Source rock potential of selected Cretaceous shales,Orange Basin,South Africa

Twenty Cretaceous shale samples from two wells in the Orange Basin of South Africa were evaluated for their source rock potential. They were sampled from within a 1400 m-thick sequence in boreholes drilled through Lower to Upper Cretaceous sediments. The samples exhibit total organic carbon (TOC) content of 1.06–2.17%; Rock-Eval S2 values of 0.08–2.27 mg HC/g; and petroleum source potential (SP), which is the sum of S1 and S2, of 0.10–2.61 mg HC/g, all indicating the presence of poor to fair hydrocarbon generative potential. Hydrogen index (HI) values vary from 7 to 128 mg HC/g organic carbon and oxygen index (OI) ranges from 37 to 195 mg CO₂/g organic carbon, indicating predominantly Type III kerogen with perhaps minor amounts of Type IV kerogen. The maturity of the samples, as indicated by T _max values of 428–446°C, ranges from immature to thermally mature with respect to oil generation. Measured vitrinite reflectance values (%Ro) of representative samples indicate that these samples vary from immature to mature, consistent with the thermal alteration index (TAI) (spore colour) and fluorescence data for these samples. Organic petrographic analysis also shows that amorphous organic matter is dominant in these samples. Framboidal pyrite is abundant and may be indicative of a marine influence during deposition. Although our Rock-Eval pyrolysis data indicate that gas-prone source rocks are prevalent in this part of the Orange Basin, the geochemical characteristics of samples from an Aptian unit at 3318 m in one of the wells suggest that better quality source rocks may exist deeper, in more distal depositional parts of the basin.     

四川盆地五峰-龙马溪组页岩成熟度研究

上奥陶统五峰组-下志留统龙马溪组海相页岩是四川盆地下古生界主要的烃源岩和页岩气勘探目标,有机质成熟度不仅是油气生成评价的关键,也是页岩品质评价的重要指标之一.下古生界页岩有机质成熟度一直以来是有机岩石学研究的难点与热点问题.由于下古生界缺乏镜质体,先前的研究多是采用沥青反射率转换为等效镜质体反射率的方法,并且由于沥青的局限性和不确定性,使得五峰-龙马溪组页岩的成熟度缺乏统一的认识和系统研究.通过采集四川盆地及其周缘的岩心和露头样品,系统分析了页岩有机显微组分光学反射率特征.结果表明笔石和固体沥青是最主要的两类有机显微组分.根据固体沥青的显微结构形态和光性特征,将固体沥青大体上分为两类:（1）颗粒状-棱角状的充填在孔隙和微裂缝中高反射率焦沥青;（2）以细小不规则表面的有机质颗粒大量分散于粘土矿物基质中的低反射率基质固体沥青.焦沥青与笔石随机反射率均可以表征下古生界页岩有机质成熟度.但焦沥青反射率略低于笔石反射率,并且随着成熟度的增高,笔石反射率的增速大于焦沥青,各向异性也显著增强.相对于固体沥青反射率,笔石随机反射率分布更为集中,更适合作为含笔石页岩有机质成熟度指标.但是笔石反射率与等效镜质体反射率在过成熟阶段的换算关系需要进一步研究.      

Potential source rocks, organic geochemistry and thermal maturation in the southern depocenter (Kipourio–Grevena) of the Mesohellenic Basin, central Greece

