Marine hydrocarbon source rocks of the Upper Permian Longtan Formation and their contribution to gas accumulation in the northeastern Sichuan Basin,southwest China

Identification of the main hydrocarbon source rocks of the large Puguang gas field (northeastern Sichuan Basin, southwest China) has been the subject of much discussion in recent years. A key aspect has been the lack of a comprehensive understanding of the development of hydrocarbon source rocks of the Upper Permian Longtan Formation, which had been thought to contain mainly coal seams and thick carbonate layers. In this paper, based on geological data from more than ten wells and outcrops and their related mineralogy and geochemistry, we investigated the depositional environment and main factors controlling organic matter enrichment in the Longtan Formation. We propose a model which combines information on the geological environment and biological changes over time. In the model, organic matter from prolific phytoplankton blooms was deposited in quiescent platform interior sags with rising sea-levels. During the Longtan period, the area from Bazhong to Dazhou was a platform interior sag with relatively deep water and a closed environment, which was controlled by multiple factors including syngenetic fault settling, isolation of submarine uplifts and rising sea-levels leading to water column stratification. Although the bottom water was anoxic, the phytoplankton were able to bloom in the well-lit upper euphotic zone thus giving rise to a set of sapropelic black shales and marlstones containing mostly algal organic matter with minor terrestrial contributions. As a consequence, these rocks have a high hydrocarbon generation potentials and can be classified as high-quality source rocks. The area from Bazhong to Dazhou is a center of hydrocarbon generation, being the main source of reservoired paleo-oils and presently discovered as pyrobitumen in the Puguang gas field. The identification of these source rocks is very important to guide future petroleum exploration in the northeastern Sichuan Basin.     

Influence of natural fractures on gas accumulation in the Upper Triassic tight gas sandstones in the northwestern Sichuan Basin,China

The Upper Triassic Xujiahe Formation in the northwestern Sichuan Basin, China, is a typical tight gas sandstone reservoir that contains natural fractures and has an average porosity of 1.10% and air permeability less than 0.1 md because of compaction and cementation. According to outcrops, cores and image logs, three types of natural fractures, namely, tectonic, diagenetic and overpressure-related fractures, have developed in the tight gas sandstones. The tectonic fractures include small faults, intraformational shear fractures and horizontal shear fractures, whereas the diagenetic fractures mainly include bed-parallel fractures. According to thin sections, the microfractures also include tectonic, diagenetic and overpressure-related microfractures. The diagenetic microfractures consist of transgranular, intragranular and grain-boundary fractures. Among these fractures, intraformational shear fractures, horizontal shear fractures and small faults are predominant and significant for fluid movement. Based on the Monte Carlo method, these intraformational shear fractures and horizontal shear fractures improve the reservoir porosity and permeability, thus serving as an important storage space and primary fluid-flow channels in the tight sandstones. The small faults may provide seepage channels in adjacent layers by cutting through layers. In addition, these intragranular and grain-boundary fractures increase the connectivity of the tight gas sandstones by linking tiny pores. The tectonic microfractures improve the seepage capability of the tight gas sandstones to some extent. Low-dip angle fractures are more abundant in the T₃X³ member than in the T₃X² and T₃X⁴ members. The fracture intensities of the sandstones in the T₃X³ member are greater than those in the T₃X² and T₃X⁴ members. The fracture intensities do not always decrease with increasing bed thickness for the tight sandstones. When the bed thickness of the tight sandstones is less than 1.0 m, the fracture intensities increase with increasing bed thickness in the T₃X³ member. Fluid inclusion evidence and burial history analysis indicate that the tectonic fractures developed over three periods. The first period was at the end of the Triassic to the Early Jurassic. The tectonic fractures developed during oil generation but before the matrix's porosity and permeability reduced, which suggests that these tectonic fractures could provide seepage channels for oil migration and accumulation. The second period was at the end of the Cretaceous after the matrix's porosity and permeability reduced but during peak gas generation, which indicates that gas mainly migrated and accumulated in the tectonic fractures. The third period was at the end of the Eogene to the Early Neogene. The tectonic fractures could provide seepage channels for secondary gas migration and accumulation from the Upper Triassic Xujiahe Formation into the overlying Jurassic Formation.     

