The distribution and evolution of fluid pressure and its influence on natural gas accumulation in the Upper Paleozoic of Shenmu-Yulin area,Ordos Basin

On the basis of measuring the pressure distribution and analyzing its origin in the Carboniferous and Permian of Shenmu-Yulin area, the evolution history of ancient pressure is restored mainly by means of the basin numerical simulation technique, in which the paleo-pressure has been constrained by the compaction restoration and the examination of fluid inclusion temperature and pressure. Then the development and evolution history of abnormal pressure and its effect on gas migration and accumulation are investigated. Studies show that the pressure in southeastern and northwestern parts of studied area is near to hydrostatic pressure, whereas in the remainder vast area the pressure is lower than the hydrostatic pressure, which is caused by difficulty to measure pressure accurately in tight reservoir bed, the calculating error caused by in-coordinate between topography relief and surface of water potential, pressure lessening due to formation arising and erosion. There are geological factors beneficial to forming abnormal high pressure in the Upper Palaeozoic. On the distraction of measured pressure, paleo-pressure data from compaction restoration and fluid inclusion temperature and pressure examining, the evolution history of ancient pressure is restored by the basin numerical simulation technique. It is pointed out that there are at least two high peaks of overpressure in which the highest value of excess pressure could be 5 to 25 MPa. Major gas accumulated in main producing bed of Shanxi Fm (P₁s) and lower Shihezi Fm (P₂x), because of two-fold control from capillary barrier and overpressure seal in upper Shihezi Fm (P₂s). In the middle and southern districts, the two periods of Later Jurassic to the middle of Early Cretaceous, and middle of Later Cretaceous to Palaeocene are main periods of gas migration and accumulation, while they belong to readjustment period of gas reservoirs after middle of Neocene.

     

The distribution and evolution of fluid pressure and its influence on natural gas accumulation in the Upper Paleozoic of Shenmu-Yulin area,Ordos Basin

On the basis of measuring the pressure distribution and analyzing its origin in the Carboniferous and Permian of Shenmu-Yulin area, the evolution history of ancient pressure is restored mainly by means of the basin numerical simulation technique, in which the paleo-pressure has been constrained by the compaction restoration and the examination of fluid inclusion temperature and pressure. Then the development and evolution history of abnormal pressure and its effect on gas migration and accumulation are investigated. Studies show that the pressure in southeastern and northwestern parts of studied area is near to hydrostatic pressure, whereas in the remainder vast area the pressure is lower than the hydrostatic pressure, which is caused by difficulty to measure pressure accurately in tight reservoir bed, the calculating error caused by in-coordinate between topography relief and surface of water potential, pressure lessening due to formation arising and erosion. There are geological factors beneficial to forming abnormal high pressure in the Upper Palaeozoic. On the distraction of measured pressure, paleo-pressure data from compaction restoration and fluid inclusion temperature and pressure examining, the evolution history of ancient pressure is restored by the basin numerical simulation technique. It is pointed out that there are at least two high peaks of overpressure in which the highest value of excess pressure could be 5 to 25 MPa. Major gas accumulated in main producing bed of Shanxi Fm (P₁s) and lower Shihezi Fm (P₂x), because of two-fold control from capillary barrier and overpressure seal in upper Shihezi Fm (P₂s). In the middle and southern districts, the two periods of Later Jurassic to the middle of Early Cretaceous, and middle of Later Cretaceous to Palaeocene are main periods of gas migration and accumulation, while they belong to readjustment period of gas reservoirs after middle of Neocene.     

Characteristics of dynamic equilibrium for natural gas migration and accumulation of the gas field in the center of the Ordos Basin

The gas field in the center of Ordos Basin has been conventionally considered as a large gas pool with thin reservoirs. However, lots of phenomena contrary to this concept occur in the exploration and production process. It is proposed that the gas field is composed of many small lithological gas pools, sourced from and reservoired in the same Ordovician formation which is an underpressured fluid compartment. A dynamic equilibrium moldel of natural gas migration and accumulation has been developed to illustrate the formation mechanism of these gas pools.     

