The Diagenesis of Plant Lipids during the Formation of the Krepoljin Coal Basin (Serbia) — Using Multivariate Statistical Analysis in the Saturated Biomarkers

The composition of the saturated hydrocarbon fraction of soluble organic matter (bitumen) from the Krepoljin brown coal basin (East Serbia) of Miocene age was investigated. The Krepoljin basin is especially interesting from a geochemical point of view. Namely, by the end of Tertiary Period, the basin was covered by powerful Mesozoic formations of great possibilities, the bedding became hermetically enclosed and protected from subsequent external influences. The nature of early diagenetic processes in the environment with abundant accumulation of organic substance is defined by the molecular content of bitumen through the connections of molecular structures to potential precursors in paleoplant phylla, as well as by the degree of their diagenetic transformations. The hierarchy of parameters based on molecules of saturated hydrocarbons was determined by applying the principal component analysis to the soluble organic matter. The most significant, most “loadings” values of component C1, are the plant types such as precursors or participants in early diagenetic transformations of steranes Cs27-algal precursor material, Cs28-moulds, Cs29-higher land and water plants; resinous from the group of higher plant gymnosperms (G); also triterpanes α and β-amirin-dicotyledonous angiosperms (A) and bacterial and/or terrestrial plants population represented by hopanes/moretanes; as well as the parameters which describe the degree of diagenetic/maturation transformation of precursor biomass, and based on next reactions: (1) shifting of methyl group, influenced by the inorganic sediment constitutents, sterane-rearranged steranes, (2) isomerization in the ring system, ααα→βββ C29 sterane as well as (3) isomerization on chiral center of the side chain sequence R→S C29 sterane S/(S+R). Additionally, a pyrite-derived inhibitory effect on the rearrangment of C29 steranes must be taken into account, but not on triterpanes reaction. Non-appearance of statistically important correlations, before all with maturational depended parameters, and after all also with source indicators contributies to the affirmation of the newly-suggested parameter α-Phyllocladane/S27 as the real source biomarker of coal. Indicators derived from the distribution and abundance of n-alkanes and isoprenoid alkanes are of less significance in hierarchy of parameters.     

The Diagenesis of Plant Lipids during the Formation of the Krepoljin Coal Basin (Serbia)—Using Multivariate Statistical Analysis in the Saturated Biomarkers

The composition of the saturated hydrocarbon fraction of soluble organic matter (bitumen) from the Krepoljin brown coal basin (East Serbia) of Miocene age was investigated. The Krepoljin basin is especially interesting from a geochemical point of view. Namely, by the end of Tertiary Period, the basin was covered by powerful Mesozoic formations of great possibilities, the bedding became hermetically enclosed and protected from subsequent external influences. The nature of early diagenetic processes in the environment with abundant accumulation of organic substance is defined by the molecular content of bitumen through the connections of molecular structures to potential precursors in paleoplant phylla, as well as by the degree of their diagenetic transformations. The hierarchy of parameters based on molecules of saturated hydrocarbons was determined by applying the principal component analysis to the soluble organic matter. The most significant, most "loadings" values of component Cl, are the plant types such as precursors or participants in early diagenetic transformations of steranes Cs27-algal precursor material, Cs28-moulds, Cs29-higher land and water plants; resinous from the group of higher plant gymnosperms (G); also triterpanes a and p-amirin-dicotyledonous angiosperms (A) and bacterial and/or terrestrial plants population represented by hopanes/moretanes; as well as the parameters which describe the degree of diagenetic/maturation transformation of precursor biomass, and based on next reactions: (1) shifting of methyl group, influenced by the inorganic sediment constitutents, sterane-rearranged steranes, (2) isomerization in the ring system,ααα→βββ　C29 sterane as well as (3) isomerization on chiral center of the side chain sequence R→S C29 sterane S/(S R). Additionally, a pyrite-derived inhibitory effect on the rearrangment of C29 steranes must be taken into account, but not on triterpanes reaction. Non-appearance of statistically important correlations, before all with maturational depended parameters, and after all also with source indicators contributies to the affirmation of the newly-suggested parameter α-Phyllocladane/S27 as the real source biomarker of coal. Indicators derived from the distribution and abundance of n-alkanes and isoprenoid alkanes are of less significance in hierarchy of parameters     

