Thermal maturity and organic composition of Pennsylvanian coals and carbonaceous shales, north-central Texas: Implications for coalbed gas potential

Thermal maturity was determined for about 120 core, cuttings, and outcrop samples to investigate the potential for coalbed gas resources in Pennsylvanian strata of north-central Texas. Shallow (< 600 m; 2000 ft) coal and carbonaceous shale cuttings samples from the Middle-Upper Pennsylvanian Strawn, Canyon, and Cisco Groups in Archer and Young Counties on the Eastern Shelf of the Midland basin (northwest and downdip from the outcrop) yielded mean random vitrinite reflectance (R_o) values between about 0.4 and 0.8%. This range of R_o values indicates rank from subbituminous C to high volatile A bituminous in the shallow subsurface, which may be sufficient for early thermogenic gas generation. Near-surface (< 100 m; 300 ft) core and outcrop samples of coal from areas of historical underground coal mining in the region yielded similar R_o values of 0.5 to 0.8%. Carbonaceous shale core samples of Lower Pennsylvanian strata (lower Atoka Group) from two deeper wells (samples from ~ 1650 m; 5400 ft) in Jack and western Wise Counties in the western part of the Fort Worth basin yielded higher R_o values of about 1.0%. Pyrolysis and petrographic data for the lower Atoka samples indicate mixed Type II/Type III organic matter, suggesting generated hydrocarbons may be both gas- and oil-prone. In all other samples, organic material is dominated by Type III organic matter (vitrinite), indicating that generated hydrocarbons should be gas-prone. Individual coal beds are thin at outcrop (< 1 m; 3.3 ft), laterally discontinuous, and moderately high in ash yield and sulfur content. A possible analog for coalbed gas potential in the Pennsylvanian section of north-central Texas occurs on the northeast Oklahoma shelf and in the Cherokee basin of southeastern Kansas, where contemporaneous gas-producing coal beds are similar in thickness, quality, and rank.     

Confocal laser scanning microscopy and Raman imagery of ancient microscopic fossils

Among all problems confronting the study of ancient permineralized (petrified) microscopic fossils, two stand out, the need for (1) accurate documentation of their three-dimensional morphology, and (2) direct analysis of their chemical composition and that of their surrounding mineral matrices. To address these problems we demonstrate the use of two techniques that we have recently introduced to Precambrian paleobiology: confocal laser scanning microscopy and Raman imagery. These techniques, both of which are non-intrusive and non-destructive, can provide data by which to characterize, in situ and at micron-scale resolution, the cellular and organismal morphology of thin section-embedded organic-walled fossils. In addition, Raman imagery provides direct analyses of the molecular–structural composition of the kerogenous components of such fossils and of their surrounding matrices, and a means to assess quantitatively the geochemical maturity of the preserved organics. Use of these techniques for studies of ancient microscopic fossils can provide information in three dimensions at high spatial resolution about their morphology and cellular anatomy, taphonomy and fidelity of preservation, composition and mode of preservation, and their biogenicity and syngenetic origin with the rocks in which they occur.     

利用双金刚烷指标研究济阳坳陷凝析油的成熟度和类型

根据济阳坳陷烃源岩中的双金刚烷指标与镜质组反射率实测值,建立了它们之间的数值对应关系,根据这种关系确定了济阳坳陷凝析油的成熟度,它们均属成熟—高成熟阶段的演化产物,Ro值在1.26%以上。利用二甲基双金刚烷类型判识指标,判识出济阳坳陷凝析油为煤成和湖相混合有机质生成两种类型。     

Burial,Maturation, and Petroleum Generation History of the Arkoma Basin and Ouachita Foldbelt,Oklahoma and Arkansas

