Molecular correlation of crude oils and oil components from reservoir rocks in the Tazhong and Tabei uplifts of the Tarim Basin, China

Molecular data from a large set of source rock, crude oil and oil-containing reservoir rock samples from the Tarim Basin demonstrate multiple sources for the marine oils in the studied areas of this basin. Based on gammacerane/C₃₁ hopane and C₂₈/(C₂₇ + C₂₈ + C₂₉) sterane ratios, three of the fifteen crude oils from the Tazhong Uplift correlate with Cambrian-Lower Ordovician source rocks, while the other crude oils from the Tazhong Uplift and all 39 crude oils from the Tahe oilfield in the Tabei Uplift correlate with Middle-Upper Ordovician source rocks. These two ratios further demonstrate that most of the free oils and nearly all of the adsorbed and inclusion oils in oil-containing reservoir rocks from the Tazhong Uplift correlate with Cambrian-Lower Ordovician source rocks, while the free and inclusion oils in oil-containing carbonates from the Tahe oilfield correlate mainly with Middle-Upper Ordovician source rocks. This result suggests that crude oils in the Tazhong Uplift are partly derived from the Cambrian-Lower Ordovician source rocks while those in the Ordovician carbonate reservoirs of Tahe oilfield are overwhelmingly derived from the Middle-Upper Ordovician source rocks.The scatter of C₂₃ tricyclic terpane/(C₂₃ tricyclic terpane + C₃₀ 17α,21β(H)-hopane) and C₂₁/(C₂₁ + ΣC₂₉) sterane ratios for the free and inclusion oils from oil-containing carbonates in the Tahe oilfield possibly reflects the subtle organofacies variations in the source rocks, implying that the Ordovician reservoirs in this oilfield are near the major source kitchen. In contrast, the close and positive relationship between these two ratios for oil components in the oil-containing reservoir rocks from the Tazhong Uplift implies that they are far from the major source kitchen.     

Reservoir geochemistry of the Tazhong oilfield in the Tarim Basin, China, Part I. Geochemical characteristics and genetic classification of crude oils

1 Introduction Since the 1990’s of the 20th century, oil & gas geochemists have shifted their research focus on hydrocarbon source rocks in the past to that on reservoir rocks and oil reservoirs at present; their research field has been expanded from oil & gas exploration to the assessment of oil reservoirs and production & management. Therefore, reservoir geochemistry as a branch disciplinary of organic geochemistry is now attracting great concern of many oil & gas explorers and oilfield en…     

Molecular correlation of free oil,adsorbed oil and inclusion oil of reservoir rocks in the Tazhong Uplift of the Tarim Basin,China

The free, adsorbed and inclusion oils were recovered by sequential extraction from eleven oil and tar containing reservoir rocks in the Tazhong Uplift of Tarim Basin. The results of gas chromatography (GC) and GC–mass spectrometry analyses of these oil components and seven crude oils collected from this region reveal multiple oil charges derived from different source rocks for these oil reservoirs. The initially charged oils show strong predominance of even over odd n-alkanes in the range n-C₁₂ to n-C₂₀ and have ordinary maturities, while the later charged oils do not exhibit any predominance of n-alkanes and have high maturities. The adsorbed and inclusion oils of the reservoir rocks generally have high relative concentrations of gammacerane and C₂₈ steranes, similar to the Cambrian-Lower Ordovician source rocks. In contrast, the free oils of these reservoir rocks generally have low relative concentrations of gammacerane and C₂₈ steranes, similar to the Middle-Upper Ordovician source rocks. There are two interpretations of this result: (1) the initially charged oils are derived from the Cambrian-Lower Ordovician source rocks while the later charged oils are derived from the Middle-Upper Ordovician source rocks; and (2) both the initially and later charged oils are mainly derived from the Cambrian-Lower Ordovician source rocks but the later charged oils are contaminated by the oil components from the Silurian tar sandstones and the Middle-Upper Ordovician source rocks.     

