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.     

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.     

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.

     

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.     

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.     

Subdivision and age of the Yanchang Formation and the Middle/Upper Triassic boundary in Ordos Basin,North China

The Yanchang Formation is extensively developed in the Ordos Basin and its surrounding regions. As one of the best terrestrial Triassic sequences in China and the major oil-gas bearing formations in the Ordos Basin, its age determination and stratigraphic assignment are important in geological survey and oil-gas exploration. It had been attributed to the Late Triassic and regarded as the typical representative of the Upper Triassic in northern China for a long time, although some scholars had already proposed that the lower part of this formation should be of the Middle Triassic age in the mid-late 20th century. In this paper, we suggest that the lower and middle parts of the Yanchang Formation should be of the Ladinian and the bottom possibly belongs to the late Anisian of the Middle Triassic, mainly based on new fossils found in it and high resolution radiometric dating results. The main source rocks, namely the oil shales and mudstones of the Chang-7, are of the Ladinian Age. The upper part of the Yanchang Formation, namely the Chang-6 and the above parts, belongs to the Late Triassic. The uppermost of the Triassic is missed in most parts of the Ordos Basin. The Middle-Upper Triassic Series boundary lies in the Yanchang Formation, equivalent to the boundary between Chang-7 and Chang-6. The Ladinian is an important palaeoenvironmental turning point in the Ordos Basin. Palaeoenvironmental changes in the basin are coincidence with that of the Sichuan Basin and the main tectonic movement of the Qinling Mountains. It indicates that tectonic activities of the Qinling Mountains are related to the big palaeoenvironmental changes in both the Ordos and Sichuan Basins, which are caused by the same structural dynamic system during the Ladinian.     

Impact of chlorites on the wettability of tight oil sandstone reservoirs in the Upper Triassic Yanchang Formation,Ordos Basin,China

Wettability is an essential property of reservoirs that is of great importance for enhancing oil recovery(EOR) and oil migration. The wettability of reservoirs is generally believed to be strongly affected by mineral compositions but it is not always the case. An integrated study of petrography and wettability was carried out to determine the impact of chlorite minerals on the wettability of the sandstone reservoirs in the Upper Triassic Yanchang Formation. Chlorites are found to be commonly present in the reservoir sandstones as detrital grains, rim-shaped cements, and biotite-chloritized forms with the pore peripheries being largely coated by chlorite, which is the main mineral in direct contact with pores. At pore scale, the wetting state of chlorites can either be oil-wet or water-wet in the tight sandstone reservoirs depending on wettability alteration by oil charge. Chlorites in contact with pores occupy a large of proportions of oil-wet pore walls and are crucial for the formation of oil-wetting state of reservoir sandstones. At core scale, the contents of chlorites in direct contact with pores do not correlate well with the AmottHarvey index due to other factors such as heterogeneity, oil-bearing degrees of samples.     

Zircon SHRIMP U-Pb age and geological implications of tuff at the bottom of Chang-7 Member of Yanchang Formation in the Ordos Basin

A table tuff interlayer at the bottom of Chang-7 Member of Yanchang Formation,the Ordos Basin,may serve as an indicator for stratigraphic division and correlation.In this study,zircon SHRIMP U-Pb dating was performed on the tuff at the bottom of Chang-7 Member using samples from wells Luo-36 and Zhuang-211 in the southwest of the basin,which yielded weighted average 206Pb/238U ages of 241.3±2.4 and 239.7±1.7 Ma,respectively.The cathodoluminescence images and the U/Th element ratio of tuff indicate that the zircons are magmatogenic and their ages represent that of the sedimentation age of the tuff at the bottom of Chang-7,which is 239.7–241.3 Ma in age.This finding confirms presence of the Middle Triassic strata at the bottom of Yanchang Formation.Taking previous findings into account,we suggest restricing the Late Triassic Yanchang Formation sensu stricto to the interval from Chang-7 to Chang-1 and assigning the interval from Chang-10 to Chang-8 as the Tongchuan Formation.The tuff at the bottom of the Chang-7 Member of Yanchang Formation represents the sedimentary response to the Qinling orogenic event in the early Indosinian.This tectonic event resulted in major changes in paleogeomorphology and the sedimentary environment of the lake basin during deposition of the Yanchang Formation.During this period,extremely favourable conditions were present for subsequent hydrocarbon generation and pooling of lake basin.     

