四川盆地东部长兴组--飞仙关组气藏地球化学特征及气源探讨

四川盆地上二叠统长兴组生物礁和下三叠统飞仙关组鲕滩是“九五”期间的勘探重点,通过对长兴组-飞仙关组气藏的烃源岩、储层沥青和天然气的地球化学研究,确认了上二叠统的滨岸煤系泥岩和海槽相碳酸盐岩为主要烃源岩,长兴组-飞仙关组气藏天然气主要来源于下伏的上二叠统烃源岩,天然气以垂相运移为主,飞仙关组部分气藏天然气中硫化氢含量较高与储层中膏岩层的分布和热硫酸盐还原作用有关,上述这些特征与沉积相带密切相关。     

Gas accumulation from oil cracking in the eastern Tarim Basin: A case study of the YN2 gas field

Oil and gas exploration in eastern Tarim Basin, NW China has been successful in recent years, with several commercial gas accumulations being discovered in a thermally mature to over-mature region. The Yingnan2 (YN2) gas field, situated in the Yingnan structure of the Yingjisu Depression, produces gases that are relatively enriched in nitrogen and C₂₊ alkanes. The δ¹³C₁ (−38.6‰ to −36.2‰) and δ¹³C₂ values (−30.9‰ to −34.7‰) of these gases are characteristic of marine sourced gases with relatively high maturity levels. The distributions of biomarkers in the associated condensates suggest close affinities with the Cambrian–Lower Ordovician source rocks which, in the Yingjisu Sag, are currently over-mature (with 3–4%Ro). Burial and thermal maturity modeling results indicate that paleo-temperatures of the Cambrian–Lower Ordovician source rocks had increased from 90 to 210 °C during the late Caledonian orogeny (458–438 Ma), due to rapid subsidence and sediment loading. By the end of Ordovician, hydrocarbon potential in these source rocks had been largely exhausted. The homogenization temperatures of hydrocarbon fluid inclusions identified from the Jurassic reservoirs of the YN2 gas field suggest a hydrocarbon emplacement time as recent as about 10 Ma, when the maturity levels of Middle–Lower Jurassic source rocks in the study area were too low (<0.7%Ro) to form a large quantity of oil and gas. The presence of abundant diamondoid hydrocarbons in the associated condensates and the relatively heavy isotopic values of the oils indicate that the gases were derived from thermal cracking of early-formed oils. Estimation from the stable carbon isotope ratios of gaseous alkanes suggests that the gases may have been formed at temperatures well above 190 °C. Thus, the oil and gas accumulation history in the study area can be reconstructed as follows: (1) during the late Caledonian orogeny, the Cambrian–Lower Ordovician marine source rocks had gone through the peak oil, wet gas and dry gas generation stages, with the generated oil and gas migrating upwards along faults and fractures to form early oil and gas accumulations in the Middle–Upper Ordovician and Silurian sandstone reservoirs; (2) since the late Yanshanian orogeny, the early oil accumulations have been buried deeper and oil has undergone thermal cracking to form gas; (3) during the late Himalayan orogeny, the seals for the deep reservoirs were breached; and the gas and condensates migrated upward and eventually accumulating in the relatively shallow Jurassic reservoirs.     

Formation Mechanism and Controlling Factors of Natural Gas Reservoirs of the Jialingjiang Formation in the East Sichuan Basin

The Lower Triassic Jialingjiang Formation reservoirs are distributed widely in the East Sichuan Basin, which are composed mainly of fractured reservoirs. However, natural gas with high concentration of H2S, ranging from 4% to 7%, was discovered in the Wolonghe Gas pool consisting primarily of porous reservoirs, while the other over 20 fractured gas reservoirs have comparatively low, tiny and even no H2S within natural gases. Researches have proved the H2S of the above reservoirs are all from the TSR origin. Most of the Jialingjiang Formation natural gases are mainly generated from Lower Permian carbonate rocks, the Wolonghe gas pool＇s natural gases are from the Upper Permian Longtan Formation, and the natural gases of the Huangcaoxia and Fuchengzhai gas pools are all from Lower Silurian mudstone. The formation of H2S is controlled by the characteristics and temperature of reservoirs, and is not necessarily related with gas sources. The Jialingjiang Formation in East Sichuan is buried deeply and its reservoir temperature has ever attained the condition of the TSR reaction. Due to poor reservoir potential, most of the gas pools do not have enough room for hydrocarbon reaction except for the Wolonghe gas pool, and thus natural gases with high H2S concentration are difficult to be generated abundantly. The south part of East Sichuan did not generate natural gases with high H2S concentration because the reservoir was buried relatively shallow, and did not suffer high temperature. Hence, while predicting the distribution of H2S, the characteristics and temperature of reservoirs are the necessary factors to be considerd besides the existence of anhydrite.     

