Source potential of the upper Jurassic rocks of the Barents Sea petroleum basin

A preliminary assessment of the source potential of the Jurassic section was obtained using organic geochemical data on samples collected from outcrops on Franz Josef Land and Svalbard archipelagoes as well as boreholes in the Barents Sea basin. The presence of organic-rich shale units with good source potential was reported for the first time within the studied section of Early to Middle Jurassic age, along with well-documented Upper Jurassic source rocks. The study provides an assessment of regional variations in the kerogen type, hydrocarbon generation potential, and maturation of organic matter from Jurassic sediments.     

Depositional environments of the Triassic system in central Saudi Arabia

Facies analysis of Triassic rocks in central Saudi Arabia indicates a wide expanse of interfingering siliciclastic and carbonate rocks with some evaporites. Eight distinctive sedimentary facies have been recognized. The distribution of these facies show a systematic gradual change in their presumed depositional environments, laterally as well as vertically. The Lower Triassic Sudair facies represents a widespread regressive condition where the Upper Permian marine conditions gave way to the Lower Triassic with predominantly fine clastic deposits representing a restricted shallow marine shelf. This fine-grained clastic facies consists mainly of unfossiliferous, laminated or massive, varicoloured shale with some silty shale, siltstone and very fine-to fine-grained sandstone. The facies is highly calcareous and gypsiferous in the northern area. A belt of Middle Triassic rocks of mostly non-marine sandstone with some shale is present in the southern area passing into mixed siliciclastic-carbonate facies of continental aspect with some intermittent emergence and nearshore conditions in the central area. This facies grades in the northern area into carbonate-evaporite facies of restricted to more open marine shelf conditions. Thick siliciclastic deposits characterize the Upper Triassic Minjur facies, where a uniform repeated fining-upward sequence of mainly sandstone and some shale developed in a non-marine environment with some intermittent emergence in the northern area.     

Crust structure of the northeastern Barents Sea basin area

Processing of data from regional geophysical surveys completed in the northern Barents Sea has provided updates to gravity and magnetic databases, structural maps of seismic interfaces, and positions of anomaly sources, which made a basis for 3D density and magnetic models of the crust. The new geological and geophysical results placed constraints on the boundaries between basement blocks formed in different settings and on the contours of deposition zones of different ages in the northeastern Barents Sea. The estimated thicknesses of sedimentary sequences that formed within certain time spans record the deposition history of the region. There is a 20-50 km wide deep suture between two basins of Mesozoic and Paleozoic ages in the eastern part of the region, where pre-Late Triassic reflectors have no clear correlation. The suture slopes eastward at a low angle and corresponds to a paleothrust according to seismic and modeling data. In the basement model, the suture is approximated by a zone of low magnetization and density, which is common to active fault systems. The discovery of the suture has important geological and exploration implications.     

Evolution of the Barents Sea basin and oil and gas potential of coastal zones in the Kola region

The perspectives of development of the Varanger–Timan petroleum basin are considered. The Varanger–Timan oil-and-gas basin was formed in the Riphean and Vendian on the passive continental margin of the East European Plate. Evolution of the Barents–Kara region in the Mesoproterozoic and Neoproterozoic led to a mosaic junction of the lithospheric plates having different ages and having undergone significant alterations during the Caledonian and Variscan orogenies. The spatiotemporal regularities of the interaction between geodynamic processes and conditions providing for the formation of conventional and unconventional hydrocarbon fields are described.     

南海北部—东海南部中生代盆地演化与油气资源潜力

目前的勘探成果表明,南海北部到东海南部的广阔海域普遍发育中生代地层,但是除了在台西南盆地发现工业油气藏之外,其他地区的中生界尚未有大的勘探突破。本次研究将中生代南海北部—东海南部作为一个整体,开展大地构造背景分析,厘清各构造时期盆地的性质及其形成演化机制,探讨油气资源潜力。结果表明:南海北部—东海南部从晚三叠世到白垩纪整体为一个大型盆地,盆地的演化受其周围板块相互运动所控制;晚三叠世(T₃)主要受特提斯构造域控制,发育被动陆缘边缘海沉积盆地;从早侏罗世(J₁)到早白垩世均受古太平洋板块(伊泽奈崎板块)向欧亚板块俯冲机制的控制,其中早—中侏罗世(J_1-2)发育弧前坳陷盆地,晚侏罗—早白垩世(J₃—K₁)盆地性质为弧后断陷盆地;晚白垩世(K₂)受太平洋板块、欧亚板块和印度板块的联合控制,性质依然为弧后断陷盆地,与前期相比,裂陷强度加大;海水由东南方向侵入,地层垂向上由海相向陆相逐渐过渡,由东南向西北和东北方向,水体逐渐变浅,亦由海相向陆相逐渐演变;中生界在南海北部潮汕坳陷等地区发育深海相和海湾相泥岩,在东海南部基隆坳陷也发育良好的海湾相泥岩,生烃潜力大,具有形成大型油气藏的物质基础和地质条件,勘探潜力巨大。本次研究结果可以为南海北部—东海南部中生界的油气资源勘探提供依据。     