Provenance for the Chang 6 and Chang 8 Member of the Yanchang Formation in the Xifeng area and in the periphery Ordos Basin: Evidence from petrologic geochemistry

Study indicates that the major paleocurrent and source direction for the Chang 8 Member of the Yangchang Formation, Upper Triassic in the Xifeng area of the southwestern Ordos Basin derived from the southwest direction with the southeast source as the subordinate one. While the Chang 6 Member was influenced not only by the same source as that of the Chang 8 Member from the southwest and the southeast direction, but also affected by the northeast and the east provenance around the Ordos Basin, based upon measurement of paleocurrents on outcrops located in the periphery Ordos Basin, analysis of framework grains and heavy minerals in sandstones of the Chang 6 and Chang 8 Members and their spatial distribution in the study area, combined with characteristics of trace elements and rare-earth elements of mudstones and of a small amount of sandstones in the Xifeng area and outcrops in margin of the Ordos Basin. The Yuole-Xuanma-Gucheng-Heshui-Ningxia region located in the northeastern and the eastern Xifeng area was the mixed source area where the southwest, southeast, northeast and the east sources were convergent till the Chang 6 Member was deposited. The rare earth elements of the Chang 6 and Chang 8 Members are characterized by slight light rare earth-elements (LREE) enrichment and are slightly depleted in heavy rare earth-elements (HREE) with weak to moderate negative abnormal Eu, resulting in a right inclined REE pattern, which implies that the source rocks are closely related with better differential crust material. Analysis on geochemical characteristics of the mudstones and sandstones, features of parent rocks in provenance terranes and tectonic settings shows that source rocks for the Chang 8 Member mainly came from metamorphic and sedimentary rocks in transitional continental and basement uplift terranes with a small amount of rocks including metamorphic, sedimentary and igneous rocks coming from mixed recycle orogenic belt located in the southwest margin of the Ordos basin. Rocks in the crystalline basement and the overlying sedimentary cover in a basement uplift setting in the northeast periphery of the basin also contributed a part of the sources for the Chang 6 Member, in addition to the sources deriving from transitional continental and basement uplift terranes in the southwest margin of the basin. Parent rocks of the provenance terrane in the northeast margin of the Ordos Basin are characterized by having more felsic rocks.     

鄂尔多斯盆地吴起地区上三叠统长2油层组有利储层分布及控制因素分析

鄂尔多斯盆地吴起地区上三叠统延长组长2油层组为典型的低孔低渗储集层,研究该区优质储集层的分布规律及形成条件,对于该层位油气勘探具有重要意义.本文通过研究岩芯、铸体薄片、储层物性等资料,探讨了储集层的沉积微相特征、岩石类型、孔隙类型、毛管压力特征、成岩作用特点及其对优质储集层的控制作用,表明吴起地区长2油层组主要发育长石岩屑砂岩,粘土质杂基等填隙物普遍发育,长2{的储集层物性最好,非均质性弱,主要孔隙类型为残余粒间孔和粒内溶孔,毛管排驱压力总体较低;沉积微相和后期成岩作用共同控制了优质储集层的分布.     

鄂尔多斯盆地定边—志丹地区延长组致密砂岩储层裂缝测井识别

裂缝是影响致密砂岩储层高产及稳产的关键,目前,对致密砂岩储层裂缝定性识别与表征仍很困难.在对致密砂岩裂缝研究现状系统调研的基础上,以鄂尔多斯盆地定边—志丹地区延长组岩芯、成像测井、常规测井资料为基础,分析裂缝发育类型,利用岩芯和成像测井标定,明确裂缝测井响应特征,优选对裂缝响应敏感的测井参数,建立有效的裂缝测井识别方法.研究表明:(1)定边—志丹地区裂缝按成因分有天然构造裂缝、钻具诱导裂缝、井眼崩塌裂缝、应力释放裂缝,按角度大小分为垂直裂缝、高角度裂缝、低角度裂缝、水平裂缝;(2)常规测井系列中对裂缝反映灵敏的参数依次为微电极、八侧向电阻率、声波时差、自然伽马、自然电位、双感应电阻率、井径;(3)通过裂缝敏感测井参数,分别构建曲线变化幅度参数(FIA)、曲线变化率参数(FIG),进而构建裂缝识别综合指数(FFA),结合电阻率侵入指数,在此基础上,采用人工判识方法,排除泥质条带、钙质砂岩等岩性变化所造成的影响,最终确定裂缝可能发育段,裂缝综合识别率为80.6％,能够对致密砂岩储层裂缝进行识别和预测.     

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.