Ruthenium-ion-catalyzed oxidation of asphaltenes and oil-source correlation of heavy oils from the Lunnan and Tahe oilfields in the Tarim Basin, NW China

The identification of marine source rocks in the Tarim Basin is debated vigorously. The intention of this paper is to investigate the asphahenes in heavy oils from the Lunnan and Tabe oilfields and Well TD2 with ruthenium-ions-catalyzed oxidation technique (RICO), in order to explore its role in oil-oil and oil-source correlations, The RICO products included n-alkanoic acids, α,ω-di-n-alkanoic acids, branched alkanoic acids, tricyclic terpanoic acids, hopanoic acids, gammacerane carboxylic acid , regular sterane carboxylic acids and 4-methylsterane carboxylic acids. The n-alkyl chains and biomarkers bounded on the asphaltenes were of unsusceptibility to biodegradation. The distribution and absolute concentrations of n-alkanoic acids in the RICO products of heavy oils from the Lunnan and Tabe oilfields are different from those of Well TD2. The biomarkers bounded on the asphahenes, especially steranes, have a distribution trend similar to that of the counterparts in saturates. The sterane carboxylic acids and 4-methylsterane carboxylic acids in the RICO products of heavy oils from the Lunnan and Tahe oilfields, dominated by C30 sterane and C31 4-methylsterane carboxylic acids, respectively, are significantly different from those of the heavy oils of Well TD2, whose dominating sterane and 4-methylsterane carboxylic acids are C28 sterane and C29 4-methylsterane acids, respectively. The RICO products of the asphaltenes further indicate that the Middle-Upper Ordovician may be the main source rocks for heavy oils from the Lunnan and Tabe oilfields.     

塔里木盆地塔东2井寒武系稠油地球化学特征与成藏

剖析塔东2井稠油的地球化学特征与形成过程,对深化塔里木盆地海相原油的成藏特征具有重要的意义。综合运用碳同位素、色谱、色谱—质谱等技术手段研究了塔东2井寒武系稠油的特征,研究结果揭示塔东2井寒武系稠油具高伽马蜡烷、高C28甾烷、低重排甾烷和高C27 三芳甾烷的特征,与寒武系—下奥陶统烃源岩的分子特征类似,说明塔东2井寒武系原油源自寒武系—下奥陶统烃源岩;塔东2井稠油中检出高丰度的稠环化合物（荧蒽、芘、苯并\[a\]蒽、屈、苯并荧蒽、苯并芘）,及全油的碳同位素值明显偏重,揭示了原油烃类经热蚀变发生稠化;流体包裹体均一化温度和埋藏—热演化史分析确定了塔东2井原油的成藏期为450~440 Ma。     

一个典型的寒武系油藏:塔里木盆地塔中62井油藏成因分析

塔里木盆地志留系沥青砂岩广泛发育,主要原因是来源于寒武系的原油在进入志留系储层后区域性的抬升剥蚀使油藏遭到严重破坏,但到目前为止,究竟是寒武系烃源岩还是中上奥陶统烃源岩或是两者都对现今的志留系沥青砂岩中的有机质有贡献还不清楚.对塔中62井原油的化学组成和油源的分析表明,其甾萜类组成具有寒武系烃源岩的组成特征,反映该油藏原油主要来源于寒武系.另一方面,塔中62井砂岩透镜体被泥岩圈闭,油藏具有较好的保存条件,且后期中上奥陶统生成的烃类难以充注进入油藏.塔中62井志留系油藏破坏作用较弱、保存较好,是塔里木盆地在志留系发现的第一例来源于寒武系的油藏.     

卡塔克隆起中1井储层沥青地球化学特征与成因

塔里木盆地海相原油的成因至今仍有争议,而对储层沥青的地球化学特征剖析,能为探索海相原油的成因提供依据。选取卡塔克隆起上的中1井不同层系储层沥青,详尽剖析了其地球化学特征。研究结果揭示,中1井储层沥青的Pr/Ph为1.14～1.39,CPI值 1.01～1.08,OEP值0.98～1.05,无奇偶优势或偶奇优势,伽玛蜡烷、C28甾烷丰度低,硫芴系列丰富。甾烷成熟度参数和Ts/(Ts+Tm)均指示中1井储层沥青处于成熟—高成熟热演化范畴。依据特征生物标志物的分布对沥青的成因示踪,中1井储层沥青与上奥陶统烃源岩有成因关系,而中1井储层沥青与塔东2井寒武系原油分子特征的迥异也佐证该认识。     

