Distribution Characteristics and Accumulation Model for the Coal-formed Gas Generated from Permo-Carboniferous Coal Measures in Bohai Bay Basin, China: A Review

Coal-formed gas generated from the Permo-Carboniferous coal measures has become one of the most important targets for deep hydrocarbon exploration in the Bohai Bay Basin,offshore eastern China.However,the proven gas reserves from this source rock remain low to date,and the distribution characteristics and accumulation model for the coal-formed gas are not clear.Here we review the coal-formed gas deposits formed from the Permo-Carboniferous coal measures in the Bohai Bay Basin.The accumulations are scattered,and dominated by middle-small sized gas fields,of which the proven reserves ranging from 0.002 to 149.4×108 m3 with an average of 44.30×108 m3 and a mid-point of 8.16×108 m3.The commercially valuable gas fields are mainly found in the central and southern parts of the basin.Vertically,the coal-formed gas is accumulated at multiple stratigraphic levels from Paleogene to Archaeozoic,among which the Paleogene and PermoCarboniferous are the main reservoir strata.According to the transporting pathway,filling mechanism and the relationship between source rocks and reservoir,the coal-formed gas accumulation model can be defined into three types:"Upward migrated,fault transported gas"accumulation model,"Laterally migrated,sandbody transported gas"accumulation model,and"Downward migrated,sub-source,fracture transported gas"accumulation model.Source rock distribution,thermal evolution and hydrocarbon generation capacity are the fundamental controlling factors for the macro distribution and enrichment of the coal-formed gas.The fault activity and the configuration of fault and caprock control the vertical enrichment pattern.

How important is carbonate dissolution in buried sandstones:evidences from petrography,porosity,experiments,and geochemical calculations

Burial dissolution of feldspar and carbonate minerals has been proposed to generate large volumes of secondary pores in subsurface reservoirs. Secondary porosity due to feldspar dissolution is ubiquitous in buried sandstones;however, extensive burial dissolution of carbonate minerals in subsurface sandstones is still debatable. In this paper, we first present four types of typical selective dissolution assemblages of feldspars and carbonate minerals developed in di erent sandstones. Under the constraints of porosity data, water–rock experiments, geochemical calculations of aggressive fluids, diagenetic mass transfer, and a review of publications on mineral dissolution in sandstone reservoirs, we argue that the hypothesis for the creation of significant volumes of secondary porosity by mesodiagenetic carbonate dissolution in subsurface sandstones is in conflict with the limited volume of aggressive fluids in rocks. In addition, no transfer mechanism supports removal of the dissolution products due to the small water volume in the subsurface reservoirs and the low mass concentration gradients in the pore water. Convincing petrographic evidence supports the view that the extensive dissolution of carbonate cements in sandstone rocks is usually associated with a high flux of deep hot fluids provided via fault systems or with meteoric freshwater during the eodiagenesis and telodiagenesis stages. The presumption of extensive mesogenetic dissolution of carbonate cements producing a significant net increase in secondary porosity should be used with careful consideration of the geological background in prediction of sandstone quality.

Facies Architecture of the Fluvial-Aeolian Buchan Formation (Upper Devonian) and Its Implications on Field Exploration: A Case Study from Ardmore Field, Central North Sea, UK

The Upper Devonian Buchan Formation in the Central North Sea is a typical terrestrial deposit and predominantly comprises fine to medium-grained sandstones with occasional conglomerates and mudstones. The Buchan Formation has been previously described as being made up mostly of braided fluvial sandstones;however, this study confirms the presence and significance of aeolian sandstones within this fluvial-dominated sequence. Facies architecture is investigated through analogue outcrop study, well log curves and numerical facies modelling, and the results show contrasting differences between fluvial and aeolian facies. The fluvial facies is composed of multiple superimposed and sand-dominated fining-upward cycles in the vertical direction, and laterally an individual cycle has a large width/thickness ratio but is smaller than the field scale. However, the high channel deposition proportion (CDP, average value = 72%) in fluvial-dominated intervals means that it is likely all the sand bodies are interconnected. Aeolian facies comprise superimposed dune and interdune depositions and can be laterally correlated over considerable distances (over 1 km). Although the aeolian sandstones are volumetrically minor (approx. 30%) within the whole Buchan Formation, they have very high porosity and permeability (14.1% - 28%, 27 - 5290 mD) and therefore are excellent potential reservoirs. The fluvial sandstones are significantly cemented by quartz overgrowth and dolomite and by comparison with the aeolian sandstones are poor reservoirs. Aeolian sandstones can be differentiated from fluvial sandstones using several features: pin-stripe lamentation, good sorting, high visible porosity, friable nature and lack of muddy or conglomeratic contents;these characteristics allow aeolian sandstones can be tentatively recognized by low gamma ray values, high sonic transit time and low density in uncored wells. The thin, laterally correlatable and permeable aeolian sandstones within the Buchan Formation are effective reservoirs and could form important exploration targets when the Devonian is targeted elsewhere in the North Sea.