Characteristics,genesis and accumulation history of natural gas in Hetianhe gasfield,Tarim Basin,China

Hetianhe gasfield in Bachu region of the Tarim Basin is mainly composed of three reservoir-caprock assembly,namely regional caprock of upper mudstone,middle mudstone and lower mudstone of the Carboniferous and reservoir of Bachu bioclastic limestone,glutenite and the Ordovician carbonate buried hill.Natural gas in Hetianhe gasfield sourced from the Cambrian source rock.It is thought that gases in Ma4 well block in the east of Hetianhe gasfield are mainly crude-oil cracked gases,while those in Ma3 and Ma8 well blocks in the west are the mixture gases of kerogen cracked gases and crude-oil cracked gases.Natural gas is rich in H2S and accumulated in multiply stages as the result of TSR.The accumulation history is divided into three stages,namely accumulation and breakage in the late Caledonian-early Hercynian,migration and dissipation in the late Hercynian and accumulation in Himalayan. The main accumulation of reformed gas reservoir is in Himalayan.     

Natural gas leakage of Mizhi gas reservoir in Ordos Basin, recorded by natural gas fluid inclusion

Abundant natural gas inclusions were found in calcite veins filled in fractures of Central Fault Belt across the centre of Ordos Basin. Time of the calcite veins and characteristics of natural gas fluid inclusion were investigated by means of dating of thermolum luminescence (TL) and analyzing stable isotope of fluid inclusion. Results show that natural gas inclusion formed at 130―140℃ with salinity of 5.5 wt%―6.0 wt% NaCl. It indicates that natural gas inclusion is a kind of thermal hydrocarbon fluid formed within the basin. Method of opening inclusion by heating was used to analyze composition of fluid inclusion online, of which the maximal hydrocarbon gas content of fluid inclusion contained in veins is 2.4219 m3/t rock and the maximal C1/Σci ratio is 91%. Laser Raman spectroscopy (LRS) was used to analyze chemistry of individual fluid inclusion in which the maximal hydrocarbon gas content is 91.6% compared with little inorganic composition. Isotope analysis results of calcite veins show that they were deposited in fresh water, in which the δ13CPDB of calcite veins is from -5.75‰ to 15.23‰ andδ18OSMOW of calcite veins is from 21.33‰ to 21.67‰. Isotope results show thatδ13C1 PDB of natural gas fluid inclusion is from -21.36‰ to -29.06‰ and δDSMOW of that is from -70.89‰ to -111.03‰. It indicates that the gas of fluid inclusion formed from coal source rocks and it is the same as that of natural gas of Mizhi gas reservoir. Results of TL dating show that time of calcite vein is (32.4±3.42)×104 a, which is thought to be formation time of gas inclusion. It indicated that natural gas inclusion contained in calcite veins recorded natural gas leakage from Mizhi gas reservoir through the Central Fault Belt due to Himalayan tectonic movement.     

Evidence of fluid inclusion for thermal fluid-bearing hydrocarbon movements in Qiongdongnan Basin, South China Sea

Diagenetic research and inclusion observance indicate that there are seven types of inlcusion in the reservoirs in the Qiongdongnan Basin. Based on the fluorescence color, ratio of gas/liquid, formation temperature, salinity and organic component of fluid inclusions, three events of thermal fluid movement were found, and only the second and third events are relative to hydrocarbon migration and accumulation with the temperatures of 140–150°C and 170–190°C., respectively.The mechanism of gas migration in aqueous phase suggests that the discharging site of thermal fluid is the favourable location for natural gas accumulation. Project supported by the Natlonal Natural Science Foundation of China.     

Tectonic thermal history and its significance on the formation of oil and gas accumulation and mineral deposit in Ordos Basin