Removed overburden, burial, maturation, and petroleum generation analysis indicates that maturity in the Arkoma Basin and the Ouachita Foldbelt is explained effectively using simple burial models that account for the significant surface erosion that has occurred and assuming geothermal gradients similar to present-day gradients have been approximately constant through geologic time. Regional models, based on analysis at 115 well locations, indicate that from 5,000 to 15,000 ft (1.5–4.5 km) of section, differing with location from north to south and west to east, has been removed from the Arkoma Basin region, and as much as 25,000–40,000 ft (7.5–12 km) have been removed from areas of the Ouachita Foldbelt. Based on burial and thermal history reconstruction, increasing maturation from west to east across the basin is primarily the result of increasing overburden and subsequent surface erosion from west to east. The models predict most publicly available vitrinite reflectance data within a factor of 1.5 at two standard deviations. Comparison of model and measured reflectance-depth trends in six wells indicates that hydrothermal fluid movement should not have modified reflectance by more than approximately 20% in the center of the basin. Analysis indicates that most of the basin is overmature for oil production from intervals below the Spiro Sandstone, except to the north and northwest. Although thermal maturities are high, methane is stable throughout the basin. Except for the basal Arbuckle Group, all formations were thermally immature for oil generation prior to burial by the Mississippian and Morrowan in the Ouachita Foldbelt of Oklahoma and by the Atokan and Desmoinesian over most of the basin and study area. In the deeper part of the present basin, all strata entered and passed through the oil window during or within 10 My after Atokan time. Because no additional major quantities of hydrocarbons were generated after Atokan time, the hydrocarbons must have been emplaced and trapped during this brief time interval.     

Comparisons between the reproductive biology of black bream Acanthopagrus butcheri (Teleostei: Sparidae) in four estuaries with widely differing characteristics

The reproductive biology of Acanthopagrus butcheri has been studied in the permanently open Swan River and intermittently open Moore River estuaries on the lower west coast of Australia (31--32 °S) and in the permanently open Nornalup Walpole and normally closed Wellstead estuaries on the southern coast of Western Australia (34--35 °S). Trends exhibited by gonadosomatic indices, gonadal maturity stages and the sizes and developmental stages of the oocytes demonstrate that A. butcher typically spawns in spring and early summer. However, spawning occurred in salinities ranging from as low as 3.5-8 g L^–1 in the Moore River Estuary to as high as 41-45 g L^–1 in the Wellstead Estuary. Furthermore, water temperatures during spawning were greater in the two northern estuaries (19.7--28.5 °C) than in the two southern and cooler estuaries (17.5--23.4 °C). Histological studies strongly indicate that A. butcheri spawn more than once in a breeding season and demonstrate that the development of its oocytes exhibits group synchrony sensu de Vlaming (1983). The ages and total lengths at which, on average, female and male A. butcheri both first attain maturity in the Swan River Estuary were ca 2 years and ca 215 mm. However, the age at which individual fish in that system reach maturity was influenced by body size. This suggests that the attainment of first maturity at an older age but smaller length in the Moore River and Nornalup Walpole estuaries than is the case in the Swan River Estuary is a consequence of the slower growth rates of A. butcheri in those estuaries. The combination of the young age (ca 2 years) but small length (ca 145 mm) at which maturity is first attained in the Wellstead Estuary could have resulted from selection pressures brought about by high mortality rates and/or heavy fishing pressure in this estuary. The mean fecundity of A. butcheri, based on the combined number of yolk vesicle and yolk granule oocytes found in ovaries just prior to the onset of spawning, was 1580 × 10³. The significance of the sizes at first maturity, minimum legal length for capture, mesh selectivity data and closure of certain regions of estuaries to fishing for the management of the recreational and commercial fishery for A. butcheri is discussed.     

朝长地区原油中的有机含氮化合物及其应用

松辽盆地朝长地区 (朝阳沟—长春岭 )原油中含有丰富的吡咯类含氮化合物 ,其地球化学特征明显。与烃类化合物类似 ,非烃中吡咯类化合物可用于反映原油的成因类型。朝长地区原油中吡咯类化合物的分布特征及其运移效应为油气注入模型理论提供了很好的例证 ,表明吡咯类等非烃化合物在油藏地球化学理论与应用研究中具有广泛的前景。     

Microstructure Evolution of Organic Matter and Clay Minerals in Shales with Increasing Thermal Maturity

