Characteristics of carbon isotopic composition of alkane gas in large gas fields in China

Exploration and development of large gas fields is an important way for a country to rapidly develop its natural gas industry.From 1991 to 2020,China discovered 68 new large gas fields,boosting its annual gas output to 1925×108m3in 2020,making it the fourth largest gas-producing country in the world.Based on 1696 molecular components and carbon isotopic composition data of alkane gas in 70 large gas fields in China,the characteristics of carbon isotopic composition of alkane gas in large gas fields in China were obtained.The lightest and average values ofδ^(13)C_(1),δ13C2,δ13C3andδ13C4become heavier with increasing carbon number,while the heaviest values ofδ^(13)C_(1),δ13C2,δ13C3andδ13C4become lighter with increasing carbon number.Theδ^(13)C_(1)values of large gas fields in China range from-71.2‰to-11.4‰(specifically,from-71.2‰to-56.4‰for bacterial gas,from-54.4‰to-21.6‰for oil-related gas,from-49.3‰to-18.9‰for coal-derived gas,and from-35.6‰to-11.4‰for abiogenic gas).Based on these data,theδ^(13)C_(1)chart of large gas fields in China was plotted.Moreover,theδ^(13)C_(1)values of natural gas in China range from-107.1‰to-8.9‰,specifically,from-1071%o to-55.1‰for bacterial gas,from-54.4‰to-21.6‰for oil-related gas,from-49.3‰to-13.3‰for coal-derived gas,and from-36.2‰to-8.9‰for abiogenic gas.Based on these data,theδ^(13)C_(1)chart of natural gas in China was plotted.

Technical strategies for effective development and gas recovery enhancement of a large tight gas field: A case study of Sulige gas field, Ordos Basin, NW China

Based on the analysis of influencing factors of tight gas recovery and reservoir geological characteristics, the types of remaining tight gas reserves in the Sulige gas field are summarized from the perspective of residual gas genesis to estimate residual gas reserves of different types and provide corresponding technical strategies for enhancing gas recovery. The residual gas reserves in the Sulige gas field can be divided into four types: well pattern uncontrollable, horizontal well missing, imperfect perforation, blocking zone in composite sandbodies. Among them, the uncontrolled remaining gas of well pattern and blocking zone in composite sandbodies are the main body for tapping potential and improving recovery factor, and well pattern infilling adjustment is the main means. Taking into account reservoir geological characteristics, production dynamic response and economic benefit requirements, four methods for infilling vertical well pattern, i.e., quantitative geological model method, dynamic controlled range of gas well method, production interference method and economic and technical index evaluation method, as well as a design method of combined vertical well pattern with horizontal well pattern are established. Under certain economic and technological conditions, the reasonable well pattern density of enrichment zone of gas field is proved to be 4 wells per square kilometers, which can increase the recovery rate of the gas field from 32% to about 50%. Meanwhile, five matching techniques for enhancing gas recovery aimed at interlayer undeveloped residual gas have been formed, including tapping potential of old wells, technological technology optimizing of new wells, rational production system optimizing, drainage and gas producing, and reducing waste production, which could increase the recovery rate for 5% based on well pattern infilling. The research results provide effective support for the long-term stable production of 230×108 m3/a of the Sulige gas field and production growth in the Changqing gas area.

Depositional and Diagenetic Controls on Sandstone Reservoirs with Low Porosity and Low Permeability in the Eastern Sulige Gas Field, China

