The petroleum generation potential and effective oil window of humic coals related to coal composition and age

A worldwide data set of more than 500 humic coals from the major coal-forming geological periods has been used to analyse the evolution in the remaining (Hydrogen Index, HI) and total (Quality Index, QI) generation potentials with increasing thermal maturity and the ‘effective oil window’ (‘oil expulsion window’). All samples describe HI and QI bands that are broad at low maturities and that gradually narrow with increasing maturity. The oil generation potential is completely exhausted at a vitrinite reflectance of 2.0–2.2%R_o or T_max of 500–510 °C. The initial large variation in the generation potential is related to the original depositional conditions, particularly the degree of marine influence and the formation of hydrogen-enriched vitrinite, as suggested by increased sulphur and hydrogen contents. During initial thermal maturation the HI increases to a maximum value, HI_max. Similarly, QI increases to a maximum value, QI_max. This increase in HI and QI is related to the formation of an additional generation potential in the coal structure. The decline in QI with further maturation is indicating onset of initial oil expulsion, which precedes efficient expulsion. Liquid petroleum generation from humic coals is thus a complex, three-phase process: (i) onset of petroleum generation, (ii) petroleum build-up in the coal, and (iii) initial oil expulsion followed by efficient oil expulsion (corresponding to the effective oil window). Efficient oil expulsion is indicated by a decline in the Bitumen Index (BI) when plotted against vitrinite reflectance or T_max. This means that in humic coals the vitrinite reflectance or T_max values at which onset of petroleum generation occurs cannot be used to establish the start of the effective oil window. The start of the effective oil window occurs within the vitrinite reflectance range 0.85–1.05%R_o or T_max range 440–455 °C and the oil window extends to 1.5–2.0%R_o or 470–510 °C. For general use, an effective oil window is proposed to occur from 0.85 to 1.7%R_o or from 440 to 490 °C. Specific ranges for HI_max and the effective oil window can be defined for Cenozoic, Jurassic, Permian, and Carboniferous coals. Cenozoic coals reach the highest HI_max values (220–370 mg HC/g TOC), and for the most oil-prone Cenozoic coals the effective oil window may possibly range from 0.65 to 2.0%R_o or 430 to 510 °C. In contrast, the most oil-prone Jurassic, Permian and Carboniferous coals reach the expulsion threshold at a vitrinite reflectance of 0.85–0.9%R_o or T_max of 440–445 °C.     

A sequence stratigraphic model for an intensely bioturbated shallow-marine sandstone: the Bridport Sand Formation, Wessex Basin, UK

The Bridport Sand Formation is an intensely bioturbated sandstone that represents part of a mixed siliciclastic‐carbonate shallow‐marine depositional system. At outcrop and in subsurface cores, conventional facies analysis was combined with ichnofabric analysis to identify facies successions bounded by a hierarchy of key stratigraphic surfaces. The geometry of these surfaces and the lateral relationships between the facies successions that they bound have been constrained locally using 3D seismic data. Facies analysis suggests that the Bridport Sand Formation represents progradation of a low‐energy, siliciclastic shoreface dominated by storm‐event beds reworked by bioturbation. The shoreface sandstones form the upper part of a thick (up to 200 m), steep (2–3°), mud‐dominated slope that extends into the underlying Down Cliff Clay. Clinoform surfaces representing the shoreface‐slope system are grouped into progradational sets. Each set contains clinoform surfaces arranged in a downstepping, offlapping manner that indicates forced‐regressive progradation, which was punctuated by flooding surfaces that are expressed in core and well‐log data. In proximal locations, progradational shoreface sandstones (corresponding to a clinoform set) are truncated by conglomerate lags containing clasts of bored, reworked shoreface sandstones, which are interpreted as marking sequence boundaries. In medial locations, progradational clinoform sets are overlain across an erosion surface by thin (<5 m) bioclastic limestones that record siliciclastic‐sediment starvation during transgression. Near the basin margins, these limestones are locally thick (>10 m) and overlie conglomerate lags at sequence boundaries. Sequence boundaries are thus interpreted as being amalgamated with overlying transgressive surfaces, to form composite erosion surfaces. In distal locations, oolitic ironstones that formed under conditions of extended physical reworking overlie composite sequence boundaries and transgressive surfaces. Over most of the Wessex Basin, clinoform sets (corresponding to high‐frequency sequences) are laterally offset, thus defining a low‐frequency sequence architecture characterized by high net siliciclastic sediment input and low net accommodation. Aggradational stacking of high‐frequency sequences occurs in fault‐bounded depocentres which had higher rates of localized tectonic subsidence.     

