Nutrient Enrichments of Waters of "Golfo de San Jose" (Argentina, 42 oS), Growth and Species Selection of Phytoplankton

Abstract. Coastal Patagonian sea waters had been differentially nutrient-enriched to determine (i) the magnitude of the algal biomass supported and (ii) which species were able to best compete for the available nutrients. Nitrogen was found to be the nutrient limiting growth of the natural phytoplankton population. The addition of NO₃ at 25 μg at 1^-1 led to a 10 to 30 μg 1^-1 increase in chlorophyll a in all but those treatments containing trace metal additions. The best yield coefficients were obtained when a chelator (EDTA) was added with NO₃. A pool of nine diatom species were common in the N0₃ supplemented waters and the addition of vitamins along with NO₃ allowed two of the nine species to dominate.     

Quantitative analyses of porosity evolution in tight grainstones: A case study of the Triassic Feixianguan formation in the Jiannan gas field,Sichuan Basin,China

Tight grainstones, although widespread throughout the Lower Triassic Feixianguan Formation in the Sichuan Basin, have received little attention, in part, due to their lower porosity and greater heterogeneity relative to their dolostone counterparts. Based on data from cores and thin sections, as well as petrophysical properties, the Feixianguan grainstones, representing a major gas reservoir in the Jiannan gas field were systemically analysed to better understand porosity evolution in tight carbonates that have experienced original oil accumulation and subsequent thermal cracking during progressive burial. The grainstones were divided into two types according to whether pyrobitumen was present, and their porosity evolutions were quantitatively reconstructed. Taking 40% as the original porosity, the grainstones without pyrobitumen, which were ineffective palaeo-oil reservoirs, lost 21.94% and 3.13% of their porosities through marine and burial calcite cementation, respectively, and 13.34% by compaction, and have a current porosity of 1.59%, thus allowing them to serve as major present-day gas reservoirs. Comparatively, pyrobitumen-bearing grainstones, which were once palaeo-oil reservoirs, lost 23.96% and 2.36% of their porosities through marine and burial calcite cementation, respectively; 11.4% by compaction, and 1.44% by pyrobitumen and have a current porosity of 0.84%, thus making them ineffective gas reservoirs. This study provides a quantitative understanding of the close association between porosity evolution and reservoir effectiveness for the palaeo-oil charge and present-day gas accumulation with respect to diagenetic history, which is useful for the future exploration in tight gas limestone reservoirs.     

Impact of sedimentology and diagenesis on the petrophysical properties of a tight oolitic carbonate reservoir. The case of the Oolithe Blanche Formation (Bathonian,Paris Basin,France)

The Oolithe Blanche Formation was studied in three quarries, located at the south-eastern edge of the Paris Basin (France). Heterogeneities in reservoir properties were assessed through a sedimentological, diagenetic and petrophysical study. The relationships between depositional settings, diagenesis and petrophysical properties were analysed using detailed petrographic studies, image analysis, Nano CT-scans and petrophysical measurements.The carbonate reservoir pore network is mainly controlled by intraparticle microporosity which ensures the connectivity with interparticle meso- and macroporosity.Early cementation vs. early compaction processes (mainly grain interpenetration) may have considerable influence on fluid-flow properties and parameters such as permeability, acoustic velocities and tortuosity. Better reservoir properties are found when compaction processes begin before cementation.From statistical analyses, e.g. Principal Component Analysis and Linear Discriminant Analysis, a sedimentological/diagenetic and petrophysical model is proposed that is in a good agreement with the geological model developed from field work.     