Evolution characteristics of saturated hydrocarbons of enclosed organic matter in carbonate minerals in Tieling limestone under high temperature and high pressure

The enclosed organic matter chiefly releases lower carbon-number n-alkanes under high temperature and high pressure,while the kerogen mainly produces higher carbon-number n-alkanes.The rsidual hydrocarbons generated by both kerogen and enclosed organic matter in the Tieling limestone contain abundant tricyclic terpanes,pentacyclic triterpanes and steranes,but the contents of tetracyclic terpanes and 25-norhopane are lower.The residual enclosed orgainc matter shows the same distribution characteristics of n-alkanes,steranes and terpanes as that of the original bitumaen A,i.e.,the higher contents of triterpanes and tetracyclic terpanes,the higher ratios of 25-norhopanes over regular hopanes and markedly degraded steranes.By comparing the residual hydrocarbon.residual enclosed orgainc matter and original enclosed orgainc matter.it can be concluded that steranes and terpanes in the residual hydrocarbons are produced mainly by the kerogen and subordinately by the residual enclosed organic matter,the steranes and terpanes do not enter into the residual enclosed organic matter,and the thermal evolution of the residual enclosed organic matter maintains its unique character.Furthermore,pressure retards the pyrolysis of higher carbon-number alkanes and influences the isomerization ratios of C29-steranes,making 20S/(20S 20R) lower under the higher pressure than that under lower pressure,Higher pressure retards the thermal evolution of organic matter.     

Analysis and application of carbon-bearing rate of reservoirs in the Puguang gas field, northeastern Sichuan Basin

With wells Puguang 2 and 6 in the Puguang gas field as the research objects by choosing organic carbon as characterization reservoir carbon(indirectly reflecting the bitumen contents),this paper discusses the relationship between bitumen contents and lithologic characteristics,reservoir characteristics,and calculates the volume of paleo-oil and oil cracked gas.The study shows that the organic carbon contents of the reservoirs are related to lithologic characteristics.Due to variations in the particle size or structure of rocks,the porosity of the reservoirs varies,furthermore,it will influence the contents of organic carbon.And the relationship between these two parameters is positive.Based on the analysis,the relationship between total organic carbon(TOC)and the contents of reservoir bitumen also appears to be positive.The volume of paleo-oil and cracked gas of the Changxing-Feixian’guan Formation are respectively 495 million tons and 360.4 billion m3 through the calculation of reservoir’s organic carbon.Therefore,the relationship between carbon-bearing rate and characteristics of the reservoirs can be used to indirectly evaluate reservoir types.Besides,the carbon-bearing rate of the reservoirs also reflects the contents of reservoir bitumen,paleo-oil as well as natural gas.It makes a new approach for the study of the types of reservoirs and the amounts of paleo-oil and oil cracked gas in northeastern Sichuan Basin.     

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.     

Geochemical characteristics and origin of reservoir bitumens from Well Zhong 1 in the Katake Uplift,Tarim Basin

The source of marine crude oils from Tarim Basin is still disputed.However,research on the reservoir bitumens may provide a piece of new evidence to elucidate oil source.Geochemical characteristics of reservoir bitumens from different strata from Well Zhong 1 in the Katake Uplift were discussed here in detail.Pr/Ph ratios of reservoir bitumen from Well Zhong 1 range from 1.14 to 1.39,CPI ratios from 1.01 to 1.08,which indicates no odd-even predominance of normal alkanes,with OEP ratios ranging from 0.98 to 1.05.The contents of gammacerane and C28 sterane of reservoir bitumen from Well Zhong 1 are low,while dibenzothiophene series are abundant.Ster-ane isomerization maturity parameter and Ts/(Ts+Tm) ratio indicate that the reservoir bitumen from Well Zhong1 is mature to highly mature.Based on the differences in biomarker distribution,it is concluded that reservoir bitumen from Well Zhong 1,of which molecular parameters are contrary to those in Cambrian oil from Well Tadong 2,origi-nated from the Upper Ordovician source rocks.     

