Diagenetic evolution of the upper Cretaceous limestone and sandstone exhumed reservoirs in the western Basque–Cantabrian Basin,North Spain

The Basque–Cantabrian Basin (NE Spain) has been considered one of the most interesting areas for hydrocarbon exploration in the Iberian Peninsula since the 60th to 70th of last century. This basin is characterized by the presence of numerous outcrops of tar sands closely associated with fractures and Triassic diapirs. The aims of this work is to establish the diagenetic evolution of the Upper Cretaceous reservoir rocks with special emphasis in the emplacement of oil and their impact on reservoir quality. The studied rocks are constituted of carbonates and sandstones that contain massive quantities of bitumen filling vugs and fractures.Petrographic results indicate that the carbonate rocks from Maestu outcrops are bioclastic grainstones and wackestones, whereas the tar sandstones from Atauri and Loza outcrops are dominated by quartzarenites and subordinated subarkoses. The paragenetic sequence of the main diagenetic phases and processes include, pyrite, bladed and drusy calcite cement, calcite overgrowths, silicification of bioclasts and microcrystalline rhombic dolomite cement, and first stage of oil emplacement, blocky calcite cement, coarse crystalline calcite cement, calcitized dolomite, calcite veins, saddle dolomite and stylolites filled by the second phase of oil entrance. Together with the above mentioned diagenetic alterations, the arenites are affected by early kaolinitization of feldspars and the scarce formation of clay rim and epimatrix of illite. All sandstones and dolomitized carbonate rocks show high intercrystalline and intergranular porosity which is full by biodegraded hydrocarbons (solid bitumen). The biodegradation affects alkanes, isoprenoids and partially hopanes and steranes saturated hydrocarbons. Aromatics hydrocarbons, like naphthalenes, phenanthrenes, dibenzothiophenes and triaromatics are also affected by biodegradation. Results indicate that the first HC emplacement corresponds to early stage of calcite and dolomite cementation, and the second and more important emplacement is related to fracturation processes resulting in the formation of excellent reservoirs.     

东海盆地X凹陷Y气田的天然气成因、成藏模式及勘探意义

本文旨在厘清东海盆地X凹陷Y气田天然气成因,建立成藏模式,以指导下步勘探部署。本文从天然气组分、烷烃气碳同位素、轻烃、凝析油生物标志化合物等分析入手,系统研究了油气成因类型及来源,并结合构造演化史、生烃史分析,建立了Y气田成藏模式,提出了大中型气田的勘探方向。主要认识如下：（1）天然气组分碳同位素、轻烃和埋藏史分析表明,Y气田天然气为凹中始新统平湖组烃源岩在龙井运动期（距今13 Ma）生成的高成熟煤型气;（2）凝析油姥鲛烷/植烷、规则甾烷等特征,反映了凹中区平湖组烃源岩发育于弱氧化-弱还原潮坪、潟湖沉积环境,生烃母质中存在一定数量的低等水生生物;（3）Y气田具有“凹中区平湖组烃源岩、花港组大型水道砂储集体、挤压构造作用”时空耦合的成藏模式,明确了凹中挤压背斜带是X凹陷大中型气田勘探的主攻方向。     

Prolonged Magmatic and Tectonic Development of the Caribbean Igneous Province Revealed by a Diving Submersible Survey

Using the diving submersible survey NAUTICA we investigated the central part of the Caribbean large igneous province (CLIP) to observe and sample internal portions of this proposed oceanic plateau. Most of the samples are gabbroic and doleritic rocks; basalts are scarce. Radiometric dating by ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar incremental heating experiments indicate that the intrusive rocks are Campanian in age (81–75 Ma). In some places these intrusive rocks underlie older Santonian (85–83 Ma) extrusive basaltic rocks, suggesting that the Campanian rocks represent a sill injection and an underplating episode. Results of the diving program supplemented by information from ODP and DSDP drilling sites document a 20 m.y. period (94–75 Ma) of igneous activity in the submerged portion of the Caribbean large igneous province (CLIP). In the northern part of the Beata Ridge late Campanian and/or post Campanian uplift is documented by prominent Maastrichtian (71–65 Ma) erosion and the establishment of a Paleocene-middle Eocene (65–49 Ma) carbonate platform. During and after the uplift an extensional period is indicated by seismic images and the subsidence (3 km depth) of the carbonate platform. Paleocene ages (55–56 Ma) determined on some volcanic samples are attributed to localised decompression mantle melting that accompanied the extension. We document a prolonged period of magmatic and tectonic events that do not fit with the current models of short-lived plateau formation during mantle plume initiation but shares many similarities with the constructional histories of other oceanic large igneous provinces.     