In order to determine the genesis and the factors that control the low-porosity and low- permeability sandstone reservoirs in the eastern Sulige Gas Field in the Ordos Basin, systematic studies on the sedimentary facies and diagenesis were conducted by means of analysis of cores, thin sections, fluid inclusions, X-ray diffraction, cathode luminescence and scanning electron microscope. It was found that the sand bodies of the major gas reservoirs in the Shan1 section （P1S1） and the He8 section （P2H8） were formed during the Permian as sedimentary facies such as braided-channel bars, braided-river channels and point bars of a meandering river. Four types of diagenetic facies developed subsequently： in order from the best to the poorest properties these are type A （weak compaction, early calcite cement-chlorite film facies）, type B （moderate compaction, quartz overgrowth-feldspar corrosion-kaolinite filling facies）, type C （strong compaction, late calcite cement-quartz corrosion facies） and type D （matrix filling and strong compaction facies）. This diagenesis is undoubtedly the main reason for the poor reservoir properties of sandstone reservoirs, but the sedimentary facies are the underlying factors that greatly affect the diagenesis and thus the reservoir performance. Favorable diagenetic facies developed mainly in relatively small lithofacies such as braided-river channels, channel bars and point bars. The vertical distribution of the physical properties and the diagenetic facies of the reservoirs are related to the stratigraphic succession. Most of the sandstones between mudstones and thin beds of sandstone are unfavorable diagenetic facies. Analyses indicate that siliceous cementation can hardly be stopped by hydrocarbon filling. Authigenic chlorite could hardly protect the primary porosity. It not only occupies pore space, but also blocks pathways through sandstone reservoirs, so that it has significant influence on the permeability. Authigenic chlorite cannot be used as a marker for a specific sedimentary facies because it can be formed in different sedimentary facies, but it indicates high hydrodynamic conditions and presence of favorable reservoirs.

Diagenesis and Their Succession of Gas-bearing and Non-gas-bearing Reservoirs in the Sulige Gas Field of Ordos Basin,China

Comparisons have been made among lithology, diagenesis, and reservoir characteristics of gas-bearing and non-gas-bearing ones in the Sulige gas field of the Ordos Basin based on the laboratory analysis of thin sections, scanning electron microscope, and liquid inclusion of the reservoirs. The reservoirs of the Sulige gas field are now in the middle stage of diagenesis and have undergone compaction, cementation and dissolution. The secondary pore of the reservoir originated from the dissolution of the feldspar and tuff because of the organic acid action from the source rocks during the diagenetic middle stage. Gas-bearing reservoirs are common in soluble pore diagenetic facies of coarse detritus quartzose sandstone, whereas non-gas-bearing ones are common in tense compaction diagenetic facies of mud-bearing medium-fine detritus quartzose sandstone and residual intergranular pore diagenetic facies of mud-bearing medium-coarse detritus quartzose sandstone. The secondary pore is developed in gas-bearing reservoirs of the Sulige gas-field as the medium-coarse grain reservoirs formed in a powerful sedimentary environment and experienced strong dissolution. However, the sediments of fine grain size form the non-gas-bearing reservoirs because of less residual primary pore and secondary pore.

A Volumetric Model for Evaluating Tight Sandstone Gas Reserves in the Permian Sulige Gas Field,Ordos Basin,Central China

To accurately measure and evaluate reserves is critical for ensuring successful production of unconventional oil and gas. This work proposes a volumetric model to evaluate the tight sandstone gas reserves of the Permian Sulige gas field in the Ordos Basin. The reserves can be determined by four major parameters of reservoir cutoffs, net pay, gas-bearing area and compression factor Z, which are controlled by reservoir characteristics and sedimentation. Well logging, seismic analysis, core analysis and gas testing, as well as thin section identification and SEM analysis were used to analyze the pore evolution and pore-throat structure. The porosity and permeability cutoffs are determined by distribution function curve,empirical statistics and intersection plot. Net pay and gas-bearing area are determined based on the cutoffs, gas testing and sand body distribution, and the compression factor Z is obtained by gas component. The results demonstrate that the reservoir in the Sulige gas field is characterized by ultralow porosity and permeability, and the cutoffs of porosity and permeability are 5% and 0.15×10^(–3) μm^2, respectively. The net pay and gas-bearing area are mainly affected by the sedimentary facies, sand body types and distribution. The gas component is dominated by methane which accounts for more than 90%, and the compression factor Z of H_8(P_2h_8) and S_1(P_1s_1) are 0.98 and 0.985, respectively. The distributary channels stacked and overlapped, forming a wide and thick sand body with good developed intergranular pores and intercrystalline pores. The upper part of channel sand with good porosity and permeability can be sweet spot for gas exploration. The complete set of calculation systems proposed for tight gas reserve calculation has proved to be effective based on application and feedback. This model provides a new concept and consideration for reserve prediction and calculation in other areas.