     

Diagenetic fluids evolution and genetic mechanism of tight sandstone gas reservoirs in Upper Triassic Xujiahe Formation in Sichuan Basin,China

The reservoirs of the Upper Triassic Xujiahe Formation in Sichuan Basin have the characteristics of low compositional maturity, low contents of cements and medium textural maturity. The general physical properties of the reservoirs are poor, with low porosity and low permeability, and there are only a few reservoirs with medium porosity and low permeability in local areas. Based on the diagenetic mineral association, a diagenetic sequence of cements is established: early calcites (or micrite siderites) →first quartz overgrowth→chlorite coatings→dissolution of feldspars and debris→chlorite linings→ second quartz overgrowth (quartz widen or filled in remain intergranular pores and solution pores)→dissolution→third quartz overgrowth (quartz filled in intergranular and intragranular solution pores)→intergrowth (ferro) calcites→dolomites→ferro (calcites) dolomites→later dissolution→veins of quartz and calcites formation. Mechanical compaction is the main factor in making the reservoirs tight in the basin, followed by the second and third quartz overgrowth. In a long-term closed system, only feld-spars and some lithic fragments are dissolved by diagenetic fluids, while intergranular cements such as quartz and calcit are not dissolved and thus have little influence on the porosity of the Xujiahe Formation. This is the third factor that may have kept the sandstones of Xujiahe Formation tight finally. The hydrocarbon was extensively generated from organic materials after the second quartz overgrowth, and selectively entered favorable reservoirs to form tight sandstone gas reservoirs.     

Reconstruction of the diagenesis of the fluvial-lacustrine- deltaic sandstones and its influence on the reservoir quality evolution-- Evidence from Jurassic and Triassic sandstones, Yanchang Oil Field, Ordos Basin

The reservoir quality of Jurassic and Triassic fluvial and lacustrine-deltaic sandstones of the Yanchang Oil Field in the Ordos Basin is strongly influenced by the burial history and facies-related diagenetic events. The fluvial sandstones have a higher average porosity (14.8%) and a higher permeability (12.7×10?3 ?m2) than those of the deltaic sandstones (9.8% and 5.8 ×10?3 ?m2, respectively). The burial compaction, which resulted in 15% and 20% porosity loss for Jurassic and Triassic sandstones, respectively, is the main factor causing the loss of porosity both for the Jurassic and Triassic sandstones. Among the cements, carbonate is the main one that reduced the reservoir quality of the sandstones. The organic acidic fluid derived from organic matter in the source rocks, the inorganic fluid from rock-water reaction during the late diagenesis, and meteoric waters during the epidiagenesis resulted in the formation of dissolution porosity, which is the main reason for the enhancement of reservoir-quality.     

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 exa- mining, 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.

     

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.     

Thermal evolution and applications of aromatic hydrocarbons in highly mature coal-bearing source rocks of the Upper Triassic Xujiahe Formation in the northern Sichuan Basin

Based on the GC-MS analytical data of aromatic fractions of over forty highly mature coal-bearing source rock samples collected from the Upper Triassic Xujiahe Formation in the northern Sichuan Basin, the thermal evolution of aromatic hydrocarbons during late-mature to over-mature stage(Ro=1.13%–2.85%) was characterized, and aromatic indicators suitable for recognizing the organic source and sedimentary environment of high maturity source rocks were discussed. The results indicated that the concentrations of low carbon-cycle naphthalene as well phenanthrene series reduce gradually with increasing Ro at the highly mature levels. However, some high-cyclic components such as chrysene, benzofluoranthene, and benzo[e]pyrene are relatively enriched, in companying an enhancement of parent aromatic compounds. The variations are attributed to thermal cracking and polymerization reactions due to continuous dehydrogenation under enhanced burial temperature. As thermal maturity rises, MPI1(Methylphenanthrene Index) values display a two-modal varying trend, namely, increasing when Ro is below 1.80% and decreasing above 1.8% Ro. The relationships between Ro and MPI1 are Ro=0.98MPI1+0.37 for Ro1.80% and Ro=?0.90MPI1+3.02 at Ro1.8%, being different from the previous research. The amount of dibenzofurans declines sharply at Ro higher than 1.1%, leading to a significant change of relative composition among dibenzothiophenes, dibenzofurans and fluorenes(referred as three-fluorenes series composition). Thus, this parameter appears to be unsuitable for identifying the sedimentary environment of the highly matured source rocks. 4-/1-MDBT(methyldibenzothiophene) ratio could be served as an effective indicator for organic facies, and can distinguish coals from mudstones at over-maturity in this case. The ratios of 2,6-/2,10-DMP(dimethylphenanthrene) and 1,7-/1,9-DMP and relative abundance of triaromatic steroids in these highly mature rocks could be considered as biological source parameters for relative input of terrigenous versus aquatic organic matter.     

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 1000×10⁸m³ 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 elevated δ ¹³C 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, the δ ¹³C₁ values are mostly similar with those in the Upper Paleozoic, but the δ ¹³C₂ and δ ¹³C₃ 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. δ ¹³C₁>δ ¹³C₂), inferring that gases would be mixed between high-mature coal-formed gases and oil-type gases. In the Mesozoic, the δ ¹³C values 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 to δ ¹³C₁-R ₀ 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.