Discovery of “Enveloping Surface of Oil and Gas Overpressure Migration” in the Songliao Basin and its bearings on hydrocarbon migration and accumulation mechanisms

The Fuyang oil layer of the Songliao Basin is a tight and low-permeability sandstone pay zone formed in the fluvial-shallow water delta environment.In the formation are mainly lithologic reservoir and tight reservoir.The lacustrine-mudstone of K2qn1 is a good source rock and also acts as a good regional cap rock.The Fuyang oil layer is a typical upper-source and lower-reservoir pattern distributed in a large area.Based on a large number of exploration and development data, a macroscopic enveloping surface is found developed in the Fuyang oil layer, which is below K2qn1.The effective reservoirs within the enveloping surface are commonly saturated with oil, and below the enveloping surface are mainly water layers.The distance from the enveloping surface to the bottom of the source rock is usually 100-350 m and at most 550 m.Through the research of the distribution patterns and the physical properties of the sandbodies above or beneath the source rock, it is concluded that: 1) the enveloping surface is the boundary of the overpressure hydrocarbon migration; 2) the spacial distribution of the pressure release beds controls the direction and the distance of the overpressure hydrocarbon migration; 3) tight oil reservoirs and lenticular oil reservoirs are mainly formed inside the envelope surface, whereas, conventional reservoirs are formed outside the envelope surface as a result of the buoyancy hydrocarbon migration.The discovery of the "overpressure hydrocarbon migration enveloping surface" and the concepts of overpressure hydrocarbon migration and buoyancy hydrocarbon migration not only challenge the old notion that "hydrocarbon migrates along the faults and is distributed along fault belts" in the Fuyang oil layer of the Songliao Basin, give a new explanation to the long-distance-oil-downwards migration (hundreds of meters) and expand the exploration potential of the Fuyang oil layer, and provide a rational guidance to the exploration of syncline plays, but also better categorize tight oil/gas and conventional reservoirs in all of the key elements related to hydrocarbon migration, accumulation, reservoir characteristics and oil and gas spatial distribution.     

Analysis of main controlling factors for hydrocarbon accumulation in central rift zones of the Hailar-Tamtsag Basin using a fault-caprock dual control mode

The Hailar-Tamtsag Basin is a typical rift basin where two sets of regional caprocks are developed,i.e.,mudstone caprocks(containing a small amount of tuff)developed in strong rifting stage and fault-depression stage,respectively.The caprocks have a cumulative thickness of 50-120 m in general,and a single-layer thickness of 20-50 m,interbedded with sandstone about 1-2 m thick.The large set of mudstone is distributed continuously,as pure mudstone caprock.Forty-three mudstone and tuff samples were taken to perform displacement pressure test with our independently developed displacement pressure tester.Test result shows that the displacement pressure is 0.04-10.00 MPa,which is equivalent to 0.09-20.01 MPa after being corrected to the actual burial depth.As the burial depth increases,the displacement pressure rises gradually,and is 1-10 times greater than that of oil-bearing sandstone or conglomerate reservoir at the same burial depth.The difference between displacement pressure of mudstone caprock and sandstone or conglomerate reservoir increases greatly if the burial depth exceeds 1000 m.Because of the displacement pressure difference between caprock and reservoir,the maximum height of hydrocarbon column sealed by the caprock ranges from 300 m to 2000 m,much higher than the height of the trap closure at the same burial depth.No hydrocarbons will leak through such caprocks.Analysis of the reservoir GOI,homogeneous temperature,and crude maturity of both deep and shallow reservoirs in Well Wu-20 in the Wuerxun Depression shows that Damoguaihe II Member reservoir is a secondary reservoir developed during adjustment of early reservoir.It is mainly distributed in inverted structures.Faulting is one of the main factors breaking the integrity of caprocks.Three kinds of faults are often related to the migration of hydrocarbons across regional caprocks:the first type refers to the positive inverted faults breaking the early sealing conditions and making the hydrocarbons accumulated in the early period re-migration;the second type refers to the faults with shear mudstone smear structures which lose their continuity and open vertically when the fault throws exceed 5 times of the mudstone thickness;the third type refers to the normal faults developed in the structural inversion stage,which have a typical cataclastic structure and are easy to cause vertical migration of hydrocarbons.Hydrocarbon enriched horizons of the rift basins are co-controlled by "fault-caprock".Specifically,95% of the geological reserve is controlled by regional caprocks,and only 5% is controlled by open faults,secondary oil/gas reservoirs are developed over regional caprocks.     

