Evaluation of abundant hydrocarbon-generation depressions in the deepwater area of Qiongdongnan Basin,South China Sea

It has been confirmed that the key source rocks of Qiongdongnan Basin are associated with the Yacheng Formation, which was deposited in a transitional marine-continental environment. Because the distribution and evolution patterns of the source rocks in the major depressions are different, it is important to determine the most abundant hydrocarbon-generation depressions in terms of exploration effectiveness. Based on an analysis of organic matter characteristics of the source rocks, in combination with drilling data and seismic data, this paper establishes a model to evaluate the hydrocarbon-generation depressions in the deepwater area of Qiongdongnan Basin. First of all, by using the method of seismic-facies model analysis, the distribution of sedimentary facies was determined. Then, the sedimentary facies were correlated with the organic facies, and the distribution of organic facies was predicted. Meanwhile, the thickness of source rocks for all the depressions was calculated on the basis of a quantitative analysis of seismic velocity and lithology. The relationship between mudstone porosity and vitrinite reflectance（Ro） was used to predict the maturity of source rocks. Second, using the parameters such as thickness and maturity of source rocks, the quantity and intensity of gas generation for Yacheng and Lingshui Formations were calculated. Finally, in combination with the identified hydrocarbon resources, the quantity and intensity of gas generation were used as a guide to establish an evaluation standard for hydrocarbon-generation depressions, which was optimized for the main depressions in the Central Depression Belt. It is proposed that Lingshui, Ledong, Baodao and Changchang Depressions are the most abundant hydrocarbon depressions, whilst Songnan and Beijiao Depressions are rich hydrocarbon depressions. Such an evaluation procedure is beneficial to the next stage of exploration in the deep-water area of Qiongdongnan Basin.

TOF-SIMS Study of the Hydrocarbon-generating Potential of Mineral-Bituminous Groundmass

: The TOF-SIMS fragment peak ascription of organic and inorganic ions of mineral-bituminous groundmass of Jurassic source rocks in the Turpan-Hami and Junggar basins was studied by using the high-resolution Time of Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometer (TOF-SIMS). The characteristics of spectrum distribution and constitution of fragment ions of the mineral-bituminous groundmass are discussed; then the methods of evaluating its hydrocarbon-generating potential are developed. In addition, the typical parameters, XAL, Yox and ZAR, for indicating the hydrocarbon-generating potential of mineral-bituminous and other organic matter in source rocks are put forward to reflect the aliphatic, oxygenous, and aromatic structures. It is confirmed by Rock-Eval that these parameters are significant in evaluating hydrocarbon generation. Moreover, the detection of the nitrogenous and oxygenous fragment ion, CH5NO3+, in the mudstone formed in semi-deep lakes and in the carbargilite formed in the arms of lakes reflects the fact that microbes take an active part in biologic degradation.

Modeling of the whole hydrocarbon-generating process of sapropelic source rock

Based on experimental data from hydrocarbon generation with a semi-open system, hydrocarbon generation kinetics modeling in gold tube of closed system, high temperature pyrolysis chromatography mass spectrometry experiment with open system and geological data, the characteristics of whole hydrocarbon-generating process, hydrocarbon expulsion efficiency and retained hydrocarbon quantity, origins of natural gas generated in high-over mature stage and cracking temperature of methane homologs were investigated in this study. The sapropelic source rock has a hydrocarbon expulsion efficiency of 30%-60% and 60%-80% in the major oil generation window(with Ro of 0.8%-1.3%) and high maturity stage(with Ro of 1.3%-2.0%) respectively; and the contribution ratio of kerogen degradation gas to oil cracking gas in total generated gas in high maturity stage is about 1:4. The degradation gas of kerogen accounts for 20%, the retained liquid hydrocarbon cracking gas accounts for 13.5%, and the amount of out-reservoir oil cracking gas(including aggregation type and dispersed oil cracking gas) accounts for 66.5%. The lower limit of gas cracking is determined preliminarily. Based on the new understandings, a model of the whole hydrocarbon-generating process of source rock is built.

Organic Petrologic Characteristicsand Hydrocarbon-Generating Significance of Epiphyton

The Epiphyton occurred in the carbonate rock of lower Paleozoic in North China was analyzed by using the optical and some micro-area methods such as Micro-FT-IR and TOF-SIMS. The result shows that tbe Epiphyton belonging to the calcic algae has a certain hydrocarbon-generating potential and the hydrocarbou-generating action may continue to the high mature stage.