四川盆地北部下三叠统飞仙关组层序地层分析

为了探讨礁滩储集岩的分布规律,以层序地层学理论与方法系统研究了四川盆地北部下三叠统飞仙关组地层。通过露头、岩芯、测井、地震数据综合分析,识别出两个三级层序及四个准层序组,确定蒸发台地、局限台地、开阔台地、台地边缘滩、斜坡和盆地相六类沉积类型。层序划分及层序界面的确定,依据陆上暴露和向上变浅两个方面的识别标志。暴露界面表现为泥岩表面干裂,淡水选择性溶蚀、白云化现象,白云岩、石膏,伽玛曲线高值。向上变浅层序有向上变厚、变粗序列,向上变细、变泥、变红序列,向上γ值变低序列。对比发现高水位体系域后期发育台地边缘鲕滩和台地内鲕滩。广泛白云岩化作用的台地边缘鲕滩相,具有很好的孔渗性,成为最有利的储集层。对指导进一步的勘探与开发具有重要意义。     

Origins of natural gases from marine strata in Northeastern Sichuan Basin (China) from carbon molecular moieties and isotopic data

To determine the origin, maturity, formation mechanism and secondary process of marine natural gases in Northeastern Sichuan area, molecular moieties and carbon isotopic data of the Carboniferous and Triassic gases have been analyzed. Typical samples of marine gas precursors including low-maturity kerogen, dispersed liquid hydrocarbons (DLHs) in source rocks, residual kerogen and oil have been examined in a closed system, and several published geochemical diagrams of gas origins have been calibrated by using laboratory data. Results show that both Carboniferous and Triassic gases in the study area have a thermogenic origin. Migration leads to stronger compositional and weak isotopic fractionation, and is path dependent. Carboniferous gases and low-H₂S gases are mainly formed by secondary cracking of oil, whereas high-H₂S gases are clearly related to the TSR (Thermal Sulfate Reduction) process. Gases in NE Sichuan show a mixture of heavy (¹³C-enriched) methane in comparison to the lower maturated ethane of Triassic gas samples, suggesting a similar source and maturity for ethane and propane of Carboniferous gases, and a mixture of heavy ethane to the propane for Triassic gases. Based on the data plotted in the diagram of Chung et al. (1988), the residual kerogen from Silurian marine shale and palaeo oil reservoirs are the main source for Carboniferous gases, and that the residual kerogen from Silurian and Permian marine rocks and Permian paleao oil reservoirs constitute the principal source of Triassic gases.     

Source Rocks for the Giant Puguang Gas Field, Sichuan Basin: Implication for Petroleum Exploration in Marine Sequences in South China

Detailed geochemistry studies were conducted to investigate the origin of solid bitumens and hydrocarbon gases in the giant Puguang gas field. Two types of solid bitumens were recognized: low sulfur content, low reflectance (LSLR) solid bitumens in sandstone reservoirs in the Xujiahe Formation and high sulfur content, high reflectance (HSHR) solid bitumens in the carbonate reservoirs in the Lower Triassic Feixianguan and Upper Permian Changxing formations. Solid bitumens in the Upper Triassic Xujiahe Formation correlate well with extracts from the Upper Triassic to Jurassic nonmarine source rocks in isotopic composition of the saturated and aromatic fractions and biomarker distribution. Solid bitumens in the Feixianguan and Changxing formations are distinctly different from extracts from the Cambrian and Silurian rocks but display reasonable correlation with extracts from the Upper Permian source rocks both in isotopic composition of the saturated and aromatic fractions and in biomarker distribution, suggesting that the Permian especially the Upper Permian Longtan Formation was the main source of solid bitumens in the carbonate reservoirs in the Feixianguan and Changxing formations in the Puguang gas field. Chemical and isotopic composition of natural gases indicates that the majority of hydrocarbon gases originated from sapropelic organic matter and was the products of thermal cracking of accumulated oils. This study indicates that source rock dominated by sapropelic organic matter existed in the Upper Permian and had made major contribution to the giant Puguang gas field, which has important implication for petroleum exploration in marine sequences in South China.     

