Geochemistry,origin and correlation of crude oils in Lower Cretaceous sedimentary sequences of the southern Mesopotamian Basin,southern Iraq

Thirty one crude oil samples from Lower Cretaceous reservoirs in southern Iraq were analyzed using bulk property and molecular methods to determine their maturity and biomarker characteristics, as well as to obtain information on their respective source rocks. All the oils are unaltered, non-biodegraded, have high sulfur content and API gravity is in the range for light to heavy oil (19–40° API). They are characterized by low Pr/Ph values, even/odd predominance and front-end biased n-alkane distributions. Based on these parameters the oils were generated and expelled from a marine carbonate source rock bearing Type II-S kerogen. Compositional similarities of hopane and sterane biomarkers with those from potential source rocks allowed identification of the Upper Jurassic–Lower Cretaceous Sulaiy and Yamama carbonate succession as the effective source beds. A similar composition of normal and isoprenoid hydrocarbons among the oils suggests an origin from a common source rock. However, biomarker maturity ratios indicate a wide range of maturity. This appears to result from the type of burial history of the source rock, characterized by a slow passage through the liquid window interval during an extended period of geologic time.     

Hydrocarbon potential of the Sargelu Formation,North Iraq

Microscopic and chemical analysis of 85 rock samples from exploratory wells and outcrops in northern Iraq indicate that limestone, black shale and marl within the Middle Jurassic Sargelu Formation contain abundant oil-prone organic matter. For example, one 7-m (23-ft.)-thick section averages 442 mg?HC/g S2 and 439 °C Tmax (Rock-Eval pyrolysis analyses) and 16 wt.% TOC. The organic matter, comprised principally of brazinophyte algae, dinoflagellate cysts, spores, pollen, foraminiferal test linings and phytoclasts, was deposited in a distal, suboxic to anoxic basin and can be correlated with kerogens classified as type A and type B or, alternatively, as type II. The level of thermal maturity is within the oil window with TAI?=?3^? to 3⁺, based on microspore colour of light yellowish brown to brown. Accordingly, good hydrocarbon generation potential is predicted for this formation. Terpane and sterane biomarker distributions, as well as stable isotope values, were determined for oils and potential source rock extracts to determine valid oil-to-source rock correlations. Two subfamily carbonate oil types—one of Middle Jurassic age (Sargelu) carbonate rock and the other of Upper Jurassic/Cretaceous age—as well as a different oil family related to Triassic marls, were identified based on multivariate statistical analysis (HCA and PCA). Middle Jurassic subfamily A oils from Demir Dagh oil field correlate well with rich, marginally mature, Sargelu source rocks in well MK-2 near the city of Baiji. In contrast, subfamily B oils have a greater proportion of R₂₈ steranes, indicating they were generated from Upper Jurassic/Lower Cretaceous carbonates such as those at Gillabat oil field north of Mansuriyah Lake. Oils from Gillabat field thus indicate a lower degree of correlation with the Sargelu source rocks than do oils from Demir Dagh field. One-dimension petroleum system models of key wells were developed using IES PetroMod Software to evaluate burial-thermal history, source-rock maturity and the timing and extent of petroleum generation; interpreted well logs served as input to the models. The oil-generation potential of sulphur-rich Sargelu source rocks was simulated using closed system type II-S kerogen kinetics. Model results indicate that throughout northern Iraq, generation and expulsion of oil from the Sargelu began and ended in the late Miocene. At present, Jurassic source rocks might have generated and expelled between 70 % and 100 % of their total oil.     