塔里木盆地一类新海相原油的地球化学特征

对塔中52等井奥陶系储层产出的原油进行的分析结果表明,它们的三环萜烷系列较为特殊,主要表现为其相对丰度呈C19>C20>C21>C23>C24>C25>C26阶梯状的模式,C24四环萜烷异常丰富,且其丰度远高于C26三环萜烷,这一分布模式一般出现在淡水沼泽相和浅湖相沉积地层与原油中。在三萜烷分布特征上,其伽马蜡烷含量很低,甾烷系列和藿烷系列的分布与组成特征与该地区来源于中上奥陶统烃源岩的海相原油十分接近,同时它们的全油均具有轻的碳同位素组成,其δ13Ｃ值都小于-30‰,具有海相成因原油的特征。而塔中12井上奥陶统良里塔格组4-5段烃源岩中生物标志物的分析结果进一步证实了该类原油与那些富含宏观藻残片,且有机质类型偏腐殖型的上奥陶统海相烃源岩关系密切,是该地区油气勘探中值得关注的对象。      

The significance of 24-norcholestanes,triaromatic steroids and dinosteroids in oils and Cambrian–Ordovician source rocks from the cratonic region of the Tarim Basin,NW China

Two oil families in Ordovician reservoirs from the cratonic region of the Tarim Basin are distinguished by the distribution of regular steranes, triaromatic steroids, norcholestanes and dinosteroids. Oils with relatively lower contents of C₂₈ regular steranes, C₂₆ 20S, C₂₆ 20R + C₂₇ 20S and C₂₇ 20R regular triaromatic steroids, dinosteranes, 24-norcholestanes and triaromatic dinosteroids originated from Middle–Upper Ordovician source rocks. In contrast, oils with abnormally high abundances of the above compounds are derived from Cambrian and Lower Ordovician source rocks. Only a few oils have previously been reported to be of Cambrian and Lower Ordovician origin, especially in the east region of the Tarim Basin. This study further reports the discovery of oil accumulations of Cambrian and Lower Ordovician origin in the Tabei and Tazhong Uplifts, which indicates a potential for further discoveries involving Cambrian and Lower Ordovician sourced oils in the Tarim Basin. Dinosteroids in petroleum and ancient sediments are generally thought to be biomarkers for dinoflagellates and 24-norcholestanes for dinoflagellates and diatoms. Therefore, the abnormally high abundance of these compounds in extracts from the organic-rich sediments in the Cambrian and Lower Ordovician and related oils in the cratonic region of the Tarim Basin suggests that phytoplankton algae related to dinoflagellates have appeared and might have flourished in the Tarim Basin during the Cambrian Period. Steroids with less common structural configurations are underutilized and can expand understanding of the early development history of organisms, as well as define petroleum systems.     

Geochemical characteristics of crude oils from Well Zheng-1 in the Junggar Basin, Xinjiang, China

Well Zheng-1 is located in the combined area of the central uplift and the north Tianshan piedmont depression in the Junggar Basin. Two oil-bearing beds are recognized at 4788–4797 m of the Lower Cretaceous Tugulu Formation (K1tg) and 4808.5–4812.5 m of the Lower Jurassic Sangonghe Formation (J1s). The geochemical characteristics of family composition, carbon isotopic composition, saturated hydrocarbons, sterane and terpane biomarkers and carotane of two crude oils are described in this paper. The results show that the geochemical characteristics of the two crude oils are basically similar to each other, indicating they were all derived mainly from the high mature, brine, algae-rich lake facies sediments. Oil-source correlation revealed that crude oils of the two beds were derived mainly from the source rocks of Permian and mixed by the oil derived from the source rocks of Jurassic and Triassic. This is consistent with the geological background with several sets of source rocks in the area studied.     

Geochemical Evidence for Coal and Carbonaceous Mudstone as the Possible Major Oil Source Rock in the Jurassic Turpan Basin,Northwest China