Source Rocks for the Giant Puguang Gas Field,Sichuan Basin:Implication for Petroleum Exploration in Marine Sequences in South China

Detailed geochemistry studies were conducted to investigate the origin of solid bitumens and hydrocarbon gases in the giant Puguang gas field. Two types of solid bitumens were recognized： low sulfur content, low reflectance （LSLR） solid bitumens in sandstone reservoirs in the Xujiahe Formation and high sulfur content, high reflectance （HSHR） solid bitumens in the carbonate reservoirs in the Lower Triassic Feixianguan and Upper Permian Changxing formations. Solid bitumens in the Upper Triassic Xujiahe Formation correlate well with extracts from the Upper Triassic to Jurassic nonmarine source rocks in isotopic composition of the saturated and aromatic fractions and biomarker distribution. Solid bitumens in the Feixianguan and Changxing formations are distinctly different from extracts from the Cambrian and Silurian rocks but display reasonable correlation with extracts from the Upper Permian source rocks both in isotopic composition of the saturated and aromatic fractions and in biomarker distribution, suggesting that the Permian especially the Upper Permian Longtan Formation was the main source of solid bitumens in the carbonate reservoirs in the Feixianguan and Changxing formations in the Puguang gas field. Chemical and isotopic composition of natural gases indicates that the majority of hydrocarbon gases originated from sapropelic organic matter and was the products of thermal cracking of accumulated oils. This study indicates that source rock dominated by sapropelic organic matter existed in the Upper Permian and had made major contribution to the giant Puguang gas field, which has important implication for petroleum exploration in marine sequences in South China.     

中国海相油气田勘探实例(之一) 四川盆地罗家寨大型气田的发现和探明

罗家寨气田发现于2000年,是四川盆地迄今为止发现的储量规模最大的一个气田,2002年探明储量为581.08×108m3。其下三叠统飞仙关组储层由碳酸盐岩蒸发台地边缘优质鲕粒滩白云岩构成,圈闭面积大,构造幅度高,具有一定的埋藏隐蔽性。论述了气田的发现和探明过程,气藏地质的特征,以及对碳酸盐岩气藏勘探的启示。     

地球内部物质物性的原位高温高压研究：大体积压机与同步辐射源的结合

四川盆地是一个大型复合含气为主、含油为辅的叠合盆地。多旋回的沉积演化过程,孕育了多套海相、陆相烃源岩,且不同区域发育不同成因类型的烃源岩。目前下寒武统、志留系、下二叠统、上二叠统和上三叠统五套主要烃源岩均已进入高演化阶段,并以成气为主。由于多阶成烃、混源聚集和后期遭受TSR次生蚀变等成藏过程的复杂性使得天然气组分较干、碳同位素组成复杂,常规方法进行气源对比较困难。文中在对四川盆地沉积演化背景分析的基础上,通过对有效烃源岩发育特征和分布规律的探讨,分区域进行了气藏的分析,特别是对天然气组分、非烃组成(H2S、CO2、N2等)和碳同位素等资料综合研究的基础上,基本确定了各区块各含气层系的主力源岩。认为川东主力产层石炭系、三叠系和二叠系的气源分别为志留系、上二叠统龙潭组和下二叠统;川南气区震旦系灯影组、寒武系、二叠系和三叠系产层的气源分别主要来自下寒武统,上、下二叠系源岩;川西气区侏罗系和三叠系须家河组主产层的气源主要来自三叠系须家河组煤系烃源岩,下二叠统和嘉陵江组产层气源则可能主要来自二叠系;川中主要为产油区,下侏罗统自流井群原油应来自侏罗系源岩,浅部层系气源为上三叠统须家河组的陆相烃源岩,深部气藏则为寒武系烃源岩。由于川东北部烃源岩发育层数最多,且质量都较好,因此川东北部是烃类最富集的地区,也是勘探潜力最大的地区。     

