Hydrocarbon source rock potential in the southwestern Gulf of Suez graben: Insights from organic geochemistry and palynofacies studies on well samples from the Ras El Bahar Oilfield

Palynological and biomarker characteristics of organic facies recovered from Cretaceous–Miocene well samples in the Ras El Bahar Oilfield, southwest Gulf of Suez, and their correlation with lithologies, environments of deposition and thermal maturity have provided a sound basis for determining their source potential for hydrocarbons. In addition to palynofacies analysis, TOC/Rock-Eval pyrolysis, kerogen concentrates, bitumen extraction, carbon isotopes and saturated and aromatic biomarkers enable qualitative and quantitative assessments of sedimentary organic matter to be made. The results obtained from Rock-Eval pyrolysis and molecular biomarker data indicate that most of the samples come from horizons that have fair to good hydrocarbon generation potential in the study area. The Upper Cretaceous–Paleocene-Lower Eocene samples contain mostly Type-II to Type-III organic matter with the capability of generating oil and gas. The sediments concerned accumulated in dysoxic–anoxic marine environments. By contrast, the Miocene rocks yielded mainly Type-III and Type-II/III organic matter with mainly gas-generating potential. These rocks reflect deposition in a marine environment into which there was significant terrigenous input. Three palynofacies types have been recognized. The first (A) consists of Type-III gas-prone kerogen and is typical of the Early–Middle Miocene Belayim, Kareem and upper Rudeis formations. The second (B) has mixed oil and gas features and characterizes the remainder of the Rudeis Formation. The third association (C) is dominated by amorphous organic matter, classified as borderline Type-II oil-prone kerogen, and is typical of the Matulla (Turonian–Santonian) and Wata (Turonian) formations. Rock-Eval T_max, PI, hopane and sterane biomarkers consistently indicate an immature to early mature stage of thermal maturity for the whole of the studied succession.     

利用包裹体中气体地球化学特征与源岩生气模拟实验探讨鄂尔多斯盆地靖边气田天然气来源

鄂尔多斯盆地上、下古生界地层包裹体气体与气藏中气体地球化学性质对比表明:上古生界气藏中气体与包裹体中气体地球化学性质相似,气藏中气体的地球化学性质能代表成藏初期气体的原始特征;而下古生界气藏中气体与包裹体中气体的地球化学性质差别很大,下古生界气藏中的气体与下古生界源岩模拟生成气体也有非常大的差别。因此,下古生界气藏中的气体不能代表来自下古生界源岩产生天然气。结合前人关于奥陶系源岩的模拟生成天然气、包裹体中气体以及靖边气田天然气的地球化学特征,提出来源于奥陶系的天然气应具有δ¹³C₁<-38‰、δ¹³C₂<-28‰的特征。下古生界地层包裹体中气体与气藏中气体地球化学性质对比表明,下古生界气田天然气乙烷碳同位素的变化范围也比甲烷碳同位素的变化范围大很多,乙烷碳同位素不适合作为判断靖边气田天然气来源的标准。在此基础上,以上古生界天然气甲烷碳同位素的平均值(-32.90‰)与下古生界δ¹³C₁<-38‰天然气甲烷碳同位素的平均值(-39.04‰)分别作为上、下古生界来源天然气甲烷碳同位素的界限值,通过简单计算认为靖边气田大约85%的天然气来源于上古生界煤系。     

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

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

温度对马尾藻及其油页岩混合物热解产气特性的影响

【目的】研究马尾藻及其油页岩混合物在不同温度下的热解产气特性。【方法】利用燃烧烟气污染物测试实验台,测量马尾藻及其油页岩混合物在温度区间400℃至800℃下CO和H_2的排放特性,包括峰值浓度、峰值时间和平均浓度。【结果】马尾藻以及其油页岩混合物的热解过程可分为慢速析出、快速析出和降速三个阶段。马尾藻单独热解实验中,排放的CO体积分数峰值达到10 367×10~(-6)。温度的升高有利于马尾藻在热解中CO和H_2的析出,反应的开始时间和完成时间均有所提前。在马尾藻与油页岩混合物的热解中,H2的析出在700℃时达到最高(体积分数峰值为1 254×10~(-6))。油页岩的加入迟滞了CO和H_2的排放时间。【结论】油页岩的加入有效减少马尾藻热解过程中CO的排放并缩短反应时间,提高效率节省能源,马尾藻与油页岩的混合热解具有良好的应用前景。     