Charactristics of the Biomarkers from Nonmarine Crude Oils in China—A Review

The present paper deals with the biomarker characteristics of crude oils and source rocks from different environments(fresh,fresh-brackish and salt waters)of nonmarine depositional basins of different ages in China.Their characters are summarized as follows:1)Souce rocks and crude oils derived from fresh-water lacustrine facies have an odd/even predominance of n-alkanes and high pristine/phytane ratios.Oils from the fresh-water lacustrine facies differ from typical marine oils in the relative contents of total steranes and terpanes,the concentrations of hopanes and organic sul-phur compounds and the values of methylphenanthrene indices and C,H,S stable isotopes.2)The source rocks and crude oils derived from saline lacustrine facies possess an even/odd predominance of n-alkanes and high phytane/pristine ratios.There are also some differences between saline lacustrine oils and freshwater lacustrine oils in the concentrations of steranes,tricyclic terpanes and organic sulphur compounds,as well as in the values of methylphenanthrene indices and C,H,S stable isotopes.3)Oils derived from fresh-brackish water lake facies differ from oils from fresh-water lacustrine or samline lacustrine environments in respect of some biomarkers.According to the various distributions of these biomarkers,a number of geochemical parameters can be applied synthetically to differentiating and identifying the nature of original depositional environments of crude oils and source rocks and that of organisms-primary source materials present in those environments.     

Characteristics and Applications of Fluid Inclusions in the Eogene System of the Biyang Depression—I.A Fluid Inclusion Study

Presented in this paper are the rypes,salinities,homogenization temperatures and organic components of fluid inclusions formed at the four stages of diagenetic authigenesis in the Eogene of the Biyang Depression.The results of cooling experiments on fluid inclusions were used to determine the fluid system and composition of saline aqueous solution in each of the stages .The homogenization temperatures of saline aqueous solution inclusions and hydrocarbon organic inclu-sions have been corrected by two approaches ,and the trapping temperatures and pressures of fluid inclusions at each of the stages have been obtained.This strdy has shed light on the physicochemistry and evolution of diagenetic fluids.The diagentic fluid system is a system which was transformed from a chloride-bearing to a carbonate-bearing system along with the diagenic evolu-tion.The decrease of diagenetic temperature at Stage III of diagenetic authigenesis suggests that the depression would have experiences uplifting at that time.The fluorescent characteristics of fluid inclusions indicate the varieties of organic components in fluid inclusions both in time and in space.     

Diagenetic Evolution and Formation Mechanisms of High-Quality Reservoirs under Multiple Diagenetic Environmental Constraints: An Example from the Paleogene Beach-Bar Sandstone Reservoirs in the Dongying Depression, Bohai Bay Basin

The diagenetic environment, diagenetic responses, diagenetic transformation model and formation mechanisms of high-quality reservoirs (beach-bar sandstones of the Paleogene fourth member) in the Dongying depression were studied through the analysis of fluid inclusions, thin section and burial evolution history. The diagenetic fluids of the beach-bar sandstone reservoirs evolved from early high salinity and weak alkalinity to low salinity and strong acidity, late high salinity and strong alkalinity and late low salinity and acidity, which were accompanied by two stages of oil and gas filling. The fluids at the margins of the sandbodies were continuously highly saline and strongly alkaline. The western (eastern) reservoirs experienced early open (closed), middle open, and late closed diagenetic environments during their burial history. The flow pattern was characterized by upwelling during the majority of the diagenesis (in the east, a non-circulating pattern transitioned into an upwelling current). Due to the evolution of the diagenetic fluids, the diagenetic sequence of the beach-bar reservoirs was as follows: early weak carbonate cementation; feldspar and carbonate cement dissolution and authigenic quartz cementation; late carbonate and anhydrite cementation, authigenic feldspar cementation, and late quartz dissolution; and late carbonate cementation, feldspar dissolution, and authigenic quartz cementation. The diagenetic strength during these stages varied or was absent altogether in different parts of the reservoirs. Due to the closeness of the diagenetic environment and the flow pattern of the diagenetic fluids, the diagenetic products are variably distributed in the sandstones interbedded with mudstones and in the fault blocks. The evolution of multiple alternating alkaline and acidic diagenetic environments controlled the distribution patterns of the reservoir diagenesis and reservoir space, and the reservoir quality index, RQI, increased gradually from the margins to the centers of the sandstones. The closeness of the diagenetic environment and the flow patterns of the diagenetic fluids controlled the differences in the reservoir properties among the fault blocks. With increasing distance from the oil-source faults, the RQI values in the west gradually decreased and in the east initially increased and then decreased.     