Evolution of nC_(16)H_(34)-water-mineral systems in thermal capsules and geological implications for deeply-buried hydrocarbon reservoirs

Organic-inorganic interactions between hydrocarbons and most minerals in deeply buried reservoirs remain unclear.In this study,gold capsules and fused silica capillary capsules(FSCCs)with different com-binations of nC_(16)H_(34),water(distilled water,CaCl_(2) water)and minerals(quartz,feldspar,calcite,kaolinite,smectite,and illite)were heated at 340℃ for 3-10 d,to investigate the evolution and reaction pathways of the organic-inorganic interactions in different hot systems.After heating,minerals exhibited little alteration in the anhydrous systems.Mineral alterations,how-ever,occurred obviously in the hydrous systems.Different inorganic components affected nC_(16)H_(34) degra-dation differently.Overall,water promoted the free-radical thermal-cracking reaction and step oxidation reaction but suppressed the free-radical cross-linking reaction.The impact of CaCl_(2) water on the nC_(16)H_(34) degradation was weaker than the distilled water as high Ca^(2+)concentration suppressed the formation of free radicals.The presence of different waters also affects the impact of different minerals on nC_(16)H_(34) degradation,via its impact on mineral alterations.In the anhydrous nC_(16)H_(34)-mineral systems,calcite and clays catalyzed generation of low-molecular-weight(LMW)alkanes,particularly the clays.Quartz,feldspar,and calcite catalyzed generation of high-molecular-weight(HMW)alkanes and PAHs,whereas clays catalyzed the generation of LMW alkanes and mono-bicyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(M-BAHs).In the hydrous nC_(16)H_(34)-distilled water-mineral systems,all minerals but quartz promoted nC_(16)H_(34) degra-dation to generate more LMW alkanes,less HMW alkanes and PAHs.In the nC_(16)H_(34)-CaCl_(2) water-mineral systems,the promotion impact of minerals was weaker than that in the systems with distilled water.This study demonstrated the generation of different hydrocarbons with different fluorescence colors in the different nC_(16)H_(34)-water-mineral systems after heating for the same time,implying that fluorescence colors need to be interpreted carefully in investigation of hydrocarbon charging histories and oil origins in deeply buried reservoirs.Besides,the organic-inorganic interactions in different nC_(16)H_(34)-water-mineral systems proceeded in different pathways at different rates,which likely led to preservation of liquid hydrocarbons at different depth(temperature).Thus,quantitative investigations of the reaction kinetics in different hydrocarbon-water-rock systems are required to improve the prediction of hydrocar-bon evolution in deeply buried hydrocarbon reservoirs.

Diagenetic and geochemical studies of the Buchan Formation (Upper Devonian) in the Central North Sea