柴达木盆地东部石炭系烃源岩热模拟实验及生烃潜力

通过热模拟实验及热模拟产物组分和稳定碳同位素分析,对柴达木盆地东部石炭系烃源岩的生烃能力及产物特征进行了研究。结果表明：石炭系烃源岩的气态烃产率为67.27～161.01m³/t(TOC),总气体产率为220.51～453.39m³/t(TOC),显示柴达木盆地东部石炭系烃源岩具有较高的生气能力;液态有机质产率仅为1.73～4.30kg/t(TOC),残余生油能力相对较低,但考虑到石炭系烃源岩的成熟度已经接近生油窗的下限值(1.3%),因此模拟实验的液态有机质产率不能真实反映石炭系烃源岩的生油潜力。根据模拟实验的气态烃产率可知,柴达木盆地东部石炭系泥质烃源岩的生气强度为14.2×10⁸～42.5×10⁸ m³/km²,显示其具备形成规模气藏的生烃条件。     

Depositional environments and facies of the Late Triassic Abu Ruweis Formation, Jordan

The Abu Ruweis Formation is composed of carbonates, evaporites, and mudstones, with some locally developed pelletic, oolitic and stromatolitic limestones. The lateral persistence of bedding, the purity of the evaporite rocks, the alternating arrangement of marine carbonates and evaporites indicates periodic deposition in subaqueous conditions (salina). Petrographic investigations, X-ray diffraction analysis as well as chemical analysis have shown that the outcropping evaporite beds are mainly composed of secondary gypsum, with rare anhydrite relics. Five microfacies of gypsum were recognized according to their fabrics: porphyroblastic and granoblastic gypsum showing polarization texture, gypsum pseudomorph after anhydrite laths, and satin spar gypsum. The textures they display indicate a hydration origin of precursor anhydrite, which is in turn rehydrated from primary gypsum. Some of these anhydrites were formed as a result of replacement processes of the carbonate sediments associated with the evaporites, as evidenced from the textural relationships of the carbonate and sulfate minerals. The O¹⁸ content ranges from 1.45 to 8.38% PDB and the C¹³ content ranges from −1.52 to 4.73% PDB. Trace elements analysis has shown that the Abu Ruweis dolomites are rich in strontium (up to 600 ppm), and sodium (up to 835 ppm). The isotope composition and trace elements content, as well as the petrographic characteristics point to a penecontemporaneous hypersaline dolomitization origin for the Abu Ruweis dolomites. The evaporites were deposited during a regressive lowstand systems tract, whereas the carbonates were deposited under shallow water marine conditions during a highstand systems tract. The Abu Ruweis succession represents a relatively stable arid climate within a rapidly subsiding basin. Restricted conditions were provided by the development of beach barriers.     

Late Mesozoic magmatism and Cenozoic tectonic deformations of the Barents Sea continental margin: Effect on hydrocarbon potential distribution

The paper is focused on the two tectonic-geodynamic factors that made the most appreciable contribution to the transformation of the lithospheric and hydrocarbon potential distribution at the Barents Sea continental margin: Jurassic-Cretaceous basaltic magmatism and the Cenozoic tectonic deformations. The manifestations of Jurassic-Cretaceous basaltic magmatism in the sedimentary cover of the Barents Sea continental margin have been recorded using geological and geophysical techniques. Anomalous seismic units related to basaltic sills hosted in terrigenous sequences are traced in plan view as a tongue from Franz Josef Land Archipelago far to the south along the East Barents Trough System close to its depocentral zone with the transformed thinned Earth’s crust. The Barents Sea igneous province has been contoured. The results of seismic stratigraphy analysis and timing of basaltic rock occurrences indicate with a high probability that the local structures of the hydrocarbon (HC) fields and the Stockman-Lunin Saddle proper were formed and grew almost synchronously with intrusive magmatic activity. The second, no less significant multitectonic stress factor is largely related to the Cenozoic stage of evolution, when the development of oceanic basins was inseparably linked with the Barents Sea margin. The petrophysical properties of rocks from the insular and continental peripheries of the Barents Sea shelf are substantially distinct as evidence for intensification of tectonic processes in the northwestern margin segment. These distinctions are directly reflected in HC potential distribution.     