Spinel–sapphirine–quartz bearing composite inclusion within garnet from an ultrahigh-temperature pelitic granulite: Implications for metamorphic history and P–T path

We report here a multiphase mineral inclusion composed of quartz, plagioclase, K-feldspar, sapphirine, spinel, orthopyroxene, and biotite, in porphyroblastic garnet within a pelitic granulite from Rajapalaiyam in the Madurai Granulite Block, southern India. In this unique textural association, hitherto unreported in previous studies, sapphirine shows four occurrences: (1) as anhedral mineral between spinel and quartz (Spr-1), (2) subhedral to euhedral needles mantled by quartz (Spr-2), (3) subhedral to anhedral mineral in orthopyroxene, and (4) isolated inclusion with quartz (Spr-4). Spr-1, Spr-2, and Spr-4 show direct grain contact with quartz, providing evidence for ultrahigh-temperature (UHT) metamorphism at temperatures exceeding 1000 °C. Associated orthopyroxene shows high Mg/(Fe + Mg) ratio ( 0.75) and Al₂O₃ content (up to 9.6 wt.%), also suggesting T > 1050 °C and P > 10 kbar during peak metamorphism.

Coarse spinel (Spl-1) with irregular grain morphology and adjacent quartz grains are separated by thin films of Spr-1 and K-feldspar, suggesting that Spl-1 and quartz were in equilibrium before the stability of Spr-1 + quartz. This texture implies that the P–T conditions of the rock shifted from the stability field of spinel + quartz to sapphirine + quartz. Petrogenetic grid considerations based on available data from the FMAS system favour exhumation along a counterclockwise P–T trajectory. The irregular shape of the inclusion and chemistry of the inclusion minerals are markedly different from the matrix phases suggesting the possibility that the inclusion minerals could have equilibrated from cordierite-bearing silicate-melt pockets during the garnet growth at extreme UHT conditions.     

Elastic properties of granulite facies rocks of Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu, India

Compressional and shear wave velocities and attenuation measurements have been carried out in some of the borehole samples of acidic, basic and intermediate granulites of Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu, India. The results have been obtained at ambient conditions using ‘time-of-flight’ pulse transmission technique at 1.0 MHz frequency. The results show linear relationships between velocity and density, and velocity and attenuation properties of the rocks. The acidic granulites show lower velocities and higher attenuation than the intermediate and basic granulites. The average values of the Poisson’s ratio of acidic, intermediate and basic granulites have been found to be 0.210, 0.241 and 0.279 respectively. The variations in velocities and attenuation in these low porosity crystalline rocks are found to be strongly influenced by their mineral composition. The laboratory velocity data (extrapolated to high pressure) of the present study and the published field velocity data from deep seismic sounding studies indicate that these granulite facies rocks may belong to mid-crustal depths only.     

Factors influencing the presence or absence of tributary-junction fans in the Iberian Range, Spain

This paper analyses the factors which influence the presence or absence of tributary-junction fans in the Iberian Range, northern Spain. Two valleys were selected, both characterised by wide variations in lithology, altitude, land use and plant cover. Two groups of factors were studied: those related to the internal characteristics of the drainage basins, which particularly control sediment generation; and those related to the characteristics of the depositional area which control accommodation space and main river power. Among the internal factors, the development of alluvial fans was related to: (i) the capacity of the basin to yield large volumes of sediment, (ii) the occurrence of intense human pressure until recent times, a good indicator of sediment yield, and (iii) the capacity of the basin to quickly increase discharge during rainstorms (discharge density and torrentiality). It is suggested that the areas that were intensively cultivated in the past, and have therefore been affected by intense erosion, have played a decisive role on the development of alluvial fans. This would imply that many of these alluvial fans have a relatively recent origin, perhaps related to the beginning of a widespread deforestation. The basins without alluvial fans are characterised by relatively steep hillslope gradients (that is, slopes that never were subjected to historical cultivation), low drainage densities and dense forest and shrub cover, mostly coinciding with high altitude basins composed of quartzite and shale bedrocks. Regarding the external factors, the shape, size and longitudinal gradient of the main river to which the fans are tributary are the most relevant conditioning factors determining the development of alluvial fans.     

