Migration and accumulation mechanisms and main controlling factors of tight oil enrichment in a continental lake basin

Based on the typical dissection of various onshore tight oil fields in China,the tight oil migration and accumulation mechanism and enrichment-controlling factors in continental lake basins are analyzed through nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR)displacement physical simulation and Lattice Boltzmann numerical simulation by using the samples of source rock,reservoir rock and crude oil.In continental lake basins,the dynamic forces driving hydrocarbon generation and expulsion of high-quality source rocks are the foundational power that determines the charging efficiency and accumulation effect of tight oil,the oil migration resistance is a key element that influences the charging efficiency and accumulation effect of tight oil,and the coupling of charging force with pore-throat resistance in tight reservoir controls the tight oil accumulation and sweet spot enrichment.The degree of tight oil enrichment in continental lake basins is controlled by four factors:source rock,reservoir pore-throat size,anisotropy of reservoir structure,and fractures.The high-quality source rocks control the near-source distribution of tight oil,reservoir physical properties and pore-throat size are positively correlated with the degree of tight oil enrichment,the anisotropy of reservoir structure reveals that the parallel migration rate is the highest,and intralayer fractures can improve the migration and accumulation efficiency and the oil saturation.

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.

A Study of the Migration and Accumulation Efficiency and the Genesis of Hydrocarbon Natural Gas in the Xujiaweizi Fault Depression

In order to investigate the migration and accumulation efficiency of hydrocarbon natural gas in the Xujiaweizi fault depression, and to provide new evidence for the classification of its genesis, a source rock pyrolysis experiment in a closed system was designed and carried out. Based on this, kinetic models for describing gas generation from organic matter and carbon isotope fractionation during this process were established, calibrated and then extrapolated to geologic conditions by combining the thermal history data of the Xushen-1 Well. The results indicate that the coal measures in the Xujiaweizi fault depression are typical ＂high-efficiency gas sources＂, the natural gas generated from them has a high migration and accumulation efficiency, and consequently a large-scale natural gas accumulation occurred in the area. The highly/over matured coal measures in the Xujiaweizi fault depression generate coaliferous gas with a high δ^13C1 value （〉 -20‰） at the late stage, making the carbon isotope composition of organic alkane gases abnormally heavy. In addition, the mixing and dissipation through the caprock of natural gas can result in the negative carbon isotope sequence （δ^13C1 〉δ^13C2 〉δ^13C3 〉δ^13C4） of organic alkane gases, and the dissipation can also lead to the abnormally heavy carbon isotope composition of organic alkane gases. As for the discovery of inorganic nonhydrocarbon gas reservoirs, it can only serve as an accessorial evidence rather than a direct evidence that the hydrocarbon gas is inorganic. As a result, it needs stronger evidence to classify the hydrocarbon natural gas in the Xujiaweizi fault depression as inorganic gas.

Study on fault-controlled hydrocarbon migration and accumulation process and models in Zhu I Depression

Through the analysis of the faults and their internal structure in Zhu I Depression,it is found that the internal structure of the late fault is obviously segmented vertically.It develops unitary structure(simple fault plane)in shallow layers,binary structure(induced fracture zone in hanging wall and sliding fracture zone in footwall)in middle,layers and ternary structure(induced fracture zone in hanging wall and sliding fracture zone in middle,and induced fracture zone in footwall)in deep layers.Because the induced fracture zone is a high porosity and permeability zone,and the sliding fracture zone is a low porosity and ultra-low permeability zone,the late fault in middle layers has the character of"transporting while sealing".The late fault can transport hydrocarbon by its induced fracture zone in the side of the hanging wall and seal hydrocarbon by its sliding fracture zone in the side of the footwall.In deep layers,the late fault has the character of"dual-transportation",induced fracture zones in both sides of hanging wall and footwall can transport hydrocarbon.The early fault that only developed in the deep layers is presumed to be unitary structure,which plays a completely sealing role in the process of hydrocarbon migration and accumulation due to inactivity during the hydrocarbon filling period.Controlled by hydrocarbon source,early/late faults,sand bodies and traps,two reservoir-forming models of"inverted L"and"stereo-spiral"can be proposed in middle layers,while two reservoir-forming models of"cross fault"and"lateral fault sealing"are developed in the deep layers of Zhu I Depression.

