Origin and Distribution Factors of Sour Gases in Natural Gas Reservoirs in the Amu Darya Right Bank Block,Turkmenistan

Through the analysis of original carbon isotopes in the blocks on the right bank of the Amu Darya River, Turkmenistan, it can be firstly concluded that the carbon dioxide (CO₂) in the sour gas reservoirs belongs to the inorganic-origin gas. The origin of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) in the Amu Darya Right Bank Block is thermochemical sulfate reduction from the detailed analysis of hydrocarbon source rocks data, reservoir characteristics, vitrinite reflectance of organic matter, and sour gas content. Then, the factors affecting the distribution of sour gases in the Amu Darya Right Bank Block were investigated by the analysis of conventional sour gas distribution factors including geological structure, fracture and fault, caprock integrity, sedimentary facies, reservoir types, lithofacies, the source of sulfur and so on. The following basic findings were achieved: ① The basement rift in the study area is conductive to the distribution of CO₂. The caprock integrity contributes to the concentration of CO₂. The gas reservoirs in the biological dike reefs, patch reefs and overthrust zones usually have medium CO₂ content. ② The geological structure and fracture caused the complexity of the distribution of H₂S. The gypsum-salt rock in upper Jurassic-Tithonian is an important sulphur source, and the main hydrocarbon source rocks are also the major sulfur source of H₂S gas reservoirs. Furthermore, the giant gypsum layers in the middle-upper Jurassic Callovian-Oxfordian and the upper Jurassic-Tithonian are conductive to preservation of H₂S, and the small openings and holes in the reservoir is also correlative to the distribution of H₂S. ③ The H₂S in the study area is mostly distributed in the formations with the geothermal temperature of higher than 100 ℃. The open platform deep-water sedimentary facies are harmful to the formation of H₂S. The patch reef and overthrust zones belong to the belts of low H₂S content, however, the biological dike reef zones belong to the belts of medium-high H₂S content. However, the origin and distribution factors of sour gases in natural gas reservoirs were obtained. At the same time, it was pointed out that more necessary and accurately quantitative research is still needed to determine the origin and distribution of acid gases in the Amu Darya Right Bank Block, Turkmenistan.