The analyzing data on stratigraphic temperature measurement , thermal conductivity of the strata and radioactive heat production rate show that the present average geothermal gradient in the Ordos Basin is 2.93℃/100 m, and the average heat flow value is 61.78 mW/m2, which belongs to the mesothermal basin, and the value of the present geothermal gradient and heat flow in the east is higher than that in the west. The sandstone radioactive heat production rate of Zhiluo Group in Dongsheng Uranium deposits of Yimeng uplift is obviously higher in the mudstone, indicating that there exists a uranium anomaly. Based on studies of the present thermal field of the basin, the late-Mesozoic paleotemperature and paleogeothermal gradient are determined by using different kinds of paleotemperature methods. According to the anomaly of the late-Mesozoic paleotemperature gradient and magmatic event age, there was a tectonic thermal event in the early Cretaceous epoch of late-Mesozoic. This article rebuilds tectonic thermal history of different tectonic units by thermal history simulation using basin simulating software. The evolution of oil-gas and coal, and accumulation (mineralization) of mineral uranium are all controlled by the tectonic thermal history in the Ordos basin, especially by the tectonic thermal event that happened in the late Mesozoic. For both the gas source rocks of upper Paleozoic group and lower paleozoic group, the gas was largely generated in the early Cretaceous epoch of the late Mesozoic. The main petroleum generation period for Yanchang Group in Triassic system is the early Cretaceous epoch too, and the highest thermal maturity of the coal of Permo-Carboniferous, Triassic, and Jurassic reaches is the early Cretaceous epoch also. Early Cretaceous epoch is still one of the most important mineralizing periods of uranium.     

The components and carbon isotope of the gases in inclusions in reservoir layers of Upper Paleozoic gas pools in the Ordos Basin,China

The components and carbon isotope of gases in inclusions are one of the most important geochemical indexes for gas pools.The analysis results of the components and carbon isotope of gases from inclusions in reservoir layers of Upper Palaeozoic gas pools in the Ordos Basin show that most inclusions grown in reservoir sandstone are primary inclusions.There is only a little difference about the components and carbon isotope between the well gases and the secondary inclusions gases.This indicated that the epigenetic change of gas pools is little.This difference between the well gases and the secondary inclusions gases is caused by two reasons:(i)The well gases come from several disconnected sand bodies buried in a segment of depth,while the inclusion gases come from a point of depth.(ii)The secondary inclusions trapped the gases generated in the former stage of source rock gas generation,and the well gases are the mixed gases generated in all the stages.It is irresponsible to reconstruct the palaeo-temperature and palaeo-pressure under which the gas pool formed using carbon dioxide inclusions.     

Primary migration and secondary alteration of the Upper Paleozoic gas reservoir in Ordos Basin,China — Application of fluid inclusion gases

The composition of fluid inclusions (FI) often represents the initial geochemical characteristics of palaeo-fluid in reservoir rock. Influence on composition and carbon isotopic composition of gas during primary migration, reservoir-forming and subsequent secondary alterations are discussed through comparing fluid inclusion gas with coal-formed gas and natural gas in present gas reservoirs in the Ordos Basin. The results show that primary migration of gas has significant effect on the molecular but not on the carbon isotopic composition of methane. Migration and diffusion fractionation took place during the secondary migration of gas in Upper Paleozoic gas reservoir according to carbon isotopic composition of methane in Fls. Composition and carbon isotopic composition of natural gas were nearly unchanged after the gas reservoir forming through comparing the FI gases with the natural gas in present gas reservoir.

     

Determination of paleo-pressure for a natural gas pool formation based on PVT characteristics of fluid inclusions in reservoir rocks--A case study of Upper-Paleozoic deep basin gas trap of the Ordos Basin

It has been proved to be a difficult problem to determine directly trapping pressure of fluid inclusions. Recently, PVT simulation softwares have been applied to simulating the trapping pressure of petroleum inclusions in reservoir rocks, but the reported methods have many limitations in practice. In this paper, a method is suggested to calculating the trapping pressure and temperature of fluid inclusions by combining the isochore equations of a gas-bearing aqueous inclusion with its coeval petroleum inclusions. A case study was conducted by this method for fluid inclusions occurring in the Upper-Paleozoic Shanxi Formation reservoir sandstones from the Ordos Basin. The results show that the trapping pressure of these inclusions ranges from 21 to 32 MPa, which is 6-7 MPa higher than their minimum trapping pressure although the trapping temperature is only 2-3℃ higher than the homogenization temperature. The trapping pressure and temperature of the fluid inclusions decrease from southern area to northern area of the basin.The trapping pressure is obviously lower than the state water pressures when the inclusions formed. These data are consistent with the regional geological and geochemical conditions of the basin when the deep basin gas trap formed.     