New perspective of Miocene marine hydrocarbon source rocks in deep-water area in Qiongdongnan Basin of northern South China Sea

Drilling wells reveal that the organic matter abundance of Miocene marine source rocks in shallow water area of the Qiongdongnan Basin is relatively low with poor hydrocarbon generation poten- tial. However, in some drilling wells of deep water area close to the central depression belt, Miocene marine source rocks with better organic matter abundance and hydrocarbon generation have been found, which have achieved better source rock standard based on the analysis of geochemical charac- teristics. Although there are no exploratory wells in deep water area of the research region, through the comparative analysis of geochemical data of several typical exploratory wells respectively from shallow water area in the basin, central depression belt margin in deep-water area of the basin and Site 1148 of deep sea drilling in the South China Sea Basin, it reveals that the tendency of the quality of source rocks becomes positive gradually from delta to bathyal environment, which then becomes negative as in deep oceanic environment. Owing to the lack of terrestrial organic matter input, the important controlling factors of Miocene marine source rocks in the Qiongdongnan Basin are ocean productivity and preservation conditions of organic matter. The element geochemistry data indicate that the tendency of the paleoproductivity and the preservation conditions of organic matter become positive as water depth increase from shallow area to bathyal area close to central depression belt. So it is speculated that there must exist high quality source rocks in the central depression area where the preservation conditions of organic matter are much better. Besides, in theory, in oxygen-poor zone of oceanic environment at the water depth 400–1 000 m, the preservation conditions of organic matter are well thus forming high-quality marine source rocks. The result- ing speculation, it is reasonable to consider that there are high hydrocarbon generation potential source rocks in bathyal environment of the Qiongdongnan Basin, especially at the water depth 400– 1 000 m.

Oil and gas resource potential of the lower members of E_(h3) in the lower Tertiary of the Biyang Depression, China

The lower Tertiary Eh3 is divided into two sections： the upper members of Eh3 and the lower members of Eh3 in the Biyang Depression. The first section is generally regarded as a key target of oil and gas exploration, but the resource potential of the lower members of Eh3 has been neglected. We have obtained new knowledge about Eh3 from comprehensive geological research. The lower members of Eh3 are high-quality and main source rocks, which have good oil and gas resource potential. This is a new direction for oil and gas exploration. The geochemistry characteristics of source rocks of the lower members of Eh3 in the lower Tertiary of the Biyang Depression were analyzed in detail. A basin modeling method was applied to hydrocarbon generation of the lower and upper members of Eh3 source rocks, the oil and gas resource potential was comparatively analyzed, and then favorable tectonic zones were pointed out. In the lower members of Eh3, a set of semi-deep lake to deep lake high-quality source rocks occurs rich in algae organisms, mainly of type II1, with a high abundance of organic matter. Most of the source rocks are just in the peak stage of hydrocarbon generation, which is a favorable foundation for forming abundant oil and gas resources in the Biyang Depression. The comparative analysis of the hydrocarbon- generation quantities between lower and upper members of the Eh3 source rocks shows that the lower members of Eh3 have good oil and gas resource potential, and the hydrocarbon-generation quantity accounts for 51% of the total in Eh3. Specifically, the oil-generating quantity accounts for 50% of the total and the gas-generating quantity accounts for two thirds of the total. Therefore, source rocks in the lower members of Eh3 of the Biyang Depression have good oil and gas resource potential, which is a key factor for future deep oil and gas exploration.

Microbial Mats in the Mesoproterozoic Carbonates of the North China Platform and Their Potential for Hydrocarbon Generation

The well-preserved Mesoproterozoic succession in the North China platform consists mainly of three iithological associations including peritidal quartz sandstone, shallow marine and lagoonal dark to black shales, and shallow epeiric carbonates, with a total thickness of up to 8 000 m. In addition to well-documented microplants, macroalgae, and microbial buildups, abundant microbially induced sedimentary structures （MISS） and mat-related sediments have been recognized in these rocks. Intensive microbial mat layers and MISS are especially well preserved in the carbonates of the upper Gaoyuzhuang （高于庄） （ca. 1.5 Ga） and lower Wumishan （雾迷山） （ca. 1.45 Ga） formations, indicating diversified microbial activities and a high organic production. In these petrified biomats, putative microbial fossils （both coccoidal and filamentous） and framboidal pyrites have been identified. The abundance of authigenic carbonate minerals in the host rocks, such as, acicular aragonites, rosette barites, radial siderites, ankerites, and botryoidal carbonate cements, suggests authigenic carbonate precipitation from anaerobic oxidation of methane （AOM） under anoxic/euxinic conditions. Warm climate and anoxic/euxinic conditions in the Mesoproterozoic oceans may have facilitated high microbial productivity and organic burial in sediments. Although authigenic carbonate cements may record carbonate precipitation from anaerobic methane oxidation, gas blister （or dome） structures may indicate gas release from active methanogenesis during shallow burial. Bituminous fragments in mat-related carbonates also provide evidence for hydrocarbon generation. Under proper conditions, the Mesoproterozoic mat-rich carbonates will have the potential for hydrocarbon generation and serve as source rocks. On the basis of petrified biomats, a rough estimation suggests that the Mesoproterozoic carbonates of the North China platform might have a hydrocarbon production potential in the order of 10 ×10^8 t.