The study area is the southern depocenter (depth > 4200 m) of the Mesohellenic Basin which extends between Kipourio and Grevena, central Greece. The Mesohellenic Basin is a Middle-Tertiary intramontane basin developed within the Hellenide orogen. Previous studies have focused on the depositional environments, configuration and hydrocarbon potential of the basin. In this paper we present additional geochemical and petrographic data from outcrop samples of the basin's southern depocenter, which is considered the most promising area, in terms of hydrocarbon prospectivity. A total number of thirty six samples were analysed: Rock-Eval pyrolysis, maceral analysis, vitrinite reflectance and thermal alteration index, bitumens extraction, liquid chromatography, and GC-MS. The samples were collected from deltaic deposits and submarine fan sediments of Late Eocene to Late Oligocene age. The TOC values of the analysed samples range between rich and very rich and the organic matter consists mainly of type III kerogen and the organic matter consider to be predominately gas prone. The thermal maturity assessed from T_max and vitrinite reflectance shows an immature stage of the organic matter along with the presence of layers having reached the very early mature stage. Vitrinite reflectance measurements and maturity calculations (applying the Lopatin modeling), reveal that the lower part of the depocenter sediments falls within the ‘oil window’. The extractable organic matter (EOM) (mg bitumens/g TOC) indicate the existence of samples (from deltaic deposits) with high ratio of transformation (EOM) (> 100 mg bitumen/g TOC). The GC and GC-MS analyses of the biomarkers indicate mainly the occurrence of terrestrial organic matter reflecting oxidizing conditions and both immature and very early mature stages. The results of the Rock-Eval pyrolysis and the distribution of the isoprenoids support the assumption of the input of an organic matter mixture.     

南羌塘鄂斯玛地区早白垩世沥青地球化学特征及意义

首次在南羌塘安多县鄂斯玛地区早白垩世地层中发现沥青。从沥青有机碳含量、族组分及生物标志化合物方面综合研究了其有机地球化学特征,并进行了油源对比。研究结果表明,样品的有机碳含量为3.42%~75.01%,显示其有较高的沥青含量;族组成中重烃组分(非烃+沥青质)质量分数最高,其次为芳香烃,饱和烃质量分数最低。生物标志物研究表明,沥青的成熟度较高,沥青母岩的沉积环境为还原环境,其有机母质主要为混合来源,特别是藻类做出了重要贡献。运用生物标志化合物的相对含量指标进行油源对比研究表明,沥青可能来源于索瓦组泥岩。该研究成果对南羌塘的油气勘探具有一定意义。     

贵州金鼎山下寒武统黑色岩系的有机地球化学特征

对贵州遵义金鼎山下寒武统牛蹄塘组黑色岩系的氯仿沥青“A”及族组分做了成分检测,并进行了岩石氯仿抽提物中饱和烃气相色谱分析。结果表明,黑色岩系属生油岩,且为腐泥型和混合型生油岩,以腐泥型为主;黑色岩系有机质丰度高,有机质主要来源于海生低等菌、藻类生物;黑色岩系姥姣烷与植烷比值、岩性和生物特征指示其形成于一种缺氧还原沉积环境。     

Hydrocarbon source potential and depositional environment of the Surma Group shales of Bengal basin,Bangladesh

Surma Group is the most important geological unit of Bengal basin, Bangladesh, because petroleum resources occur within this group. It is mainly composed of alternation of shale and sandstone and the shale fraction has long been considered as source rocks and the sandstone fraction as reservoir. These source and reservoir rocks have been studied by different authors by different approach but none of them adopted organic geochemistry and organic petrology as a means of study of source rock and their possible depositional environment. A total of thirty shale core samples have been collected from eight different gas fields to fulfill the short coming. The collected samples have been subjected to Source Rock Analysis (SRA) and/or Rock-Eval (RE) followed by pyrolysis gas chromatography (PyGC), gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GCMS), elemental analysis (EA) and organic petrological study such as vitrinite reflectance measurement and maceral analysis. The analyzed organic matter extracted from the shales of Surma Group consists mainly of Type III along with some Type II kerogen. The studied shales are mostly organically lean (TOC ±1%) and the extracted organic matter is fair to moderate. Based on these results, the analyzed shales have been ranked as poor (mostly) to fair quality source rock. The organic matter of the analyzed shale samples is thermally immature to early mature for hydrocarbon generation considering their T_max and measured mean vitrinite reflectance values. The hopane 22S/(22S + 22R), moretane/hopane ratio and sterane parameters are also in good agreement with these thermal maturity assessments. The predominance of odd carbons over even carbons (most common) and/or even carbons over odd carbon numbered n-alkanes, moderate Pr/Ph ratio, low to high Tm/Ts ratio, comparative abundance of sterane C₂₉ (i.e., C₂₉ >C₂₇>C₂₈), Pr/nC₁₇ — Ph/nC₁₈ values, C/S ratio and dominance of vitrinite macerals group with the presence of liptinite macerals demonstrate that the organic matter has derived mainly from terrestrial inputs with an insignificant contribution from the marine sources. The condition of deposition alternates from oxic to anoxic.     

