Hydrocarbon migration and accumulation along the fault intersection zone-a case study on the reef-flat systems of the No.1 slope break zone in the Tazhong area, Tarim Basin

Understanding hydrocarbon migration and accumulation mechanisms is one of the key scientif ic problems that should be solved for effective hydrocarbon exploration in the superimposed basins developed in northwest China. The northwest striking No.1 slope break zone, which is a representative of superimposed basins in the Tarim Basin, can be divided into five parts due to the intersection of the northeast strike-slip faults. Controlled by the tectonic framework, the types and properties of reservoirs and the hydrocarbon compositions can also be divided into five parts from east to west. Anomalies of all the parameters were found on the fault intersection zone and weakened up-dip along the structural ridge away from it. Thus, it can be inferred that the intersection zone is the hydrocarbon charging position. This new conclusion differs greatly from the traditional viewpoint, which believes that the hydrocarbon migrates and accumulates along the whole plane of the No.1 slope break zone. The viewpoint is further supported by the evidence from the theory of main pathway systems, obvious improvement of the reservoir quality （2-3 orders of magnitude at the intersection zone） and the formation mechanisms of the fault intersection zone. Differential hydrocarbon migration and entrapment exists in and around the strike- slip faults. This is controlled by the internal structure of faults. It is concluded that the more complicated the fault structure is, the more significant the effects will be. If there is a deformation band, it will hinder the cross fault migration due to the common feature of two to four orders of magnitude reduction in permeability. Otherwise, hydrocarbons tend to accumulate in the up-dip structure under the control of buoyancy. Further research on the internal fault structure should be emphasized.

Evolution of Tectonic Uplift, Hydrocarbon Migration, and Uranium Mineralization in the NW Junggar Basin： An Apatite Fission-Track Thermochronology Study

The Mesozoic–Cenozoic tectonic movement largely controls the northwest region of the Junggar Basin（NWJB）, which is a significant area for the exploration of petroleum and sandstone-type uranium deposits in China. This work collected six samples from this sedimentary basin and surrounding mountains to conduct apatite fission track（AFT） dating, and utilized the dating results for thermochronological modeling to reconstruct the uplift history of the NWJB and its response to hydrocarbon migration and uranium mineralization. The results indicate that a single continuous uplift event has occurred since the Early Cretaceous, showing spatiotemporal variation in the uplift and exhumation patterns throughout the NWJB. Uplift and exhumation initiated in the northwest and then proceeded to the southeast, suggesting that the fault system induced a post spread-thrust nappe into the basin during the Late Yanshanian. Modeling results indicate that the NWJB mountains have undergone three distinct stages of rapid cooling： Early Cretaceous（ca. 140–115 Ma）, Late Cretaceous（ca. 80–60 Ma）, and Miocene–present（since ca. 20 Ma）. These three stages regionally correspond to the LhasaEurasian collision during the Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous（ca. 140–125 Ma）, the Lhasa-Gandise collision during the Late Cretaceous（ca. 80–70 Ma）, and a remote response to the India-Asian collision since ca. 55 Ma, respectively. These tectonic events also resulted in several regional unconformities between the J3/K1, K2/E, and E/N, and three large-scale hydrocarbon injection events in the Piedmont Thrust Belt（PTB）. Particularly, the hydrocarbon charge event during the Early Cretaceous resulted in the initial inundation and protection of paleo-uranium ore bodies that were formed during the Middle–Late Jurassic. The uplift and denudation of the PTB was extremely slow from 40 Ma onward due to a slight influence from the Himalayan orogeny. However, the uplift of the PTB was faster after the Miocene, which led to re-uplift and exposure at the surface during the Quaternary, resulting in its oxidation and the formation of small uranium ore bodies.

Geochemical identification of a source rock affected by migrated hydrocarbons and its geological significance:Fengcheng Formation,southern Mahu Sag,Junggar Basin,NW China

