Geochemical characteristics and genetic types of crude oils from the Tertiary system in the southern part of western Qaidam Basin, Northwest China

Crude oil samples taken from the southern part of westem Qaidam Basin were analyzed with GC/MS in order to understand the geochemical characteristics of crude oils. The results reveal that most crude oils are characterized by high abundance of gammaeerane and C35 homohopane, which are the representative characteristics of saline lacustrine crude oils. Based on the variation of the ratios of gammacerane/C30 hopane (G/H) and C35 homohopane/C34 homohopane (C35/C34H), two crude oil groups, A and B, are identified. Group-A crude oils mainly occurr in the north of the study area, with higher ratios of G/H (＞0.8) and C35/C34H (＞1.2), whereas group-B crude oils, selected from the south of the study area, show lower ratios of G/H (＜0.8) and C35/C3aH (＜1.0). In addition, group-A crude oils are distinguished into three subgroups in accordance with their different ratios of G/H and C35/C34H and different distribution characteristics of n-alkanes, isoprenoids and steranes. These may be helpful for understanding the distribution characteristics of crude oils in the southern part of western Qaidam Basin and providing clues to the forthcoming exploration of crude oils and gas.