Petroleum source rocks of the Tarfaya Basin and adjacent areas, Morocco

This work characterizes the source rock potential of the Tarfaya Basin and enabled us to reconstruct its geochemical history. Outcrop samples covering different stratigraphic intervals, plus the northwestern part of the Zag/Tindouf Basin (Bas Draa area), were analyzed for total organic carbon (C_org) and total inorganic carbon contents and total sulfur content. Rock-Eval analysis and vitrinite reflectance measurements were performed on 56 samples chosen on the basis C_org content. A set of 45 samples were extracted and non-aromatic hydrocarbons were analyzed by way of gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (GC-FID) and GC-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Non-isothermal open system pyrolysis at different heating rates was applied to obtain kinetic parameters for modelling petroleum generation from four different source rocks.High quality petroleum source rocks with high C_org content and hydrogen index (HI) values were found for samples of Eocene, Coniacian, Turonian and Cenomanian age. Most samples were carbonate rich and organic/sulfur values were high to moderate. Various maturity parameters indicated immature or possibly early mature organic matter. Based on organic geochemical and petrological data, the organic matter is of marine/aquatic origin (Cenomanian) or a mixture of aquatic and terrigenous material (Eocene). The Early Cretaceous interval did not contain high quality source rocks, but indications of petroleum impregnation were found.     

Lower carboniferous coal deposition environments on Spitsbergen, Svalbard

Two coal-bearing units from the Lower Carboniferous succession in Central Spitsbergen, Svalbard, have been investigated using coal petrographic and geochemical techniques. The upper member consists mainly of algal cannels, dominated by Botryococcus-type algae. The coals from the lower member are a mixture of durite-type coals with sporinite and inertinite and coals containing prdominantly vitrinite. The Rock-Eval and pyrolysis-GC also show a clear distinction in the composition of the organic matter in the two coal-bearing units investigated. These results, together with detailed sedimentological analyses, are used to reconstruct the depositional environments for the two coal-bearing sequences.     

南方下古生界海相页岩有机质成熟度评价

为明确适用于南方下古生界海相页岩成熟度评价的沥青反射率与镜质体反射率等效换算关系,利用初始成熟度接近的洪水庄组海相页岩及龙潭组煤样在350~525℃温度范围开展了系列共置热压模拟实验,通过测定各温度下页岩中的沥青与煤中的镜质体反射率的演化规律,建立了两者之间的等效换算关系,并利用模拟样品和实际剖面样品开展了方法验证.结果表明两者满足以下关系:VR_o（等效镜质体反射率）=0.879 8R_b（沥青反射率）+0.114 5（适用范围:VR_o 0.61%~3.04%）,本次建立的沥青反射率回归公式可以为准确评价缺乏镜质体的高演化海相页岩地层的成熟度判定提供重要参考.      

塔里木盆地寒武系海相烃源岩有机成熟度及演化史

原生有机组分(镜状体和动物有机组分)反射率是评价塔里木盆地寒武系海相烃源岩有机成熟度的有效方法。从分析的探井和露头区110多个寒武系样品有机组分反射率数据来看，塔里木盆地寒武系烃源岩均处于高过成熟阶段，尚未发现目前仍处于生油窗阶段的寒武系中等成熟的烃源岩。利用BasinMod-1D软件计算了250口探井，26条地震测线中约340个人工井点有机成熟度随时间的变化，据此编制不同地质时期塔里木盆地台盆区寒武系有机成熟度平面变化图。目前满加尔凹陷中下寒武统烃源岩镜质体反射率在3％以上，中下寒武统烃源岩成熟度相对较低区分布在塔中隆起主垒带、塔北隆起的凸起区(英买力凸起)和巴楚断隆—部分地区，其等效镜质体反射率R^ 在1．6％～2．0％之间。     