Characteristics and Natural Gas Origin of Middle−Late Triassic Marine Source Rocks of the Western Sichuan Depression, SW China

A scientific exploration well(CK1) was drilled to expand the oil/gas production in the western Sichuan depression, SW, China. Seventy-three core samples and four natural gas samples from the Middle–Late Triassic strata were analyzed to determine the paleo-depositional setting and the abundance of organic matter(OM) and to evaluate the hydrocarbon-generation process and potential. This information was then used to identify the origin of the natural gas. The OM is characterized by medium n-alkanes(n C_(15)–n C_(19)), low pristane/phytane and terrigenous aquatic ratios(TAR), a carbon preference index(CPI) of ～1, regular steranes with C_(29) C_(27) C_(28), gammacerane/C_(30) hopane ratios of 0.15–0.32, and δD_(org) of-132‰ to-58‰, suggesting a marine algal/phytoplankton source with terrestrial input deposited in a reducing–transitional saline/marine sedimentary environment. Based on the TOC, HI index, and chloroform bitumen "A" the algalrich dolomites of the Leikoupo Formation are fair–good source rocks; the grey limestones of the Maantang Formation are fair source rocks; and the shales of the Xiaotangzi Formation are moderately good source rocks. In addition, maceral and carbon isotopes indicate that the kerogen of the Leikoupo and Maantang formations is type Ⅱ and that of the Xiaotangzi Formation is type Ⅱ–Ⅲ. The maturity parameters and the hopane and sterane isomerization suggest that the OM was advanced mature and produced wet–dry gases. One-dimensional modeling of the thermal-burial history suggests that hydrocarbon-generation occurred at 220–60 Ma. The gas components and C–H–He–Ar–Ne isotopes indicate that the oilassociated gases were generated in the Leikoupo and Maantang formations, and then, they mixed with gases from the Xiaotangzi Formation, which were probably contributed by the underlying Permian marine source rocks. Therefore, the deeply-buried Middle–Late Triassic marine source rocks in the western Sichuan depression and in similar basins have a great significant hydrocarbon potential.     

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.     

Tectonic Evolution of the Junggar Foreland Basin in the Late Carboniferous-Permian

A comprehensive study has been carried out to subdivide and correlate the Upper Carboniferous and Permian sedimentary successions in the Junggar basin based on outcrops and drilling and geophysical data. The study results, combined with geological analyses of the basin's periphery and the basement, as well as studies of the sedimentary rocks within the basin, the unconformities, tectonic geometry, kinematics and geodynamics, lead to the conclusion that the Junggar basin was characterized by the development of foreland basin systems during the Late Carboniferous and Permian. During that period, three foreland basin systems were developed: (1) the northwest foreland basin system, which trended nearly north-south from Mahu to the Chepaizi Palaeo-mountain during its early stage of development and thus it was also referred to as the west foreland basin system; (2) the Karamaili foreland basin system in the east and (3) the Northern Tianshan foreland basin system in the south. These systems are different in s     

Geochemical Characteristics of Crude Oils from Zao-V Oil Measures in Shenjiapu Oilfield

The geochemical characteristics of crude oils from Zao-V oil measures in the Shen-jiapu oilfield are systematically described in terms of the fractional composition of crude oils, GC characteristics of saturated hydrocarbon fraction of crude oils and the characteristics of their bio-markers. The deposifional environment, type and evolution of the biological source are also discussed. All pieces of evidence such as low saturated hydrocarbon fraction, high resin and asphalt, high isoprenoid alkane, weak odd-carbon number predominance ( CPI ranging from 1.23 to 1,29, OEP ranging from 1.14 to 1.16) and low sterane and terpane maturity parameters show these crude oils are immature oils. Low Pr/Ph ratios (0.66 -0.88) and high gammacer-ante/C31 hopane ratios ( 0.59 - 0.86 ) indicate the source rocks were formed in a slightly saline to brackish reducing lake depositional environment. Gas chromatographic characteristics of the saturated hydrocarbon fraction and the predominance of C30 hopane in terpane series and C29 sterane in sterane series indicate the biological source of the crude oils is composed mainly of bacterial and algal organic matter, and some algae are perhaps the main contributor of organic matter to the source rocks.     