川西坳陷南段天然气来源与碳同位素地球化学研究

川西坳陷南段是四川盆地主要的天然气产区之一。前人对该区天然气的来源有多种见解。为了更清楚地认识此地区天然气的来源与运移，本文分析了平落坝、大兴西和白马庙气田16件天然气样品的C1-C4烃及CO2组份的碳同位素组成。所获得的同位素数据结合化学成份和地质资料表明，3个气田的烃类完全是热解成因的，都来源于气田下面的上三叠统烃源岩。这些气田的甲、乙烷碳同位素组成随深度呈不同规律的变化，这些变化归因于烃源岩生烃的热解过程和烃类运移的动力学过程。平落坝气田中侏罗统气藏的烃类大部份形成于烃源岩低成熟和成熟的早期阶段并受到晚期成熟气体的不断补给。平落坝和大兴西气田多数气藏的烃类被认为是从源区垂直向上运移通过上伏地层而进入气藏的，白马庙气田的烃类被认为是沿断裂通道向上侏罗统气藏聚集的。平落坝和大兴西气田的δ^13Cco2值有很宽的分布范围(-10.7‰～-0.7‰)，这表明气田的CO2由来自基底的海洋碳酸盐岩无机碳成份和沉积地层的有机碳成份混合而成。这些气田的[He／CH4]-[N2／CH4]值之间和δ^13Cco2-δ^13Cc1值之间的相关性表明，非烃气体在进入气藏前已同烃类很好地混合，并被CH4为主流相的气流携带着向气藏运移。     

四川盆地川中—川西震旦系—三叠系天然气成藏分析及勘探意义

四川盆地蕴藏着丰富天然气资源,其中筇竹寺组页岩对盆地中下组合天然气聚集作出巨大贡献。通过对川西和川中震旦系—寒武系及上覆志留系—三叠系多层系储集层中天然气特征精细对比发现,以筇竹寺组页岩为主要烃源的油气资源极为丰富、类型多样：(1)既有典型原油裂解气,甲烷碳同位素较轻(<35‰),分布在资阳地区震旦系、太合地区寒武系沧浪铺组(角探1井)及川西北河湾场/吴家坝的茅口组。它们成藏时间早,在岩性圈闭或岩性-构造圈闭得以长期保存;(2)页岩超晚期释放气,分布广泛,高石梯—磨溪、太合、威远等地区下组合震旦系—寒武系均以该类天然气补充成藏为主,甲烷碳同位素较重(>35‰),如未遭受过硫酸盐热化学还原作用(TSR)的改造则具典型甲、乙烷碳同位素倒转(δ¹³C₁>δ¹³C₂)特征,该类气藏具多期次复杂成藏过程,但超晚期页岩来源天然气的持续补充控制着聚集丰度;(3)中组合泥盆系—三叠系(须家河组之下)天然气以断层沟通的页岩超晚期释放天然气成藏为主。综合分析可见,筇竹寺组页岩(与页岩气)保存较好区域是...     

Gas systems in the Kuche Depression of the Tarim Basin: Source rock distributions, generation kinetics and gas accumulation history

Six petroleum source beds have been developed in the Kuche Depression (also known as “Kuqa Depression”) of the Tarim Basin, including three lacustrine source rocks (Middle and Upper Triassic Kelamayi and Huangshanjie formations, and Middle Jurassic Qiakemake Formation) and three coal measures (Upper Triassic Taliqike Formation, Lower Jurassic Yangxia Formation, and Middle Jurassic Kezilenuer Formation). While type I–II organic matter occurs in the Middle Jurassic Qiakemake Formation (J₂q), other source beds contain dominantly type III organic matter. Gas generation rates and stable carbon isotopic kinetics of methane generation from representative source rocks collected in the Kuche Depression were measured and calculated using an on-line dry and open pyrolysis system. Combined with hydrocarbon generation history modelling, the formation and evolution processes of the Jurassic–Triassic highly efficient gas kitchens were established. High sedimentation rate in the Neogene and the fast deposition of the Kuche Formation within the Pliocene (5 Ma) in particular have led to the rapid increase in Mesozoic source rock maturity, resulting in significant dry gas generation. The extremely high gas generation rates from source kitchens have apparently expedited the formation of highly efficient gas accumulations in the Kuche Depression. Because different Mesozoic source rocks occur in different structural belts, the presence of both lacustrine and coaly gas kitchens during the Cenozoic time can be identified in the Kuche Depression. As shown by the chemical and stable carbon isotope compositions of the discovered gases, the formation of the giant gas pools in the Kela 2, Dina 2, Yaha and Wucan 1 have involved very different geological processes due to the difference in their gas source kitchens.     