Oil migration driven by exhumation of the Canol Formation oil shale: A new conceptual model for the Norman Wells oil field,northwestern Canada

Thermal history, petroleum system, structural, and tectonic constraints are reviewed and integrated in order to derive a new conceptual model for the Norman Wells oil field, and a new play type for tectonically active foreland regions. The thermal history recorded by Devonian rocks suggests that source rocks experienced peak thermal conditions in the Triassic–Jurassic, during which time oil was likely generated. After initial oil generation and expulsion, the Canol Formation oil shale retained a certain fraction of hydrocarbons. The shallow reservoir (650–350 m) is a Devonian carbonate bank overlain by the Canol Formation and resides within a hanging wall block of the Norman Range thrust fault. Both reservoir and source rocks are naturally fractured and have produced high API non-biodegraded oil. Thrust faults in the region formed after the Paleocene, and a structural cross-section of the field shows that the source and reservoir rocks at Norman Wells have been exhumed by over 1 km since then.The key proposition of the exhumation model is that as Canol Formation rocks underwent thrust-driven exhumation, they crossed a ductile–brittle transition zone and dip-oriented fractures formed sympathetic to the thrust fault. The combination of pore overpressure and new dip-directed subvertical fractures liberated oil from the Canol Formation and allowed for up-dip oil migration. Reservoir rocks were similarly fractured and improved permeability enhanced charging and pooling of oil. GPS and seismicity data indicate that strain transfer across the northern Cordillera is a response to accretion of the Yakutat terrane along the northern Pacific margin of North America, which is also the probable driving force for foreland shortening and rock exhumation at Norman Wells.     

四川盆地雷四3亚段油气勘探方向

近年来,中石油和中石化在四川盆地雷口坡组雷四³亚段的勘探陆续取得重要进展,展示了良好的勘探前景。笔者结合新钻探井和最新研究成果,从地层、沉积相、烃源岩、储层和成藏等多方面采用烃源对比、埋藏史及烃源岩热演化史、包裹体测温等方法对四川盆地雷四³亚段的含油气地质条件进行了进一步分析,总结了其油气成藏特征,提出了有利勘探区带,以期有助于拓展四川盆地雷口坡组的勘探领域。研究结果表明:雷四³亚段天然气以雷口坡组和须家河组烃源岩混合来源气为主;储集空间以粒间溶孔、晶间溶孔为主,属低孔低渗储层;雷四³亚段气藏为2期成藏,烃源岩于中、晚侏罗世进入生烃高峰;雷四³亚段具有构造和构造-岩性地层2种气藏类型,龙门山山前断褶带为构造气藏的有利勘探区,新津-邛崃斜坡带与梓潼-盐亭斜坡带是构造-岩性地层气藏的有利勘探区。     

The gradual subduction-collision evolution model of Proto-South China Sea and its control on oil and gas

This study involved outcrop, drilling, seismic, gravity, and magnetic data to systematically document the geological records of the subduction process of Proto-South China Sea (PSCS) and establish its evolution model. The results indicate that a series of arc-shaped ophiolite belts and calcalkaline magmatic rocks are developed in northern Borneo, both of which have the characteristics of gradually changing younger from west to east, and are direct signs of subduction and collision of PSCS. At the same time, the subduction of PSCS led to the formation of three accretion zones from the south to the north in Borneo, the Kuching belt, Sibu belt, and Miri belt. The sedimentary formation of northern Borneo is characterized by a three-layer structure, with the oceanic basement at the bottom, overlying the deep-sea flysch deposits of the Rajang–Crocker group, and the molasse sedimentary sequence that is dominated by river-delta and shallow marine facies at the top, recording the whole subduction–collision–orogeny process of PSCS. Further, seismic reflection and tomography also confirmed the subduction and collision of PSCS. Based on the geological records of the subduction and collision of PSCS, combined with the comprehensive analysis of segmented expansion and key tectonic events in the South China Sea, we establish the “gradual” subduction-collision evolution model of PSCS. During the late Eocene to middle Miocene, the Zengmu, Nansha, and Liyue–Palawan blocks were separated by West Baram Line and Balabac Fault, which collided with the Borneo block and Kagayan Ridge successively from the west to the east, forming several foreland basin systems, and PSCS subducted and closed from the west to the east. The subduction and extinction of PSCS controlled the oil and gas distribution pattern of southern South China Sea (SSCS) mainly in three aspects. First, the “gradual” closure process of PSCS led to the continuous development of many large deltas in SSCS. Second, the deltas formed during the subduction–collision of PSCS controlled the development of source rocks in the basins of SSCS. Macroscopically, the distribution and scale of deltas controlled the distribution and scale of source rocks, forming two types of source rocks, namely, coal measures and terrestrial marine facies. Microscopically, the difference of terrestrial higher plants carried by the delta controlled the proportion of macerals of source rocks. Third, the difference of source rocks mainly controlled the distribution pattern of oil and gas in SSCS. Meanwhile, the difference in the scale of source rocks mainly controlled the difference in the amount of oil and gas discoveries, resulting in a huge amount of oil and gas discoveries in the basin of SSCS. Meanwhile, the difference of macerals of source rocks mainly controlled the difference of oil and gas generation, forming the oil and gas distribution pattern of “nearshore oil and far-shore gas”.     