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.

Depositional Patterns and Oil／Gas Accumulation Features of Sha-3 Member Turbidites in Dongying Depression, Bohai Bay Basin

Recent exploration results indicate that a significant exploration potential remains in the Dongying Depression of the Bohai Bay Basin and the undiscovered oil and gas are largely reservoired in subtle traps including turbidite litholigcal traps of the Sha-3 Member. In order to effectively guide the exploration program targeting turbidites, this study will focus on the depositional models of the Sha-3 Member turbidites and oil/gas accumulation characteristics in these turbidites. Two corresponding relationships were found. One is that the East African Rift Valley provides a modern analog for the depositional systems in the Dongying Depression. The other is that the depositional models of line-sourced slope aprons, single point-source submarine fan and multiple source ramp turbidite, established for deep-sea turbidites, can be applied to interpret the depositional features of the turbidite fans of three different origins: slope turbidite aprons, lake floor turbidite fans and delta-fed turbidite fans in the Sha-3 Member. Updip sealing integrity is the key factor determining whether oil/gas accumulates or not in the slope aprons and lake floor fans. The factors controlling oil/gas migration and accumulation in the delta-fed turbidite fans are not very clear. Multiple factors rather than a single factor probably played significant roles in these processes.

Different Hydrocarbon Accumulation Histories in the Kelasu-Yiqikelike Structural Belt of the Kuqa Foreland Basin

The Kuqa foreland basin is an important petroliferous basin where gas predominates. The Kela-2 large natural gas reservoir and the Yinan-2, Dabei-1, Tuzi and Dina-11 gas reservoirs have been discovered in the basin up to the present. Natural gases in the Kelasu district and the Yinan district are generated from different source rocks indicated by methane and ethane carbon isotopes. The former is derived from both Jurassic and Triassic source rocks, while the latter is mainly from the Jurassic. Based on its multistage evolution and superposition and the intense tectonic transformation in the basin, the hydrocarbon charging history can be divided into the early and middle Himalayan hydrocarbon accumulation and the late Himalayan redistribution and re-enrichment. The heavier carbon isotope composition and the high natural gas ratio of C1/C1-4 indicate that the accumulated natural gas in the early Himalayan stage is destroyed and the present trapped natural gas was charged mainly in the middle and late Himalayan stages. Comparison and contrast of the oils produced in the Kelasu and Yinan regions indicate the hydrocarbon charging histories in the above two regions are complex and should be characterized by multistage hydrocarbon migration and accumulation.

Characteristics of Oil and Gas Accumulation in Yong'an-Meitai Area of the Fushan Depression,Beibuwan Basin,South China Sea

The Yong＇an-Meitai area is the focus of the present exploration in the Fushan Depression, Beibuwan Basin, South China Sea. All oils from this area are geochemically characterized by higher Pr/Ph ratio, higher proportion of heavy molecular weight hydrocarbons, and higher proportion of C29 regular steranes, which indicate that the organic matter of source rocks might have been deposited in an oxidizing palaeoenvironment and be dominated by higher plant organic matter input. The oil from E3w2 （the second member of Weizhou Fro. of the Oligocene） has a much higher density, relatively higher Pr/nC17 and Ph/nC18 ratios, and a ＂UCM--unresolved complex mixture＂ on gas chromatograms, which indicate that it has been slightly biodegraded. CPI and other terpane and sterane isomer ratios suggest they are all mature oils. The timing of oil charging in E3w2 and E2I1 （the first member of the Liushagang Fro. of the Eocene） determined by the homogenization temperatures of fluid inclusions and thermal evolution history are from 9-3 Ma and 8-3 Ma, respectively. Thus, the interpretation of E3w2 as a secondary reservoir is unlikely. The timing of oil charging is later than that of hydrocarbon generating and expulsion of Liushagang Fin. source rocks and trap formation, which is favorable for oil accumulation in this area. All molecular parameters that are used for tracing oil filling direction decrease with shallower burial depth, which suggests vertical oil migration. The widely occurring faults that penetrate through the source rocks of the Liushagang Fro. may serve as a fine oil charging conduit.