Polychaete Assemblages in the San José Gulf (Chubut, Argentina), in Relation to Abiotic and Biotic Factors

Abstract. The composition and distribution of the polychaete assemblages of the San José Gulf (Chubut, Argentina) are described in relation to environmental variables using indicator species (TWINSPAN) and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA). The polychaetes were collected during a benthic cruise in October 1984. Sediments were collected at 110 sampling sites using a 0.25 m² van Veen bottom grab or by divers in near-shore areas and sieved with 1 mm mesh. A total of 73 polychaete taxa were collected and identified. Both analyses revealed the presence of four main assemblages distributed according to depth as well as bivalve and seaweed abundance gradients: ' Syllis-Eunice ' and ' Harmothoe-Eunice ' assemblages occurred at the same depths (0 –­ 185 m) and substrata (poorly sorted rock and coarse sand), but were separated by bivalve and seaweed abundance, wherby the highest abundances of bivalves and the minimum abundances of seaweeds corresponded to the ' Syllis-Eunice ' association. The ' Ninoe-Glycera ' and ' Aglaophamus- Fabriciinae indet. 6' assemblages also occurred at similar depths (0 – 60 m) and substrata (very well-sorted medium-fine sand), but differed in their composition of bivalves and seaweed abundances; the ' Aglaophamus- Fabriciinae indet. 6' association corresponded with minimum bivalve and maximum seaweed abundances.     

Diagenetic differences caused by the charging of natural gases with various compositions - a case study on the lower Zhuhai Formation clastic reservoirs in the WC-A sag,the Pearl River Mouth Basin

Only a limited number of comparative studies have explored the diagenetic differences of reservoirs caused by the charging of natural gases with different compositions during the migration and accumulation of oil and gas. In this study, we quantitatively assessed the diagenetic variations of the lower Zhuhai Formation reservoirs in the WC-A sag, the Pearl River Mouth Basin, as a result of natural gas charging with different compositions. The employed methods included electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, cathode luminescence, X-ray diffraction, chemical composition analysis of formation water, stable isotope analysis, and fluid inclusion determination. The results indicated that: (1) in the lower Zhuhai Formation reservoir that are near the large fractures, the late-charging of CO₂-rich thermal fluid promoted the dissolution of minerals, and changed the porosity, permeability, pH value of fluid, and the contents of ions such as K⁺, Na⁺, Mg²⁺ of the reservoirs. These changes, in turn, indirectly affected the content, form, and distribution of clay minerals in the reservoirs. In addition, the secondary enlargement of quartz was enhanced. (2) The charging of CO₂-rich thermal fluid caused strong dissolution and produced high contents of cements. The dissolution mainly occurred in a half open system with strong fluid activity. Consequently, the significantly decreasing of permeability was hindered and middle porosity–middle permeability reservoirs were generated. The reservoirs that are far from the large fractures, however, were mainly early charged by the hydrocarbon-rich fluid. The dissolution was weak and the generated cements were limited. In addition, the dissolution products could not be discharged in such closed diagenetic systems. As a result, the permeability of the reservoir was declined sharply and resulted in low porosity–low permeability reservoirs.     

High-resolution characterization and integrated study of a reservoir formation: the danian carbonate platform in the Aquitaine Basin (France)

This paper provides an example of an integrated multi-scale study of a carbonate reservoir. The Danian Lower R2 carbonate reservoir is located in the South of the Aquitaine Basin (France) and represents a potential underground gas storage site for Gaz de France. The Danian Lower R2 reservoir was deposited as a prograding carbonate platform bordered by a reef barrier. The effects of sedimentary and diagenetic events on the reservoir properties, particularly dolomitization, were evaluated. In this study, the reservoir quality has been assessed by seismic analyses at the basin scale, by log-analysis at the reservoir scale, by petrographic methods and by petrophysical tools at the pore-core scale.Two dolomitization stages, separated by a compaction event with associated fracturing and stylolites, have been identified. These diagenetic events have significantly improved the Lower R2 carbonate reservoir properties. It is demonstrated that the reservoir quality is mainly controlled by the pore-geometry, which is determined by various diagenetic processes. The permeability values of the reservoir range over 4 orders of magnitude, from 0.1 to 5600 mD and the porosity values range between 2 and 42%. Reservoir unit 4 (a karstic dolomite) shows the best reservoir properties with average porosity values ranging between 11.1% and 19.3% and an average permeability ranging between 379 and 766 mD. Reservoir unit 2 (a fine-grained limestone) shows the worst reservoir properties. The cementation factors range from 1.68 to 2.48. The dolomitic crystal carbonate texture (mainly units 3 and 4) shows the highest value of the cementation factor (1.98–2.48) and formation factor (9.54–36.97), which is due to its high degree of cementation. The saturation exponents vary between 1.2 and 3.4. Using these experimental electrical parameters and the resistivity laterolog tool we predicted the water saturation in the various reservoir units. The permeability was predicted by combining the formation factor with the micro-geometric characteristic length. The best fit is obtained with the Katz and Thompson's model and for a constant of 1/171.     