The generation kinetics of natural gases in the Kela-2 gas field from the Kuqa Depression, Tarim Basin, northwestern China

The Kela-2 gas field, found in the Kuqa Depression of the Tarim Basin, northwestern China, is a large-sized dry gas field (C1 /C1-5 =0.992 0.999) and characterized by ultra-high pressure (pressure factor up to 2.0 2.2). The pyrolysis experiment was carried out under isothermal gold-tube closed system, with samples collected from the Jurassic coal, Jurassic mudstone and Triassic mudstone in the Kuqa Depression. The result of gas yield showed that the Middle and Lower Jurassic source rocks have higher gas generation potential than the Triassic source rocks. The kinetic modeling of gas generation and methane carbon isotope fractionation suggested that the Kela-2 gases belong to the products of high-over mature stages and were mainly derived from the Middle and Lower Jurassic coal-bearing strata. The Triassic source rocks made a minor contribution to the Kela-2 gases. The Kela-2 gases chiefly generated from coal-bearing source rocks with R o values from 1.3% to 2.5%, and thus primarily accumulated after 5 Ma.     

Source Rock Characterization and Petroleum Systems in North Ghadames Basin,Southern Tunisia

This paper presents geochemical analysis of drilled cutting samples from the OMZ‐2 oil well located in southern Tunisia. A total of 35 drill‐cutting samples were analyzed for Rock‐Eval pyrolysis, total organic carbon (TOC), bitumens extraction and liquid chromatography. Most of the Ordovician, Silurian and Triassic samples contained high TOC contents, ranging from 1.00 to 4.75% with an average value of 2.07%. The amount of hydrocarbon yield (pyrolysable hydrocarbon: S2b) expelled during pyrolysis indicates a good generative potential of the source rocks. The plot of TOC versus S2b, indicates a good to very good generative potential for organic matter in the Ordovician, Silurian and Lower Triassic. However, the Upper Triassic and the Lower Jurassic samples indicate fair to good generative potential. From the Vankrevelen diagram, the organic matter in the Ordovician, Silurian and Lower Triassic samples is mainly of type II kerogen and the organic matter from the Upper Triassic and the Lower Jurassic is dominantly type III kerogen with minor contributions from Type I. The thermal maturity of the organic matter in the analyzed samples is also evaluated based on the T_max of the S2b peak. The Ordovician and Lower Silurian formations are thermally matured. The Upper Silurian and Triassic deposits are early matured to matured. However, Jurassic formations are low in thermal maturity. The total bitumen extracts increase with depth from the interval 1800–3000 m. This enrichment indicates that the trapping in situ in the source rocks and relatively short distance vertical migration can be envisaged in the overlying reservoirs. During the vertical migration from source rocks to the reservoirs, these hydrocarbons are probably affected by natural choromatography and in lower proportion by biodegradation.     

营山地区上三叠统与中、下侏罗统油气源特征对比研究

从烃源岩特征、天然气组分、油气碳同位素、凝析油全烃和轻烃、储层沥青等方面对营山地区上三叠统和中、下侏罗统油气源特征进行了对比研究,阐明了营山地区上三叠统须家河组和中、下侏罗统油气的地球化学特征、成因和可能来源。研究表明营山地区上三叠统须家河组油气主要来自须家河组自身的煤系烃源岩,天然气以成熟腐殖型母质成因为主,而中、下侏罗统气藏产出的油气主要来自其自身的烃源岩。营山地区构造活动强烈,断层发育,使得部分井区中、下侏罗统产出的天然气特征与下伏产层极为相似,反映了断层对该井区附近的各层段有一定的沟通作用。中、下侏罗统地层在部分井区可能有上三叠统须家河组油气的侵入,须家河组烃源岩对中、下侏罗统油气成藏有一定贡献作用。     

Different Hydrocarbon Accumulation Histories in the Kelasu-Yiqikelike Structural Belt of the Kuqa Foreland Basin