Reservoir Geochemistry of the Kuche Petroleum System in the Tarim Basin, China

The geochemical characteristics of crude oils and reservoir core extracts from the Kuche petroleum system are described and studied systematically by means of various geochemical techniques and methods to acquire molecular information. The results suggest crude oils from the petroleum system can be divided into two groups: marine oils and non-marine oils. The former represents the dominant oils found in the area. Tar mats were firstly discovered and determined accurately in terrestrial oil and gas reservoirs, with Lower Tertiary sandstone reservoirs in the Yaha oilfield of the Tarim Basin. However, based on the ratio of 20S/(20S 20R)C29 sterane as a maturity parameter, lacustrine oils filled into the Tertiary reservoirs in the direction toward the western part of the petroleum system. In contrast, according to the fact that methylcyclohexane indices of eastern oils are greater than those of western oils, the location in which coalgenerated oils filled into the Tertiary reservoirs lies in the eastern part of the petroleum system.     

Nitrogen in Chinese coals

Three hundred and six coal samples were taken from main coal mines of twenty-six provinces,autonomous regions,and municipalities in China,according to the resource distribution and coal-forming periods as well as the coal ranks and coal yields.Nitrogen was determined by using the Kjeldahl method at U.S.Geological Survey(USGS),which exhibit a normal frequency distribution.The nitrogen contents of over 90% Chinese coal vary from 0.52% to 1.41% and the average nitrogen content is recommended to be 0.98%.Nitrogen in coal exists primarily in organic form.There is a slight positive relationship between nitrogen content and coal ranking.     

Palaeotemperatures and Diagenetic Phases of the Upper Triassic Oil-bearing Sandstones in the Eastern Part of the Ordos Basin

The maximum palaeotemperature of oil-bearing sandstones in the UpperTriassic in the eastern Ordos basin has been determined by using many methods including thevitrinite reflectance, fluid inclusion, apatite fission track, illite crystallinity, chlorite polytypeand diagenetic change of authigenic minerals. The thermal gradient in the Late Mesozoic wasabout 2.9-3.0℃/100m. The Upper Triassic was in a mature stage of organic matter andhydrocarbon began to be generated and migrated during this period. The palaeotemperatures ofoil-bearing sandstones were in the range of 88-110℃; those for the generation and migrationof oil ranged from 112 to 122℃. The thickness of the denuded strata overlying the UpperTriassic was 2465-2750m. The present burial depth of oil-bearing sandstones is generally from400 to 1200m. At a depth of ca. 1900m, the temperature may reach 140℃. Below this depth,organic matter was supermature and mainly generated gas.     

Carbonate Sequence Stratigraphy of a Back-Arc Basin： A Case Study of the Qom Formation in the Kashan Area, Central Iran

The Qom Formation comprises Oligo-Miocene deposits from a marine succession distributed in the Central Basin of Iran. It is composed of five members designated as A-F. Little previous work exists on the sequence stratigraphy. Based on an integrated study of sequence stratigraphy with outcrop data, wells and regional seismic profiles, the Qom Formation is interpreted as a carbonate succession deposited in a mid-Tertiary back-arc basin. There are two second-order sequences (designated as SS1 and SS2) and five third-order sequences (designated as S1-S5). Five distinct systems tracts including transgressive, highstand, forced regressive, slope margin and lowstand have been recognized. The relationship between the sequences and lithologic sub-units has been collated and defined (S1 to S5 individually corresponding to A-C1, C2-C4, D-E, the lower and upper portions of F); a relative sea level change curve and the sequence stratigraphic framework have been established and described in detail. The coincidence of relative sea level change between that of the determined back-arc basin and the world indicates that the sedimentary cycles of the Qom Formation are mainly controlled by eustatic cycles. The variable combination of the systems tracts and special tectonic-depositional setting causally underpin multiple sequence stratigraphic framework styles seen in the carbonates of the back-arc basin revealing: (1) a continental margin basin that developed some form of barrier, characterized by the development of multiple cycles of carbonate-evaporites; (2) a flat carbonate ramp, which occurred on the southern shelf formed by the lack of clastic supply from nearby magmatic islands plus mixed siliciclastics and carbonates that occurred on the northern shelf due to a sufficient clastics supply from the land; and (3) a forced regressive stratigraphic stacking pattern that occured on the southern shelf and in basin lows due to the uplifting of the southern shelf. Thick and widespread aggradational framework limestone usually occurs in the initial sequences (S1 and S3) of the supersequence, which led to preferential oil reservoir deposition but a lack of source and cap rocks, whereas the retrogradational and progradational framework limestone usually occurs in the later sequences (S2 and S4-S5) of the supersequence, which results in two perfect sets of source, reservoir and cap rock assemblies, so that the limestone in sub-member C2-C4 and the F-Member can be predicted as important objects for oil exploration.     