The effectiveness assessment of gas accumulation processes in Kuqa depression,Tarim Basin,Northwest China

The effectiveness of gas accumulation processes is controlled by several main geological factors in-cluding charging force,features of gas conduit,sealing properties of caprock,etc. Based on the analysis and statistics of the large-medium size gas accumulations in China,the main parameters,in-cluding the excess pressure difference between the source rock and reservoir bed,the area coefficient of the gas conduit,and the thickness or displacement pressure of caprock,and the criteria for the as-sessment of gas accumulation processes have been established. Using the parameters and the criteria above,the effectiveness of gas accumulation processes in the Kuqa depression was quantitatively evaluated. By integrating the parameters of the excess pressure difference between the source rock and reservoir bed,the area coefficient of fault conduit system,and the caprock thickness in gas charging period,a comprehensive assessment of the effectiveness of gas accumulation in the Kuqa depression has been made. The result reveals that the Tubei-Dawan area,the Central Kelasu area and the Dongqiu-Dina area are three highly-effective areas for gas accumulation in the Kuqa depression.     

Controlling of cements and physical property of sandstone by fault as observed in well Xia503 of Huimin sag, Linnan sub-depression

Cement content of carbonate in tight sandstone near section is much higher than that of the normal sandstones far away from the fault of well Xia503,in the Huimin sag in Linnan sub-depression.In order to understand the origin and its impact on fault sealing,analyses of the whole-rock minerals,casting thin sections,cathodoluminescence,isotope and physical properties are conducted on cores from well Xia503.It is found that 13C varies from 0.1‰to 0.6‰with the average value of 0.42‰,18O varies from 13.5‰to 12.3‰with the average of 13.1‰,and C–O isotope plotting points are distributed in the low to moderate temperature area of the hydrothermal dolomite.According to the occupied relationship,cathodoluminescence,and C–O isotope feature,the carbonate cementation could be divided into four stages:calcites,dolomite,ankerite,and ferrocalcite.It is discovered that the carbonate cementation is negatively related to reservoir physical property,with the porosity of 4.8%,permeability of 0.37 mD,and displacement pressure of 1.97 MPa in the tight sandstone,which have increased by almost one order of magnitude compared to the porosity of 14.3%,permeability of 3.73 mD,and displacement pressure of 0.27 MPa in the normal sandstone,which is far away from the fault.Regardless of the lithology of the counterpart wall of the fault,only the displacement pressure difference caused by carbonate cementation between the tight sandstone and the normal sandstone could seal 41 m high oil column.     

The special sealing mechanism of caprock for Quaternary biogenetic gas in Sanhu area,Qaidam Basin,China

The Quaternary biogenetic gas reservoirs in the east of Qaidam Basin have many characteristics such as late forming time,shallow burial depth,low diagenetic grade,high porosity and high permeability and so on.It cannot be considered as caprock according to the traditional evaluation criterion.However, the large scale and high efficient biogenetic gas reservoirs of the Qaidam Basin are really formed under these kinds of caprocks,so it does have some specialty in its sealing mechanism.Aiming at the special sealing mechanism,some simulating experiments have been done.The research results show that the sealing ability of biogenetic gas caprock is related with water saturation,the caprock that is saturated with salt water can effectively block seepage and diffusion.Furthermore,the multiple reservoir-caprock groups have accumulated sealing effect,causing the formation of big gas fields.The evaluation method with traditional caprock parameters cannot be adopted in evaluating the study area.     

Characteristics of petroleum accumulation in syncline of the Songliao basin and discussion on its accumulation mechanism

The relation between oil and water in reservoirs with low and ultra-low permeability is very complicated. Gravitational separation of oil and water is not obvious. Normal reservoirs are located in depression and structural high spot, oil and water transitions are located in their middle. Stagnation is the key fact of oil-forming reservoir in the axis of a syncline based on the research of oil, gas and water migration manner, dynamics and non-Darcy flow in the Songliao basin. In low and ultra-low permeable reservoir, gas and water migrate easily through pore throats because their molecules are generally smaller than the pore throats; but the minimum diameter of oil droplets is larger than pore throats and they must be deformed to go through. Thus, gas and water migrate in advance of oil, and oil droplets remain behind. Pressure differential and the buoyancy force in a syncline reservoir are a main fluid driving force; and capillary force is the main resistance to flow. When the dynamics force is less than resistance, oil is immobile. When the buoyancy force is less than the capillary force, a gravitational separation of oil and water does not occur. The reservoir in the mature source rock of a syncline area with the low and ul- tra-low permeability belongs to an unconventional petroleum reservoir.     

