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.     

Normal Alkane Distributions in Soil Samples along a Lhasa-Bharatpur Transect

We present n-alkane distributions in the soil samples along a transect from Lhasa on the Tibetan Plateau to Bharatpur in Nepal, which covers a large geographical area and a wide range of climatic conditions. These data allow us to assess the significance of n-alkane distributions in different vegetation types and their relationships to temperature and precipitation. In the tropical rainforest and broadleaved forest zones, n-alkanes exhibit a bimodal distribution pattern with dominant homologues around n-C_(31) and n-C_(23). The bimodal distribution of tropical rainforest n-alkanes may be a general pattern because of the presence of many lianas, epiphytic plants, algae and the strong microbial activity and degradation involved in the postdepositional process. In the warm-temperate mixed forest and needle-leaved forest zones, the long-chain alkanes have a pattern of n-C_(31) n-C_(33) n-C_(27). In the alpine shrub and grassland zone, although the most abundant homologue is n-C_(31) , relatively high n-C_(23) concentrations have also been observed in some samples. The statistical results show a good correlation between n-alkane proxies and climatic factors. The average chain length(ACL) values are positively correlated with precipitation and temperature across the transect. The carbon preference index(CPI) values show a negative correlation with temperature and precipitation along a Lhasa–Bharatpur transect. Although there is a positive relationship between ACL and temperature, it is difficult to separate the two climatic variables(temperature and precipitation) because they are well coupled in the monsoon region.     

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.     

A smog chamber for studies of the reactions of terpenes and alkanes with ozone and OH

The design and performance of a smog chamber for the study of photochemical reactions under simulated environmental conditions is described. The chamber is thermostated for aerosol experiments, and it comprises a gas chromatographic sample enrichment system suitable for monitoring hydrocarbons at the ppbv level. By irradiating NO _x /alkane-mixtures rate constants for the reaction of OH radicals with n-alkanes are determined from n-pentane to n-hexadecane to be (k±2)/10^–12 cm³ s^–1=4.29±0.16, 6.2±0.6, 7.52 (reference value), 8.8±0.3, 10.2±0.3, 11.7±0.4, 13.7±0.3, 15.1±0.5, 17.5±0.6, 19.3±0.7, 22.3±1.0, and 25.0±1.3, respectively at 312 K. Rate constants, (k±2)/10^–17 cm³ s^–1, for the reaction of ozone with trans-2-butene (21.2±1.0), cis-3-methylpentene-(2) (47.2±1.7), cyclopentene (62.4±3.5), cyclohexene (7.8±0.5), cycloheptene (28.3±1.5), -pinene (8.6±1.3), and -pinene (1.4±0.2) are determined in the dark at 297 K using cis-2-butene (13.0) as reference standard.     

抚仙湖沉积物多指标记录的过去5000年湖泊环境变化

我国西南地区湖泊众多,利用湖泊沉积物已开展了大量全新世植被、降水、温度和水位等的重建工作.然而,代用指标的季节性差异和气候演变的区域差异使得不同代用指标和地区重建的古气候结果存在较大差异,需要更多可靠记录来相互佐证和构建我国西南地区气候变化的详细图景.本文以云南抚仙湖FXH-6钻孔沉积物为研究对象,对正构烷烃和色度指标作了分析,在厘清其来源及环境指示意义的基础上,重建过去近5000年抚仙湖有机质的来源和湖泊水位的变化,探讨了湖泊环境变化与区域气候变化的关系.结果表明,抚仙湖沉积物中正构烷烃n-C₂₃和n-C₃₁可有效指示内源沉水植物和外源陆生植物.近5000年抚仙湖湖泊环境经历了3个阶段:在5000—2300 cal a BP阶段,沉水植物广泛分布,湖泊水位处于高位;在2300—2000 cal a BP阶段,抚仙湖沉积环境快速变化,内源沉水植物生物量锐减,水位快速下降;2000 cal a BP至今,沉水植物生物量持续减少,湖泊水位保持低水位;同时,人类活动也影响了该阶段(2000 cal a BP至今)陆源植物的输入.本研究重建的抚仙湖持续降低的水位变化和湖泊生产力趋势与过去5000年西南地区的年平均温逐渐降低、年平均降水量逐渐减小的总体趋势相对应,表明区域气候变化是湖泊沉积环境变化的主要驱动力.