Characteristics of bleaching of sandstone in northeast of Ordos Basin and its relationship with natural gas leakage

Bleaching of sandstone has significant applications to tracing hydrocarbon pathways and evaluating the scale of natural gas seepage. Bleaching of sandstones in the northeast of Ordos Basin is mainly distributed in the Mesozoic Yan'an Formation. Studying on petrology, major elements, REEs and trace elements of bleached sandstones and comparing with adjacent sandstones, combining with geologic-geochemical evidences of gas seepage in the northeast of the basin, the bleached sandstones are formed in the acid environment and reducing fluids. Characteristics of petrology show that the contents of kaolinite are high and the color of margin of ferric oxide minerals is lighter than that of the center. Major elements of sandstone samples show high contents of Al2O3 and low ratio of Fe3 /Fe2 . The TFe2O3 content of the bleached sandstone is lower than that of red rock. REE data show that bleached sandstones have low ∑REE contents and Eu-depleted and slightly Ce-enriched. Trace elements show that the bleached sandstones enrich in Co, deplete in Sr, and slightly enrich in Zr and Hf which are close to the values for the green alteration sandstones, and slightly lower than ore-bearing sandstones. Geochemical characteristics of oil-bearing sandstone in the northern basin suggest that the oil-shows are formed by matured Carboniferous-Permian coal bed methane escaping to the surface, and natural gas in field could migrate to the north margin of the basin. The δ13C (PDB) andδ18O(PDB) values of calcite cement in the study area range from -11.729‰ to -10.210‰ and -14.104‰ to -12.481‰, respectively. Theδ13C (PDB) values less than -10‰ imply the carbon sources part from organic carbon. Comprehensive study suggests that the gas leakage has occurred in the northeastern basin, which is responsible for bleaching of the sandstone on top of the Yan'an Formation.     

Petroleum geological dynamics of Lower Paleozoic in the Ordos Basin, northwest China

Taking the hydrocarbon source rocks of Ordovician, Lower Paleozoic in the Ordos Basin as the main research object, the characteristics of petroleum geological dynamics about geohistory, geothermal history, hydrocarbon generation history and hydrocarbon expulsion history were studied by using the methods of basin numerical modeling dynamically and pool-forming dynamics. It is shown that the Ordovician strata had entirely undergone five stages of initial deposition, uplift and erosion, rapid subsidence, alternating uplift and subsidence, and differential uplift and erosion; that under the background of lower heat flow on the whole, the paleoheat flow of Ordovician strata in the basin could be divided into two large stages of relatively high heat flow values period before Cretaceous deposition and relatively low ones after it; that the thermal evolution of organic matters in the hydrocarbon source rocks of Ordovician had entered into high mature-postmature stage on the whole and the intensity of gas generated was greater than that of oil generated, the hydrocarbon being mainly natural gas; and that the curves of the intensity of oil and gas expulsion at each time unit showed the feature of multi-peak-type, the accumulative intensity of gas expulsion was greater than that of oil expulsion. Thus natural gas exploration potential is good.     

Geochemical characteristics and origin of gases from the Upper,Lower Paleozoic and the Mesozoic reservoirs in the Ordos Basin,China

The Ordos Basin,the second largest sedimentary basin in China,contains the broad distribution of natural gas types.So far,several giant gas fields have been discovered in the Upper and Lower Paleozoic in this basin,each having over 1000×10 8 m 3 of proven gas reserves,and several gas pools have also been discovered in the Mesozoic.This paper collected the data of natural gases and elucidated the geochemical characteristics of gases from different reservoirs,and then discussed their origin.For hydrocarbons preserved in the Upper Paleozoic,the elevatedδ13C values of methane,ethane and propane indicate that the gases would be mainly coal-formed gases;the singular reversal in the stable carbon isotopes of gaseous alkanes suggests the mixed gases from humic sources with different maturity.In the Lower Paleozoic,theδ13C 1 values are mostly similar with those in the Upper Paleozoic,but theδ13C 2 andδ13C 3 values are slightly lighter,suggesting that the gases would be mixing of coal-type gases as a main member and oil-type gases.There are multiple reversals in carbon isotopes for gaseous alkanes,especially abnormal reversal for methane and ethane(i.e.δ13C 1 >δ13C 2 ),inferring that gases would be mixed between high-mature coal-formed gases and oil-type gases.In the Mesozoic,the δ13Cvalues for gaseous alkanes are enriched in 12C,indicating that the gases are mainly derived from sapropelic sources;the carbon isotopic reversal for propane and butane in the Mesozoic is caused by microbial oxidation and mixing of gases from sapropelic sources with different maturity.In contrast to the Upper Paleozoic gases,the Mesozoic gases are characterized by heavier carbon isotopes of iso-butane than normal butane,which may be caused by gases generated from different kerogen types. Finally,according toδ13C 1 -Ro relationship and extremely low total organic carbon contents,the Low Paleozoic gases would not be generated from the Ordovician source as a main gas source,bycontrast, the Upper Paleozoic source as a main gas source is contributed to the Lower Paleozoic gases.     

