribution Features of the Nanhua‐Sinian Rifts and their Significance to Hydrocarbon Accumulation in the Tarim Basin

On the basis of reprocessing 34 new two-dimensional spliced long sections(20,191 km) in the Tarim Basin, the deep structure features of the Tarim Basin were analyzed through interpreting 30,451 km of two-dimensional seismic data and compiling basic maps. Seismic interpretation and geological analysis conclude that the Nanhua-Sinian strata are a set of rift-depression depositional systems according to their tectonic and depositional features. The rift valley formed in the Nanhua Period, and the transformation became weaker during the late Sinian Period, which eventually turned into depression. From bottom to top, the deposited strata include mafic igneous, tillite, mudstone, and dolomite. Three major depocenters developed inside this basin during the rift stage and are distributed in the eastern Tarim Basin, the Awati area, and the southwestern Tarim Basin. Among them, the rift in the eastern Tarim Basin strikes in the near east-west direction on the plane and coincides with the aeromagnetic anomaly belt. This represents a strong magnetic zone formed by upwelling basic volcanic rock along high, steep normal faults of the Nanhua Period. Controlled by the tectonic background, two types of sedimentary systems were developed in the rift stage and depression stage, showing two types of sequence features in the Sinian depositional stage. The Nanhua System appears as a wedge-shaped formation, with its bottom in unconformable contact with the base. The rifting event has a strong influence on the current tectonic units in the Tarim Basin, and affects the distribution of source rock in the Yuertus Formation and reservoir beds in the Xiaoerbulake Formation in Lower Cambrian, as well as the gypseous cap rock in Middle Cambrian. The distribution features of the rifts have important and realistic significance for determining the direction of oil and gas exploration in the deep strata of the Tarim Basin. Comprehensive analysis suggests that the Tazhong region is the most favorable zone, and the Kalpin-Bachu region is the optimal potential zone for exploring sub-salt oil and gas in deep Cambrian strata.     

Genesis of Abnormally High Abundant Rearranged Hopanes in Condensates from the Kuqa Depression, Tarim Basin

正Objective The Tarim Basin is China’s largest ore-bearing interior basin,and contains mainly marine oils.The Kuqa depression,a secondary structural unit within the northern Tarim Basin,is composed of Mesozoic and Cenozoic clastic sedimentary rocks dominated by continental oil.Previous research suggests that the crude oils especially condensates in the Kuqa depression are rich in abnormally