Cracking conditions of crude oil under different geological environments

There are mainly 3 kinds of existing states of oil generating from source rocks,that is,dispersive liquid hydrocarbon inside of source rock,dispersive liquid hydrocarbon outside of source rock and concentrated liquid hydrocarbon outside of source rock.Because of the differences in thermal history and medium conditions around,and the interaction of organic and inorganic matter,the liquid hydrocarbon with 3 kinds of existing state has different cracking conditions.The gas generation dynamics experiments of crude oil matching different mediums indicate that the distribution of activation energy of methane changes a lot according to medium difference.The carbonate has a main influence on oil cracking conditions and can largely reduce its activation energy,which reflects the lower cracking temperature of crude oil.The mudstone takes a second place and the sandstone is the smallest.The catalytic cracking function to the oil of the carbonate,of the mudstone and of the sandstone changes weaken in turn.The corresponding Ro values of main gas generation period in different mediums are as follows:1.5%―3.8%with pure crude oil,1.2%―3.2%with dispersive crude oil in carbonate,1.3%~3.4% with dispersive crude oil in mudstone and 1.4%―3.6%with dispersive crude oil in sandstone.The influence of pressure to crude oil cracking is relatively complicated.In the low heating speed condition, pressure restrains the oil cracking and gas generation,but in the high heating speed condition,pressure has an indistinctive influence to the oil cracking and gas generation.Pressure also makes a different effort in different evolvement stage.Taking the middle and lower Cambrian source rocks in the Tarim Basin as an example,primary oil generating quantity is 2232.24×10 8 t,residual oil and oil cracking gas quantity is 806.21×10 8 t and 106.95×10 12 m 3 respectively.     

Quantitative studies of hydrocarbon loss of the Silurian bitumen sandstone in the Tarim Basin

The evolution of Tarim Basin experienced several tectonic movements,of which Caledonian movement caused a serious damage to reservoirs of Silurian. The earlier reservoirs size and the later hydrocarbon loss are two key factors to exploration prospect of Silurian. On the basis of net thickness of bituminous sandstone and recovery coefficient of crude oil converting to bitumen,the scale of the hydrocarbon loss of palaeo-accumulation in bitumen sandstone of Silurian was calculated (86.30×108t). The deter-mination of net thickness of bitumen sandstone was completed mainly by several methods,such as physical property demarcation,observing lithology,grains with oil inclusion (GOI) technology,and quantitative grains fluorescence (QGF) technology. The samples of black sandstone and white sand-stone were collected and compared by means of the methods mentioned above. The results showed that there was little hydrocarbon,or none,in the white sandstone. The recovery coefficient was ob-tained by the analyses of plentiful physical parameters of crude oil and bitumen sandstone,based on the hypothesis that nonhydrocarbon compounds and bitumen were invariable in the process of bitu-men forming. The calculated result,which is more scientific and actual,indicates the exploration pros-pect is more promising in Silurian of the Tarim Basin.     

Accumulation characteristics and the main controlling factors of Lunnan multilayer oil province,Tarim Basin,China

Lunnan region is a large-scale paleohigh with many coexisting oil and gas bearing series.At present, about 2 billions tons of proved,probable and possible oil and gas reverses have been proved there.Eight oil and gas bearing series have been found in the Ordovician,Carboniferous,Triassic and Jurassic of Lunnan region,they all bear the characteristics of large-scale multilayer oil-gas province.Ordovician is the main reservoir series where over 0.8 billion tons of oil geologic reserves were discovered,and a super large-scale marine carbonate oil and gas field has formed.Reservoir space of the carbonate reservoirs is mainly composed of dissolved hole,dissolved pore and fracture in Lunnan paleo-burial hill.Generally, dissolved holes are widely distributed among them.Reservoir developments are mainly controlled by karstification and tectonic disruption.Due to the similar geochemical characters,the Ordovician,Carboniferous,Triassic and Jurassic oil and gas reservoirs present the same oil source rock of Mid-Upper Ordovician,the latter except Ordovician are mostly of secondary oil and gas reservoirs migrated vertically by faults during the process of multiple phase tectonic movement,adjustment and reconstruction. Lunnan composite oil and gas accumulation region is situated in the vicinity of large-scale hydrocarbon generation depressions in three directions,ample oil and gas from hydrocarbon generation depressions supplied the adjacent oil and gas reservoirs once.Hereby,the succeed paleohigh is the long-term hydrocarbon accumulation region,which is favor for the formations of high quality reservoirs,fault systems and huge-scale composite oil and gas accumulation.     