Oil-source correlation of the pre-Tertiary in the Huanghua Depression： Insights from stable carbon isotopes and molecular markers

Stable carbon isotopes were used together with molecular markers to constrain genetic relationships between sandstone extracts and potential source rocks in the pre-Tertiary in the Huanghua Depression, North China. Comparison of the extracts from Permo-Carboniferous terrigenous mudstones and Ordovician marine carbonates indicated that their prominent differences are in stable carbon isotopes, molecular markers and thermal maturity. Although the extracts of the Mesozoic and Lower Permian Xiashihezi Formation sandstones have some similar iso-topic characteristics, molecular markers data provide a good correlation between the Upper Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous oils and the Upper Carboniferous Taiyuan Formation mudstones, and between the Lower Permian Xiashihezi Formation oils and the Lower Permian mudstones. The results showed that the Upper Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous sandstone oils were derived chiefly from the Upper Carboniferous Taiyuan Formation terrigenous mudstones and that the Lower Permian Xiashihezi Formation oils were sourced from the Lower Permian Shanxi Formation and Xiashihezi Formation terrigenous mudstones.     

Application of the monoterpane ratio (MTR) to distinguish marine oils from terrigenous oils and infer depositional environment in northern Tarim Basin,China

Six monoterpenoid hydrocarbons including two acyclic, two monocyclic and two aromatic components were identified and quantified in 49 oil and condensate samples using comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC × GC–TOFMS). Among them, 2,6-dimethyloctane (2,6-DMO) and 2-methyl-3-ethylheptane (2-M-3-EH) are the most abundant compounds and geochemically significant. Used in conjunction with other geochemical parameters such as pristane/phytane (Pr/Ph) and dibenzothiophene/phenanthrene (DBT/P) ratios, the 2-M-3-EH/2,6-DMO ratio (monoterpane ratio, MTR) provides a useful tool for distinguishing marine oils and condensates from those of terrigenous origin. Oils and condensates derived from marine source rocks have high MTR (> 0.4), low Pr/Ph and high DBT/P values, whereas those generated from terrigenous source rocks have lower MTR (< 0.3), higher Pr/Ph and lower DBT/P values. Differences in MTR values are mainly caused by variations in the concentrations of 2-M-3-EH as the concentrations of 2,6-DMO are in the same range in different sample groups. The 2-M-3-EH is enriched in marine oils and condensates from highly anoxic depositional environments, but depleted in terrigenous oils and condensates from oxic/sub-oxic depositional environments. The MTR may serve as a new parameter for assigning the source rock depositional environment. MTR values higher than 0.4 may indicate reducing conditions while MTR values lower than 0.3 may suggest an oxic/sub-oxic condition.     

Improved understanding of the petroleum systems of the Niger Delta Basin,Nigeria

Biomarker and n-alkane compound specific stable carbon isotope analyses (CSIA) were carried out on 58 crude oil samples from shallow water and deepwater fields of the Niger Delta in order to predict the depositional environment and organic matter characteristics of their potential source rocks. Using a source organofacies prediction approach from oil geochemistry, the presence in the western deepwater oils relatively abundant C₂₇ steranes, C₃₀ 24-n-propyl cholestane, low oleanane index, relatively low pr/ph ratios, gammacerane, and positive to nearly flat C₁₂–C₃₀ n-alkane compound specific stable carbon isotope profiles, suggests that the source facies that expelled these oils contain significant marine derived organic matter deposited under sub-oxic and stratified water column conditions. This contrasts with the terrigenous organic matter dominated source rocks accepted for shallow water Niger Delta oils. Oils in the shallow water accumulations can be separated into terrigenous and mixed marine-terrigenous families. The terrigenous family indicates expulsion from source rock(s) containing overwhelmingly higher plant source organic matter (average oleanane index = 0.48, high C₂₉ steranes) as well as having negative sloping n-alkane isotope profiles. Oxic source depositional conditions (pr/ph > 2.5) and non-stratified conditions (absence to low gammacerane content) are inferred for the terrigenous family. The mixed marine-terrigenous family has biomarker properties that are a combination of the deepwater and terrigenous shallow water oils. Bitumen extracts of the sub-delta Late Cretaceous Araromi Formation shale in the Dahomey Basin are comparable both molecularly and isotopically to the studied western deepwater oil set, but with an over all poor geochemical correlation. This poor geochemical match between Araromi shale and the western deepwater oils does not downgrade the potential of sub-delta Cretaceous source rock contribution to the regional oil charge in the deepwater Niger Delta.     