Reservoir origin and characterization of gas pools in intrusive rocks of the Yingcheng Formation,Songliao Basin,NE China

In 2013, the first discovery of gas pools in well LS 208 in intrusive rocks of the Songliao Basin (SB), NE China was made in the 2nd member of the Yingcheng Formation in the Yingtai rift depression, proving that intrusive rocks of the SB have the potential for gas exploration. However, the mechanisms behind the origin of reservoirs in intrusive rocks need to be identified for effective gas exploration. The gas pool in intrusive rocks can be characterized as a low-abundance, high-temperature, normal-pressure, methane-rich, and lithologic pool based on integrated coring, logging, seismic, and oil test methods. The intrusive rocks show primary and secondary porosities, such as shrinkage fractures (SF), spongy pores (SP), secondary sieve pores (SSP), and tectonic fractures (TF). The reservoir is of the fracture–pore type with low porosity and permeability. A capillary pressure curve for mercury intrusion indicates small pore-throat size, negative skewness, medium–high displacement pressure, and middle–low mercury saturation. The development of fractures was found to be related to the quenching effects of emplacement and tectonic inversion during the middle–late Campanian. SP and SSP formed during two phases. The first phase occurred during emplacement of the intrusive rock in the late Albian, when the intrusions underwent alteration by organic acids. The second phase occurred between the early Cenomanian and middle Campanian, when the intrusions underwent alteration by carbonic acid. The SF formed prior to oil charging, the SSP + SP formed during oil charging, and the TF formed during the middle–late Campanian and promoted the distribution of gas pools throughout the reservoir. The intrusive rocks in the SB and the adjacent basins were emplaced in the mudstone and coal units, and have great potential for gas exploration.     

下扬子烃源岩新层位——中下奥陶统

中下奥陶统通常主要作为储层看待,然而皖南地区的下奥陶统宁国组主要为一套富含笔石的灰黑色—黑色薄层硅质、碳质泥岩,属广海陆棚相至深海盆地相沉积;而中奥陶统胡乐组主要为一套同样富含笔石的深灰色薄层粉砂质泥岩和中厚层硅质泥岩,属深海陆棚相至盆地相沉积。二者分布范围相当,但宁国组厚度明显大于胡乐组。下奥陶统宁国组6个样品的岩石热解数据显示,恢复后的TOC均值为1.24%。根据上升流的识别标准,宁国组和胡乐组的岩性和岩相特征以及宁国组地球化学测试结果,推测皖南地区中下奥陶统可能是一套受上升流影响的中—好烃源岩。鉴于南黄海是下扬子的主体,建议加强南黄海中下奥陶统烃源岩的研究。     

Seismic and Petrophysical Relationships from UK Continental Shelf Rocks at Elevated Pressures

Abstract

There are few published seismic (P- and S-waves) properties for seafloor bedrocks. At low pressures (1 to 10 MPa), velocities and attenuations are determined mainly by open microcracks. At higher pressures, the microcracks close, and the velocities and attenuations depend primarily on the matrix porosity. We have investigated both the relationships between the acoustic, petrophysical, and geological properties of the rocks at 40 MPa pressure and the effect of microcracks on the acoustic properties at 10 MPa pressure. In this paper we discuss the former; the latter will be discussed separately.

P- and S-wave velocity and attenuation measurements were carried out on a suite of seabed sedimentary and igneous rocks at effective pressures from 10 to 40 MPa at ultrasonic frequencies. The porosities and permeabilities of the rocks ranged from 0% to 32% and 0 to 110 mDarcy, respectively. Characterization of the rocks revealed that most of the sandstones have a substantial clay content (kaolinite, illite, and chlorite) and fractures. Most of the igneous rocks are chloritized.

The seismic properties of the rocks are markedly lower than those of similar continental rocks because of the microporosity formed by the alteration of feldspars, micas, and mafic minerals to clays (e.g., chloritization of pyroxenes) and the corresponding reduction of the elastic moduli. The results of this study suggest that the values of velocities and quality factors used for ocean acoustic propagation models are lower than normally assumed.     

First results from the North Iceland experiment

Between June 2004 and September 2004 a temporary seismic network was installed on the northern insular shelf of Iceland and onshore in north Iceland. The seismic setup aimed at resolving the subsurface structure and, thus, the geodynamical transition from Icelandic crust to typical oceanic crust along Kolbeinsey Ridge. The experiment recorded about 1,000 earthquakes. The region encloses the Tjörnes Fracture Zone containing the Husavik–Flatey strike-slip fault and the extensional seismic Grimsey Lineament. Most of the seismicity occurs in swarms offshore. Preliminary results reveal typical mid-ocean crust north of Grimsey and a heterogeneous structure with major velocity anomalies along the seismic lineaments and north–south trending subsurface features. Complementary bathymetric mapping highlight numerous extrusion features along the Grimsey Lineament and Kolbeinsey Ridge. The seismic dataset promises to deliver new insights into the tectonic framework for earthquakes in an extensional transform zone along the global mid-ocean ridge system.     