The Fengcheng Formation is a crucial source rock and the primary reservoir for oil accumulation in the Mahu Sag.Crude oils are distributed throughout the Fengcheng Formation,ranging from the edge to the interior of the sag in the southern Mahu Sag.These crude oils originate from in-situ source rocks in shallowly buried areas and the inner deep sag.During migration,the crude oil from the inner deep sag affects the source rocks close to carrier beds,leading to changes in the organic geochemical characteristics of the source rocks.These changes might alter source rock evaluations and oil-source correlation.Based on data such as total organic carbon(TOC),Rock-Eval pyrolysis of source rocks,and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS)of the saturated fraction,and considering the geological characteristics of the study area,we define the identification characteristics of source rock affected by migrated hydrocarbons and establish the various patterns of influence that migrated hydrocarbons have on the source rock of the Fengcheng Formation in the southern Mahu Sag.The source rocks of the Fengcheng Formation are mostly fair to good,containing mainly Type II organic matter and being thermally mature enough to generate oil.Source rocks affected by migrated hydrocarbons exhibit relatively high hydrocarbon contents(S1/TOC>110 mg HC/g TOC,Extract/TOC>30%,HC:hydrocarbon),relatively low Rock-Eval Tmax values,and relatively high tricyclic terpane contents with a descending and mountain-shaped distribution.Furthermore,biomarker composition parameters indicate a higher thermal maturity than in-situ source rocks.Through a comparison of the extract biomarker fingerprints of adjacent reservoirs and mudstones in different boreholes,three types of influence patterns of migrated hydrocarbons are identified:the edge-influence of thin sandstone-thick mudstone,the mixed-influence of sandstone-mudstone interbedded,and the full-influence of thick sandstone-thin mudstone.This finding reminds us that the influence of migrated hydrocarbons must be considered when evaluating source rocks and conducting oil-source correlation.

Effects of Deep Fluids on Hydrocarbon Generation and Accumulation in Chinese Petroliferous Basins

Deep fluids in a petroliferous basin generally come from the deep crust or mantle beneath the basin basement, and they transport deep substances（gases and aqueous solutions） as well as heat to sedimentary strata through deep faults. These deep fluids not only lead to large-scale accumulations of CO2, CH4, H2, He and other gases, but also significantly impact hydrocarbon generation and accumulation through organic-inorganic interactions. With the development of deep faults and magmatic-volcanic activities in different periods, most Chinese petroliferous basins have experienced strong impacts associated with deep fluid activity. In the Songliao, Bohai Bay, Northern Jiangsu, Sanshui, Yinggehai and Pearl Mouth Basins in China, a series of CO2 reservoirs have been discovered. The CO2 content is up to 99%, with δ-（13）C（CO2） values ranging from-4.1‰ to-0.37‰ and -3He/-4He ratios of up to 5.5 Ra. The abiogenic hydrocarbon gas reservoirs with commercial reserves, such as the Changde, Wanjinta, Zhaozhou, and Chaoyanggou reservoirs, are mainly distributed in the Xujiaweizi faulted depression of the Songliao Basin. The δ-（13）CCH4 values of the abiogenic alkane gases are generally -30‰ and exhibit an inverse carbon isotope sequence of δ-（13）C（CH4）δ-（13）C（C2H6）δ-（13）C（C3H8）δ-（13）C（C4H10）. According to laboratory experiments, introducing external H2 can improve the rate of hydrocarbon generation by up to 147% through the kerogen hydrogenation process. During the migration from deep to shallow depth, CO2 can significantly alter reservoir rocks. In clastic reservoirs, feldspar is easily altered by CO2-rich fluids, leading to the formation of dawsonite, a typical mineral in high CO2 partial pressure environments, as well as the creation of secondary porosity. In carbonate reservoirs, CO2-rich fluids predominately cause dissolution or precipitation of carbonate minerals. The minerals, e.g., calcite and dolomite, show some typical features, such as higher homogenization temperatures than the burial temperature, relatively high concentrations of Fe and Mn, positive Eu anomalies, depletion of 18 O and enrichment of radiogenic -（87）Sr. Due to CO2-rich fluids, the development of high-quality carbonate reservoirs is extended to deep strata. For example, the Well TS1 in the northern Tarim Basin revealed a high-quality Cambrian dolomite reservoir with a porosity of 9.1% at 8408 m, and the Well ZS1 C in the central Tarim Basin revealed a large petroleum reserve in a Cambrian dolomite reservoir at -6900 m. During the upward migration from deep to shallow basin strata, large volumes of supercritical CO2 may extract petroleum components from hydrocarbon source rocks or deep reservoirs and facilitate their migration to shallow reservoirs, where the petroleum accumulates with the CO2. Many reservoirs containing both supercritical CO2 and petroleum have been discovered in the Songliao, Bohaiwan, Northern Jiangsu, Pearl River Mouth and Yinggehai Basins. The components of the petroleum trapped with CO2 are dominated by low molecular weight saturated hydrocarbons.