Petroleum geochemistry of the Potwar Basin, Pakistan: 1. Oil-oil correlation using biomarkers, δC and δD

Geochemical characterisation of 18 crude oils from the Potwar Basin (Upper Indus), Pakistan is carried out in this study. Their relative thermal maturities, environment of deposition, source of organic matter (OM) and the extent of biodegradation based on the hydrocarbon (HC) distributions are investigated. A detailed oil-oil correlation of the area is established. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analyses and bulk stable carbon and hydrogen isotopic compositions of saturated and aromatic HC fractions reveals three compositional groups of oils. Most of the oils from the basin are typically generated from shallow marine source rocks. However, group A contains terrigenous OM deposited under highly oxic/fluvio-deltaic conditions reflected by high pristane/phytane (Pr/Ph), C₃₀ diahopane/C₂₉Ts, diahopane/hopane and diasterane/sterane ratios and low dibenzothiophene (DBT)/phenanthrene (P) ratios. The abundance of C₁₉-tricyclic and C₂₄-tetracyclic terpanes are consistent with a predominant terrigenous OM source for group A. Saturated HC biomarker parameters from the rest of the oils show a predominant marine origin, however groups B and C are clearly separated by bulk δ¹³C and δD and the distributions of the saturated HC fractions supporting variations in source and environment of deposition of their respective source rocks. Moreover, various saturated HC biomarker ratios such as steranes/hopanes, diasteranes/steranes, C₂₃-tricyclic/C₃₀ hopane, C₂₈-tricyclic/C₃₀ hopane, total tricyclic terpanes/hopanes and C₃₁(R + S)/C₃₀ hopane show that two different groups are present. These biomarker ratios show that group B oils are generated from clastic-rich source rocks deposited under more suboxic depositional environments compared to group C oils. Group C oils show a relatively higher input of algal mixed with terrigenous OM, supported by the abundance of extended tricyclic terpanes (up to C₄₁₊) and steranes.Biomarker thermal maturity parameters mostly reached to their equilibrium values indicating that the source rocks for Potwar Basin oils must have reached the early to peak oil generation window, while aromatic HC parameters suggest up to late oil window thermal maturity. The extent of biodegradation of the Potwar Basin oils is determined using various saturated HC parameters and variations in bulk properties such as API gravity. Groups A and C oils are not biodegraded and show mature HC profiles, while some of the oils from group B show minor levels of biodegradation consistent with high Pr/n-C₁₇, Ph/n-C₁₈ and low API gravities.     

Correlation of crude oils and oil components from reservoirs and source rocks using carbon isotopic compositions of individual n-alkanes in the Tazhong and Tabei Uplift of the Tarim Basin,China

Carbon isotopic compositions were determined by GC–IRMS for individual n-alkanes in crude oils and the free, adsorbed and inclusion oils recovered by sequential extraction from reservoir rocks in the Tazhong Uplift and Tahe oilfield in the Tabei Uplift of Tarim Basin as well as extracts of the Cambrian–Ordovician source rocks in the basin. The variations of the δ¹³C values of individual n-alkanes among the 15 oils from the Tazhong Uplift and among the 15 oils from the Triassic and Carboniferous sandstone reservoirs and the 21 oils from the Ordovician carbonate reservoirs in the Tahe oilfield demonstrate that these marine oils are derived from two end member source rocks. The major proportion of these marine oils is derived from the type A source rocks with low δ¹³C values while a minor proportion is derived from the type B source rocks with high δ¹³C values. Type A source rocks are within either the Cambrian–Lower Ordovician or the Middle–Upper Ordovician strata (not drilled so far) while type B source rocks are within the Cambrian–Lower Ordovician strata, as found in boreholes TD2 and Fang 1. In addition, the three oils from the Cretaceous sandstone reservoirs in the Tahe oilfield with exceptionally high Pr/Ph ratio and δ¹³C values of individual n-alkanes are derived, or mainly derived, from the Triassic–Jurassic terrigenous source rocks located in Quka Depression.The difference of the δ¹³C values of individual n-alkanes among the free, adsorbed and inclusion oils in the reservoir rocks and corresponding crude oils reflects source variation during the reservoir filling process. In general, the initial oil charge is derived from the type B source rocks with high δ¹³C values while the later oil charge is derived from the type A source rocks with low δ¹³C values.The δ¹³C values of individual n-alkanes do not simply correlate with the biomarker parameters for the marine oils in the Tazhong Uplift and Tahe oilfield, suggesting that molecular parameters alone are not adequate for reliable oil-source correlation for high maturity oils with complex mixing.     