Numerical simulation of the dynamic migration mechanism and prediction of saturation of tight sandstone oil

Quantitative characterization of tight sandstone oil migration and accumulation is an emerging research frontier in the field of oil and gas exploration.In this study,a conceptual model containing multiple basic geological elements is developed,and a nonlinear seepage numerical model for tight sandstone oil migration and accumulation is established.The effects of the slip effect,overpressure driving force,buoyancy,and capillary force on the migration and accumulation of tight oil are examined.The results showed that(1)the differences in oil migration and accumulation between tight and conventional reservoirs are reflected in the growth mode of oil saturation,distribution characteristics of oil and water,and extent of the effect of the formation dip angle;(2)the slip effect has a significant impact when the average pore throat radius is less than 150 nm and the overpressure driving force and capillary force are the main mechanical mechanisms controlling oil migration and accumulation in tight sandstone,while the coupling effect of buoyancy,capillary force,and overpressure driving force controls the upper and lower limits of oil saturation.Finally,a dimensional and dimensionless identification chart for rapidly predicting the oil saturation of tight sandstone is proposed and verified using the measured data.This study provides a basis for analyzing the migration and accumulation mechanisms of tight sandstone oil and a new approach for predicting oil saturation.Additionally,we developed digital and visual analysis methods for the migration results,enriching the expression of the dynamics of hydrocarbon accumulation.

Complex Petroleum Migration and Accumulation in Central Region of Southern Junggar Basin,Northwest China

The central region of the southern Junggar basin （Northwest China） is a key exploration target in this petroliferous basin. As there are four sets of potential source rocks （e.g., Permian, Jurassic, Cretaceous and Paleogene sequences）, petroleum migration and accumulation are likely complex. This study represents an attempt to understand this complexity in order to provide fundamental information for future regional petroleum exploration and geological studies. Based on petroleum geology and geochemistry, it is implied that there are mainly three types of hydrocarbons, including Cretaceous- and Paleogene-sourced oils （with the former being dominant） and Jurassic-sourced gas. The petroleum migration and accumulation mainly cover three stages. The first stage is the late period of the Early Pleistocene, in which the Cretaceous-sourced oils migrate and accumulate. Then, in the second stage （from the late period of the Middle Pleistocene to the early period of the Late Pleistocene）, the Cretaceous- sourced oils, together with the Paleogene-sourced oils, participate in the migration and accumulation. At last, in the end of the Late Pleistocene, large quantities of oils remigrate and accumulate, with gas （especially Jurassic- sourced gas） migrating along faults to accumulate. Thus, petroleum charge events in the area are complex, reflecting the control of complex tectonic evolution on petroleum migration and accumulation.

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.

Study on north boundary of subtropical zone in Funiu Mountain according to soil geochemistry

The boundary between subtropical zone and temperate zone is not only important in physical geography, but also attractive in agricultural production. Seven soil profiles studied in this paper are placed along the southern slope of Funiu Mountain at different heights above sea level. Many compositions and properties of these soils have been determined in laboratory. In this paper, the laws of migration and accumulation of soil materials on the southern slope of Funiu Mountain are discussed first, then the division of the boundary between subtropical zone and temperate zone in this area according to soil geochemistry is discussed with qualitative methods and mathematical classification method in which twelve selected indexes such as K m , Saf, Ba, β, Feo/Fet, Mno/Mnt and so on are used. The result indicates that the boundary between subtropical zone and temperate zone on the southern slope of Funiu Mountain is about 950 m above sea level.

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.