<正>The Kuqa foreland basin is an important petroliferous basin where gas predominates.The Kela-2 large natural gas reservoir and the Yinan-2,Dabei-1,Tuzi and Dina-11 gas reservoirs have been discovered in the basin up to the present.Natural gases in the Kelasu district and the Yinan district are generated from different source rocks indicated by methane and ethane carbon isotopes.The former is derived from both Jurassic and Triassic source rocks,while the latter is mainly from the Jurassic. Based on its multistage evolution and superposition and the intense tectonic transformation in the basin,the hydrocarbon charging history can be divided into the early and middle Himalayan hydrocarbon accumulation and the late Himalayan redistribution and re-enrichment.The heavier carbon isotope composition and the high natural gas ratio of C_1/C_(1-4) indicate that the accumulated natural gas in the early Himalayan stage is destroyed and the present trapped natural gas was charged mainly in the middle and late Himalayan stages.Comparison and contrast of the oils produced in the Kelasu and Yinan regions indicate the hydrocarbon charging histories in the above two regions are complex and should be characterized by multistage hydrocarbon migration and accumulation.     

Geochemistry and geological significance of the Upper Paleozoic and Mesozoic source rocks in the Lower Yangtze region

The Lower Yangtze region is one of the important marine sedimentation areas of oil and gas distribution in southern China,for its favorable source rocks,reservoirs and covers.However,the intense tectonic movements and complex hydrocarbon generation process made it highly impossible to form large-sized oil and gas reservoirs.So it was divided to different hydrocarbon-bearing preservation units in oil-gas exploration.Recent study shows that the Permian and Lower Triassic source rocks in the Lower Yangtze region are complicated in lithology.The hydrocarbon generation potential of limestone there is low while argillaceous source rocks are overall of high abundance with excellent organic types,now in the process of hydrocarbon generation,so differences in high maturity influence the evaluation of organic matter abundance and type.Biomarker characteristics indicate a reductive environment.n-alkanes are marked by a single peak,with no odd-even predominance.The composition and distribution of the carbon numbers of n-alkanes,and the high abundance of long-chain tricyclic terpanes are indicative of marine sedi-mentation.The high contents of pregnane,homopregnane,rearranged hopane suggest that the source rocks are of high maturity.There is a good linear correlation between methylphenanthrene index and vitrinite reflectance.The correlation of oil-source rocks indicated that the oil of Well HT-3 may come from the Permian Longtan Formation in the Huangqiao area,the oil of Wells Rong-2 and Juping-1 came from the Lower Triassic Qinglong Formation in the Jurong area.The exploration here is promising in those different source rocks which all have great potential in hy-drocarbon generating,and oil and gas were produced in the late stage of hydrocarbon generation.     

Evaluation of the petroleum composition and quality with increasing thermal maturity as simulated by hydrous pyrolysis: A case study using a Brazilian source rock with Type I kerogen

Hydrous pyrolysis (HP) experiments were used to investigate the petroleum composition and quality of petroleum generated from a Brazilian lacustrine source rock containing Type I kerogen with increasing thermal maturity. The tested sample was of Aptian age from the Araripe Basin (NE-Brazil). The temperatures (280–360 °C) and times (12–132 h) employed in the experiments simulated petroleum generation and expulsion (i.e., oil window) prior to secondary gas generation from the cracking of oil. Results show that similar to other oil prone source rocks, kerogen initially decomposes in part to a polar rich bitumen, which decomposes in part to hydrocarbon rich oil. These two overall reactions overlap with one another and have been recognized in oil shale retorting and natural petroleum generation. During bitumen decomposition to oil, some of the bitumen is converted to pyrobitumen, which results in an increase in the apparent kerogen (i.e., insoluble carbon) content with increasing maturation.The petroleum composition and its quality (i.e., API gravity, gas/oil ratio, C₁₅₊ fractions, alkane distribution, and sulfur content) are affected by thermal maturation within the oil window. API gravity, C₁₅₊ fractions and gas/oil ratios generated by HP are similar to those of natural petroleum considered to be sourced from similar Brazilian lacustrine source rocks with Type I kerogen of Lower Cretaceous age. API gravity of the HP expelled oils shows a complex relationship with increasing thermal maturation that is most influenced by the expulsion of asphaltenes. C₁₅₊ fractions (i.e., saturates, aromatics, resins and asphaltenes) show that expelled oils and bitumen are compositionally separate organic phases with no overlap in composition. Gas/oil ratios (GOR) initially decrease from 508–131 m³/m³ during bitumen generation and remain essentially constant (81–84 m³/m³) to the end of oil generation. This constancy in GOR is different from the continuous increase through the oil window observed in anhydrous pyrolysis experiments. Alkane distributions of the HP expelled oils are similar to those of natural crude oils considered to be sourced from similar Brazilian lacustrine source rocks with Type I kerogen of Lower Cretaceous age. Isoprenoid and n-alkane ratios (i.e., pristane/n-C₁₇ and phytane/n-C₁₈) decrease with increasing thermal maturity as observed in natural crude oils. Pristane/phytane ratios remain constant with increasing thermal maturity through the oil window, with ratios being slightly higher in the expelled oils relative to those in the bitumen. Generated hydrocarbon gases are similar to natural gases associated with crude oils considered to be sourced from similar Brazilian lacustrine source rocks with Type I kerogen of Lower Cretaceous, with the exception of elevated ethane contents. The general overall agreement in composition of natural and hydrous pyrolysis petroleum of lacustrine source rocks observed in this study supports the utility of HP to better characterize petroleum systems and the effects of maturation and expulsion on petroleum composition and quality.     