Geochemical Investigation of the Cretaceous Crude Oil Reservoirs and Source Rock Samples in One of the Abadan Plain Oilfields, SW Iran

Crude oil and source rock samples from one of the main oilfields of the Abadan Plain, Zagros, Iran were analyzed geochemically. Rock-Eval pyrolysis was conducted on Kazhdumi (Upper Cretaceous) and Gadvan (Lower Cretaceous) formations, which are the probable source rocks for the oil in the region. The results indicated that the Kazhdumi Formation can be classified as a fair-to-excellent source rock, while the Gadvan Formation can be identified as having poor-to-good source rock in the basin. Based on the cross-plots of HI versus OI and S2 versus TOC, types II and III kerogen were identified from studied source samples in the area. Determination of the main fraction percentages of the Sarvak and Fahliyan crude oils represented that the oils from the Sarvak reservoir are paraffinic-naphthenic and aromatic-intermediate, whilst that from the Fahliyan reservoir is paraffinic and paraffinic-naphthenic. Biomarker ratios of the saturated fractions of oil from both reservoirs indicate that the source rocks formed in reducing marine environments with carbonate-shale lithology. Furthermore, biomarker data helped to distinguish the degree of biodegradation in the studied oils. According to geochemical analysis, oil samples from the Fahliyan reservoir were generated at a higher thermal maturity than the Sarvak reservoir samples.     

Petroleum geochemistry of the Potwar Basin,Pakistan: II – Oil classification based on heterocyclic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

In a previous study, oils in the Potwar Basin (Upper Indus) of Pakistan were correlated based on the dissimilarity of source and depositional environment of organic matter (OM) using biomarkers and bulk stable isotopes. This study is aimed at supporting the classification of Potwar Basin oils into three groups (A, B and C) using the distribution of alkylnaphthalenes, alkylphenanthrenes, alkyldibenzothiophenes, alkyldibenzofurans, alkylfluorenes, alkylbiphenyls, triaromatic steroids, methyl triaromatic steroids, retene, methyl retenes and cadalene. The higher relative abundance of specific methyl isomers of naphthalene and phenanthrene and the presence of diagnostic aromatic biomarkers clearly indicate the terrigenous and oxic depositional environment of OM for group A oil. Group B and C oils are of marine origin and the aforementioned heterocyclic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (HCs) differentiate them clearly into two different groups. The relative percentages of heterocyclic aromatic HCs reveal that the distribution of these compounds is controlled by the depositional environment of the OM. Sulfur-containing heterocyclic aromatic HCs are higher in crude oils generated from source rocks deposited in suboxic depositional environments, while oxygen-containing heterocyclic aromatic HCs in combination with alkylfluorenes are higher in marine oxic and deltaic oils. Biomarker and aromatic HC parameters do not indicate significant differences in the thermal maturity of Potwar Basin oils. Triaromatic and methyl triaromatic steroids support the division of Potwar Basin oils into the three groups and their relative abundances are related to source OM rather than thermal maturity. Significantly higher amounts of C₂₀ and C₂₁ triaromtic steroids and the presence or absence of long chain triaromatic steroids (C₂₅, C₂₆, C₂₇, and C₂₈) indicates that these compounds are probably formed from different biological precursors in each group. Different isomers of methyl substituted triaromatic steroids are present only for short chain compounds (C₂₀–C₂₂) and the origin of these compounds may be short chain methyl steranes from unknown biological precursors.     