西藏措勤盆地下白垩统海相灰岩的芳烃地球化学特征

详细总结了西藏措勒盆地下白垩统海相灰岩的芳烃地球化学特征，包括萘、菲、芴、四环、五环及三芳甾烃系列化合物。总体组成以菲系列化合物占优势，四环和五环芳烃含量较高，其它芳烃含量较少为特征。样品中惹烯含量高，硫芴／氧芴值较高，且检出了一定含量的北、反映出该区海相灰岩的有机母源的多样性和具有利于有机质保存的还原沉积环境。应用萘、菲、芴、多环芳烃和三芳甾烃的各项成熟度参数分析了有机质的热演化特征，表明西藏措勤盆地下白垩统处于成熟阶段。     

青海木里三露天天然气水合物气源岩有机地球化学特征

通过采集青海木里三露天天然气水合物钻孔岩心样品,对该区天然气水合物赋存层段的中侏罗统和上三叠统烃(气)源岩的有机地球化学特征进行了分析。结果显示：研究区中侏罗统和上三叠统烃(气)源岩有机质丰度较高,TOC含量多在0.6%以上,即整体上为中等、好、很好烃源岩;有机质类型两套地层均主要以Ⅱ₂型、Ⅲ型为主;两套地层 样品镜质体反射率多数介于0.7%～1.3%之间,只有少部分样品镜质体反射率低于0.7%,故有机质演化整体处于成熟阶段,或处于凝析油阶段,还没有达到湿气和干气阶段,可能只为该区天然气水合物提供一定量的气源条件,其主力气源岩可能来自更深部层系;研究区上三叠统烃(气)源岩有机质成熟度整体不高甚至低于中侏罗统,可能受断层逆推作用而出露地表的影响。     

Characteristic of homodrimane and maturity of organic matter in the low mature source rocks

Bicyclic sesquiterpenoids are mostly used to illustrate the origins of organic matter and genetic types of crude oil presently.In this paper,the relationship between distributions and compositions of C16 homodrimane in immature to mature source rocks and evolution of organic matter was studied,and the correlation between C16 homodrimane at immature to low mature stages and thermal evolution of organic matter was analyzed.The results show that in terrestrial facies depositional system,the ratio of 8α(H)-homodrimane to 8β(H)-homodrimane has a high sensitivity about the maturity’s minor changes at immature to low mature stages.It is found that when the vitrinite reflectance R0<0.7%,the ratio significantly decreases with increasing burial depth or maturity.This kind of phenomenon reveals that these parameters may be the useful maturity indicators for determining the relative maturation of organic matter at immature to low mature stages,and have certain practical value in biogeochemical and en- vironmental geochemical research on low mature oil and gas.     

海相碳酸盐岩二苯并噻吩类化合物成熟度参数研究进展与展望

热成熟度是评价各地质时期沉积盆地烃源岩和油气演化的必要参数。近二十余年国内外研究结果表明,二苯并噻吩系列化合物成熟度参数有望成为高 -过成熟阶段海相碳酸盐岩及其油气有效分子成熟度指标。建立高 -过成熟阶段碳酸盐岩烃源岩二苯并噻吩系列化合物成熟度参数与岩石Ro(通过沥青反射率或海相镜质体反射率换算 )之间的关系式是目前国内外石油地球化学界尚未解决的问题。该关系式的建立对我国下古生界和中上元古界碳酸盐岩来源之油、气成熟度Ro值的确定及油、气 /源岩对比研究将提供比较可靠的新方法。对指导我国海相地层油气勘探具有广阔的应用前景。     