The scientific connotation of oil and gas formations under deep fluids and organic-inorganic interaction

As a relatively stable craton block in the earth system, the petroliferous basin is influenced by the evolution of the earth system from the early development environment of source rocks, hydrocarbon formation, and reservoir dissolution to hydrocarbon accumulation or destruction. As a link between the internal and external factors of the basin, deep fluids run through the whole process of hydrocarbon formation and accumulation through organic-inorganic interaction. The nutrients carried by deep fluids promote the bloom of hydrocarbon-generating organisms and extra addition of carbon and hydrogen source, which are beneficial to the development of high-quality source rock and enhancement of the hydrocarbon generation potential. The energy carried by the deep fluid promotes the early maturation of the source rock and facilitates the hydrocarbon generation by activation and hydrogenation in high-mature hydrocarbon sources. The dissolution alteration of carbonate rocks and clastic reservoirs by CO_2-rich deep fluids improves the deep reservoir space, thus extending the oil and gas reservoir space into greater depth. The extraction of deeply retained crude oil by deep supercritical CO_2 and the displacement of CH_4 in shale have both improved the hydrocarbon fluidity in deep and tight reservoirs. Simultaneously, the energy and material carried by deep fluids(C, H, and catalytic substances) not only induce inorganic CH_4 formation by Fischer-Tropsch(F-T) synthesis and "hydrothermal petroleum" generation from organic matter by thermal activity but also cause the hydrothermal alteration of crude oil from organic sources. Therefore, from the perspective of the interaction of the earth's sphere, deep fluids not only input a significant amount of exogenous C and H into sedimentary basins but also improve the reservoir space for oil and gas, as well as their enrichment and accumulation efficiencies.     

Geochemical evolution during the cracking of crude oil into gas under different pressure systems

Two comparative simulation experiments(a normal atmospheric-pressure opening system and a 20 MPa closed system)were conducted to study the geochemical evolution of n-alkane,sterane,and terpane biomarkers in the process of oil cracking into gas under different pressures.With an initial experimental temperature set at 300°C,the temperature was increased to 650°C at a heating rate of 30°C/h.The products were tested every 50°C starting at 300°C,and a pressure of 20 MPa was achieved using a water column.The low-maturity crude oil sample was from the Paleogene system in the Dongying sag in eastern China.The threshold temperature obtained for the primary oil cracking process in both pressure systems was 450°C.Before the oil was cracked into gas,some components,including macromolecular n-alkanes,were cracked into medium-or small-sized n-alkanes.The secondary oil cracking of heavy hydrocarbon gases of C2–5to methane mainly occurred between 550°C to 650°C,and the parameters Ln(C1/C2)and Ln(C1/C3),as well as the dry coefficients,increased.Overpressure inhibited the oil cracking process.In the 20 MPa system,the oil conversion rate decreased,the temperature threshold for gas generation rose,and oil cracking was inhibited.Compared with the normal pressure system,high-carbon n-alkanes and other compounds in the 20 MPa pressure system were reserved.Furthermore,the parameters∑C21-/∑22+,Ln(C1/C2),and Ln(C1/C3),as well as the dry coefficients,decreased within the main temperature range.During secondary oil cracking(550°C to 600°C),the Ph/nC18and Pr/nC17decreased.High pressure influenced the evolution of the biomarkers Ts and Tm,C31homohopane,C29sterane,and their related maturity parameters to different extents during oil cracking under different temperature ranges.     

Nitrogen isotopic geochemical characteristics of crude oils in several basins of China

Nitrogen occupies a high content in crust and in atmospheric circle. It is one of the main elements in organism and an important element in sedimentary circle. Although nitrogen is little in crude oil, to a cer-tain degree, it influences the physical and chemical properties of oil, such as viscosity and density[1]. In reservoir the nitrogen-bearing compounds can form ion bonds or hydrogen bonds with substances on rock and form van der Vaals’ force among moleculae so they affect and alter the …     

Formation mechanism and geochemical characteristics of shallow natural gas in heavy oil province,China