Hydrocarbon potential of the middle Eocene-middle Miocene Mesohellenic piggy-back basin (central Greece): A case study

Two depocentres, >4200 m and >3200 m thick, have been recognized in the Mesohellenic piggy-back basin of middle Eocene to middle Miocene age, where submarine fans have accumulated unconformably over an ophiolite complex. The hydrocarbon potential is indicated by the presence of kerogen types II/III with minor amounts of type I; the evidence is mostly for wet gas and gas, with minor oil. Source rocks are the middle Eocene to lower Oligocene Krania and Eptachori formations, of up to 2000 m total thickness, reaching maturation during the early Miocene. The source rocks consist of outer fan and basin plain deposits. They are conformably overlain by the lower member (late Oligocene) of the up to 2600 m thick Pentalophos Formation, which consists mostly of thick submarine sandstone lobes. Possible stratigraphically trapped reservoirs include the lower member of the Pentalophos Formation, which overlies source rocks, as well as limestones tectonically intercalated within the ophiolite complex, underlying the source rocks. Traps may have formed also on the western side of an internal thrust (Theotokos Thrust), which influenced the evolution of the depocentres.     

Alteration and multi-stage accumulation of oil and gas in the Ordovician of the Tabei Uplift,Tarim Basin,NW China: Implications for genetic origin of the diverse hydrocarbons

The Ordovician is the most important exploration target in the Tabei Uplift of the Tarim Basin, which contains a range of petroleum types including solid bitumen, heavy oil, light oil, condensate, wet gas and dry gas. The density of the black oils ranges from 0.81 g/cm³ to 1.01 g/cm³ (20 °C) and gas oil ratio (GOR) ranges from 4 m³/m³ to 9300 m³/m³. Oil-source correlations established that most of the oils were derived from the Mid-Upper Ordovician marine shale and carbonate and that the difference in oil properties is mainly attributed to hydrocarbon alteration and multi-stage accumulation. In the Tabei Uplift, there were three main periods of hydrocarbon accumulation in the late Caledonian stage (ca. 450–430 Ma), late Hercynian stage (ca. 293–255 Ma) and the late Himalayan stage (ca. 12–2 Ma). The oil charging events mainly occurred in the late Caledonian and late Hercynian stage, while gas charging occurred in the late Hercynian stage. During the late Caledonian stage, petroleum charged the reservoirs lying east of the uplift. However, due to a crustal uplifting episode in the early Hercynian (ca. 386–372 Ma), most of the hydrocarbons were transformed by processes such as biodegradation, resulting in residual solid bitumen in the fractures of the reservoirs. During the late Hercynian Stage, a major episode of oil charging into Ordovician reservoirs took place. Subsequent crustal uplift and severe alteration by biodegradation in the west-central Basin resulted in heavy oil formation. Since the late Himalayan stage when rapid subsidence of the crust occurred, the oil residing in reservoirs was exposed to high temperature cracking conditions resulting in the production of gas and charged from the southeast further altering the pre-existing oils in the eastern reservoirs. A suite of representative samples of various crude oils including condensates, lights oils and heavy oils have been collected for detailed analysis to investigate the mechanism of formation. Based on the research it was concluded that the diversity of hydrocarbon physical and chemical properties in the Tabei Uplift was mainly attributable to the processes of biodegradation and gas washing. The understanding of the processes is very helpful to predict the spatial distribution of hydrocarbon in the Tabei Uplift and provides a reference case study for other areas.     