Petroleum geologists have debated whether the hydrocarbons from Jurassic coal measures are derived from the coals, carbonaceous mudstones or coal-measure mudstones in the Turpan Basin. Based on the geochemistry analysis of the 20 crude oils and 40 source rocks from the Turpan Basin, some data have been obtained as follows: carbon preference index and methylphenanthrene index of the Jurassic oils are 1.16–1.45 and 0.28–0.80, and the ααα C29 sterane 20S/(20S+20R) and C29 sterane ββ/(ββ+αα) are 0.44–0.51 and 0.4–0.54 respectively, which show the normal maturity of oils; the vitrinite reflectance of the source rocks from the Xishanyao to Badaowan Formations range from 0.47% to 0.97%, which indicate immature to mature thermal evolutionary stage and sufficient conditions for generating mass mature oil. The effect of hydrocarbon expulsion should be considered when studying the source of coal-derived oil by using Biomarkers. Biomarkers in the Jurassic oils from the basin are similar to those in the coals and carbonaceous mudstones, with a strong predominant content of pristane, relatively high ratio of C15/C16 sesquiterpenoids (>1), a relatively high content of low carbon number tricyclic terpanes and C24 tetracyclic terpane, little gammacerane and C29 Ts detected, an absolute predominant content of C29 sterane and a relatively high content of diasterane. However, the opposite characteristics are shown in mudstones, with an approximately equal content of pristane and phytane, relatively low ratio of C15/C16 sesquiterpenoids (<1), a relatively high content of high carbon number tricyclic terpanes and a low content of C24 tetracyclic terpane, peaks of gammacerane and C29 Ts detected obviously and an increasing C27 sterane content. All of these characteristics identify the coals and carbonaceous mudstones as the possible major oil source rocks in this area, and they were formed in the stronger oxidizing environment with shallower water than mudstones.     

Quantitative assessment and significance of gas washing of oil in Block 9 of the Tahe Oilfield, Tarim Basin, NW China

Some Ordovician and Triassic oils in Block 9 are characterized by light oils,which have distinctly differentiated from heavy oils in other blocks in the Tahe Oilfield,Tarim Basin.Based on the whole oil gas chroma- tograms,this paper estimates the effect of oil migration and fractionation and the amount of depletion(Q)in terms of the n-alkanes depletion model.The results showed that the amount of depletion in the Ordovician reservoir is highest in the east of this block,e.g.the depletion is 97% in Well T904.The amount of Q gets lower to the west,e.g.the depletion is 53.4%in Well T115 and there is no sign of depletion in Well S69.It is suggested that the direction of gas washing is from the east to the west.The compositions and isotopic characteristics of associated gas in Ordovician oils indicated that the gas might be derived from Cambrian source rocks of the Caohu Depression which lies to the east of Block 9.In contrast,no obvious depletion of n-alkanes in Triassic oils was found,suggesting that the migration pathway of natural gas has been limited to the Ordovician karst fracture system formed in the Early Hercynian Orogeny.Different depletions of the Ordovician and Triassic oils can reveal fault activities in this region.     

Reservoir geochemistry of the Tazhong Oilfield in the Tarim Basin, China, Part II. Migration, accumulation and mixing of crude oils

Measurements of the absolute and relative concentrations of nitrogen-containing compounds in crude oils from different reservoir strata (Ordovician, Silurian and Carboniferous) in the Tazhong region of the Tarim Basin, Xinjiang, China, showed that even though there are quite a number of factors affecting the distributional and compositional characteristics of neutral nitrogen-containing compounds in crude oils, the distributional and compositional characteristics of crude oils whose source conditions are approximate to one another are influenced mainly by the migration and fractionation effects in the process of formation of oil reservoirs. In addition, crude oils in the Tazhong region show obvious migration-fractionation effects in the vertical direction. Carboniferous crude oils are characterized by high migration parameters and low compound concentrations, just in contrast to Ordovician crude oils. This indicates that crude oils from shallow-level oil reservoirs were derived from those of deep-level oil reservoirs via faults, unconformable contact or carrier beds. Crude oils from the Tazhong region show some migration-fractionation effects in the lateral direction, but mixing of crude oils derived from different hydrocarbon source rocks in the process of formation of oil reservoirs made it more complicated the migration and accumulation of crude oils, as well as the formation of oil reservoirs.     

Origin of Crude Oil in the Lunnan Region,Tarim Basin

<正>The oil source of the Tarim Basin has been controversial over a long time.This study characterizes the crude oil and investigates the oil sources in the Lunnan region,Tarim Basin by adopting compound specific isotopes of n-alkanes and biomarkers approaches.Although the crude oil has a good correlation with the Middle-Upper Ordovician(O_(2+3)) source rocks and a poor correlation with the Cambrian-Lower Ordovician((?)-O_1) based on biomarkers,theδ~(13)C data of n-alkanes of the Lunnan oils show an intermediate value between(?)-O_1 and O_(2+3) genetic affinity oils,which suggests that the Lunnan oils are actually of an extensively mixed source.A quantification of oil mixing was performed and the results show that the contribution of the Cambrian-Lower Ordovician source rocks ranges from 11%to 70%(averaging 36%),slightly less than that of the Tazhong uplift.It is suggested that the inconsistency between the biomarkers andδ~(13)C in determining the oil sources in the Lunnan Region results from multiple petroleum charge episodes with different chemical components in one or more episode(s) and different sources.The widespread marine mixed-source oil in the basin indicates that significant petroleum potential in deep horizons is possible.To unravel hydrocarbons accumulation mechanisms for the Lunnan oils is crucial to further petroleum exploration and exploitation in the region.     