Numerical modeling of secondary migration and its applications to Chang-6 Member of Yanchang Formation (Upper Triassic), Longdong area, Ordos Basin, China

Mathematic modeling, established on the basis of physical experiments, is becoming an increasingly important tool in oil and gas migration studies. This technique is based on the observation that hydrocarbon migration tends to take relative narrow pathways. A mathematical model of hydrocarbon migration and accumulation is constructed using the percolation theory. It is then calibrated using physical experimental results, and is tested under a variety of conditions, to understand the applicability of the model in different migration cases. Through modeling, dynamic conditions of large-scale migration pathways within homogeneous formations can be evaluated. Basin-scale hydrocarbon migration pathways and their characteristics are analyzed during the model application to the Chang-8 Member of the Triassic Yanchang Formation in Longdong area of Ordos Basin. In heterogeneous formations, spatial changes in fluid potential determine the direction of secondary migration, and heterogeneity controls the characteristics and geometry of secondary migration pathways.     

天然气水合物体系动态演化研究(Ⅲ):水合物的产生、聚集和分解

从天然气水合物的产生、聚集和分解，分析天然气水合物的动态演化过程，沉积压实、地温梯度、构造运动以及深部流体对水合物产生的效率起决定作用，根据流体的运移和天然气水合物在水合物稳定带中的分布状况，天然气水合物的聚集可以分为构造聚集、地层聚集和混合聚集三种模式，当由于各种原因引起海底温压条件变化时，天然气水合物会发生分解，水合物也会在水体中上浮，在这个过程中，水合物的分解速率能高出其溶解速率二至三个数量级，海底泥火山、甲烷气柱、甲烷气裂缝、双似海底反射等大量的证据，都有助于揭示天然气水合物体系的动态演化的特征，弄清楚天然气水合物的动态演化过程对于我们未来对这种潜在能源的开发利用，并分析其在全球变化、碳循环以及海底滑坡中所起的作用有着相当重要的意义。     

Mechanism of diapirism and episodic fluid injections in the Yinggehai Basin

The diapirism in the Yinggehai Basin is a combined result of strong overpressure caused by rapid sedimentation of fine-grain sediments and the tensile stress field resulting from right-lateral slip of the boundary-fault. The diapirism showed multiple-stage, episodic nature, and caused intermittent counter-direction onlaps and changes in the thickness of strata. The shallow gas reservoirs in the diapir structural zone displayed obvious inter-reservoir compositional heterogeneities, and their filling history could be divided into 4 stages, with gases injected during different stages having different hydrocarbon gas, CO₂ and N₂ contents and different stable isotope compositions. The multiple-episode, intermittent activities of the diapirs, multiple-stage, non-continuous injections of fluids, and the transient thermal effect of fluid flow as well as the strong migration fractionation reflected episodic fluid injection and natural gas accumulation.     

The effectiveness assessment of gas accumulation processes in Kuqa depression,Tarim Basin,Northwest China

The effectiveness of gas accumulation processes is controlled by several main geological factors in-cluding charging force,features of gas conduit,sealing properties of caprock,etc. Based on the analysis and statistics of the large-medium size gas accumulations in China,the main parameters,in-cluding the excess pressure difference between the source rock and reservoir bed,the area coefficient of the gas conduit,and the thickness or displacement pressure of caprock,and the criteria for the as-sessment of gas accumulation processes have been established. Using the parameters and the criteria above,the effectiveness of gas accumulation processes in the Kuqa depression was quantitatively evaluated. By integrating the parameters of the excess pressure difference between the source rock and reservoir bed,the area coefficient of fault conduit system,and the caprock thickness in gas charging period,a comprehensive assessment of the effectiveness of gas accumulation in the Kuqa depression has been made. The result reveals that the Tubei-Dawan area,the Central Kelasu area and the Dongqiu-Dina area are three highly-effective areas for gas accumulation in the Kuqa depression.     