Seismic fracture evaluation of diaphragm joints in welded beam-to-box column moment connections

Steel box columns are widely used in steel building structures in Taiwan due to their dual strong axes. To transfer the beam-end moment to the column, diaphragm plates of the same thickness and elevations as the beam flanges are usually welded inside the box column. The electro-slag welding (ESW) process is widely used to connect the diaphragms to the column flanges in Taiwan because of its convenience and efficiency. However, ESW may increase the hardness of the welds and heat-affected zones (HAZs), while reducing the Charpy-V notch strength in the HAZ. This situation can cause premature fracture of the diaphragm-to-column flange welds before a large plastic rotation is developed in the beam-to-box column joints. To quantify the critical eccentricity and the effectiveness of fracture prediction, this study uses fracture prediction models and finite element model (FEM) analysis to correlate the test results. In this study, two beam-to-box column connection subassembly tests are conducted with different loading protocols and ESW chamber shapes. To implement a fracture prediction model, the material parameters are established from circumferential notched tensile tests and FEM analysis. Test results indicate that the fracture instances can be predicted on the basis of the cumulative plastic deformation in the HAZs. Analytical results indicate that fracture instances and locations are sensitive to the relative locations of the ESW joints and beam flange. Tests also confirm that the possible fracture of the diaphragm-to-column flange joints can be mitigated by enlarging the chamber of the ESW joint.     

准噶尔盆地火山岩分类研究与应用

岩石分类一直是人们长期探索的课题。由于油气勘探的需要,针对储层研究的盆地火山岩分类已经成为火成岩研究的重要新方向。在综合分析国内外火山岩分类研究的基础上,根据3条野外剖面和21口钻井岩心岩屑的观察描述、岩石薄片鉴定和化学成分分析等资料,依照结构-成分-成因分类原则,建立了适于储层评价的准噶尔盆地石炭系火山岩及其他岩类的岩性分类体系和识别标准。将本区火山岩划分为火山熔岩、火山碎屑熔岩、火山碎屑岩、沉火山碎屑岩等4大类;同时将盆地内与火山岩共生的其他岩类也进行分类和识别,共划分出8大类45种基本类型。与我国东部的中新生代盆地火山岩不同,本区古生代火山岩普遍遭受较长期风化改造和蚀变作用,常见有绿泥石化、碳酸盐化和黏土矿化。这些蚀变会影响到TAS图解岩性判别的结果,因此笔者探讨了蚀变条件下的岩石识别和定名方法。本文分类体系针对火山岩储层研究,结果显示,基于该分类体系岩性与储集空间的类型及其变化规律呈现明显相关性,不同岩性的储集空间类型、组合方式和发育程度存在差异,由此可指导火山岩油气勘探。     

阿尔金且末—若羌地区新元古代花岗质岩石成因及其对Rodinia超大陆汇聚时限的约束

阿尔金造山带广泛发育新元古代花岗质岩浆岩,形成年龄为800~1000 Ma,可能是Rodinia超大陆汇聚阶段的产物,因此新元古代花岗质岩浆的研究对探讨阿尔金造山带的演化过程具有重要意义。选取南阿尔金地块且末—若羌地区的花岗质岩石为研究对象,开展了详细的岩石学、岩石地球化学及地质年代学研究。结果表明：①且末—若羌地区3类花岗质岩石的轻稀土元素相对于重稀土元素富集,显示右倾配分模式,具明显的负Eu异常（δEu=0.14~0.6）,富集Th、U、K等大离子亲石元素,亏损Ba、Ti、Nb、Ta、Sr等高场强元素;②锆石U-Pb年龄为899~915 Ma。综合区域地质演化历史表明,且末—若羌地区3类花岗质岩石形成于同碰撞构造环境,是Rodinia超大陆汇聚阶段板块之间俯冲、碰撞的产物。     

东昆仑夏日哈木镁铁质-超镁铁质岩体岩石成因与拉张型岛弧背景

赋存超大型镍矿床的夏日哈木Ⅰ号岩体位于东昆仑造山带西段之东昆中早古生代岛弧带。锆石U-Pb年龄为439Ma,由分属橄榄岩相、辉石岩相、辉长-苏长岩相的多种岩石类型组成。堆晶结构与堆晶层理发育,属岩床状层状岩体。不平衡结晶作用在岩浆演化过程中居于主导地位。矿物结晶顺序为尖晶石/橄榄石→斜方辉石→单斜辉石→单斜辉石+斜长石→褐色普通角闪石。各种岩石均富集轻稀土元素和大离子亲石元素,亏损Nb、Ta、Ti、P,显示了岛弧环境岩浆岩的地球化学特征。Nd、Sr同位素组成均属富集型地幔范畴和EMⅡ型趋势。矿区内的Ⅲ号与Ⅳ号岩体属蛇绿岩套,证明在昆中岛弧带内部存在岩石圈破裂带。区域构造格局与演化历史以及区域地球物理场的研究表明,东昆中岛弧带属拉张型岛弧带。据此,可以认定拉张型岛弧环境是全球范围内第五种有利于形成镍矿床的构造环境,中古生代是我国第三个镍矿主成矿期。