华北东部青岛地区煌斑岩岩石地球化学特征与成因

华北东部青岛地区煌斑岩广泛发育,其岩石成因、构造环境等方面研究程度较低。本文通过研究其岩石学和地球化学特征,讨论岩浆的源区性质、形成的构造环境,进而推断研究区的地质演化过程。研究区内煌斑岩的SiO2含量(W(SiO2))为39.13%~51.26%,属于钾玄质碱性岩。样品的稀土元素整体表现出轻稀土元素富集、重稀土元素亏损的特征,Ce和Eu异常(分别用δCe和δEu表示)不显著。样品微量元素总体表现出大离子亲石元素(Ba、K、Pb)和轻稀土元素富集(LREE),而高场强元素(Nb、Ta和Ti)亏损的特征,具有典型的俯冲特征。源区为三叠纪时北向俯冲的扬子板块析出的熔体,交代上覆华北板块地幔橄榄岩而形成的地幔交代岩。白垩纪时,俯冲带岩石圈大范围坍塌,软流圈上涌形成伸展环境,地幔源区发生部分熔融,岩浆上升侵位形成煌斑岩。     

Stable carbon isotope ratios of CH4-rich gas inclusions in shale-hosted fracture-fill mineralization: A tool for tracing hydrocarbon generation and migration in shale plays for oil and gas

Fluid inclusion gases in minerals from shale hosted fracture-fill mineralization have been analyzed for stable carbon isotopic ratios of CH₄ using a crushing device interfaced to an isotope ratio mass spectrometer (IRMS). The samples of Paleozoic strata under study originate from outcrops and wells in the Rhenish Massif and Campine Basin, Harz Mountains, and the upper slope of the Southern Permian Basin. Fracture-fill mineralization hosted by Mesozoic strata was sampled from drill cores in the Lower Saxony Basin. Some studied sites are candidates for shale gas exploration in Germany. Samples of Mesozoic strata are characterized by abundant calcite-filled horizontal fractures which preferentially occur in TOC-rich sections of the drilled sediments. Only rarely are vertical fractures filled with carbonates and/or quartz in drill cores from Mesozoic strata but in Paleozoic shale they occur frequently. The δ¹³C(CH₄) values of fluid inclusions in calcite from horizontal fractures hosted by Mesozoic strata suggest that gaseous hydrocarbons were generated during the oil/early gas window and that the formation of horizontal fractures seems to be related to hydraulic expulsion fracturing. The calculated maturity of the source rocks at the time of gas generation lies below the maturity derived from measured vitrinite reflectance. Thus, the formation of horizontal fractures and trapping of gas that was generated in the oil and/or early gas window obviously occurred prior to maximal burial. Rapidly increasing vitrinite reflectance data seen locally can be explained by hydrothermal alteration, as indicated by increasing δ¹³C (CH₄–CO₂) values in fluid inclusions. The formation of vertical fractures in studied Mesozoic sediments is related to stages of post-burial inversion; gas-rich inclusions in fracture filling minerals recorded the migration of gas that had probably been generated instantaneously, rather than cumulatively, from high to overmature source rocks. Since no evidence is given for the presence of early generated gas in studied Paleozoic shale, it appears likely that major gas loss from shales occurred due to deformation and uplift of these sediments in response to the Variscan Orogeny.     

Timing and mechanism of reservoir forming in the Upper Triassic Halahatang Formation,Yuqi block,Tarim Basin,northwestern China

The Yuqi block is an important area for oil and gas exploration in the northern Akekule uplift, Tarim Basin, northwestern China. The Upper Triassic Halahatang Formation (T₃h) within the Yuqi block can be subdivided into a lowstand system tract (LST), a transgressive system tract (TST), and a highstand system tract (HST), based on a study of initial and maximum flood surfaces. Oil in the lowstand system tract of the Halahatang Formation is characterized by medium to lightweight (0.8075 g/cm³–0.9258 g/cm³), low sulfur content (0.41%–1.4%), and high paraffin content (9.65%–10.25%). The distribution of oil and gas is principally controlled by low-amplitude anticlines and faults. Based on studies of fluorescence thin sections and homogenization temperatures of fluid inclusions, reservoirs in the T₃h were formed in at least two stages of hydrocarbon charge and accumulation. During the first stage (Jurassic–Cretaceous) both the structural traps and hydrocarbon reservoirs were initiated; during the second stage (Cenozoic) the structural traps were finally formed and the reservoirs were structurally modified. The reservoir-forming mechanism involved external hydrocarbon sources (i.e. younger reservoirs with oil and gas sourced from old rocks), two directions (vertical and lateral) of expulsion, and multi-stage accumulation. This model provides a theoretical fundament for future oil and gas exploration in the Tarim Basin and other similar basins in northwestern China.     