新疆库木库里盆地演化

通过对新疆库木库里盆地的地质调查，渐新统一上新统识别出冲积扇、河流、湖泊三角洲、湖泊四种沉积相、六种亚相、十种微相；具有盆地演化早、晚期碎屑成熟度较低，盆地演化中期碎屑成熟度较高的特征；通过物源分析得出盆地演化早期碎屑物质来自盆地南部，晚期碎屑物质来自盆地西部，碎屑物质均来源于再旋回造山带构造背景区，并具有早期南高北低、晚期西南高东北低的古地理格局；盆地分析表明新疆库木库里盆地从渐新世形成大致经历了渐新世一早中新世盆地萌芽、中中新世一晚中新世盆地的生长发育、上新世盆地萎缩三个演化阶段。     

东准噶尔纸房地区晚石炭世巴塔玛依内山组陆相火山-沉积体系特征

东准噶尔巴塔玛依内山组是典型陆相火山．沉积体系(盆地)，主体由基性及中酸性火山熔岩组成，火山碎屑岩及火山碎屑沉积岩较少，通过对纸房地区晚石炭世巴塔玛依内山组陆相火山岩的岩石化学、地球化学特征进行系统研究，认为它属于造山期后固结初期，新陆壳裂谷向高原火山岩演化的同岩浆源、同沉积盆地、同火山作用的钙碱系列双峰式火山岩．     

鄂尔多斯西缘前陆盆地上古生界沉积相特征研究

在层序地层学研究的基础上，对鄂尔多斯盆地西缘逆冲构造带上古生界进行了详细的沉积相研究．分析出该地发育了6种沉积相，分别为碳酸盐潮坪相、障壁砂坝-泻湖相、河口湾相、三角洲相、河流相、湖泊相．并按上古生界识别出的2个二级层序，推测出沉积相的平面展布特征，总结出鄂尔多斯盆地西缘地区，晚古生代沉积演化经历了拗拉槽再活动背景下的裂谷海湾充填、陆表海充填和内陆坳陷充填3个发展阶段．并结合构造、物源供给、海侵、古气候等条件分析了鄂尔多斯西缘前陆盆地上古生界沉积相演化的控制因素．     

辽河盆地冷家油田沙河街组三段储层岩相古地理

辽河盆地在沙河街组三段早期水体较深,主要形成扇三角洲及盆底扇;沙三晚期水体较浅,发育湖泊砂体.依据沉积相分布规律,沙三早、中、晚3个时期可进一步分别划分出湖泊扩张和收缩阶段.盆地西部凹陷的冷家油田为东陡西缓的箕状洼陷.研究区内沙三段的古地理格局是决定相分布的关键因素,河流和湖泊能量相对强弱决定扇体沉积的规模.受相对湖平面变化的影响,纵向扇三角洲主要形成于湖泊扩张时期,并且有相带窄、过渡快、以粗碎屑沉积为主的特点.扇体沉积中主要发育前缘分流河道充填沉积,但位于河口前缘或侧缘的滩坝及前三角洲中的盆底扇局部也较发育.     

胜利油田车镇凹陷沙河街组二、三段沉积相

车镇凹陷古近系沙河街组三段上亚段-二段下亚段是较为典型的深断陷型三级层序.层序的发育主要受控于幕式断陷作用,可进一步划分出低位体系域、湖侵体系域和高位体系域.通过岩心观察、薄片镜下鉴定、粒度分析、古生物及遗迹化石分析,并综合利用测井曲线和地震相特征,认为该时期主要发育有扇三角洲、三角洲、近岸水下扇、湖底扇、滨浅湖滩坝等骨架砂体相,以及滨浅湖、半深湖-深湖等沉积相及其亚相.综合考虑物源特征、沉积环境、沉积体系平面展布以及生、储、盖组合关系,认为有利的沉积相带主要是三角洲、扇三角洲前缘、湖底扇、近岸水下扇的中扇和外扇以及滨浅湖中发育的滩坝和砂坝.