Detailed sedimentary facies of a sandstone reservoir in the eastern zone of the Sulige gas field, Ordos Basin

Given sustaining exploration, the eastern zone of the Sulige gas field may soon become a key area of exploitation. In order to explore its genesis, types and distribution of the reservoir sandstones in the eastern zone of this gas field, we focused in our study on the provenance and detailed sedimentary facies of sandstone of the He8 （the eighth part of the Shihezi formation, Permian system） and Shanxil （the first part of the Shanxi formation, Permian system） members, based on core observations, analyses in petrography, granularity and logging. The results show that： 1） the sandstone provenance of Shanxil and He8 in the eastern zone of the Sulige gas field is from the north of the Ordos Basin, characterized by dual directions from the north and northeast. 2） The He8 and Shanxil members were deposited in a fluvial-delta sedimentary system. The He8 was mainly deposited in braided rivers, in- cluding braided channels, channel bars, levee and floodplain sub-environments, whereas the Shanxil Member was deposited in braided rivers and deltas, including braided channels, channel bars, floodplains, tributaries and inter-tributary sub-environments. 3） Sedimentary facies bands migrated in drastic fashion towards the basin from the Shanxil to the He8 Member. Base levels of sedi- mentation generally present a trend of small increases in-amplitude, large decreasing amplitudes and slow and gradual Increases. 4） The continuity of the reservoir sandbodies along the source direction is better than that perpendicular to the direction. Compared with Shanxil, both dimensions and continuity of the sandbodies in He8 are better from which we conclude that it is the most fa- vorable part of the reservoir.

Two highly efficient accumulation models of large gas fields in China

Based on reserve abundance,large gas fields in China can be divided into two types：type one of high abundance large gas fields,dominated by structural gas reservoirs; type two of low abundance large gas fields,dominated by stratigraphic and lithologic gas reservoirs.The formation of these two types of large gas fields is related to the highly efficient accumulation of natural gas.The accumulation of high abundance gas fields is dependent on the rapid maturation of the source kitchen and huge residual pressure difference between the gas source kitchen and reservoir,which is the strong driving force for natural gas migration to traps.Whereas the accumulation of low abundance gas fields is more complicated,involving both volume flow charge during the burial stage and diffusion flow charge during the uplift stage,which results in large area accumulation and preservation of natural gas in low porosity and low permeability reservoirs.This conclusion should assist gas exploration in different geological settings.

Formation of overpressure system and its relationship with the distribution of large gas fields in typical foreland basins in central and western China

Based on the data of measured formation pressure, drilling fluid density of key exploration wells and calculated pressure by well logging, combined with the analysis of natural gas geological conditions, the characteristics and formation mechanisms of formation fluid overpressure systems in different foreland basins and the relationship between overpressure systems and large-scale gas accumulation are discussed.(1) The formation mechanisms of formation overpressure in different foreland basins are different. The formation mechanism of overpressure in the Kuqa foreland basin is mainly the overpressure sealing of plastic salt gypsum layer and hydrocarbon generation pressurization in deep–ultra-deep layers, that in the southern Junggar foreland basin is mainly hydrocarbon generation pressurization and under-compaction sealing, and that in the western Sichuan foreland basin is mainly hydrocarbon generation pressurization and paleo-fluid overpressure residual.(2) There are three common characteristics in foreland basins, i.e. superimposed development of multi-type overpressure and multi-layer overpressure, strong–extremely strong overpressure developed in a closed foreland thrust belt, and strong–extremely strong overpressure developed in a deep foreland uplift area.(3) There are four regional overpressure sealing and storage mechanisms, which play an important role in controlling large gas fields, such as the overpressure of plastic salt gypsum layer, the overpressure formed by hydrocarbon generation pressurization, the residual overpressure after Himalayan uplift and denudation, and the under-compaction overpressure.(4) Regional overpressure is an important guarantee for forming large gas fields, the sufficient gas source, large-scale reservoir and trap development in overpressure system are the basic conditions for forming large gas fields, and the overpressure system is conducive to forming deep to ultra-deep large gas fields.