鄂尔多斯盆地海相碳酸盐岩层系天然气成藏研究

鄂尔多斯盆地两套优质烃源岩,即上奥陶统背锅山组泥灰岩和中奥陶统平凉组中下部页岩,是海相碳酸盐岩层系古油藏原油和现今靖边气田油型气的主要来源。两套优质烃源岩主要分布在盆地的西部和西南部,呈"L"型展布,盆地内部缺失;它们累计厚度约50~350m。平凉泥岩TOC介于0.5%~1.2%,平均0.9%,厚度20~50m,而灰岩TOC主要分布在0.2%~0.4%区间,平均0.3%。背锅山组泥岩有机碳相对较高,TOC介于0.22%~3.3%,平均为0.93%。三叠纪末期,两套优质烃源岩生成的大量液态烃类进入中央古隆起控制的斜坡部位,形成古油藏;侏罗纪-早白垩世,地层持续加深和地温梯度升高,烃源岩热演化程度达到高-过成熟阶段,古油藏温度超过180℃,原油开始热裂解生成天然气。油气的热裂解导致气藏压力不断增大,驱使部分气体进一步扩散运移。晚白垩世燕山运动IV幕,盆地东部大规模持续挤压抬升导致了原有油气藏经历了西高东低转变为东高西低的构造反转,形成构造枢纽。中央隆起带聚集油气的优势被改造,裂解形成的天然气向东或东北方向运移。但是运移过程中,东部盐岩、膏盐、致密碳酸盐岩侧向封堵。在靖边气田中心部位,由于奥陶系顶部缺失石炭系铁铝土岩封盖,使得部分石炭-二叠系生成的天然气沿着不整合面进入风化壳,形成从奥陶系来源的原油裂解气与石炭-二叠系生成的煤型气相混合。     

Hydrocarbon Vertical Continuity Evaluation in the Cretaceous Reservoirs of Azadegan Oilfield,Southwest of Iran: Implications for Reservoir Geochemistry

A collection of data obtained from analytical methods in geochemistry along with the reservoir engineering and geologic data were used to investigate the reservoir continuity in the Cretaceous Fahliyan, Gadavan, Kazhdumi and Sarvak reservoirs of the super-giant Azadegan oilfield, SW Iran. The geochemical data indicate that the oil samples, with medium to high level of thermal maturity, have been generated from the anoxic marine marl/carbonate source rock(s). The Sargelu(Jurassic) and Garau(Creta...     

Geochemical characteristics of saturate hydrocarbons in crude oils and source rocks of the Qaidam, Tarim, Tupran basins, NW China

Based on the systematic analyses of fifteen typical crude oils and ten typical potential source rocks col-lected from the Qaidam,Tarim and Turpan basins,Northwest China,the geochemical characteristics of the oils and source rocks were investigated and oil-source rock correlations undertaken.The oils and source rocks deposited in saline lacustrine environment from the western Qaidam Basin were characterized by n-alkanes with even car-bon-number preference in the C20-C28 range,low pristane/phytane(Pr/Ph) ratios(less than 0.5),and high abundances of C27 steranes,gammacerane and C35 hopanes.The oils and source rocks deposited in marine environment from the Tarim Basin were characterized by n-alkanes with even carbon-number preference in the C14-C18 range,relatively low Pr/Ph ratios(near to 1),high abundance of C28 steranes,and relatively high gammacerane.In contrast,the oils and source rocks deposited in terrigenous bog environment from the Turpan Basin were characterized by relatively high Pr/Ph ratios(oil samples greater than 6) high abundance of C29 steranes,and relatively low gammacerane and C31-35 hopanes.The higher amounts of C37 and C38 n-alkanes of source rocks from the western Qaidam Basin and the Tarim Basin suggest an origin of these alkanes from functionalized C37 and C38 n-alkadienes and alkenones in prymnesiophytes living in lacustrine and marine environments.Oil-source rock correlations suggest oils in the west-ern Qaidam Basin were derived from the Oligocene Lower Ganchaigou Formation(E3),oils in the Tabei and Tazhong uplifts from the Tarim Basin have a genetic relationship with the Middle-Upper Ordovician source beds.Oils in the Turpan Basin generally fall into two genetic types.Most oils in the Taibei depression from the Turpan Basin were derived from the Lower-Middle Jurassic coal measures,but the fewer oils in this region are a mixed source derived from the Lower-Middle Jurassic coal measure and the Upper Permian source rocks.     