As the two important components of shale, organic matter(OM) and clay minerals are usually thought to strongly influence the hydrocarbon generation, enrichment and exploitation. The evolution process of OM and clay minerals as well as their interrelationship over a wide range of thermal maturities are not completely clear. Taking Yanchang(T_3y), Longmaxi(S_1l) and Niutitang(?_1n) shales as examples, we have studied the microstructure characteristics of OM and clay minerals in shales with different thermal maturities. The effects of clay minerals and OM on pores were reinforced through sedimentation experiments. Using a combination of field emission scanning electron microscopy(FESEM) and low-pressure N_2 adsorption, we investigated the microstructure differences among the three shales. The results showed that both OM and clay minerals have strong effects on pores, and small mesopore(2–20 nm) is the dominant pore component for all three samples. However, the differences between the three samples are embodied in the distribution of pore size and the location. For the T_3y shale, clay minerals are loosely arranged and develop large amounts of pores, and fine OM grains often fill in intergranular minerals or fractures. Widespread OM pores distribute irregularly in S_1l shale, and most of the pores are elliptical and nondirectional. The ?_1n shale is characterized by the preferred orientational OM-clay aggregates, and lots of pores in the composites are in the mesopore range, suggesting that over maturity lead to the collapse and compaction of pores under huge pressure of strata. The results of the current research imply that with increasing thermal maturity, OM pores are absent at low maturity(T_3y), are maximized at high maturity(S_1l) and are destroyed or compacted at over-mature stage(?_1n). Meanwhile, clay minerals have gone through mineral transformation and orientational evolution. The interaction of the two processes makes a significant difference to the microstructure evolution of OM and clay minerals in shale, and the findings provide scientific foundation in better understanding diagenetic evolution and hydrocarbon generation of shale.     

基于近红外光谱技术的烃类与粘土矿物识别及其地质意义

沉积岩中自生粘土矿物受成岩过程中物化条件控制,是成岩系统物化条件的指示。近红外反射光谱技术对粘土矿物反应灵敏,在金属矿产勘探中已经得到了日益广泛的应用。首次对油气勘探地质井的试验工作,验证了近红外光谱数据不仅可以第一时间从岩石样品中直接提取微量烃信息,还能解译详细的粘土矿物组合及其变化,从而获取对油气勘探有价值的成岩温度和热成熟度信息。对鄂尔多斯富县地区试验样品的数据分析表明,生油和储油层中的粘土矿物组合(包括铵伊利石、绿泥石、高岭石)变化直接反映了成岩和构造演化物化条件的变化,对于全面理解盆地的环境条件并且判断油气生成的有利区位具有实际应用意义。     

Estimation of size at first maturity in two South African coral species

The corals Acropora austera and Platygyra daedalea have been the subject of extensive reproductive and population genetic studies in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park (iSimangaliso), on the KwaZulu-Natal coast, eastern South Africa. Despite this, estimates of size at first maturity in these two species are lacking. This information could be used to provide a baseline to differentiate juveniles from adult sizes of corals, an important factor for assessing the condition of scleractinian communities in reefs. Here, we present the methods followed to provide such estimates for these two hard corals. Using generalised linear models and assuming knife-edge maturity (50% probability), it was estimated that A. austera from iSimangaliso matures at c. 15 cm mean colony diameter (MCD) (95% CI: 9.25–20.75 cm MCD) and P. daedalea matures at c. 7 cm MCD (95% CI: 4.55–8.39 cm MCD). These estimates were comparable to those for tropical species which is remarkable considering the high-latitude nature of the sampled reefs. It is expected that the findings from this study will assist in the assessment of reproduction, recruitment, survival and genetic variation in clonal organisms such as corals, and will provide a baseline to assess the effects of climate change on coral communities in the region.     

白豹油田长8油藏成岩储集相

以沉积相为基础,利用各类分析化验资料,对白豹油田长8油藏岩石学特征、储集特征和成岩作用开展深入研究。结果表明,研究区储层岩石成分成熟度偏低,结构成熟度中等,储集空间以粒间孔、长石溶孔为主,表现为细孔、微孔和细喉、微喉特征。依据本文提出的评价方法对研究区4种主要的成岩作用进行定量评价,表明储层成岩作用以中等-强压实、中等-强胶结、中等-强交代、中等溶蚀为主。综合以上研究,将白豹油田长8油藏划分为强溶蚀弱胶结混合孔隙成岩储集相、中等压实中等溶蚀复合孔隙成岩储集相、强压实中等胶结残余孔隙成岩储集相、强压实强胶结微孔隙成岩储集相4种类型,其中,强溶蚀弱胶结混合孔隙成岩储集相油气储渗能力最强,强压实强胶结微孔隙成岩储集相油气储渗能力最差。