Early Cenozoic paleontological assemblages and provenance evolution of the Lishui Sag,East China Sea

The East China Sea Shelf Basin generated a series of back-arc basins with thick successions of marine- and terrestrial-facies sediments during Cenozoic. It is enriched with abundant oil and gas resources and is of great significance to the petroleum exploration undertakings. Therein, the Lishui Sag formed fan delta, fluvial delta and littoral-to-neritic facies sediments during Paleocene–Eocene, and the research on its sedimentary environment and sediment source was controversial. This study analyzed the paleontological combination characteristics, and conducted a source-to-sink comparative analysis to restore the sedimentary environment and provenance evolution of the Lishui Sag during Paleocene–Eocene based on the integration of detrital zircon U-Pb age spectra patterns with paleontological assemblages. The results indicated that Lishui Sag was dominated by littoral and neritic-facies environment during time corroborated by large abundance of foraminifera, calcareous nannofossils and dinoflagellates. Chronological analysis of detrital zircon U-Pb revealed that there were significant differences in sediment sources between the east and west area of the Lishui Sag. The western area was featured by deeper water depths in the Paleocene–Eocene, and the sediment was characterized by a single Yanshanian peak of zircon U-Pb age spectra, and mainly influenced from Yanshanian magmatic rocks of South China Coast and the surrounding paleo-uplifts. However, its eastern area partly showed Indosinian populations. In particular, the upper Eocene Wenzhou sediments were featured by increasingly plentiful Precambrian zircons in addition to the large Indosinian-Yanshanian peaks, indicating a possible impact from the Yushan Low Uplift to the east. Therefore, it is likely that the eastern Lishui Sag generated large river systems as well as deltas during time. Due to the Yuquan Movement, the Lishui Sag experienced uplifting and exhumation in the late stage of the late Eocene and was not deposited with sediments until Miocene. Featured by transitional-facies depositions of Paleocene–Eocene, the Lishui Sag thus beared significant potential for source rock and oil-gas reservoir accumulation.     

青藏高原羌塘盆地晚侏罗世索瓦期沉积特征研究

为推进我国石油工业发展丰富石油地质理论,根据野外露头及室内分析化验资料,建立8种相标志,识别出索瓦期沉积相类型有：台地相、台地边缘相、盆地相和海陆过渡相、湖泊相。受北部拉竹龙-金沙江缝合带、中央隆起带和南部班公湖-怒江缝合带的影响,沉积相呈近东西向展布,具南北分带的特点。文章分析了索瓦期的沉积特征,总结了该期的沉积模式。根据研究区的生物特征和沉积特征,推断当时气候是温暖、半干旱的。综合分析认为,索瓦组是羌塘盆地很有潜力的油气勘探目的层,其与上覆雪山组地层可构成有利的含油气组合;而双湖-多涌地区是首选的含油气有利区带。     

Impact of sedimentology,diagenesis, and solid bitumen on the development of a tight gas grainstone reservoir in the Feixianguan Formation,Jiannan area,China: Implications for gas exploration in tight carbonate reservoirs