A giant (5.3 × 10 m) middle Miocene (c. 15 Ma) sediment mound (M1) above the Siri Canyon, Norwegian–Danish Basin: Origin and significance

A large-scale enigmatic mound structure (M1) has been discovered in middle Miocene strata of the Norwegian–Danish Basin, c. 10 km east and updip of the Central Graben. It is located about 1 km beneath the seabed and clearly resolved by a 3D seismic data set focused on the deeper, remobilised, sand-filled Siri Canyon. M1 comprises two culminations, up to 80 m high and up to 1400 m long, constituting a sediment volume of some 5.3 × 10⁷ m³. It is characterized by a hard reflection at the top, a soft reflection at the base, differential compaction relative to the surrounding sediments, and 10 ms TWT velocity pull up of underlying reflections, indicating a relatively fast mound fill, attributed to the presence of sand within the mound. Internal seismic reflections are arranged in an asymmetric concentric pattern, suggesting a progressive aggradation to the NW, downstream to a mid-Miocene contour current system. Numerous elongated pockmarks occur in the upper Miocene succession close to the mound and indicate that the study area was influenced by gas expulsion in the mid- and late Miocene.The reflection configuration, velocity, dimensions, regional setting, and isolated location can best be explained by interpreting the mound as a giant sand volcano extruded >1 km upward from the Siri Canyon during the middle Miocene (c. 15 Ma). The likely causes of this remarkable structure include gas charge and lateral pressure transfer from the Central Graben along the Siri Canyon reservoir. While this is the first such structure described from this part of the North Sea, similar-aged sand extrudites have recently been inferred from seismic observations in the North Viking Graben, thus suggesting that the mid-Miocene was a time of widespread and intense sediment remobilization and fluid expulsion in the North Sea.     

Diagenesis and origin of calcite cement in the Flemish Pass Basin sandstone reservoir (Upper Jurassic): Implications for porosity development

The Flemish Pass Basin is a deep-water basin located offshore on the continental passive margin of the Grand Banks, eastern Newfoundland, which is currently a hydrocarbon exploration target. The current study investigates the petrographic characteristics and origin of carbonate cements in the Ti-3 Member, a primary clastic reservoir interval of the Bodhrán Formation (Upper Jurassic) in the Flemish Pass Basin.The Ti-3 sandstones with average Q_86.0F_3.1R_10.9 contain various diagenetic minerals, including calcite, pyrite, quartz overgrowth, dolomite and siderite. Based on the volume of calcite cement, the investigated sandstones can be classified into (1) calcite-cemented intervals (>20% calcite), and (2) poorly calcite-cemented intervals (porous). Petrographic analysis shows that the dominant cement is intergranular poikilotopic (300–500 μm) calcite, which stared to form extensively at early diagenesis. The precipitation of calcite occured after feldspar leaching and was followed by corrosion of quartz grains. Intergranular calcite cement hosts all-liquid inclusions mainly in the crystal core, but rare primary two-phase (liquid and vapor) fluid inclusions in the rims ((with mean homogenization temperature (T_h) of 70.2 ± 4.9 °C and salinity estimates of 8.8 ± 1.2 eq. wt.% NaCl). The mean δ¹⁸O and δ¹³C isotopic compositions of the intergranular calcite are −8.3 ± 1.2‰, VPDB and −3.0 ± 1.3‰, VPDB, respectively; whereas, fracture-filling calcite has more depleted δ¹⁸O but similar δ¹³C values. The shale normalized rare earth element (REE_SN) patterns of calcite are generally parallel and exhibit slightly negative Ce anomalies and positive Eu anomalies. Fluid-inclusion gas ratios (CO₂/CH₄ and N₂/Ar) of calcite cement further confirms that diagenetic fluids originated from modified seawater. Combined evidence from petrographic, microthermometric and geochemical analyses suggest that (1) the intergranular calcite cement precipitated from diagenetic fluids of mixed marine and meteoric (riverine) waters in suboxic conditions; (2)the cement was sourced from the oxidation of organic matters and the dissolution of biogenic marine carbonates within sandstone beds or adjacent silty mudstones; and (3) the late phases of the intergranular and fracture-filling calcite cements were deposited from hot circulated basinal fluids.Calcite cementation acts as a main controlling factor on the reservoir quality in the Flemish Pass reservoir sandstones. Over 75% of initial porosity was lost due to the early calcite cementation. The development of secondary porosity (mostly enlarged, moldic pores) and throats by later calcite dissolution due to maturation of organic matters (e.g., hydrocarbon and coals), was the key process in improving the reservoir quality.     