The components and carbon isotope of the gases in inclusions in reservoir layers of Upper Paleozoic gas pools in the Ordos Basin,China

The components and carbon isotope of gases in inclusions are one of the most important geochemical indexes for gas pools. The analysis results of the components and carbon isotope of gases from inclusions in reservoir layers of Upper Palaeozoic gas pools in the Ordos Basin show that most inclusions grown in reservoir sandstone are primary inclusions. There is only a little difference about the components and carbon isotope between the well gases and the secondary inclusions gases. This indicated that the epigenetic change of gas pools is little. This difference between the well gases and the secondary inclusions gases is caused by two reasons: (i) The well gases come from several disconnected sand bodies buried in a segment of depth, while the inclusion gases come from a point of depth. (ii) The secondary inclusions trapped the gases generated in the former stage of source rock gas generation, and the well gases are the mixed gases generated in all the stages. It is irresponsible to reconstruct the palaeo-temperature and palaeo-pressure under which the gas pool formed using carbon dioxide inclusions.

     

The components and carbon isotope of the gases in inclusions in reservoir layers of Upper Paleozoic gas pools in the Ordos Basin,China

The components and carbon isotope of gases in inclusions are one of the most important geochemical indexes for gas pools. The analysis results of the components and carbon isotope of gases from inclusions in reservoir layers of Upper Palaeozoic gas pools in the Ordos Basin show that most inclusions grown in reservoir sandstone are primary inclusions. There is only a little difference about the components and carbon isotope between the well gases and the secondary inclusions gases. This indicated that the epigenetic change of gas pools is little. This difference between the well gases and the secondary inclusions gases is caused by two reasons: (i) The well gases come from several disconnected sand bodies buried in a segment of depth, while the inclusion gases come from a point of depth. (ii) The secondary inclusions trapped the gases generated in the former stage of source rock gas generation, and the well gases are the mixed gases generated in all the stages. It is irresponsible to reconstruct the palaeo-temperature and palaeo-pressure under which the gas pool formed using carbon dioxide inclusions.     

The deep-lake deposit in the Upper Triassic Yanchang Formation in Ordos Basin,China and its significance for oil-gas accumulation

The deep-lake facies of the Yanchang Formation represents a large outflowing lake basin in the Ordos area. Its deposition can be divided into four stages: lake genetic and expanding stage, peak stage, inversion stage and dying stage. All the stages are obviously consistent with the evolution of depositional environment and the paleoclimate in the region. The study indicates that the lake basin has evolution fluctuations from highstand to lowstand for four times in its evolution history, and the deposition center of the lake has not obviously moved, staying along the Huachi-Yijun belt. The deep lake sedimentary system mainly consists of deep water deltas and turbidite fans during the entire evolution course of the lake basin in the Late Triassic. The former mainly developed on the slope of steep shore of the delta in the early period of the deep-water expansion and gradually experienced a big shift from deep-water deltas to shallow-water platform delta. And the latter appeared almost in all the above stages and had two types of turbidite fans, slope-moving turbidite fans and slump turbidite fans. The slope-moving turbidite fans have relatively complete facies belts overlapping one another vertically and consist of the slope channel of inter fans, the turbidite channel, inter turbidite channel and turbidite channel front of middle fans and outer fans (or lakebottom plain). However, the slide-moving turbidity fans are formed in the deep lake with their microfacies difficult to be distinguished, and only the center microfacies and edge microfacies can be determined. The two types of the turbidity fans are similarly distributing in the near-root-slope and far-root-slope regions. The deep-lake deposition governs the distribution of the hydrocarbon and reservoir, while the slope-moving turbidite fans are excellent reservoirs for oil-gas exploration due to their great thickness, widespread distribution and accumulation properties.