Tight gas grainstone reservoirs in the third member of the Feixianguan Formation, Jiannan area, evolved from a paleo-oil accumulation as evidenced from abundant solid reservoir bitumen. Porosity evolution of the grainstones was studied by evaluating relative influences of sedimentology, diagenesis, and solid bitumen formed during cracking of accumulated oils. Grainstones exhibited regional-distinct effectiveness for paleo-oil and present-gas accumulations during oil window and subsequent gas window diagenesis. In the southern zone where grainstones were not subjected to subaerial exposure and meteoric diagenesis in the early diagenetic stage, paleoporosity at the time of oil charge was mainly controlled by sedimentologic factors (e.g., grain size, sorting, and grain type), and paleo-oil reservoirs only occurred in the ooid-dominated grainstones with good sorting and coarse grain size. In contrast, in the northern zone meteoric diagenesis was responsible for paleoporosity preservation due to the early mineral stabilization of grains and meteoric calcite cementation, which caused grainstones greater resistance to compaction. Hence, most of the grainstones in the northern zone, regardless of textural variables, formed effective reservoirs for paleo-oil accumulation. As the oil cracked to gas with increasing depth and temperature during the late oil window and initial gas window, solid bitumen occluded reservoir pores to varying degrees and caused paleo-oil reservoirs to be significantly heterogeneous or completely ineffective for gas accumulation. In contrast, most grainstones that were once ineffective oil reservoirs transformed into effective gas reservoirs due to no or minor influence of solid bitumen precipitation. The model of reservoir transformation development of tight grainstones provides a plausible explanation for key observations concerning the diagenetic and distribution differences between paleo-oil and present-gas reservoirs. It is useful in predicting the distribution of potential reservoirs in carbonate strata in future exploration.     

Impact of microorganism degradation on hydrocarbon generation of source rocks: A case study of the Bozhong Sag,Bohai Bay Basin

The discovery of the Bozhong 19-6 gas field, the largest integrated condensate gas field in the eastern China in 2018, opened up a new field for the natural gas exploration deep strata in the Bohai Bay Basin, demonstrating there is a great potential for natural gas exploration in oil-type basins. The ethane isotope of the Bozhong 19-6 condensate gas is heavy, showing the characteristics of partial humic gas. In this paper, aimed at the source rocks of the Bozhong 19-6 gas field in the Bohai Bay Basin, the characteristics of the source rocks in the Bozhong 19-6 structural belt were clarified and the reason are explained from impact of microorganism degradation on hydrocarbon generation of source rocks why the condensate oil and gas had heavy carbon isotope and why it showed partial humic characteristics was explored based on the research of parent materials. The following conclusions were obtained: The paleontology of the Bozhong 19-6 structural belt and its surrounding sub-sags is dominated by higher plants, such as angiosperm and gymnosperm. During the formation of source rocks, under the intensive transformation of microorganism, the original sedimentary organic matter such as higher plants was degraded and transformed by defunctionalization. Especially, the transformation of anaerobic microorganisms on source rocks causes the degradation and defunctionalization of a large number of humic products such as higher plants and the increase of hydrogen content. The degradation and transformation of microorganism don’t transform the terrestrial humic organic matter into newly formed “sapropel” hydrocarbons, the source rocks are mixed partial humic source rocks. As a result, hydrogen content incrased and the quality of source rocks was improved, forming the partial humic source rocks dominated by humic amorphous bodies. The partial humic source rocks are the main source rocks in the Bozhong 19-6 gas field, and it is also the internal reason why the isotope of natural gas is heavy.     

川西坳陷中段沙溪庙组天然气成藏条件分析

探讨川西坳陷中段沙溪庙组天然气成藏地质条件,为油气勘探提供理论依据。从油气的烃源条件、储集条件、保存条件及成藏组合方面入手,结合构造史以及岩心、地震及钻井等资料进行分析,结果表明川西坳陷中段处于生烃坳陷中心地带,烃源岩丰富,具备生烃能力。晚三叠世中、晚期发育冲积扇—河流沉积相带,储集条件良好,后期构造运动使断层裂缝系统较发育,有利于储集条件改善和油气富集。其上有压力封存箱和巨厚的砂泥岩互层,保存条件良好。川西坳陷中段新场—盐亭地区近EW向古隆起及龙门山前缘扩展变形带中的鸭子河—石板滩地区是油气勘探的有利地带。     

Thermal evolution of the Kuh-e-Asmari and Sim anticlines in the Zagros fold-and-thrust belt: Implications for hydrocarbon generation