塔里木盆地西南部下白垩统克孜勒苏群沉积特征与成矿成藏作用*

通过对塔里木盆地西南部(塔西南)江格结尔地区下白垩统克孜勒苏群地层剖面测量,该地区的克孜勒苏群分为5个岩性段,岩性主要为泥质粉砂岩、岩屑砂岩、含砾砂岩、砾岩等,沉积相主要为辫状河三角洲相;其上覆的上白垩统库克拜组为介壳灰岩、膏质泥岩,沉积相为浅海相、滨海潟湖相; 下伏的上侏罗统库孜贡苏组岩性主要为杂砾岩、含砂杂砾岩和石英砂岩等,沉积相为冲积扇相;三者呈整合接触。从该区下白垩统克孜勒苏群的沉积特征来看,早白垩世为陆源碎屑沉积环境,在晚白垩世转入海相沉积环境。对比该区北侧陆内造山带中的拉分断陷盆地(萨热克巴依盆地)中下白垩统克孜勒苏群的地层层序,该区仅沉积了下白垩统克孜勒苏群下部3个岩性段而缺失上部岩性段,表明在早白垩世后期塔里木盆地北侧西南天山发生过一次抬升作用。下白垩统克孜勒苏群是铜铅锌铀矿等金属矿产的赋矿层位,同时也是塔里木盆地石油和天然气的重要储集层位,在铜铅锌等矿石中常可见大量的沥青等有机质,这些有机质主要源于下伏侏罗系的煤系烃源岩,并通过成矿流体参与了金属矿产的成矿作用,因而这种多矿种“同盆共存”的现象,在沉积盆地的研究中作为整体的成矿系统来研究将更有意义。     

A facies and palaeogeography-based approach for analysis of petroleum systems in United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates(UAE) is the 8 th largest oil producing country and is rich in oil and gas resources. By the end of 2015, 68 oil and 23 gas fields had been discovered. The initial proved and probable(2 P) oil, gas and condensate reserves amount to 81,135.9 MMb(million barrels), 192.09 Tcf(trillion cubic feet),and 6496.58 MMb respectively, which are mostly reservoired in the Jurassic and Cretaceous carbonates. With the latest field data, this study attempts to document the salient features of petroleum systems in UAE. Based on depositional facies of source rock intervals, pods of source rocks were delineated. On the basis of an oiland gas-source correlation, five known petroleum systems were identified and they are Lower Silurian-Upper Permian Khuff gas, northeast foreland Upper Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous gas, Upper Jurassic-Jurassic petroleum, Upper Jurassic/Lower Cretaceous-Lower Cretaceous composite petroleum, and Middle Cretaceous-Middle to Upper Cretaceous/Cenozoic petroleum systems. Of them, the Upper Jurassic/Lower Cretaceous-Lower Cretaceous composite petroleum system contains 73.2% of the total 2 P reserves and thus it is the focus of this study. The Upper Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous source rocks consist of argillaceous limestone, mudstone and shale, which were deposited as intrashelf basin facies. The distribution of oil and gas in this system is controlled by the source kitchens and the regional evaporite seal.     