松辽盆地长岭断陷沙河子组页岩有机显微组分孔隙演化规律研究

有机质孔隙是页岩储集空间的重要组成部分,具有强烈的非均质性,阻碍对页岩储层质量的正确认识和评价,其本质是受有机显微组分类型及其在生烃过程中孔隙演化的影响。本文采用场发射扫描电镜和荧光显微镜定位观察手段实现特定显微组分孔隙发育特征的表征,结合Image J图像处理技术,对不同演化阶段的显微组分进行定量化统计,总结不同有机显微组分的孔隙演化规律。研究结果表明:固体沥青孔隙度随着成熟度的升高呈现先增加后减小的趋势,在固体沥青反射率SBR_O介于1.6%～2.0%时,固体沥青孔隙最为发育,而以SBR_O=2.0%为界,固体沥青孔隙度开始减小。镜质体和惰质体的孔隙发育规律相似,随着成熟度增加,总体表现出先减小而后微弱增加的趋势。在生油窗阶段,镜质体和惰质体孔隙度最小,无机矿物和固体沥青的充填使胞腔孔隙损失达90%以上,而进入高成熟阶段,固体沥青孔隙的发育使原始胞腔孔隙得到一定程度的恢复,成为镜质体和惰质体残余孔隙的主要贡献者,贡献率达56.73%和100%,可见固体沥青孔隙对页岩储层储集空间的重要性。综合沉积成岩作用和生烃作用,页岩储层在未成熟阶段和高成熟阶段晚期孔隙最为发育,前者有机质以原始胞腔孔隙为主,后者以固体量孔隙为主。明确有机显微组分孔隙演化规律为页岩有利储层预测和页岩气生产开发储层改造提供参考。     

湘中南龙潭煤系不同演化程度煤的煤岩学特征及有机地球化学特征

摘 要　 通过对湘中南龙潭煤系不同煤级煤样的煤岩学和有机地球化学研究‚概括了湘中南 龙潭煤系煤的有机显微组成和主要有机地球化学特征‚指出其中的气煤、肥煤和焦煤是具有 较高生烃潜力的烃源岩‚壳质组和基质镜质体是这一阶段煤中的主要生烃组分。     

川东北固体沥青的有机地球化学

采用选择性化学降解方法并结合多种有机地球化学测定手段对川东北固体沥青的成因进行研究。生物标志化合物参数和沥青反射率数据表明,此类固体沥青经历了相对较高的热演化程度。化学降解释放出的生标化合物以C₁₆和C₁₈一元脂肪酸为主,具有明显的偶碳优势,揭示这类固体沥青的母质可能以菌藻类低等水生生物输入为主。降解产物中还含有一定的正构烷烃及甾萜类化合物,与抽提物中的相应组分对比表明,它们可能具有相同的来源,但经历的热演化程度明显较抽提物中的组分偏低。单体碳同位素组成特征表明,这类母质可能形成于一个半深水-深水的沉积环境,单体氢同位素组成特征则揭示出是一个环境水为富D的海相环境。     

Molecular composition and organic petrographic characterization of Madbi source rocks from the Kharir Oilfield of the Masila Basin (Yemen): palaeoenvironmental and maturity interpretation

The upper part of Madbi Formation organic-rich shale is considered an important regional source rock in the Masila Basin, Yemen. Ten cutting samples from this Upper Jurassic organic-rich shale were collected from wells drilled in the Kharir Oilfield, Masila Basin in order to geochemically assess the type of organic matter, thermal maturity and depositional environment conditions. Results reveal that Upper Jurassic organic-rich shale samples contain high organic matter more than 2.0 wt.% TOC and have very good to excellent hydrocarbon potential. Marine algae organic matter is the main source input for the Upper Jurassic shale sequence studied. This has been identified from organic petrographic characteristics and from the n-alkane distributions, which dominated by n-C₁₄-n-C₂₀ alkanes. This is supported by the high value of the biomarker sterane/hopane ratio that approaches unity, as well as the relatively high C₂₇ sterane concentrations. A mainly suboxic depositional environment is inferred from pr/ph ratios (1.75–2.38). This is further supported by relatively high homohopane value, which is dominated by low carbon numbers and decrease towards the C₃₅ homohopane. The concentrations of C₃₅ homohopane are very low. The depositional environment conditions are confirmed by some petrographic characteristics (e.g. palynofacies). Detailed palynofacies analysis of Madbi shales shows that the Madbi shale formation is characterised by a mix of amorphous organic matter, dinoflagellates cysts and phytoclasts, representing a suboxic, open marine setting. The Upper Jurassic marine shale sequence in the Masila Basin is thermally mature for hydrocarbon generation as indicated by biomarker thermal maturity parameters. The 22 S/22 S + 22R C₃₂ homohopane has reached equilibrium, with values range from 0.58 to 0.62 which suggest that the Upper Jurassic shales are thermally mature and that the oil window has been reached. 20 S/(20 S + 20R) and ββ/(ββ + αα) C₂₉ sterane ratios suggest a similar interpretation, as do the moretane/hopane ratio. This is supported by vitrinite reflectance data ranging from 0.74% to 0.90%Ro and thermal alteration of pollen and spore. The thermal alteration index value is around 2.6–3.0, corresponding to a palaeotemperature range of 60–120°C. These are the optimum oil-generating strata. On the basis of this study, the Madbi source rock was deposited under suboxic conditions in an open marine environment and this source rock is still within the oil window maturity range.     

