Distribution Patterns of Pentacyclic TriterpenoidHydrocarbons in Low-Mature Source Rocksfrom Eastern China

: Four typical distribution patterns of pentacyclic triterpenoid hydrocarbons (types A-D) are distinguished in the low-mature source rocks from eastern China. Type A has a relatively high content of pentacyclic triterpenes. It exists in immature sediments and the distribution and abundance of triterpenes vary with the maturity of the sediments. An unknown C30 triterpene (UCT2) has also been detected in very shallow sediments. This compound is very unstable and disappears rapidly with the increase of depth. Type B is characterized by a relatively high amount of 17α(H), 21β(H)-30-homohopane. This kind of distribution pattern is common in coals and terrestrial sediments of low maturity. Type C has a relatively high content of diahopane and neohopane series. The analysis shows that this distribution pattern may have an indirect relationship with the input of higher plants despite its microbial source. There are C30—unconfirmed triterpane (UCT2) and a relatively high content of C35 hopane in type D. The distribution patterns of pentacyclic triterpenoids are varied under influences of biological sources, diagentic and sedimentary environments, thermal maturity etc. Therefore, they can provide useful information about the source rocks. Based on geochemical characteristics of the source rocks, the authors postulated that the type B and type C patterns are mainly related to suboxic-anoxic environments. Type D indicates the reducing to anoxic environment, in which C30-UCT3 may be related to some specific biological source in saline environments. The precursors and thermal evolution of some triterpenoid hydrocarbons are also discussed herein.

Radiogenesis of Low Maturity Natural Gas in the Turpan-Hami Basin,NW China

The origin of the Jurassic low maturity natural gas in the Turpan-Hami Basin has attracted scientists’attention for some time,and it is known that radiogenesis may have played a role.However,little has been done on the uranium-rich background of the whole basin.Based on plentiful logging and geological data for the Jurassic strata in the Turpan-Hami Basin,this research examined the features and factors controlling the distribution of rocks with high gamma reading.The results show that 70%-100%of the rocks with high gamma readings correspond to mudstones in the prodelta subfacies rather than those in semideep-deep lacustrine subfacies rich in mudstones.Therefore,we propose that the distribution of rocks with high gamma readings is mainly controlled by sedimentary facies rather than by lithology.Further analysis of the gamma spectrometry logging data shows that high gamma values are more strongly correlated with U content than with Th or K content.By comparing the U and Th contents of felsic rocks in peripheral provenances,we find that the Jueluotage Mountain and Harlik Mountain were the dominant uranium sources for the Jurassic Turpan-Hami Basin.Radiolysis due to high-level uranium in the prodelta subfacies can make the low maturity source rocks generate H2 and CH4,thus contributing to the production of low maturity natural gas in the Turpan-Hami Basin.

Mechanisms of carbon isotopic fractionation in the process of natural gas generation: Geochemical evidence from thermal simulation experiment

Low maturity coal samples were taken from the Ordos Basin to conduct gold tube thermal simulation experiment in a closed system,and the characteristics of the products were analyzed to find out the fractionation mechanism of carbon isotopes and the causes of abnormal carbon isotopic compositions of natural gas.At the heating rates of 2℃/h(slow)and 20℃/h(rapid),the low maturity coal samples of the Ordos Basin had the maximum yields of alkane gas of 302.74 mL/g and 230.16 mL/g,theδ13C1 ranges of-34.8‰to-23.6‰and-35.5‰to-24.0‰;δ13C2 ranges of-28.0‰to-9.0‰and-28.9‰to-8.3‰;andδ13C3 ranges of-25.8‰to-14.7‰and-26.4‰to-13.2‰,respectively.Alkane gas in the thermal simulation products of rapid temperature rise process showed obvious partial reversal of carbon isotope series at 550℃,and at other temperatures showed positive carbon isotope series.In the two heating processes,theδ13C1 turned lighter first and then heavier,and the non-monotonic variation of theδ13C1 values is because the early CH4 is from different parent materials resulted from heterogeneity of organic matter or the carbon isotope fractionation formed by activation energy difference of early enriched 12CH4 and late enriched 13CH4.The reversal of carbon isotope values of heavy hydrocarbon gas can occur not only in high to over mature shale gas(oil-type gas),but also in coal-derived gas.Through thermal simulation experiment of toluene,it is confirmed that the carbon isotope value of heavy hydrocarbon gas can be reversed and inversed at high to over mature stage.The isotope fractionation effect caused by demethylation and methyl linkage of aromatic hydrocarbons may be an important reason for carbon isotope inversion and reversal of alkane gas at the high to over mature stage.