Locations of nonstructural hydrocarbon traps on the shelf of the northern Barents Sea

This paper considers the results of summarized integrated geophysical investigations that were carried out from 2006 to 2012. The investigations included common depth point (CDP) seismic reflection survey, over water gravity survey, and differential hydromagnetic exploration with a total work scope of 30 000 linear kilometers. The deep structural tectonic plan, the structural and lithofacies features of the sedimentary cover section on the basic reflecting boundaries, and the features of the seismogeological complexes and seismic sections on a depth scale have been studied, and geological oil-and-gas zoning of the Northern Barents shelf has been made. Seventy-nine local anticlinal highs have been revealed, and the zones with potential nonstructural hydrocarbon traps have been determined. Due to the lack of huge anticlinal highs in the northern Barents Sea region, nonstructural traps are of interest in studying and replacing the mineral raw material base of Russia, as well as for arranging marine exploration.     

南祁连盆地木里凹陷侏罗系烃源岩沉积环境与生烃潜力

南祁连盆地木里凹陷侏罗系发育多层暗色泥岩,从有机质丰度?有机质类型?有机质成熟度等3 方面对DK-3井烃源岩进行评价表明,其有机质丰度相对较高,有机质类型为Ⅱ1(腐殖-腐泥型)~Ⅱ2(腐泥-腐殖型)型,烃源岩整体处于成熟热演化阶段;烃源岩生烃潜力最高的层段为深度140~350 m内的黑色湖相泥岩,其有机质丰度高,类型好,且已达到成熟阶段;其次为深度630~720 m内的灰色泥岩夹层;其他层段烃源岩有机质丰度整体偏低,生烃潜力有限?     

Depositional characteristics of Dalong Formation and its potential as hydrocarbon source rocks in Hubei,Hunan ,Guizhou and Guangxi

The Late Permian Dalong Formation in Hubei, Hunan, Guizhou and Guangxi in South China could be subdivided into several sedimentary types according to the lithology, indicative of the great spatial variations of both the lithology and sedimentary facies. The Dalong Formation deposited during the highest transgression of Late Permian, in particular under the anaerobic and suboxic conditions, which shows a strong linkage with the hydrocarbon source rocks. The Dalong Formation has some favorable properties such as hydrocarbon source rocks, including the sediments deposited in highest transgression sea level, the deep slope sedimentary environments and the low sedimentary rate, which raises the importance of the investigations on the sedimentary features, the geochemical properties and their relationship with the oil potential. __________ Translated from Earth Science—Journal of China University of Geosciences, 2007, 32(6): 774–780 [译自: 地球科学—中国地质大学学报]     

南羌塘侏罗纪盆地的沉积－构造转换与烃源岩

沉积盆地层序地层和岩相古地理研究以及沉积-构造转换过程分析，是探讨沉积体系时空演化的重要思路。通过沉积-构造转换的分析。指出羌南地区在侏罗纪经历了从被动大陆边缘到夭折前陆，最后隆升剥蚀的演化历史；初步厘定了南羌塘地区烃源岩形成环境。在经历4次海侵的过程中。相应发育了两个陆源碎屑岩-碳酸盐岩沉积旋回。在这4次沉积-构造转换过程中．发育3套黑色页岩沉积：分别属于被动大陆边缘烃源岩和前陆盆地两个阶段烃源岩。是南羌塘侏罗纪盆地的油气评价的物质基础。     

南黄海盆地上二叠统—下三叠统基准面旋回特征及沉积充填模式

采用高分辨率层序地层学理论与基准面旋回识别技术,根据区域构造旋回变化和海平面变化特征,将上二叠统—下三叠统作为1个长期基准面旋回。基于南黄海盆地钻井资料,以岩电组合旋回性特征及特殊岩性(煤层、白云岩、砂岩)为依据,将长期基准面旋回划分为5个中期基准面旋回(MC1—MC5)。连井对比分析表明,上二叠统—下三叠统主要发育三角洲相、潮坪相、台地相和陆棚相,水体西北深、东南浅。依据基准面旋回变化和沉积环境变迁,上二叠统—下三叠统发育两种基准面旋回充填模式,即上二叠统龙潭组相对稳定的潮坪相和上二叠统大隆组—下三叠统青龙组快速海侵陆棚相至稳定的台地相,这些模式可为南黄海盆地中古生界油气地质评价提供基础依据。     