Pore evolution in hydrocarbon-generation simulation of organic matter-rich muddy shale

For exploration and potential evaluation of deep shale reservoirs with high maturity,hydrocarbon generation and pore evolution of muddy shale in deep high evolution stage were investigated by the high-temperature high-pressure simulation experiment.Results indicated that under high pressure condition,nano-scale micropores in organic matter-rich muddy shale constantly increased as rise of temperature and pressure,leading to increase of shale porosity.However,in the high mature-overmature stage,shale porosity decreased with further increase of temperature and pressure.In contrast to micropores,micro-scale capillary pores and megapores in shale constantly decreased as rise of simulation temperature or pressure,indicating that deep-burial reservoirs was not favorable for free-gas storage;but significant increase of micropores and surface area during this stage could make up for a loss of adsorbed natural gas in shale due to decrease of adsorption capacity which was induced by increase of temperature and pressure,thus leading to high shale gas potential in deep layers.A large number of secondary micropores were developed in the simulated samples such as pyrite and dolomite,demonstrating that shale clasts and mineral matrix could also form abundant secondary micropores during the deep evolution stage;during the evolution process,shale as hydrocarbon source rock could generate a large amount of acidic fluid which was favorable for development of secondary porosity.

A new method to reconstruct hydrocarbon-generating histories of source rocks in a petroleum-bearing basin——the method of geological and geochemical sections

Via investigating typical Palaeozoic and Mesozoic petroleum-bearing basins in China by using thermal maturation theories of organic matter to improve the conventional Karweil’s method, a new method to reconstruct hydrocarbon-generating histories of source rocks has been suggested. This method, combining geological background with geochemical information makes the calculated VRo closer to the measured one. Moreover, it enables us to make clear the hydrocarbon generation trend of source rocks during geological history. The method has the merits of simple calculation and objective presentation, especially suitable to basins whose sedimentation and tectonic movements are complicated.

Kinetic simulating experiment on the secondary hydrocarbon generation of kerogen

The kinetic parameters of generation have been obtained for different hydrocarbon classes, including methane, C2-C5 gas hydrocarbons, C6-C13 light hydrocarbons and C13+ heavy hydrocarbons, and vitrinite reflectance (R°) by the kinetic simulating experiment of kerogen cracking. Then, combined with the detailed geology of Sichuan Basin, the effective gas-generating intensity of the Lower Cambrian source rock is approximately estimated by applying these parameters.

Geochemical Characteristics of the Source Rocks in Mesozoic Yanchang Formation,Central Ordos Basin

The shale of Yanchang Formation in Upper Triassic is the most important source rock for the Mesozoic petroleum reserviors in Ordos Basin. Chang 7 and Chang 4＋5 members are the major source rock formation. Source rock samples, obtained from 22 cored wells in central Ordos Basin, were geochemically analyzed to determine the organic matter abundance, kerogen type and thermal maturity. Total organic carbon values ranged from 0.36% to 19.10%, 8.09% on average, in- dicating a good source rock potential. In this area, the shale is mature, as indicated by vitrinite re- flectance values. RockoEval data revealed that the samples are dominated by type II kerogen. Com- pare the Chang 7 and Chang 4＋5 members, which suggests that the Chang 7 shale has higher TOC, especially the highest lower Chang 7 members. The abundance of organic matter of Chang 4＋5 and Chang 7 members is both richest in southeast basin. The kerogen type of Chang 4＋5 and upper Chang 7 members is type II~, the counterpart of middle and lower Chang 7 member is type I. During the burial history, the total hydrocarbon-generating quantity of Chang 7 member is much more than that of Chang 4＋5 members.

Shale pore characteristics of Shahejie Formation: Implication for pore evolution of shale oil reservoirs in Dongying sag, north China

The pore characteristics of shale reservoirs in the lower submember of Member 3 to upper submember of Member 4 of Shahejie Formation in Dongying sag are analyzed,influences of mineral content and organic matter content on porosity and pore size are also investigated,and through the diagenetic thermal simulation experiment,the main pore evolution is further discussed.The results show that the pore structure of shale reservoirs is complex,the micron-nanometer pores can storage liquid hydrocarbons,and the free-phase crude oil is mainly distributed in intergranular dissolution pores of calcite,recrystallized intergranular pores,intergranular shrinkage fractures of clay mineral which have large pore size.Framework minerals and organic matter content directly influence porosity and pore size of shale reservoirs,relationship between porosity and content of felsic mineral as well as content of organic matter content is linear and positive,while relationship between content of carbonated mineral is negative.At the buried depth from 2500 to 3500 m,concentration of organic acid from hydrocarbon generation and expulsion of organic matter,increasing range of pressure coefficient,are well corresponding to highporosity intervals;pore formation in shale oil reservoirs are almost controlled by diagenetic evolution of clay minerals;framework storage spaces formed by carbonate grain crystals as well as intergranular and intergranular dissolution pores of carbonate increases porosity of shale oil reservoirs;local increase of porosity at the depth of 3500e3800 m is mainly caused by coupling of hydrocarbon-generating overpressure and dissolution,and size,distribution and connectivity of pores are enhanced obviously.