Eogenetic karst and its control on reservoirs in the Ordovician Majiagou Formation, eastern Sulige gas field, Ordos Basin, NW China

To further ascertain the origin of the Ordovician Majiagou Formation reservoirs in the Ordos Basin,the M54-M51 sub-members of the Ordovician Majiagou Formation in the eastern Sulige gasfield of Ordos Basin were taken as examples to analyze the vertical development characteristics of eogenetic karst and to discover the dissolution mechanism and its control on reservoirs through observation of a large number of cores and thin sections.According to detailed analysis of petrologic characteristics,the reservoir rock types include micritic dolomite,grain dolomite and microbialite which have mainly moldic pore,intergranular(dissolved)pore,and(dissolved)residual framework pore as main reservoir space respectively.The study area developed upward-shallowing sequences,with an exposure surface at the top of a single upward-shallowing sequence.The karst systems under the exposure surface had typical exposure characteristics of early dissolution and filling,indicating these reservoirs were related to the facies-controlled eogenetic karstification.With the increase of karstification intensity,the reservoirs became worse in physical properties.

Efficient development strategies for large ultra-deep structural gas fields in China

Through analyzing the development of large ultra-deep structural gas fields in China,strategies for the efficient development of such gas fields are proposed based on their geological characteristics and production performance.According to matrix properties,fracture development degree and configuration between matrix and fractures,the reservoirs are classified into three types:single porosity single permeability system,dual porosity dual permeability system,and dual porosity single permeability system.These three types of gas reservoirs show remarkable differences in different scales of permeability,the ratio of dynamic reserves to volumetric reserves and water invasion risk.It is pointed out that the key factors affecting development efficiency of these gas fields are determination of production scale and rapid identification of water invasion.Figuring out the characteristics of the gas fields and working out pertinent technical policies are the keys to achieve efficient development.The specific strategies include reinforcing early production appraisal before full scale production by deploying high precision development seismic survey,deploying development appraisal wells in batches and scale production test to get a clear understanding on the structure,reservoir type,distribution pattern of gas and water,and recoverable reserves,controlling production construction pace to ensure enough evaluation time and accurate evaluation results in the early stage,in line with the development program made according to the recoverable reserves,working out proper development strategies,optimizing pattern and proration of wells based on water invasion risk and gas supply capacity of matrix,and reinforcing research and development of key technologies.

Gas expansion caused by formation uplifting and its effects on tight gas accumulation:A case study of Sulige gas field in Ordos Basin,NW China

Gas expansion caused by significant exhumation in the Sulige gas field in the Ordos Basin since Late Cretaceous and its effects on hydrocarbon accumulation have been investigated systematically based on comprehensive analysis of geochemical,fluid inclusion and production data.The results indicate that gas volume expansion since the Late Cretaceous was the driving force for adjustment and secondary charging of tight sandstone gas reservoirs in the Sulige gas field of the Ordos Basin.The gas retained in the source rocks expanded in volume,resulting in gas re-expulsion,migration and secondary charging into reservoirs,while the gas volume expansion in the tight reservoirs caused the increase of gas saturation,gas-bearing area and gas column height,which worked together to increase the gas content of the reservoir and bring about large-scale gas accumulation events.The Sulige gas field had experienced a two-stage accumulation process,burial before the end of Early Cretaceous and uplifting since the Late Cretaceous.In the burial stage,natural gas was driven by hydrocarbon generation overpressure to migrate and accumulate,while in the uplifting stage,the gas volume expansion drove internal adjustment inside gas reservoirs and secondary charging to form new reservoirs.On the whole,the gas reservoir adjustment and secondary charging during uplifting stage is more significant in the eastern gas field than that in the west,which is favorable for forming gas-rich area.