The Upper Devonian Buchan Formation reservoirs in the UK Central North Sea are litharenite/sublitharenite and were deposited in fluvial-aeolian settings. The grain-coating clays in the aeolian sandstones have effectively inhibited quartz overgrowth. Hence, the reduction of reservoir quality is mainly due to mechanical compaction and early dolomite pre- cipitation in both fluvial and aeolian sandstones; quartz overgrowth and kaolinite illitization in fluvial sandstones; and limited smectite illitization in aeolian sandstones. The carbon/oxygen stable isotopes of dolomite cements suggest a predominantly marine carbon source and precipitation temperatures between 25 and 58 ~C indicating a shallow burial depth during dolomite precipitation. The temperatures and the dolomite distribution indicate that the cements originated from the overlying Upper Permian Zechstein carbonates. Extensive quartz overgrowths formed at 80 and 120 ~C in the late and deep diagenetic burial history. The most probable silica source was from feldspar kaolinitization and pressure dissolution of quartz grains. Through detailed petrography and geochemical analyses, the burial-paragenesis-thermal history of the Buchan Formation has been constructed. Similar diagenetic processes are likely to have occurred in the Buchan Formation in other parts of the Central and Northern North Sea. This study may allow new petroleum plays to be considered in areas previously thought to have poor hydrocarbon potential.

压实砂的孔隙度预测

本文针对静水压力埋藏条件下的纯净刚性颗粒(石英、长石)砂提出了一种新的孔隙度—深度关系式。据此预测的未胶结砂岩的孔隙度误差在±2.5%以内的置信度为95%。这一关系式是根据压实实验数据和全世界未胶结埋藏砂岩的实际数据得出的,其数学方程式为式中,φ为孔隙度(%);z为深度(m)。如果用等效应力而不是深度来表达这个关系式,就可以同样的精度预测超压环境下的未胶结砂的孔隙度,此时的数学方程为式中,z′为等效埋藏深度(m);z为埋藏深度(m);ρ_r为岩石密度,其平均值为2650kR/m^3;ρ_u为地层水密度,其平均值为1050kg/m^3;g为重力加速度,为9.8m/s^2;φ为上覆岩层平均孔隙度,其平均值为20%;u为超压(MPa)。我们认为,"仅有压实"的孔隙度—深度关系式具有很大的价值。它不但能准确预测未胶结砂岩的孔隙度,而且还能提供最高孔隙度基线使胶结物体积和最终的胶结砂岩孔隙度能与其进行对比。如果将胶结砂岩和未胶结砂岩的数据合在一起推导"孔隙度损失—深度"的关系,这种组合的分散性(在一定深度,孔隙度误差一般为±5%)将限制它的应用。在钻井前,本文的新关系式既可用于预测已知未胶结砂层的孔隙度,也可为已知的或估计已发生胶结的砂岩提供孔隙度预测的上限。

Global and regional controls on carbon-sulfur isotope cycling during SPICE event in south China

The positive S-isotopic excursion of carbonate-associated sulfate(δ34S_(CAS))is generally in phase with the Steptoean positive carbon isotope excursion(SPICE),which may reflect widespread,global,transient increases in the burial of organic carbon and pyrite sulfate in sediments deposited under large-scale anoxic and sulphidic conditions.However,carbon-sulfur isotope cycling of the global SPICE event,which may be controlled by global and regional events,is still poorly understood,especially in south China.Therefore,theδ13CPDB,δ18OPDBδ34S_(CAS),total carbon(TC),total organic carbon(TOC)and total sulfate(TS)of Cambrian carbonate of Waergang section of Hunan Province were analyzed to unravel global and regional controls on carbon-sulfur cycling during SPICE event in south China.Theδ34S_(CAS)values in the onset and rising limb are not obviously higher than that in the preceding SPICE,meanwhile sulfate(δ34S_(CAS))isotope values increase slightly with increasingδ13CPDB in rising limb and near peak of SPICE(130–160 m).The sulfate(δ34S_(CAS))isotope values gradually decrease from 48.6‰to 18‰in the peak part of SPICE and even increase from 18%to 38.5%in the descending limb of SPICE.The abnormal asynchronous C−S isotope excursion during SPICE event in the south China was mainly controlled by the global events including sea level change and marine sulfate reduction,and it was also influenced by regional events such as enhanced siliciclastic provenance input(sulfate),weathering of a carbonate platform and sedimentary environment.Sedimentary environment and lithology are not the main reason for global SPICE event but influence theδ13CPDB excursion-amplitude of SPICE.Sea level eustacy and carbonate platform weathering probably made a major contribution to theδ13CPDB excursion during the SPICE,in particularly,near peak of SPICE.Besides,the trilobite extinctions,anoxia,organic-matter burial and siliciclastic provenance input also play an important role in the onset,early and late stage of SPICE event.