塔里木盆地深层碳酸盐岩中不同赋存形式芳烃化合物组成

通过对塔参1井深层（＞5 700 m）碳酸盐岩游离有机质（氯仿沥青“A”）和包裹有机质（氯仿沥青“C”）中芳烃化合物组成和成熟度参数对比研究发现,芳烃化合物组成中菲和二苯并噻吩系列化合物较为丰富,菲和〖JX-*9〗〖XCQQ.TIF;%80%80〗〖JX*9〗等系列化合物丰度随埋深增加而增大,而二苯并噻吩、苯并萘并噻吩和芴等系列化合物丰度表现出相反的规律,这反映出不同芳烃系列化合物在高过成熟阶段热稳定性的差异。同一样品两种赋存形式芳烃化合物组成和成熟度参数明显不同,芳烃化合物成熟度参数和烷基化程度都反映出包裹有机质成熟度低于游离有机质,说明包裹有机质的热演化作用受到了抑制。在高过成熟阶段仍有部分芳烃参数仍可以用来表征深层有机质热演化程度,这些参数包括:菲系列烷基化指标（C1 P /C4 P、C1 P /C3 P、 C2 P /C4 P 、C2 P /C3 P）、以及二苯并噻吩系列化合物中MDR、C1/C3 DBT、2,4/1,4 DMDBT和4,6/1,4 DMDBT参数;虽然DBT/P比值被认为指示沉积环境的有效参数,但塔参1井深层样品研究表明,该参数与热演化程度关系密切,为高过成熟度阶段较好的成熟度参数。      

Comparison of source rock geochemistry of selected rocks from the Schei Point group and Ringnes formation, Sverdrup basin, arctic Canada

Organic-rich from the Schei Point group (middle to late Triassic in age) and the Ringnes formation (late Jurassic) from the Sverdrup basin of the Canadian arctic archipelago have been geochemically evaluated for source rock characterization. Most samples from the Schei Point group are organic-rich (> 2% TOC and are considered as immature to mature oil-prone source rocks [kerogen types I, I–II (IIA) and II (IIA)]. These kerogen types contain abundant AOM1, AOM2 and alginite (Tasmanales, Nostocopsis, Leiosphaeridia, acritarch and dinoflagellate) with variable amounts of vitrinite, inertinite and exinite. Samples from the Ringnes formation contain dominant vitrinite and inertinite with partially oxidized AOM2, alginite and exinite forming mostly immature to mature condensate- and gas-prone source rocks [kerogen type II–III (IIB), III and a few II (IIA)]. Schei Point samples contain higher bitumen extract, saturate hydrocarbons and saturate/ aromatic ratio than the Ringnes samples. Triterpane and sterane (dominant C₃₀) distribution patterns and stable carbon isotope of bitumen and kerogen suggest that the analyzed samples from the Schei Point group are at the onset of oil generation and contain a mixture of sapropelic (algal) and minor terrestrial humic organic matter. Sterane carbon number distributions in the Ringnes formation also suggest a mixed algal and terrestrial organic matter type. There are some variations in hopane carbon number distributions, but these are apparently a function of thermal maturity rather than significant genetic differences among samples. Pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry of the two samples with similar maturity shows that the Schei Point sample generates three times more pyrolyzate than the Ringnes sample. Both samples have a dominant aliphatic character, although the Ringnes sample contains phenol and an aromaticity that is higher than that of the Schei Point sample.