North slope transition zone of Songnan-Baodao sag in Qiongdongnan Basin and its control on medium and large gas fields,South China Sea

Based on analysis of newly collected 3D seismic and drilled well data,the geological structure and fault system of Baodao sag have been systematically examined to figure out characteristics of the transition fault terrace belt and its control on the formation of natural gas reservoirs.The research results show that the Baodao sag has the northern fault terrace belt,central depression belt and southern slope belt developed,among them,the northern fault terrace belt consists of multiple transition fault terrace belts such as Baodao B,A and C from west to east which control the source rocks,traps,reservoirs,oil and gas migration and hydrocarbon enrichment in the Baodao sag.The activity of the main fault of the transition belt in the sedimentary period of Yacheng Formation in the Early Oligocene controlled the hydrocarbon generation kitchen and hydrocarbon generation potential.From west to east,getting closer to the provenance,the transition belt increased in activity strength,thickness of source rock and scale of delta,and had multiple hydrocarbon generation depressions developed.The main fault had local compression under the background of tension and torsion,giving rise to composite traps under the background of large nose structure,and the Baodao A and Baodao C traps to the east are larger than Baodao B trap.Multiple fault terraces controlled the material source input from the uplift area to form large delta sand bodies,and the synthetic transition belt of the west and middle sections and the gentle slope of the east section of the F12 fault in the Baodao A transition belt controlled the input of two major material sources,giving rise to a number of delta lobes in the west and east branches.The large structural ridge formed under the control of the main fault close to the hydrocarbon generation center allows efficient migration and accumulation of oil and gas.The combination mode and active time of the main faults matched well with the natural gas charging period,resulting in the hydrocarbon gas enrichment.Baodao A transition belt is adjacent to Baodao 27,25 and 21 lows,where large braided river delta deposits supplied by Shenhu uplift provenance develop,and it is characterized by large structural ridges allowing high efficient hydrocarbon accumulation,parallel combination of main faults and early cessation of faulting activity,so it is a favorable area for hydrocarbon gas accumulation.Thick high-quality gas reservoirs have been revealed through drilling,leading to the discovery of the first large-scale gas field in Baodo 21-1 of Baodao sag.This discovery also confirms that the north transition zone of Songnan-Baodao sag has good reservoir forming conditions,and the transition fault terrace belt has great exploration potential eastward.

Practice and understanding of sidetracking horizontal drilling in old wells in Sulige Gas Field, NW China

To seek effective ways of lowering development cost and tapping inter-well remaining reserves, sidetracking horizontal wells from old wells in Su10 and Su53 Block were conducted. The engineering and geological problems such as leakage, collapse and sticking in slim-hole sidetracking, and difficult evaluation of remaining gas were gradually overcome, and a set of drilling and completion technology, well deployment optimization technology and geo-steering technology suitable for sidetracking horizontal wells in tight sandstone gas reservoirs have been worked out. By making full use of the old well, sidetracking horizontal wells can greatly reduce development costs, enhance the producing degree of inter-well remaining reserves, and get production 3-5 times of that of adjacent vertical wells.Its production effect is influenced by encountered sandstone length, the position of the horizontal segment in the reservoir, produced effective reservoir thickness, gas saturation, controlled reserves and fracturing effect, etc. Up to now, in Block Su10 and Su53, 12 sidetracking horizontal wells have been drilled, which have an average drilling cycle of 49 days, average horizontal section length of 689 m,average effective drilling ratio of 61.5%, average well-head pressure of 16.2 MPa, and daily output of 4.7×10~4 m^3 at the initial stage after production. By the end of 2017, the average yield increment was more than 1 000×10~4 m^3 with good effect. With the increase of low yield old wells, wells in the enrichment regions tend to be saturated and the rest gas-bearing areas are lower in grade, therefore, sidetracking horizontal well can be used for optimization of well pattern, well deployment mode and exploitation of remaining oil areas.