The transgressive infill of an inherited-valley system: The Springhill Formation (lower Cretaceous) in southern Austral Basin, Argentina

The Berriasian-Valanginian Springhill Formation of the Austral Basin of southern South America comprises fluvial to marine deposits. In order to interpret depositional systems and unravel the stratigraphic architecture of this unit in the southern region of the basin (Tierra del Fuego Province, Argentina), 500 m of cores combined with well-log data from 41 wells were studied. Facies associations corresponding to fluvial (A1-A6), estuarine (B1-B5) and open-marine (C1-C4) depositional environments were identified. These facies associations succeed each other vertically across the entire study area (6800 km²) forming a ∼120-m-thick transgressive succession. This unit filled a north-south-oriented valley system, developed in the underlying Jurassic volcanic complex.Lowstand fluvial deposits of the first stage of the valley-system fill occur in downdip segments of the system above a sequence boundary (SB). These fluvial deposits are overlain by coastal-plain and tide-dominated estuarine strata across an initial transgressive surface (ITS). In the northern sector the earliest valley infill is characterized by a transgressive fluvial succession, overlying a merged SB/ITS that is probably time-equivalent of marginal-marine deposits of the southern sector. The fluvial strata in the north are overlain by wave-dominated estuarine deposits. A drastic change to open-marine conditions is marked by a marine flooding surface, with local evidence of marine erosion (FS-RS). Open-marine strata are thin (<10 m) and dominated by lower-shoreface and offshore-transition deposits. They are capped by a younger flooding surface (FS), which represents the onset to offshore conditions across the study area due to a continuous long-term transgression that persisted until the Barremian.Although the interpreted depositional systems and stratigraphic architecture of the Springhill Formation resemble transgressive incised-valley-fill successions, the greater thickness and larger size of the Springhill valleys suggest inherited rift topography rather than valley development during a relative sea-level fall.     

Spatial distribution of Illex argentinus in San Matias Gulf (Northern Patagonia,Argentina) in relation to environmental variables: A contribution to the new interpretation of the population structuring

Traditionally, it was assumed that major spawning activity of Illex argentinus occurs in discrete pulses along the outer-shelf/slope off Argentina/southern Brazil during late-fall/winter and that early life stages develop near the Brazil–Malvinas Confluence (BMC). However, a novel hypothesis of the population structuring of the species was proposed that states that coastal waters may be important as spawning and feeding grounds. Here, we analyzed the spatial distribution of Illex argentinus inside San Matias Gulf based on the position of the CPUE of jiggers in order to improve the knowledge of the population structuring in coastal regions. Squids were mainly concentrated on the northern region of the gulf where favorable oceanographic conditions (e.g. water stratification, chlorophyll-a concentration peaks) to feeding and spawning are present. These results provided empirical evidences that individuals of I. argentinus use Argentinean coastal waters, particularly San Matias Gulf, as permanent feeding and spawning grounds which supports the new hypothesis.     