Hydrodynamic Evolution and Hydrocarbon Accumulation in the Dabashan Foreland Thrust Belt,China

There are two plays in the Dabashan foreland tectonic belt： the upper and the lower plays. The lower play experienced one sedimentary hydrodynamic stage, two burial hydrodynamic stages, two tectonic hydrodynamic stages and two infiltration hydrodynamic stages from the Sinian to the Cenozoic, while the upper play had one sedimentary hydrodynamic stage, one burial hydrodynamic stage, two tectonic hydrodynamic stages and one infiltration hydrodynamic stage from the Permian to the Cenozoic. Extensive flows of both sedimentary water, including hydrocarbons, and deep mantle fluid occurred in the Chengkou faults during collision orogeny in the Middle-Late Triassic Indosinian orogeny, and fluid flow was complicated during intracontinental orogeny in the Middle-Late Jurassic. In addition to these movements, infiltration and movement of meteoric water took place in the Chengkou faults, whereas in the covering-strata decollement tectonic belt, extensive sedimentary water flow （including hydrocarbons） occurred mainly in the Zhenba and Pingba faults. During the stage of rapid uplift and exhumation from the Cretaceous to the Cenozoic, the fluid flow was characterized mainly by infiltration of meteoric water and gravity-induced flow caused by altitude difference, whereas sedimentary water flow caused by tectonic processes was relatively less significant. Sedimentary water flow was more significant to the lower play in hydrocarbon migration and accumulation during collision orogeny in the Middle-Late Triassic Indosinian orogeny, but its influence is relatively slight on the upper play. On one hand, hydrodynamics during intracontinental orogeny in the Middle-Late Jurassic adjusted, reformed or oven destroyed oil reservoirs in the lower play; on the other hand, it drove large amounts of hydrocarbons to migrate laterally and vertically and is favorable for hydrocarbon accumulation. Infiltration hydrodynamics mainly adjusted and destroyed oil reservoirs from the Cretaceous to the Cenozoic.

Tight sandstone gas accumulation mechanisms and sweet spot prediction, Triassic Xujiahe Formation, Sichuan Basin, China

The prediction of continental tight sandstone gas sweet spots is an obstacle during tight sandstone gas exploration. In this work, the classic physical fluid charging experimental equipment is improved, the combination of the gas migration and accumulation process with the pore network numerical simulation method is investigated, and application of the permeability/porosity ratio is proposed to predict the gas saturation and sweet spots of continental formations. The results show that (1) as the charging pressure increases, the permeability of the reservoir increases because more narrow pore throats are displaced in the percolation process;and (2) based on pore network numerical simulation and theoretical analysis, the natural gas migration and accumulation mechanisms are revealed. The gas saturation of tight sandstone rock is controlled by the gas charging pressure and dynamic percolation characteristics. (3) The ratio of permeability/porosity and fluid charging pressure is proposed to predict the gas saturation of the formation. The ratio is verified in a pilot and proven to be applicable and practical. This work highlights the tight sandstone gas migration and accumulation mechanisms and narrows the gap among microscale physical experiments, numerical simulation research, and field applications.

Hydrocarbon Generation, Migration, and Accumulation in the Eocene Niubao Formation in the Lunpola Basin, Tibet, China: Insights from Basin Modeling and Fluid Inclusion Analysis

The Eocene Niubao Formation is the primary research target of oil exploration in the Lunpola Basin.Crude oil was extracted from Well Z1 on the northern margin of the basin in 1993.In this study,an integrated evaluation of the source rock geothermal,and maturity histories and the fluid inclusion and fluid potential distributions was performed to aid in predicting areas of hydrocarbon accumulation.Due to the abundance of organic matter,the kerogen types,maturity,and oil-sources correlate with the geochemical data.The middle submember of the second member of the Niubao Formation(E2n^2-2)is the most favorable source rock based on the amount of oil produced from the E2n^2-3and E2n^3-1reservoirs.One-and twodimensional basin modeling,using BasinMod software,shows that the E2n^2-2source rock started to generate hydrocarbon at 35-30 Ma,reached a maturity of Ro=0.7%at 25-20 Ma,and at present,it has reached the peak oil generation stage with a thermal maturity of Ro=0.8%to less than Ro=1.0%.By using fluid inclusion petrography,fluorescence spectroscopy,and microthermometry,two major periods of oil charging have been revealed at 26.1-17.5 and 32.4-24.6 Ma.The oil accumulation modeling results,conducted by using the Trinity software,show a good fit of the oil shows in the wells and predict that the structural highs and lithologic transitions within the Jiangriaco and Paco sags are potential oil traps.