Origin and Accumulation of Natural Gases in the Upper Paleozoic Strata of the Ordos Basin in Central China

The natural gases in the Upper Paleozoic strata of the Ordos basin are characterized by relatively heavy C isotope of gaseous alkanes with δ 13C1 and δ13C2 values ranging mainly from ?35‰ to ?30‰ and ?27‰ to ?22‰, respectively, high δ13C excursions (round 10) between ethane and methane and predominant methane in hydrocarbon gases with most C1/(C1-C5) ratios in excess of 0.95, suggesting an origin of coal-derived gas. The gases exhibit different carbon isotopic profiles for C1-C4 alkanes with those of the natural gases found in the Lower Paleozoic of this basin, and believed to be originated from Carboniferous-Permian coal measures. The occurrence of regionally pervasive gas accumulation is distinct in the gently southward-dipping Shanbei slope of the central basin. It is noted that molecular and isotopic composition changes of the gases in various gas reservoirs are associated with the thermal maturities of gas source rocks. The abundances and δ13C values of methane generally decline northwards and from the basin center to its margins, and the effects of hydrocarbon migration on compositional modification seem insignificant. However, C isotopes of autogenetic calcites in the vertical and lateral section of reservoirs show a regular variation, and are as a whole depleted upwards and towards basin margins. Combination with gas maturity gradient, the analysis could be considered to be a useful tool for gas migration.     

Stable carbon isotope compositions and source rock geochemistry of the giant gas accumulations in the Ordos Basin, China

Ordos Basin, the second largest sedimentary basin in China, contains enormous natural gas resources. Each of the four giant gas fields discovered so far in this basin (i.e., Sulige, Yulin, Wushenqi and Jingbian) has over 100 billion cubic meters (bcm) or 3.53 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of proven gas reserves. This study examines the stable carbon isotope data of 125 gas samples collected from the four giant gas fields in the Ordos Basin. Source rocks in the Upper Paleozoic coal measures are suggested by the generally high δ¹³C values of C₁–C₄ gaseous hydrocarbons in the gases from the Sulige, Yulin and Wushenqi gas fields. While the δ¹³C_iC4 value is higher than that of the δ¹³C_nC4, the dominant ranges for the δ¹³C₁, δ¹³C₂, and δ¹³C₃ values in these Upper Paleozoic reservoired gases are −34 to −32‰, −27 to −23‰, and −25 to −24‰, respectively. The δ¹³C values of methane, benzene and toluene in gases from the Lower Paleozoic reservoirs of the Jingbian field indicate a significant contribution from humic source rocks, as they are similar to those in the Upper Paleozoic reservoirs of the Sulige, Yulin and Wushenqi gas fields. However, the wide variation and reversal in the δ¹³C₁, δ¹³C₂ and δ¹³C₃ values in the Jinbian gases cannot be explained using a single source scenario, thus the gases were likely derived dominantly from the Carboniferous-Permian coal measures with some contribution from the carbonates in the Lower Permian Taiyuan Formation. The gas isotope data and extremely low total organic carbon contents (<0.2% TOC) suggest that the Ordovician Majiagou Formation carbonates are unlikely to be a significant gas source rock, thus almost all of the economic gas accumulations in the Ordos Basin were derived from Upper Paleozoic source rocks.