Characterisation and preliminary quantification of the methane reservoir in a coastal sedimentary source: San Simón Bay,Ría de Vigo,NW Spain

Ría de Vigo is a river valley flooded by the sea, with a bay (San Simón Bay) at its innermost part. The accumulation of Holocene sediment in San Simón Bay has been studied by the integration of 1) large scale high resolution seismic data, and 2) detailed geochemical analysis of a gravity core. In San Simón Bay the majority of the seismic records are obscured by acoustic turbidity which represents gassy sediments, but on records from Rande Strait it is possible to distinguish two Quaternary seismic sequences; an Upper Pleistocene sequence (SQ1) and a Holocene sequence (SQ2). Only SQ2 is recognized in San Simón Bay where it is comprised of two seismic units; the upper unit represents the HST sediment, i.e. the period of highest sea level. A gravity core taken within the gassy zone at 10 m water depth provided 3.55 m of fine-grained sediments (muds) from the youngest seismic unit (4 m thick). Geochemical analysis show high values (4 to 10%) of TOC. Sediment and porewater analyses indicate a distinct sulphate–methane transition zone (SMTZ) between 60 and 80 cm where sulphate is depleted (to <1.7 mM) and methane increases (to >0.4 mM). The top of the acoustic turbidity (the gas front) at 80 cm corresponds to the lower limit of the SMTZ. The methane cannot have been derived from the underlying metamorphic and granitic rocks, but was probably derived by microbial degradation of the organic matter in the Holocene sediments. We estimate that the sediments of the Bay contain approximately 1.8 × 10⁶ m³ of organic carbon and 275 ton of methane.     

Spatial patterns of ichthyoplankton assemblages in the Río de la Plata Estuary (Argentina–Uruguay)

Two oceanographic surveys were conducted across the salinity gradient of the Río de la Plata Estuary during austral late spring and summer. Ichthyoplankton was dominated by families Sciaenidae, Clupeidae, Engraulidae, Cynoglossidae and Carangidae. The distribution of larval fish assemblages was strongly associated to the salinity structure. Oceanographic conditions were characterized by a large salt wedge (180 km long and a vertical salinity gradient up to 10 units per meter). During both sampling periods each ichthyoplankton assemblage was related to the same region of the salt wedge: the fresh water environment, the bottom salinity front, the mixohaline zone and the outer portion (surface salinity front) of the estuary. Larval assemblages were not related to the thermal structure. Reproductive activity of fishes inside the Río de la Plata Estuary is relatively common (60% of the teleosts sampled use this estuary as a nursery ground). Moreover, the high incidence of pelagic eggs spawners (75% of the species present in the ichthyoplankton) in the Río de la Plata contrasts to the vast majority of estuaries, where this reproductive strategy is poorly represented. Estuarine dynamics plays a dominant role in allowing this reproductive style in this estuary. Spring–summer wind pattern should generate a retentive environment which could minimize advective losses of eggs and larvae to the adjacent ocean.     

Fractures in the low porosity and ultra-low permeability glutenite reservoirs: A case study of the late Eocene Hetaoyuan formation in the Anpeng Oilfield,Nanxiang Basin,China

The Naxiang Basin, located within the Qin-and-Dabie Mountains orogenic belt in central China, is a small intermountain faulted basin, in which the late Eocene Hetaoyuan Formation in the Anpeng Oilfield is the low porosity and ultra-low permeability glutenite reservoirs. The large-scale fractures are mainly developed in the thick-bedded conglomerates and gravel-bearing gritstones, the small-scale jointed-fractures bounded by layer are mainly developed in the medium-granular and fine sandstones between the conglomerates or gravel-bearing gritstones. There also developed three kinds of micro-fractures, namely intergranular fractures, intragranular fractures and transgranular fractures, in the tight glutenites. The fractures in the glutenite reservoirs are of chiefly high dip-angles. They assume chiefly the E-W strikes, next are the NE-SW and NW-SE strikes. On the log curve, fractures usually show such responses as a decrease of the deep and shallow lateral resistivities, an increase of the acoustic time difference, a reduction of the density, an increase of the compensation neutrons, an occurrence of middle and high gamma ray and an expansion of the calipers. Fractures make contributions to the low porosity and ultra-low permeability glutenite reservoirs by improving the permeability and then porosity. Micro-fractures are the important channels connecting intergranular and intragranular solution pores, thereby making better the connectivity within the tight glutenite reservoirs. The small- and medium-scale fractures serve as the flow channels within the layers of fine and medium-granular sandstones, while the large-scale fractures serve as the main flow channels for the whole reservoir. Under the impact of the present-day stress, the NE-SW fractures perpendicular to the minimum principal stress assume a tensile state and have good connectivity, large apertures and high permeability, and are the major direction for fluid flow, thereby providing a major basis for a further development.     