Discovery and geological knowledge of the large deep coal-formed Qingyang Gas Field, Ordos Basin, NW China

After 50 years of oil and gas exploration in Longdong area of southwest Ordos Basin,NW China,a deep coal-formed gas field was discovered for the first time in Qingyang area.Through observation of field outcrops and core,analysis of common,cast and cathode thin sections,Ro and other geochemistry indexes,carbon isotope,electron microscope and other supporting tests and analyses,the hydrocarbon generation,reserves formation and reservoir formation characteristics of gas reservoirs at different buried depths in Yishaan slope were examined and compared.The deep gas reservoir has an average buried depth of more than 4200 m,and the main gas-bearing formation is the Member 1 of Lower Permian Shanxi Formation,which is characterized by low porosity,low permeability,low pressure and low abundance.It is believed that hydrocarbon generation in thin seam coal source rocks with high thermal evolution can form large gas fields,high-quality sandstone reservoirs with dissolved pores,intergranular pores and intercrystalline pores can still develop in late diagenetic stage under deep burial depth and high thermal evolution,and fractures improve the permeability of reservoirs.High drying coefficient of natural gas and negative carbon isotope series are typical geochemical characteristics of deep coal-formed gas.The integrated exploration and development method has been innovated,and the economic and effective development mode of gas fields of"dissecting sand body by framework vertical wells,centralized development by horizontal wells"has been formed.The discovery and successful exploration of the large gas field has provided geological basis and technical support for the construction of natural gas fields of 100 billion cubic meter scale in the southwest of the basin,and has important guidance for exploration of coal-derived gas with deep buried depth and high thermal evolution widely distributed in China.

Correlation between per-well average dynamic reserves and initial absolute open flow potential(AOFP) for large gas fields in China and its application

Based on performance data of over 600 wells in 32 large gas fields of different types in China, the correlation is established between per-well average dynamic reserves( G) and average initial absolute open flow potential(IAOFq) of each field, and its connotation and applicability are further discussed through theoretical deduction. In log-log plot, G vs. IAOFq exhibit highly dependent linear trend, which implicates the compatibility between G and IAOFq attained through development optimization to reach the balance among annual flow capacity, maximum profits and certain production plateau, that is to match productivity with rate maintenance capacity. The correlation can be used as analogue in new gas field development planning to evaluate the minimum dynamic reserves which meet the requirement of stable and profitable production, and facilitate well pattern arrangement. It can also serve as criteria to appraise the effectiveness and infill drilling potential of well patterns for developed gas fields.

Technological progress and development directions of PetroChina overseas oil and gas field production

This study reviews the development history of PetroChina’s overseas oil and gas field development technologies, summarizes the characteristic technologies developed, and puts forward the development goals and technological development directions of overseas business to overcome the challenges met in overseas oil and gas production. In the course of PetroChina’s overseas oil and gas field production practice of more than 20 years, a series of characteristic technologies suitable for overseas oil and gas fields have been created by combining the domestic mature oil and gas field production technologies with the features of overseas oil and gas reservoirs, represented by the technology for high-speed development and stabilizing oil production and controlling water rise for overseas sandstone oilfields, high efficiency development technology for large carbonate oil and gas reservoirs and foamy oil depletion development technology in use of horizontal wells for extra-heavy oil reservoirs. Based on in-depth analysis of the challenges faced by overseas oil and gas development and technological requirements, combined with the development trends of oil and gas development technologies in China and abroad, overseas oil and gas development technologies in the future are put forward, including artificial intelligence reservoir prediction and 3 D geological modeling, secondary development and enhanced oil recovery(EOR) of overseas sandstone oilfields after high speed development, water and gas injection to improve oil recovery in overseas carbonate oil and gas reservoirs, economic and effective development of overseas unconventional oil and gas reservoirs, efficient development of marine deep-water oil and gas reservoirs. The following goals are expected to be achieved: keep the enhanced oil recovery(EOR) technology for high water-cut sandstone oilfield at international advanced level, and make the development technology for carbonate oil and gas reservoirs reach the international advanced level, and the development technologies for unconventional and marine deep-water oil and gas reservoirs catch up the level of international leading oil companies quickly.

