Bicyclic alkanes in source rocks of the Triassic Yanchang Formation in the Ordos Basin and their inconsistency in oil-source correlation

The Triassic Yanchang Formation is the main source rocks for Mesozoic oil in Ordos Basin. The formation includes 10 oil-bearing beds (Ch 1–Ch 10), that each can be further divided into two to three intervals. Abundant C₁₂–C₁₄ and C₁₅–C₁₆ bicyclic alkanes have been detected in the formation in the Xifeng oilfield, Ordos Basin. The C₁₂–C₁₄ group is dominated by C₁₂ and C₁₃, and the C₁₅–C₁₆ group contains abundant C₁₅. The groups show three distribution patterns: A) the C₁₂–C₁₄ group is the major component in the non-source rocks of the Ch 7-1 and Ch 8-1 intervals; B) both groups are abundant and are common in source rocks of the Ch 7-3 interval; and C) the C₁₅–C₁₆ group is the major component in source rocks of the Ch 7-3 interval and also in sediments that contain type Ⅰ or partial sapropel type Ⅱ₁ organic matter (OM) in the Ch 7-2 and Ch 8-1 intervals. Although thermal maturities of the source rocks in the Ch 7 section are similar, they show significant differences with respect to the drimane isomerisation index, which indicates that the drimane rearrangement is controlled by thermal evolution of the sediments, but may also be closely related to the depositional environment. This study determined that reducing environments are more conducive to preservation of drimane than oxic environments. The drimane isomerisation index and the value of the hopane parameter Tm/Ts are positively correlated. The parameter Tm/Ts varies over a wide range within the sequence, and the large variations may be a result of terrigenous OM input by turbidity currents and/or gravity flows, mixed with the autochthonous sediments. Abundant homodrimane in both source rocks may reflect reducing environments in deep lakes and major input of higher plant OM. Organic-rich shale and oil shale in the Ch 7-3 interval of the Yanchang Formation are the primary sources of oil in reservoirs in the Xifeng area. The crude oil is rich in bicyclic alkanes that are dominated by C₁₅–C₁₆ as source rocks with pattern C for bicyclic alkanes, which indicates an origin mainly from the Ch 7-3 interval. The main peaks in all of the crude oils are associated with 8β(H)-drimane and lower abundance of rearranged drimane. However, most of the source rocks have a main peak associated with 8β(H)-homodrimane or rearranged drimane. Weak microbial action, selective degradation and water washing may be the cause of the significant difference in bicyclic sesquiterpane composition between the crude oil and the source rocks. The result suggests that oil-source correlations based on the bicyclic sesquiterpanes are questionable.     

用储层岩石抽提物的饱和烃色谱指纹识别油气层

利用储层岩石抽提物的饱和烃色 质总离子图的指纹特征判识储层的流体（油、气）类型。油层或油饱和的储层,饱和烃色 质总离子流图的特征是正构烷烃碳数分布宽,碳数分布在C₁₅～C₃₈之间,与原油样品的正构烷烃碳数分布相似;凝析气层的正构烷烃碳数分布略窄一些,碳数分布在C₁₅～C₃₅之间,低碳数（小于C₂₁）的正构烷烃相对于油层富集,高碳数（大于C₂₁）的正构烷烃丰度明显低于油层;干气层的正构烷烃碳数分布最窄,碳数分布在C₁₅～ C₂₈之间,只有低碳数的正构烷烃,高碳数的正构烷烃丰度极低。据此可用来识别油层、凝析气层和干气层,也可用于一些测井资料不全或测井质量差的老井的油气层复查、测井难以识别的火成岩油气层的识别,还可用于地层评价,为油气酸化层位的优选提供科学依据。     

Effect of pedogenesis on the stable isotopic composition of calcretes and n‐alkanes: Implications for palaeoenvironmental reconstruction