Mass occurrence of the recent brachiopod Magellania venosa (Terebratellidae) in the fjords Comau and Reñihué, northern Patagonia,Chile

Mass occurrences of the terebratellid brachiopod Magellania venosa with more than 200 individuals·m^?2 are reported from the fjords Comau and Reñihué in the northernmost region of the Chilean fjordland, whereas more southern fjords do not show these high numbers of the largest living brachiopod. This is an exception to earlier observations that the abundance of M. venosa on the Chilean shelf is positively correlated with increasing latitude. As the sympatric scleractinian coral Desmophyllum dianthus also occurs in unusually high numbers in the fjords Comau and Reñihué, the hydrographical regime and its associated environmental conditions in these fjords may be responsible for these mass occurrences.     

Assessment of the oil source-rock potential of the Pedregoso Formation (Early Miocene) in the Falcón Basin of northwestern Venezuela

The early Miocene Pedregoso Formation is one of the numerous formations rich in organic matter within the stratigraphic record of the Urumaco Trough, in the central area of the Falcón Basin. Due to its lithological characteristics and stratigraphic position, this formation is of great interest regarding the basin's petroliferous systems. The evaluation of various inorganic and organic geochemical parameters indicates that the organic matter is primarily of marine origin, deposited in a marine carbonate environment typical of reefal systems, under oxic-to-dysoxic conditions. The low variability in the TOC concentrations and in the distributions of the biomarkers extracted from the samples suggests that the paleoenvironmental conditions and the organic-matter supply remained approximately constant throughout the sedimentation of this unit. The Pedregoso type-II organic matter (marine origin) and initial organic richness value (∼1.8%) suggest that this unit has probably generated hydrocarbons within the Urumaco Trough. However, present-day thermal maturity parameters reveal that the Pedregoso organic matter is overmature (dry gas window), indicating that this unit is only capable to generate gas. In addition, the geothermal gradient, maturity parameters, and the maximum paleotemperature estimated in this study suggest that the Pedregoso Formation reached a maximum burial depth the ∼6.5 km, consistent with the value obtained from data of stratigraphic thickness in the Urumaco Trough. This implies that the thermal anomaly that affected the basin during the Late Eocene–Early Miocene did not reach the central part of the basin, and therefore, the organic matter maturation in this unit is due to the sedimentary burial.     

Qualitative assessment of gas hydrate and gas concentrations from the AVO characteristics of the BSR in the Ulleung Basin, East Sea (Japan Sea)

The presence of gas hydrate in the Ulleung Basin, East Sea (Japan Sea), inferred by various seismic indicators, including the widespread bottom-simulating reflector (BSR), has been confirmed by coring and drilling. We applied the standard AVO technique to the BSRs in turbidite/hemipelagic sediments crosscutting the dipping beds and those in debris-flow deposits to qualitatively assess the gas hydrate and gas concentrations. These BSRs are not likely to be affected by thin-bed tuning which can significantly alter the AVO response of the BSR. The BSRs crosscutting the dipping beds in turbidite/hemipelagic sediments are of low-seismic amplitude and characterized by a small positive gradient, indicating a decrease in Poisson’s ratio in the gas-hydrate stability zone (GHSZ), which, in turn, suggests the presence of gas hydrate. The BSRs in debris-flow deposits are characterized by a negative gradient, indicating decreased Poisson’s ratio below the GHSZ, which is likely due to a few percent or greater gas saturations. The increase in the steepness of the AVO gradient and the magnitude of the intercept of the BSRs in debris-flow deposits with increasing seismic amplitude of the BSRs is probably due to an increase in gas saturations, as predicted by AVO model studies based on rock physics. The reflection strength of the BSRs in debris-flow deposits, therefore, can be a qualitative measure of gas saturations below the GHSZ.     