Mixed layer clay minerals, vitrinite reflectance and geochemical data from Rock-Eval pyrolysis were used to constrain the burial evolution of the Mesozoic–Cenozoic successions exposed at the Kuh-e-Asmari (Dezful Embayment) and Sim anticlines (Fars province) in the Zagros fold-and-thrust belt. In both areas, Late Cretaceous to Pliocene rocks, show low levels of thermal maturity in the immature stages of hydrocarbon generation and early diagenetic conditions (R0 I–S and R_o% values < 0.5). At depths of 2–4 km, T_max values (435–450 °C) from organic-rich layers of the Sargelu, Garau and Kazhdumi source rocks in the Kuh-e-Asmari anticline indicate mid to late mature stages of hydrocarbon generation. One dimensional thermal models allowed us to define the onset of oil generation for the Middle Jurassic to Eocene source rocks and pointed out that sedimentary burial is the main factor responsible for measured levels of thermal maturity. Specifically, the Sargelu and Garau Formations entered the oil window prior to Zagros folding in Late Cretaceous times, the Kazhdumi Formation during middle Miocene (syn-folding stage), and the Pabdeh Formation in the Late Miocene–Pliocene after the Zagros folding. In the end, the present-day distribution of oil fields in the Dezful Embayment and gas fields in the Fars region is primarily controlled by lithofacies changes and organic matter preservation at the time of source rock sedimentation. Burial conditions during Zagros folding had minor to negligible influence.     

国内外深水区油气勘探新进展

深水区油气资源丰富，近年来深水油气勘探不断升温。在全球6大洲18个深水盆地中已发现约580亿桶油当量的油气资源。目前，巴西、美国墨西哥湾的深水油气田已经投入生产，而且产量不断增加，西非地区也已进入开发阶段，西北欧、地中海以及亚太地区的许多国家也都在积极开展深水油气勘探或开发。海上油气钻探不断向深水区和超深水区发展，探井数目也在继续增加，投资力度不断加强，储量每年也有很大的增长。深水油气勘探成功率平均达到30％，其中，西非的勘探成功率最高。深水区烃源岩生烃潜力较好，最好的烃源岩主要分布于侏罗系、白垩系和第三系的地层中，储层以浊积岩储层为主，盖层通常比较发育，大多数圈闭都与地层因素有关。我国南海北部陆坡深水区盆地属准被动边缘盆地，从烃源岩、储层、盖层、圈闭到运聚条件等都具备了形成大型油气田的基本地质条件，具有丰富的资源前景。     

海南省海域油气资源特征及勘探开发前景

海南省海域共圈定新生代油气沉积盆地18个,成藏地质条件良好,资源潜力巨大,具有良好的开发前景。位于南海北部的珠三坳陷、琼东南盆地和莺歌海盆地距海南岛较近,开采条件优越,是我国最早进行海洋油气勘探开发的区域,目前已经形成了东方、乐东、崖城和文昌4个油气田群,是我国海上油气的主产区之一。今后海南省油气资源勘探开发方向主要为上述三大油气盆地,通过对探明储量的进一步开发和对中深部层位的勘探,达到接续增储的目标;随着陵水17-2大型气田的发现和天然气水合物试采成功等一系列技术突破,海南省海域油气勘探开发正向着中深水和非常规能源领域进军。因此,海南省要依靠区位优势,借助油气体制改革的机遇,深入参与国家油气勘探开发活动,推动地方经济发展。     

Influence of the Moho surface distribution on the oil and gas basins in China seas and adjacent areas

Owing to the strategic significance of national oil and gas resources, their exploration and production must be prioritized in China. Oil and gas resources are closely related to deep crustal structures, and Moho characteristics influence oil and gas distribution. Therefore, it is important to study the relationship between the variation of the Moho surface depth undulation and hydrocarbon basins for the future prediction of their locations. The Moho depth in the study area can be inverted using the Moho depth control information, the Moho gravity anomaly, and the variable density distribution calculated by the infinite plate. Based on these results, the influences of Moho characteristics on petroleum basins were studied. We found that the Moho surface depth undulation deviation and crustal thickness undulation deviation in the hydrocarbon-rich basins are large, and the horizontal gradient deviation of the Moho surface shows a positive linear relationship with oil and gas resources in the basin. The oil-bearing mechanism of the Moho basin is further discussed herein. The Moho uplift area and the slope zone correspond to the distribution of oil and gas fields. The tensile stress produced by the Moho uplift can form tensile fractures or cause tensile fractures on the surface, further developing into a fault or depression basin that receives deposits. The organic matter can become oil and natural gas under suitable chemical and structural conditions. Under the action of groundwater or other dynamic forces, oil and natural gas are gradually transported to the uplift or the buried hill in the depression zone, and oil and gas fields are formed under the condition of good caprock. The research results can provide new insights into the relationship between deep structures and oil and gas basins as well as assist in the strategic planning of oil and gas exploration activities.