In a fluvial system, depending on sub‐aerial exposure, non‐pedogenic pond calcretes can be modified into pedogenic calcretes. The present study attempts to understand the effect of sub‐aerial exposure and pedogenesis on calcretes using carbon and oxygen isotopic composition. For this purpose, two profiles (profile‐A and profile‐B) from the same stratigraphic level in Rayka from the western part of India were selected. The profiles are separated by a distance of 500 m and showed differences in calcrete characteristics. In profile‐A, the calcretes showed pedogenic features (root traces and void filling spar) whereas calcretes in profile‐B showed non‐pedogenic characteristics (fine laminations). However, some of the calcretes in profile‐A exhibited remnants of fine laminations suggesting that initially the calcretes had a non‐pedogenic origin but were modified due to pedogenesis. In profile‐A, the carbon and oxygen isotope values of pedogenic calcrete (δ¹³C_PC and δ¹⁸O_PC) showed more variation compared with non‐pedogenic pond calcretes (δ¹³C_SPC and δ¹⁸O_SPC) in profile‐B. The δ¹³C_PC and δ¹³C_SPC values exhibited a spread of 3·0‰ and 1·3‰, respectively, and δ¹⁸O_PC and δ¹⁸O_SPC values showed a spread of 2·3‰ and 1·3‰, respectively. The differences in the isotopic composition between the two profiles suggest that pedogenesis controlled the isotopic inheritance in calcretes. In addition, the carbon isotopic composition of organic matter (δ¹³C_OM) and n‐alkanes (δ¹³C_n‐alk) that forms the basis of palaeovegetational reconstruction have also been measured to understand the effect of pedogenesis on organic matter in both of the profiles. The average δ¹³C_OM values in profile‐A and profile‐B are ?23·4‰ and ?21·1‰, respectively. The disparity in δ¹³C_OM values is a result of the difference in the sources and preservation of organic matter. However, the δ¹³C_n‐alk values show a similar trend in profile‐A and profile‐B, indicating that sources of n‐alkanes are the same in both of the profiles and δ¹³C_n‐alk values are unaffected by the pedogenic modifications.     

Lipid biogeochemistry of Phormidium and Microcoleus mats

A study on the predominant sources of organic matter and the main diagenetic processes in two different cyanobacterial mats from evaporite-controlled environments was performed. Fatty acids, hydrocarbons, alcohols, ketones and aldehydes were anlyzed in selected millimetre and submillimetre core sections. The changes in lipid composition were evaluated by comparison with the vertical distributions of the populations observed by optic microscopy and with the lipid patterns of enrichment cultures of species such as cyanobacteria, diatoms, purple bacteria, sulphate-reducers and methanogens obtained from the mats.The cyanobacteria Phormidium valderianum and Microcoleus chthonoplastes are the predominant primary producers, and occur almost as monocultures in the respective top layers. However, these mat-forming organisms only leave minor features in the solvent-extractable lipid sedimentary record. The predominant fatty acid distributions parallel the composition observed in the enrichment cultures of purple bacteria and appear mixed with acids characteristic of heterotrophic eubacteria such as sulphate-reducers. The concentrations of these lipids are, however, 5–10 times lower than the cyanobacterial acids from the top layer. De novo heterotrophic eubacterial synthesis is also observed in cases such as the highly branched isoprenoid eicosenes, the major hydrocarbon in the deep layers (>2 mm) of the Phormidium mat. Other major diagenetic changes involve dehydration and hydrogenation. These two processes take place concurrently under anoxic conditions and have been observed among the sterols and the isoprenoid alcohols. Significant amounts of 5ß(H)-stanols were observed in the more reducing sections where molecular indicators of methanogenic bacteria were also found.     

Organic geochemistry of Cuban oils—I. The northern geological province

The isoprenoid, hopanoid and steroid compositions of 15 oils from the most productive oil fields in Cuba were studied to determine source-rock depositional environments and organic matter sources. The oils, which are from the northern geological province of Cuba and can be defined by the position with respect to the overthrust belt, can be grouped into two families: those from the Remedios (1) and those from the Placetas (2) tectonostratigraphic units.Remedios oils contain 17α(H)-diahopane, high relative amounts of 18α(H)-22,29,30-trisnorneohopane and diasteranes, which is indicative of generation from clay-rich source rocks. The crude oils of the Placetas Unit exhibit a sterane/hopane composition consistent with a carbonate origin. Nevertheless, these polycyclic hydrocarbons exhibit significant changes in composition, indicating that several organic matter sources, e.g. a carbonate/evaporitic origin of Varadero and Varadero Sur oils, have contributed to the oils from this Unit. The Remedios oils are more mature [evaluated from the and sterane indices] than the Placetas oils.A wide range of biodegradation levels are encountered in these oils (from 0 to 7–8 using the scale derived by Volkman et al. (1983). The high relative abundance of 25-norhopanes is a distinctive feature of Remedios oils. The presence of these compounds in lightly biodegraded or nondegraded oils corresponds to a mixing of paleobiodegraded oil with more recently sourced nondegraded oil in the reservoir. The most biodegraded oil, Cantel, exhibits and sterane ratios, and hopane ratios that have been altered by microbial attack.     