Origin of Oils in“Subtle pools”in the Dongying Depression,Bohai Bay Basin, China

Subtle traps or oil pools have become an important exploration play in the Dongying Depression, Bohai Bay Basin, east China. Despite recent successes in exploration, the formation mechanisms of subtle traps are still not well understood. The majority of subtle oil pools in the Dongying Depression are developed in the middle interval of the Es3 Member of the Paleogene Shahejie Formation with the subtle traps being primarily of lenticular basin-floor turbidite sands encompassed in mudstones. Oil in the subtle traps was previously thought to have migrated directly from the surrounding source rocks of the same formation （Es3）. Detailed geochemical investigation of 41 oils and 41 rock samples from the depression now indicates that the oils from the subtle traps cannot be correlated well with the surrounding Es3 source rocks, which are characterized by high Pr/ Ph （〉1）, low Gammacerane/C30hopane, representing a freshwater lacustrine setting. In contrast the oils features low Pr/Ph （〈1） and relatively high Gammacerane content, showing a genetic affinity with the underlying Es4 source rocks, which also have the same qualities, indicating a brackish lacustrine setting. Oils in the Es3 subtle traps are probably derived from mixed sources with the contribution from the upper Es4 source rocks predominating. Therefore unconventional oil migration and accumulation mechanisms need to be invoked to explain the pooling of oils from the ES4 source rocks, which probably came through a thick low interval of the Es3 source rocks with no apparent structural or stratigraphic pathways. We suggest that the subtle oil migration pathway probably plays an important role here. This finding may have significant implications for future exploration and the remaining resource evaluation in the Dongying Depression.

Structure and Fluid Transportation Performance of Faults in the Changxing-Feixianguan Formation, Xuanhan County, Northeastern Sichuan Basin

On the basis of field observations, microscopic thin-sections and laboratory data analysis of ten faults in Xuanhan County area, northeastern Sichuan Basin, central China, the internal and megascopic structures and tectonite development characteristics are mainly controlled by the geomechanical quality in brittle formation of the Changxing-Feixianguan Formation. The fluid transportation performance difference between the faults formed by different geomechanics or different structural parts of the same fault are controlled by the mcgascopic structure and tectonite development characteristics. For instance, the extension fault structure consists of a tectonite breccia zone and an extension fracture zone. Good fluid transportation performance zones are the extension fracture zone adjacent to the tectonite breccia zone and the breccia zone formed at the early evolutionary stage. The typical compression fault structure consists of a boulder-clay zone or zones of grinding gravel rock, compression foliation, tectonite lens, and dense fracture development. The dense fracture development zone is the best fluid transporting area at a certain scale of the compression fault, and then the lens, grinding gravel rock zone and compression foliation zones are the worst areas for hydrocarbon migration. The typical tensor-shear fault with a certain scale can be divided into boulder-clay or grinding gravel rock zones of the fault, as well as a pinnate fractures zone and a derivative fractures zone. The grinding gravel rock zone is the worst one for fluid transportation. Because of the fracture mesh connectivity and better penetration ability, the pinnate fractures zone provides the dominant pathway for hydrocarbon vertical migration along the tensor-shear fault.

Paleogene geological framework and tectonic evolution of the central anticlinal zone in Lufeng 13 sag,Pearl River Mouth Basin

The Paleogene geological framework and evolution process in the central anticline zone in the Lufeng 13 sag in Pearl River Mouth Basin is well analyzed through seismic data and drilling data,and control of tectonic evolution on hydrocarbon accumulation is also discussed.The results show that the central anticline zone in the Lufeng 13 sag develops the upper deformation layer and lower deformation layer.The“arched graben system”is developed in the upper deformation layer,and the magmatic diapir structure and flowing deformation of plastic strata is developed in the lower deformation layer.The evolution process of the central anticline zone can be divided into four stages,i.e.fault block uplifting stage,prototype stage,strengthening stage and finalization stage.The geological framework and tectonic evolution of the central anticline zone control Paleogene hydrocarbon accumulation.The Paleogene twolayer geological framework is favorable for development of structural traps and composite traps;the paleostructure highs are the direction of hydrocarbon migration,and the gravitational gliding faults are the main carrier bed for vertical hydrocarbon migration;the tectonic uplift is a key factor for reservoir diagenesis improvement and preservation of primary pores,and also controls distribution of high-quality reservoirs.