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.     

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.     

塔里木盆地寒武-奥陶系烃源岩的分子地球化学特征

对塔里木盆地下古生界样品的地球化学分析表明,上奥陶统良里塔格组、中上奥陶统却尔却克群烃源岩与其他烃源岩具有明显的差异,具有低的C28甾烷、24-降胆甾烷、甲藻甾烷、甲藻三芳甾烷与伽马蜡烷含量以及高的C24四环萜烷、重排甾烷含量等特点。柯坪地区中上奥陶统萨尔干组、印干组页岩伽马蜡烷、C28甾烷相对含量与寒武系、中下奥陶统黑土凹组烃源岩具有相似性。萨尔干组、印干组烃源岩中生物标志物的绝对含量很低。柯坪地区寒武系玉尔吐斯组、中上奥陶统萨尔干组、上奥陶统印干组、满东地区中下奥陶统黑土凹组等较强沉积环境的泥质烃源岩伽马蜡烷、C28甾烷、特殊甾烷的相对含量与海相原油主体有较大差异。上奥陶统印干组烃源岩较高含量的三芳甲藻甾烷、24-降重排胆甾烷和24-降胆甾烷化合物的检出表明,断代生物标志物的提法值得商榷。     

Geochemical characteristics of Ordovician crude oils in the northwest of the Tahe oil field,Tarim basin

Forty-six crude oil samples were selected from the Ordovician in the northwestern part of the Tahe oilfield for detailed molecular geochemical and isotopic analysis, including group compositions, carbonhydrogen isotopes and gas chroma-tograms of saturated hydrocarbons, as well as the characteristics of terpane, sterane and other biomarkers, indicating that crude oils are of the same origin from different districts in the Tahe oilfield and were derived from the same source kitchen (or oil source formation), i.e., mainly stemming from marine hydrocarbons. Detailed studies of oil physical properties of 25-honpane revealed that such oils have heavy or thick oil qualities due to biodegradation. Comprehensive assessment in terms of five maturity parameters shows that the oils from the Ordovician with Ro values varying from 0.80% to 1.59% are widely distributed in the northwest of the Tahe oilfield.     

Geochemistry and possible origin of petroleum in Palaeozoic reservoirs from Halahatang Depression

The Halahatang Depression in the Tabei Uplift of the Tarim basin is an active exploration area because it has substantial reservoir potential and contains or is near to many commercial oil fields. Geochemical analysis indicates that Halahatang oils were derived from marine carbonate source rocks deposited under anoxic reducing conditions. The maturities for Halahatang oils are corresponding to the peak of the oil window and slightly higher than the neighboring Tahe oils. The Halahatang oils feature low Pr/Ph, C₂₁/C₂₃ tricyclic terpane and, C₂₈/C₂₉ sterane ratios, high C₂₉/C₃₀ hopane and C₃₅/C₃₄ hopane ratios, a “V” shape in the distribution of C₂₇–C₂₈–C₂₉ steranes and light carbon isotope ratios, similar to the Tahe oils and correlate well with the Middle-Upper Ordovician source rock. However, some source-related biomarker parameters imply a more reducing source organofacies with more zooplanktonic contribution than that for the Tahe oils.     

塔里木东部满东1井志留系天然气成因与成藏期初步分析

满东1气藏的发现是塔里木盆地东部地区油气勘探获得新突破的重要标志。本文充分利用目前所获得的大量地质和地球化学资料,从天然气的组份特征、成因类型、成熟度和气源对比等方面对该井天然气的成因进行了分析,认为满东1井天然气属于海相腐泥型天然气,来源于寒武系-下奥陶统海相过成熟烃源岩,烃类气体组成具有油裂解气的特征。海相泥质烃源岩中氨基粘土矿物在过成熟阶段分解并氧化,形成大量的氮气,导致满东1气藏高含氮气。包裹体和埋藏史研究结果表明满东1气藏成藏过程复杂,主要成藏期为燕山喜马拉雅期。