北极沉积物中正构烷烃的组合特征及古沉积环境的研究

报道了北极楚科奇海和白令海沉积物中正构烷烃的含量和分布类型,并通过因子分析方法对正构烷烃的来源和古沉积环境加以初步探讨.研究结果表明,正构烷烃碳数分布范围多数在nC₁₅～nC₃₃之间,分布类型有两种,第1种高分子碳范围,MH为nC₂₅～nC₂₇,CPI大于1,奇偶优势显著.第2种低分子碳范围,MH为nC₁₇～nC₂₀,奇偶优势不明显.以上特征指示了正构烷烃来源于陆源高等植物和海洋内生两个部分,并且以陆源贡献最大.楚科奇海和白令海大部分测站的Pr/Ph小于1,指示了缺氧还原沉积环境.因子分析结果与样品中正构烷烃不同分子组成特征相互对应.     

Sources and Transport of Particulate Hydrocarbons in the Meso-tidal Changjiang Estuary

n-Alkanes and polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were analysed on suspended particles from surface waters of the Changjiang Estuary to assess the sources and fate of river-borne material in a meso-tidal riverine system. The n -alkane and PAH assemblages indicated prevailing terrestrial and anthropogenic inputs. Measurements performed at several stations within the estuary showed lower concentrations in the North than in the South Channel. These observations were in agreement with the dynamics and flow pattern of the Changjiang in this part of the estuary. Concentrations measured at a tidal series station over two tidal cycles exhibited a significant increase in flooding of more saline waters. Total suspended particles were also higher, reaching their maximum value (1·9 g l^-1) at high tide during the first flood. These findings were attributed to the landwards transport of the turbidity maximum zone from the outer estuary, as the Taiwan Warm Current funnels into the Changjiang River mouth. Saltier and less turbid waters with a more pronounced marine character could reach the tidal series site at the final stage of the second flood. During the ebb, suspended n-alkane and PAH concentrations were lower but their compositional features remained similar to those during the flood. A high total suspended particle concentration was observed during the ebb, presumably due to the Huang Pu waters flushing. The n -alkane and PAH content of the particles during such an event pointed out stronger contamination of the waters after crossing the highly populated and industrialized area of Shanghai. Flux calculations based on current meter data indicated significant differences between flood and ebb transports.     

Particulate n-alkanes and fatty acids in the Changjiang river system

Particulate samples were collected from the Changjiang river system during a flood period, in May 1997, and POC, stable isotope and lipids associated with particles were examined. Results showed the decrease (0.84% ～ 1.88%) of organic carbon content from the upper reaches to the estuary.δ13C values of particulate organic carbon was in the range of -24.9×10-3 to -26.6×10-3, which were close to the isotopic signature of continental C3 vegetation. Total particulate n-alkanes concentrations varied from 1.4 to 10.1μg/dm3,or from 23.7 to 107μg/g of total suspended matter. Fatty acids were present in all the samples, from 1.4 to 5.4μg/dm3, with saturated and unsaturated straight-chain and branched compounds in the carbon number range from C12 to C30. Both δ13C and the ratio of carbon content to nitrogen content indicate the predominance of terrestrial inputs (soil organic matter) among the particles. The biomarker approach has been used to identify the relative portion of terrigenous and autochthonous fraction in the particulate samples. The distribution of fatty acids suggests a striking phytoplanktonic and microbial signal in most particle samples. The terrestrial alkanes are used to estimate the contribution of terrestrial inputs along the mainstream.     

The C20 highly branched isoprenoid biomarker – A new diatom-sourced proxy for summer trophic conditions?

The exact biological source of the C₂₀ highly branched isoprenoid (HBI) present in sediments from aquatic systems is unclear. We therefore examined the relationship between the distribution of fossil diatoms and the concentration of the C₂₀ HBI in a Late Glacial sedimentary record from the Hässeldala Port paleolake in southern Sweden. Using Bayesian multiple linear regression analysis, we show that its concentration is linked primarily to the production of the diatom taxon Gomphonema acuminatum, which accounts for the largest proportion of the temporal variability in the biomarker. By analogy with modern observations, we argue that an increasing amount of G. acuminatum biomass in our sedimentary record reflects increasing oligotrophy in the paleolake during the summer growing season, especially at times defined by subdued hydrologic flow. Our conclusions are corroborated by the δ¹³C composition of the C₂₀ HBI biomarker, which points to a negative photosynthetic fractionation between atmospheric CO₂ and the pool of dissolved inorganic carbon during diatom bloom, a distinct phenomenon at times of inhibited hydrological flow. Accordingly, we suggest that the C₂₀ HBI biomarker can be effectively used to reconstruct the trophic state of the paleolake at Hässeldala Port, while its stable isotope composition can provide physicochemical information about the lake conditions during the dry summer season.Moreover, we note that the major hydrological shifts recorded in the G. acuminatum-C₂₀ HBI stratigraphy do not coincide with the pollen zone boundaries. We thus infer that aquatic and terrestrial environmental responses to climate change are substantially decoupled through the hydrological system, which highlights the necessity for multi-proxy investigations to decipher past climate events.