南海北部大陆边缘深水盆地烃源岩早期预测与评价

南海北部深水盆地与浅水陆架区一样,新生代均处于南海北部准被动大陆边缘的地球动力学环境,具有北部大陆边缘拉张裂陷的基本构造地质属性.深水盆地油气运聚成藏的基本地质条件亦与浅水区类似,但由于陆坡深水区凹陷裂陷更深、沉积充填规模更大,因此,烃源岩发育且展布规模更大,进而为深水油气形成莫定了雄厚的烃源物质基础.本文基于深水区少井无井、地质资料缺乏的现状,借鉴浅水区烃源岩地质地球化学特点及评价参数,依据跨越深水区地震剖面层序地层追踪解释及油气地质综合研究,重点对深水盆地烃源岩进行早期预测与评价,同时亦对其油气资源潜力进行初步分析.     

Depositional environments and chronology of Late Weichselian glaciation and deglaciation in the central North Sea

Graham, A.G.C., Lonergan, L. & Stoker, M.S. 2010: Depositional environments and chronology of Late Weichselian glaciation and deglaciation in the central North Sea. Boreas, Vol. 39, pp. 471–491. 10.1111/j.1502‐3885.2010.00144.x. ISSN 0300‐9483. Geological constraints on ice‐sheet deglaciation are essential for improving the modelling of ice masses and understanding their potential for future change. Here, we present a detailed interpretation of depositional environments from a new 30‐m‐long borehole in the central North Sea, with the aim of improving constraints on the history of the marine Late Pleistocene British–Fennoscandian Ice Sheet. Seven units characterize a sequence of compacted and distorted glaciomarine diamictons, which are overlain by interbedded glaciomarine diamictons and soft, bedded to homogeneous marine muds. Through correlation of borehole and 2D/3D seismic observations, we identify three palaeoregimes. These are: a period of advance and ice‐sheet overriding; a phase of deglaciation; and a phase of postglacial glaciomarine‐to‐marine sedimentation. Deformed subglacial sediments correlate with a buried suite of streamlined subglacial bedforms, and indicate overriding by the SE–NW‐flowing Witch Ground ice stream. AMS ¹⁴C dating confirms ice‐stream activity and extensive glaciation of the North Sea during the Last Glacial Maximum, between c. 30 and 16.2 ¹⁴C ka BP. Sediments overlying the ice‐compacted deposits have been reworked, but can be used to constrain initial deglaciation to no later than 16.2 ¹⁴C ka BP. A re‐advance of British ice during the last deglaciation, dated at 13.9 ¹⁴C ka BP, delivered ice‐proximal deposits to the core site and deposited glaciomarine sediments rapidly during the subsequent retreat. A transition to more temperate marine conditions is clear in lithostratigraphic and seismic records, marked by a regionally pervasive iceberg‐ploughmarked erosion surface. The iceberg discharges that formed this horizon are dated to between 13.9 and 12 ¹⁴C ka BP, and may correspond to oscillating ice‐sheet margins during final, dynamic ice‐sheet decay.     

东海陆架盆地岩石密度与磁性

本文在东海陆架盆地２０口钻井１６０块岩心标本物测定和１７口钻井密度测井的基础上，通过整理、分析、统计，给出了东海陆架盆地的岩石密度和磁性特征。     

Geological structure of Cenozoic sedimentary basin in the Northwestern margin of the Barents Sea shelf

There are two stages in Cenozoic development of the West Barents continental margin: rifting and passive margins. The main thickness of the Pliocene-Eocene complex is typical of the Serverstsnaget Basin, Vestbakken Volcanic Province, and Hornsund fault zone formed under conditions of strike-slip tectonics (“pull-apart” conditions). However, the thickness of the Oligocene-Pliocene sediments reaches its maximum on the eastern slope of the North Atlantic ocean basin. Paleogene and Neogene sediments consist mostly of claystones and siltstones but there are also sandy intervals formed because of gravity flows. The sandy layers can form lithological hydrocarbon traps.