塔里木盆地西南部下白垩统克孜勒苏群沉积特征与成矿成藏作用*

通过对塔里木盆地西南部(塔西南)江格结尔地区下白垩统克孜勒苏群地层剖面测量,该地区的克孜勒苏群分为5个岩性段,岩性主要为泥质粉砂岩、岩屑砂岩、含砾砂岩、砾岩等,沉积相主要为辫状河三角洲相;其上覆的上白垩统库克拜组为介壳灰岩、膏质泥岩,沉积相为浅海相、滨海潟湖相; 下伏的上侏罗统库孜贡苏组岩性主要为杂砾岩、含砂杂砾岩和石英砂岩等,沉积相为冲积扇相;三者呈整合接触。从该区下白垩统克孜勒苏群的沉积特征来看,早白垩世为陆源碎屑沉积环境,在晚白垩世转入海相沉积环境。对比该区北侧陆内造山带中的拉分断陷盆地(萨热克巴依盆地)中下白垩统克孜勒苏群的地层层序,该区仅沉积了下白垩统克孜勒苏群下部3个岩性段而缺失上部岩性段,表明在早白垩世后期塔里木盆地北侧西南天山发生过一次抬升作用。下白垩统克孜勒苏群是铜铅锌铀矿等金属矿产的赋矿层位,同时也是塔里木盆地石油和天然气的重要储集层位,在铜铅锌等矿石中常可见大量的沥青等有机质,这些有机质主要源于下伏侏罗系的煤系烃源岩,并通过成矿流体参与了金属矿产的成矿作用,因而这种多矿种“同盆共存”的现象,在沉积盆地的研究中作为整体的成矿系统来研究将更有意义。     

The analysis of oil trapped during secondary migration

During secondary migration, there is an opportunity for oil to be trapped as fluid inclusions (FIs) within framework grains such as quartz and within diagenetic cements that have a crystalline structure. Oil saturation on migration pathways remains relatively low, so typically fewer oil inclusions get trapped compared with samples from an oil column. Geochemical analysis of the much smaller amounts of inclusion oil present in samples from interpreted oil migration pathways has been attempted for two samples from the Champagny-1 and Delamere-1 wells in the Vulcan Sub-Basin, northern offshore Australia. A combination of petrographic analysis, bulk geochemical inclusion analysis and log evaluation confirmed that both samples were from oil migration pathways. Despite the small number of oil inclusions, reliable geochemical data were acquired from both samples that were significantly above the levels detected for the system and outside-rinse blanks. The FI oil trapped on the interpreted oil migration pathway in Champagny-1 was generated from clay-rich marine source rock with little terrigenous organic matter input. It was generated at peak oil window maturity and correlates best with oils derived from the Late Jurassic Lower Vulcan Formation. In contrast, the Delamere-1 FI oil contains evidence of greater input of terrigenous organic matter and was generated at early oil window maturity. This FI oil also contains a signature of a biodegraded component, which could have been generated either from the Middle Jurassic Plover Formation, or from an older source rock. These data indicate that it is feasible to geochemically map migration pathways across prospects or basins, and to analyse palaeo-oil compositions in oil zones where the few inclusions get trapped. This also suggests that the few oil inclusions that sometimes occur in Proterozoic or Archaean rocks may be analysable in the future, which would provide relatively pristine and robust data on the composition and diversity of Earth’s early biosphere.     

准噶尔盆地永进地区油源研究

在分析和归纳可能烃源岩的有机地化特征并对原油样品进行分析测试的基础上,主要运用生物标志物和稳定碳同位素指标或参数,首次对准噶尔盆地永进地区原油的来源进行了系统研究,认为中二叠统和中下侏罗统烃源岩是为该地区提供油源的主要烃源岩,其次为下二叠统烃源岩,并可能有白垩系烃源岩的贡献。其中,中侏罗统西山窑组煤层之上及大部分白垩系储层中的正常原油主要来自中二叠统烃源岩;煤层之下及下侏罗统三工河组储层中的正常原油主要来自中下侏罗统烃源岩;在现今油藏中所占比例较小并已发生强烈生物降解的原油来自下二叠统烃源岩;永6井白垩系储层中的原油可能来自下白垩统烃源岩,但该套烃源岩的供烃规模可能较小。     

Organic geochemical characteristics of crude oils from the Masila Basin, eastern Yemen