Regional maturity as determined by organic petrography and geochemistry of the Schei Point Group (Triassic) in the western Sverdrup Basin, Canadian Arctic Archipelago

Maturity and source rock potential of organic rich beds in the Triassic Schei Point Group in the Sverdrup Basin, Arctic Canada have been investigated using reflected light microscopy and the results are compared with other maturity parameters determined geochemically (i.e. Rock Eval, and biomarker maturation parameters). The samples evaluated belong to the Eden Bay Member of the Hoyle Bay Formation and contain a predominance of marine algal material, in the form of Tasmanales, and dinoflagellates, along with mixed terrestrial organics.The rock matrix is dominantly carbonate with some shaly input, indicating that the rocks were deposited in an iron-poor highly euxinic environment. With few exceptions there is good agreement between parameters,determined using microscopy; namely %R_o, λ_max and and geochemical parameters, T_max, HI,

Full-size image (<1K)

steranes, C₂₉ steranes. The ternary diagram showing the abundance of normalized C₂₇, C₂₈ and C₂₉ regular steranes indicates a mostly marine depositional environment for the Schei Point source rock. This is confirmed by the abundance of marine fauna and flora in these samples.Analytical results from several different techniques indicate that the source rocks become more mature from the margin towards the axis of the Sverdrup Basin. This is due, in part, to the increase in overburden of sediments in the axis of the basin. Also the high thermal conductivity of salt has strongly influenced the maturity of Schei Point source rocks over the crest of the salt cored structures, i.e. Well Hazen F-54, and the proximity of salt has enhanced maturation levels at Well Rock Point J-43. The sections investigated were also considered to have an excellent gas potential due to their higher than average TOC content.     

Mineralogical and chemical distribution of the Es3L oil shale in the Jiyang Depression,Bohai Bay Basin (E China): Implications for paleoenvironmental reconstruction and organic matter accumulation

The Es₃^L (lower sub-member of the third member of the Eocene Shahejie Formation) shale in the Jiyang Depression is a set of relatively thick and widely deposited lacustrine sediments with elevated organic carbon, and is considered to be one of the most important source rocks in East China. We can determine the mineralogy, organic and inorganic geochemistry of the Es₃^L shale and calculate paleoclimate indexes by using multiple geochemical proxies based on organic chemistry (total organic carbon [TOC] and Rock-Eval pyrolysis), major and trace elements, X-Ray diffraction, and carbon and oxygen isotope data from key wells alongside ECS (Elemental Capture Spectroscopy) well log data. These indicators can be used to analyze the evolution of the paleoenvironment and provide a mechanism of organic matter (OM) accumulation. The Es₃^L oil shale has high TOC abundance (most samples >3.0%) and is dominated by Type I kerogens. Additionally, the organic-rich shale is rich in CaO and enrichment in some trace metals is present, such as Sr, Ba and U. The positive δ¹³C and negative δ¹⁸O values, high Sr/Ba, B/Ga and Ca/Ca + Fe ratios and low C/S ratios indicate that the Es₃^L shales were mainly deposited in a semi-closed freshwater-brackish water lacustrine environment. The consistently low Ti/Al and Si/Al ratios reflect a restricted but rather homogeneous nature for the detrital supply. Many redox indicators, including the Th/U, V/(V + Ni), and δU ratios, pyrite morphology and TOC-TS-Fe diagrams suggest deposition under dysoxic to suboxic conditions. Subsequently, the brackish saline bottom water evolved into an anoxic water body under a relatively arid environment, during which organic-lean marls were deposited in the early stage. Later, an enhanced warm-humid climate provided an abundant mineral nutrient supply and promoted the accumulation of algal material. OM input from algal blooms reached a maximum during the deposition of the organic-rich calcareous shale with seasonal laminations. High P/Ti ratios and a strongly positive relationship between the P and TOC contents indicate that OM accumulation in the oil shale was mainly controlled by the high primary productivity of surface waters with help from a less stratified water column. Factors such as the physical protection of clay minerals and the dilution of detrital influx show less influence on OM enrichment.