Shallow gas reservoirs are distributed widely in Chinese heavy oil-bearing basins.At present,shallow gas resources have opened up giant potentials.The previous researches indicate the intimate genetic relationship between shallow gas and heavy oil.Shallow gas resources are generated from crude oil degraded by anaerobic microscopic organism,it belongs to biogenic gas family of secondary genesis, namely heavy oil degraded gas.Shallow gas resources are usually distributed in the upward position or the vicinity of heavy oil reservoirs.They are mainly of dry gas,which are composed of methane and only tiny C2 heavy hydrocarbon and relatively higher contents of nitrogen gas.Generally,methane isotopes are light,whose values are between biogenic gas and thermal cracking gas.Ethane isotopes are heavy,which mixed possibly with thermogenic gas.Carbon dioxide bear the characteristics of very heavy carbon isotope,so carbon isotopic fractionation effects are very obvious on the process of microscopic organism degradation crude oil.The heavy oil degraded gas formation,a very complex geological,geochemical and microbiological geochemical process,is the result of a series of reactions of organic matter-microbes and water-hydrocarbon,which is controlled by many factors.     

利用核磁共振测井资料构造储层毛管压力曲线的新方法及其应用

By analyzing hundreds of capillary pressure curves, the controlling factors of shape and type of capillary pressure curves are found and a novel method is presented to construct capillary pressure curves by using reservoir permeability and a synthesized index. The accuracy of this new method is verified by mercury-injection experiments. Considering the limited quantity of capillary pressure data, a new method is developed to extract the Swanson parameter from the NMR T2 distribution and estimate reservoir permeability. Integrating with NMR total porosity, reservoir capillary pressure curves can be constructed to evaluate reservoir pore structure in the intervals with NMR log data. An in-situ example of evaluating reservoir pore structure using the capillary pressure curves by this new method is presented. The result shows that it accurately detects the change in reservoir pore structure as a function of depth.     

Evaluation of hydrocarbon generation of the Xiamaling Formation shale in Zhangjiakou and its significance to the petroleum geology in North China

The semi-closed pyrolysis simulation system under constant pressure was conducted to explore the characteristics and mechanisms of hydrocarbon generation from Xiamaling Formation shale in Xiahuayuan,North China.The experiment results indicate the oil generated by the Xiamaling Formation shale in oil window should be classified as "aromatic-intermediate" type,whereas the decreasing of dry coefficient can be ascribed to the cracking of residual bitumen in source rock in the stage of high to post maturity.The amount of hydrocarbon gas generated from residual bitumen can be up to 1-2 m3 per ton rock in high to post mature stage by calculating hydrogen contents in the kerogen,the expelled hydrocarbon,and the residual hydrocarbon.This reveals the importance of residual bitumen as a gas source during high to post mature stage of the kerogen evolution,and also as the broad exploration prospect of these gases.This research highlights the attention should be paid to oil/gas reservoirs sourced from residual bitumen of organic-rich source rock in high mature stage,even the primary oil/gas reservoirs considered as the main exploration targets in middle-upper Proterozoic sediments of North China.     

Generalized effective medium resistivity model for low resistivity reservoir

With the advancement in oil exploration,producible oil and gas are being found in low resistivity reservoirs,which may otherwise be erroneously thought as water zones from their resistivity.However,the evaluation of low resistivity reservoirs remains difficult from log interpretation.Since low resistivity in hydrocarbon bearing sands can be caused by dispersed clay,laminated shale,conductive matrix grains,microscopic capillary pores and high saline water,a new resistivity model is required for more accurate hydrocarbon saturation prediction for low resistivity formations.Herein,a generalized effective medium resistivity model has been proposed for low resistivity reservoirs,based on experimental measurements on artificial low resistivity shaly sand samples,symmetrical anisotropic effective medium theory for resistivity interpretations,and geneses and conductance mechanisms of low resistivity reservoirs.By analyzing effects of some factors on the proposed model,we show theoretically the model can describe conductance mechanisms of low resistivity reservoirs with five geneses.Also,shale distribution largely affects water saturation predicted by the model.Resistivity index decreases as fraction and conductivity of laminated shale,or fraction of dispersed clay,or conductivity of rock matrix grains increases.Resistivity index decreases as matrix percolation exponent,or percolation rate of capillary bound water increases,and as percolation exponent of capillary bound water,or matrix percolation rate,or free water percolation rate decreases.Rock sample data from low resistivity reservoirs with different geneses and interpretation results for log data show that the proposed model can be applied in low resistivity reservoirs containing high salinity water,dispersed clay,microscopic capillary pores,laminated shale and conductive matrix grains,and thus is considered as a generalized resistivity model for low resistivity reservoir evaluation.     