Development of Overpressure in the Tertiary Damintun Depression, Liaohe Basin, Northern China

The Damintun depression is one of the four depressions in the Liaohe basin in northern China, and is a rift basin developed in the Paleogene. This paper discusses in detail the characteristics of pressure and fluid potential of the Damintun depression based on a synthesis of the data from boreholes, well tests and seismic surveys. Data from sonic logs, well tests and seismic velocity measurements are used to study the pressure characteristics of the areas. From the sonic log data, shales can be characterized as normally pressured, slightly overpressured or highly overpressured; from the well test data, the pressure-depth gradient in oil-producing intervals implies hydrostatic pressure in general. Most seismic profiles in the Damintun depression are of sufficiently high quality for seismic velocities to be measured. The fluid pressures, excess pressures and pressure coefficients in 47 representative seismic profiles are predicted using formula calculation methods, and further transformed to fluid potenti     

Characteristics of biomarkers in source rocks of the Ganquan Formation in the Dahulishan region, Ejina Banner

Based on gas chromatography and gas chromatography mass spectrometry techniques, the authors examined biomarker characteristics of the Ganquan Formation source rocks in the area of Dahulishan, Ejina, and analyzed the information and petroleum geological significance that were indicated by the source of organic matter, sedimentary environment and maturity and so on. Gas chromatography peak of saturated hydrocarbons from the Ganquan Formation source rocks showed "the former peak" of the single peak distribution, the main peak of carbon being C18 , indicating the main sources of organic matter with marine organic matter. Pr/Ph ranges from 0.3 to 0.6, indicating a strongly reducing sedimentary environment. Biomarker assemblages of the Ganquan Formation source rocks are abundant in tricyclic terpane with long side chains, with a high level of gammacerane, showing dominant distribution of C27 sterane. High contents of gammacerane in organic matter show organic facies of source rocks in the saltwater sedimentary environment. That average hopane/sterane ratio is 0.59, showing that algae have made more contributions to organic matter than bacteria. And the high level of C27 steranes shows that algae are the main source of hydrocarbon precursors. The Ganquan Formation’s methylphenanthrene index, which is an effective molecular parameter index to measure thermal evolution of organic matter, ranges from 0.35 to 0.50, and the conversion of vitrinite reflectance Rc from it is within the range of 2.00-2.09, indicating that the Ganquan Formation source rocks are in the over-mature stage of thermal evolution.     

Illite Crystallinity Mapping of Very Low Grade Metamorphism of Triassic Metapelites in the Zoigê Area, Western China

X-ray diffraction methods for estimating the metamorphic grade of diagenetic, anchizone and epizone in metapelites are reviewed and applied to samples from a 7000?m+ borehole in western China and surface samples from the surrounding Zoigê area. Kübler’s illite crystallinity (IC) measurements provide more consistent results than calculated values of percentage of illite in the I/S mixed layers and percentage of I/S mixed layers. Down-borehole IC values display a typical burial metamorphic relationship between stratigraphic level and IC. A method for preparing very low grade metamorphic maps is described, and isograds plotted on a regional geological map at selected values of IC, delineating a high temperature diagenetic zone, an anchizone, and an epizone. The map shows that IC values are controlled by stratigraphic level in the north of the study area (i.e. burial metamorphism), and proximity to an igneous intrusive body in the south (i.e. contact metamorphism).