Sichuan super gas basin in southwest China

A sedimentary basin is classified as a super basin when its cumulative production exceeds 5 billion barrels of oil equivalent(6.82×10^(8) t of oil or 7931.66×10^(8) m^(3) of gas)and its remaining recoverable resources are at least 5 billion barrels of oil equivalent.By the end of 2019,the total output of oil and gas in Sichuan Basin had been 6569×10^(8) m^(3),the ratio of gas to oil was 80:1,and the total remaining recoverable resources reached 136404×10^(8) m^(3),which makes it as a second-tier super basin.Because the output is mainly gas,it is a super gas basin.The reason why the Sichuan Basin is a super gas basin is that it has four advantages:(1)The advantage of gas source rocks:it has the most gas source rocks(9 sets)among all the basins in China.(2)The advantage of resource quantity:it has the most total remaining recoverable resources among all the basins in China(136404×10^(8) m^(3)).(3)The advantage of large gas fields:it has the most large gas fields(27)among all the basins in China.(4)The advantage of total production:by the end of 2019,the total gas production had been 6487.8×10^(8) m^(3),which ranked the first among all the basins in China.There are four major breakthroughs in natural gas exploration in Sichuan Basin:(1)Breakthrough in shale gas:shale gas was firstly found in the Ordovician Wufeng-Silurian Longmaxi formations in China.(2)Breakthrough in tight sandstone gas:the Triassic Xu2 Member gas reservoir in Zhongba gas field is the first high recovery tight sandstone gas reservoir in China.(3)Breakthrough in giant carbonate gas fields.(4)Breakthrough in ultra-deep gas reservoir.These breakthroughs have led to important progress in different basins across the country.Super basins are classified according to three criteria:accumulative oil and gas production,remaining recoverable resources,tectonic attributes of the basin and the proportion of oil and gas in accumulative oil and gas production.

Natural gas origins of large and medium-scale gas fields in China sedimentary basins

China sedimentary basins present abundant natural gas resource thanks to its unique geological settings.Marine highly-matured hydrocarbon source rocks,widespread coal-measure strata and low temperature Quaternary saline strata,etc.,indicate the wide foreground of China natural gas resources. Up to now,most of the petroliferous basins have been discovered to have wholesale natural gas accumulation from Precambrian,Paleozoic,Mesozoic to Cenozoic in the east,the central,the west and the coast of China.These large and medium-scale gas reservoirs are mainly composed of hydrocarbon gas with big dry coefficient,tiny non-hydrocarbon,wide carbon isotope distribution and varying origin types,the hydrocarbon gas includes coal-formed gas,oil-formed gas,biogenic gas and inorganic gas, etc.Coal-formed gas is the main type of China natural gas resources,in particular several explored large-scale gas fields(>100 billion cubic meter)of Kela 2,Sulige and Daniudi,etc.,they all belong to coal-formed gas fields or the gas fields consisting mostly of coal-formed gas.Oil-formed gas is also abundant in China marine basins,for example marine natural gas of Sichuan Basin generated from crude oil cracking gas.Primary and secondary biogenic gas fields were discovered respectively in the Qaidam Basin and Western Slope of Songliao Basin.In addition,inorganic gases are mainly distributed in the eastern China,in particular the Songliao Basin with abundant carbon dioxide accumulation,indicating that the eastern China present large exploration potential of inorganic gas.