The Masila Basin is an important hydrocarbon province in Yemen, but the origin of hydrocarbons and their generation history are not fully understood. In this regard, 10 crude oils from different petroleum reservoir sections in the Masila Basin were characterized by a variety of biomarker and non-biomarker parameters using GC, GC-MS and stable carbon isotope techniques. Oils from the Masila Basin display pristane/phytane (Pr/Ph) ratios ranging from 1.7 to 2.0, low sulfur content, high C₃₅ homohopane index, relatively high C₂₇ sterane concentrations and relatively high tricyclic terpanes suggesting a marine clay source rock that was deposited in mildly anoxic to suboxic conditions with dominantly algal organic matter. C₂₉ 20S/(20S + 20R) steranes and ββ/(ββ + αα) sterane ratios indicate that the Masila oils have reached peak oil window maturity. Another related feature of these oils is the absence of 18α (H)-oleanane, which suggests a source age older than Cretaceous. The carbon isotope compositions are similar to those of the potential source rocks, which range from −25.4‰ to −28.3‰, indicating a marine environment. The new data presented in this paper suggest that the Masila oils constitute one oil family and that the oil originated from the Upper Jurassic Madbi source rock in the basin.     

Characteristics of Oil Sources from the Chepaizi Swell,Junggar Basin,China

<正>So far there has been no common opinion on oil source of the Chepaizi swell in the Junggar Basin.Therefore,it is difficult to determine the pathway system and trend of hydrocarbon migration, and this resulted in difficulties in study of oil-gas accumulation patterns.In this paper,study of nitrogen compounds distribution in oils from Chepaizi was carried out in order to classify source rocks of oils stored in different reservoirs in the study area.Then,migration characteristics of oils from the same source were investigated by using nitrogen compounds parameters.The results of nitrogen compounds in a group of oil/oil sand samples from the same source indicate that the oils trapped in the Chepaizi swell experienced an obvious vertical migration.With increasing migration distance,amounts and indices of carbazoles have a regular changing pattern(in a fine linear relationship).By using nitrogen compounds techniques,the analyzed oil/oil sand samples of Chepaizi can be classified into two groups.One is the samples stored in reservoir beds of the Cretaceous and Tertiary,and these oils came from mainly Jurassic source rock with a small amount of Cretaceous rock;the other is those stored in the Jurassic,Permian and Carboniferous beds,and they originated from the Permian source.In addition,a sample of oil from an upper Jurassic reservoir(Well Ka 6), which was generated from Jurassic coal source rock,has a totally different nitrogen compound distribution from those of the above-mentioned two groups of samples,which were generated from mudstone sources.Because of influence from fractionation of oil migration,amounts and ratios of nitrogen compounds with different structures and polarities change regularly with increasing migrating distance,and as a result the samples with the same source follow a good linear relationship in content and ratio,while the oil samples of different sources have obviously different nitrogen compound distribution owing to different organic matter types of their source rocks.These conclusions of oil source study are identical with those obtained by other geochemical bio-markers. Therefore,nitrogen compounds are of great significance in oil type classification and oil/source correlation.     

Probable distribution of Upper Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous deposits on the Laptev Sea shelf and their petroleum resource potential

The analysis of Upper Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous marine sections developed in surrounding structures of the Laptev Sea revealed that all of them are composed of terrigenous rocks, which enclose abundant concretions cemented by calcareous material. The Upper Jurassic portion of the section is the most variable in thickness and stratigraphic range of sediments usually including hiatuses. Its Lower Cretaceous part represented by the Boreal Berriasian (=Ryazanian) and lower Valanginian stages is most complete. The Upper Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous sections are usually composed of fine-grained rocks (clays and mudstones) in the west and coarser cemented varieties (siltstones and sandstones) with rare mudstone intercalations in the east. Practically all the investigated Upper Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous sections include readily recognizable age and facies analogs of the Bazhenovo Formation and Achimov sandstones, which are petroliferous in West Siberia. There are grounds to assume the occurrence of these formations also on the Laptev Sea shelf, which is confirmed by seismic records. Conditions favorable for the formation of potential hydrocarbon reservoirs could exist in the western part of the paleobasin along the Nordvik Peninsula coast and northeastern Tamyr Peninsula margin. Paleotectonic reconstructions presented in this work are well consistent with stratigraphic conclusions.