Tmax of asphaltenes: a parameter for oil maturity assessment

A new maturity parameter determined on both oil and bitumen samples, the asphaltene T_max, is proposed and discussed. This parameter could be very useful to address the maturity of the source rock. The asphaltene T_max is measured by programmed Rock-Eval pyrolysis, using a modified temperature program. Some phases of the experimental procedure, such as the asphaltene preparation and the Rock-Eval measurement substratum choice, are crucial in order to achieve reliable data. Laboratory simulations were carried out in order to assess the possible effects of both primary and secondary migration on asphaltene T_maxin the expelled oil: the original value of the asphaltene T_max in the bitumen is not substantially modified and it is very close to that measured on kerogen. Examples of the determination of asphaltene T_max on many samples, collected from different areas and with different organic matter composition, are given. Results show that T_max values from oil asphaltenes are reasonable indicators of source rock maturity.     

浅析长侧链正烷基二氢化茚、烷基噻吩类化合物的地质意义

从颗石藻、球等辫金藻３００℃热模拟产物中检测出长侧链正烷基二氢化茚、烷基噻吩类化合物。二氢化茚类化合物碳数分布范围为Ｃ１３￣Ｃ２５,ｎＣ１４烷基二氢化茚的相对含量最高,没检测到茚类化合物,说明二氢化茚和茚可以源自不同的先质,生活于咸水环境的低等生物是二氢化茚类化合物的母质之一。在３００℃热解产物中检测出以ｍ／ｚ１１１和１２５为基峰的两个系列的长侧链烷基噻吩,表明在中－高盐度环境下,藻类将无机硫转化     

鄂尔多斯盆地北部盒8段古含气范围的地球化学特征

鄂尔多斯盆地盒8段气藏为深盆气藏。通过分析鄂尔多斯盆地苏里格庙地区盒8段储集层中有机包裹体的丰度、储集层的热解特征,并结合该区的构造演化和生烃演化等特征,探讨了苏里格庙北部盒8段气层的古含气边界的变化情况及天然气的保存条件。认为盒8段气层的分布范围在早白垩世末期达到最大,后期的构造抬升对气水边界的影响并不大,这是因为构造抬升后,气源岩的压力下降,增加了煤系地层中吸附气的脱附能力,为气藏补充足够的气体,从而使得古气水边界的分布与现今的差别不大。地层倾角的大小能影响天然气的富集和保存,地层倾角相对平缓的斜坡部位利于天然气的聚集,是高产气区。     

煤系热解参数及其与有机碳的相关性

通过对煤系热解参数之间及其与有机碳含量的研究,分析了煤系热解参数与有机碳的关系,认为煤系热解参数及有机碳含量变化范围均较宽,不同热解参数之间具有一定的相关性。Ｓ１、Ｓ２和Ｓ１＋Ｓ２与有机碳具正相关关系,基本可以用于评价有机质丰度。热解类型指数Ｓ２／Ｓ３、氢指数、氧指数和Ｓ３明显地受有机碳的影响,尤其Ｓ２／Ｓ３受到的影响更为明显,这样就影响有机质类型的评价。给出了各参数间的相关关系式,这对于煤系烃源     

Study of Pyrolysis Kinetics of Asphaltenes in Silurian Oilsands in the Tarim Basin

It is a special petroleum geological phenomenon that Silurian oilsands are extensively distributed in the central and northeast Tarim basin. Some geochemical studies of the oilsands have been carried out, but there is still great controversy over the hydrocarbon-regenerating potential of oilsands and the possibility of Silurian oilsands as hydrocarbon source rocks. In this study, the kinetics of asphaltenes pyrolysis was directly used to simulate the potential of Silurian oilsands for regenerating hydrocarbons. According to the experimental results, combined with other related organic geochemical analysis, it is considered that Silurian oilsands in the Tarim basin have a high hydrocarbon-regenerating potential and are latent hydrocarbon source rocks.     

有机酸盐热模拟产物中芳烃馏分特征及其地质意义

为了研究有机酸盐生烃演化特征,对有机酸盐进行了270℃、320℃、360℃、400℃和430℃一系列温度点的热模拟,实验结果表明,有机酸盐会大量转化为酮系列化合物,酮化合物最大产率阶段为320℃到360℃,其中360℃时产率最高,其转化率可达有机酸盐加入量的39%,400℃后产率急剧下降。这表明脂肪酸镁向酮系列化合物的最大转化温度段稍早或一致于有机质大量生烃阶段,但该类化合物对热较敏感,高温下不易保存,因此酮作为评价有机酸盐生烃贡献强度的指标只能适合于中—低温演化阶段的烃源岩。