High molecular weight (C_(35)~+) n-alkanes of high-waxy condensate and its source kitchen orientation in the Qianmiqiao burial-hill zone, Bohai Gulf Basin

Copyright by Science in China Press 2004 High-waxy condensate is a kind of special hy-drocarbon resources, i.e., the high molecular weight (HMW) alkanes, which usually appear in a solid wax fraction under normal temperature and pressure, but are dissolved by hydrocarbon gas as a high-waxy condensate of single gaseous phase under subsurface high temperature and pressure. Nevertheless, once produced in an oil-gas well, the subsurface condensate flows into the well-bottom, and then immediately …     

Use of brGDGTs in surface geochemical exploration for petroleum —A case study of oil and gas fields in the Jiyang depression

Branched glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers(brGDGTs),likely produced by bacteria in soil and peat,are widely distributed,easily detected,newly adopted biomarker compounds.In this study,brGDGTs were used to explore the relationship between the absolute abundance of brGDGTs and the distribution of oil and gas fields in the Duoshiqiao area of the Jiyang depression.The results showed that the concentrations at the Xiakou fault and in the oil and gas fields were obviously higher than those in the contrast areas.The clear relationship among the concentration of brGDGTs,the distribution of oil and gas fields,and the acidolysis hydrocarbon(ethane)indicates that the concentration effectively responds to hydrocarbon seeps from the oil and gas field below.brGDGTs may become some of the most important indicators in surface geochemical prospecting for oil and gas.     

Numerical analysis of synthetic granulate deposition in a physical model study

The current study focuses on the application of a three-dimensional numerical model for the prediction of morphological bed changes. The sediment deposition in a reservoir during a 10-year-flood was investigated and the results of the simulation were validated with data derived from a physical model study. Because of the small grain sizes in the prototype, synthetic granulate was used in the physical model. The numerical computation domain was a reproduction of the physical model, including the grain sizes and the density of the particles, in order to ensure comparability. The CFD code SSIIM, which solves the RANS-equations in three-dimensions, was used for the simulations. The sediment transport in SSIIM is divided into suspended sediment transport, computed by solving the convection-diffusion equation, and bed-load transport, calculated by an empirical formula. The results of the numerical simulation correspond well to the results of the physical model study. The simulated location and the pattern of the sediment deposition in the reservoir are an accurate representation of the observed distribution in the physical model.     

Crude-oil hydrocarbon composition characteristics and oil viscosity prediction in the northern Songliao Basin

Crude oil hydrocarbon composition characteristics and oil viscosity prediction are important bases in petroleum exploration.A total of 54 oil/heavy-oil samples and 17 oil sands were analyzed and quantified using both comprehensive 2D gas chromatography(GC×GC)and comprehensive 2D gas chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometry(GC×GC/TOFMS).The results show that crude oil in the West slope is mainly heavy oil and its hydrocarbon composition is characterized overall by paraffinsmono-aromaticsnaphthenesnon-hydrocarbonsdi-aromaticstri-aromaticstetra-aromatics.Aromatics are most abundant and non-hydrocarbons are least abundant,whilst content differences among paraffins,naphthenes,aromatics,and non-hydrocarbons are less than 15%.There are two types of heavy oil,secondary type and mixing type.Biodegradation is the main formation mechanism of heavy oil.Biodegradation levels cover light biodegradation,moderate biodegradation,and severe biodegradation.With increasing biodegradation,paraffin content decreases while contents of aromatics and nonhydrocarbons increase.In contrast,naphthene content increases first and then decreases with increasing biodegradation.In severe biodegradation stage,naphthenes decrease more quickly than aromatics and non-hydrocarbons.This provides a new method for studying oil/heavy-oil biodegradation mechanism and biodegradation resistance of different hydrocarbons at different biodegradation stages.In the Longhupao-Daan terrace and Qijia-Gulong depression,most crude oil is conventional oil.Its composition is dominated by paraffins with the lowest content of aromatics.In some casual oil wells from the Longhupao-Daan terrace,crude oil from Saertu oil reservoirs is moderately biodegraded whereas crude oil from Putaohua oil reservoir is lightly biodegraded.Chemical parameters using saturate hydrocarbons and aromatics are usually not suitable for determining organic type and thermal maturity of biodegraded oil,especially of moderately or severely biodegraded oil,whilst Ts/(Ts+Tm)ratio can be used to determine thermal maturity of both conventional crude oil and heavy oil.