Petroleum geochemistry contributes to exploration successes by providing key constraints for geological models and critical input to exploration scenarios. One of the most important tasks in a typical exploration pr...Petroleum geochemistry contributes to exploration successes by providing key constraints for geological models and critical input to exploration scenarios. One of the most important tasks in a typical exploration program is to identify the most effective source intervals or kitchens in a basin, through oil-source correlation. The results of correlation are valid only if the geochemical parameters used address adequately the genetic characteristics of the source rocks as well as the mass transport and mixing processes of hydrocarbon fluids occurring in the carrier beds and reservoirs. This manuscript discusses four of the major contentious petroleum geochemical issues in China’s sedimentary basins. It is suggested that marine incursions played a significant role in the formation of prolific petroleum source rocks in the gigantic, dominantly freshwater, Songliao Basin. Several models are proposed to account for the occurrence of immature oils in the Cathaysian rift system including the Bohai Bay Basin, thus immature source rocks are considered a mere minor contributor to the known economic immature oil resources. Both geological and geochemical evidence are reviewed to refute a dominantly coaly source for the petroleum discovered in the Turpan Basin. Results of case studies are presented to demonstrate the importance of recognizing petroleum fluid mixing to solve the oil-source correlation issues in the structurally complex Tarim Basin. In addressing the fundamental assumptions and potential flaws of the molecular geochemical parameters commonly used for oil-source correlation, the need of a mass fraction approach is proposed to deal with such contentious issues as marine versus lacustrine, coal versus lacustrine, and mature versus immature oils.展开更多
In western China, most petroliferous basins are superposed due to their multi-periodic tectonic evolution, and the mechanisms of petroleum migration and accumulation are so complex that much more sophis- ticated metho...In western China, most petroliferous basins are superposed due to their multi-periodic tectonic evolution, and the mechanisms of petroleum migration and accumulation are so complex that much more sophis- ticated methodologies are necessary for depiction of these mechanisms and identification of petroleum occurrences. For this purpose, in this article, a new methodology was formulated which includes： （I） ver- tical identification of petroleum migration and accumulation fluid dynamic systems in the superposed basins; （2） analysis of the effect of large scale regional faults and fault combinations on the fluids exchange between the vertically identified different systems; （3） analysis of petroleum migration and accumulation in each vertically identified system, and establishment of appropriate geological model of petroleum migration and accumulation for each vertically identified system. Using this methodology, the satisfactory results obtained in the Lunnan Uplift of Tarim Basin and Ludong Uplift of Jungar Basin case studies are： （1） existence of different vertical fluid dynamic systems in western China＇s superposed basins which are very necessary for understanding the mechanism of petroleum migration and accumu- lation; （2） in deep system, long-distance lateral petroleum migration and accumulation mainly take place along the long time exposed unconformity with weathered, fractured or karst reservoir rocks; （3） regio- nal faults are the main conducts for fluids migration from deep system up to middle and/or upper sys- tems. As to middle and/or upper systems, regional faults play a role of ＂petroleum source＂. Small faults within middle and/or upper systems conduct petroleum to carrier beds with less impeding force; （4） petroleum migrated from deep system vertically up to middle and/or upper systems will migrate lat- erally in carrier beds of these systems and accumulate to form nools near or far from faults.展开更多
文摘Petroleum geochemistry contributes to exploration successes by providing key constraints for geological models and critical input to exploration scenarios. One of the most important tasks in a typical exploration program is to identify the most effective source intervals or kitchens in a basin, through oil-source correlation. The results of correlation are valid only if the geochemical parameters used address adequately the genetic characteristics of the source rocks as well as the mass transport and mixing processes of hydrocarbon fluids occurring in the carrier beds and reservoirs. This manuscript discusses four of the major contentious petroleum geochemical issues in China’s sedimentary basins. It is suggested that marine incursions played a significant role in the formation of prolific petroleum source rocks in the gigantic, dominantly freshwater, Songliao Basin. Several models are proposed to account for the occurrence of immature oils in the Cathaysian rift system including the Bohai Bay Basin, thus immature source rocks are considered a mere minor contributor to the known economic immature oil resources. Both geological and geochemical evidence are reviewed to refute a dominantly coaly source for the petroleum discovered in the Turpan Basin. Results of case studies are presented to demonstrate the importance of recognizing petroleum fluid mixing to solve the oil-source correlation issues in the structurally complex Tarim Basin. In addressing the fundamental assumptions and potential flaws of the molecular geochemical parameters commonly used for oil-source correlation, the need of a mass fraction approach is proposed to deal with such contentious issues as marine versus lacustrine, coal versus lacustrine, and mature versus immature oils.
基金provided by the National Basic Research Program of China (No. 2006CB20235)
文摘In western China, most petroliferous basins are superposed due to their multi-periodic tectonic evolution, and the mechanisms of petroleum migration and accumulation are so complex that much more sophis- ticated methodologies are necessary for depiction of these mechanisms and identification of petroleum occurrences. For this purpose, in this article, a new methodology was formulated which includes： （I） ver- tical identification of petroleum migration and accumulation fluid dynamic systems in the superposed basins; （2） analysis of the effect of large scale regional faults and fault combinations on the fluids exchange between the vertically identified different systems; （3） analysis of petroleum migration and accumulation in each vertically identified system, and establishment of appropriate geological model of petroleum migration and accumulation for each vertically identified system. Using this methodology, the satisfactory results obtained in the Lunnan Uplift of Tarim Basin and Ludong Uplift of Jungar Basin case studies are： （1） existence of different vertical fluid dynamic systems in western China＇s superposed basins which are very necessary for understanding the mechanism of petroleum migration and accumu- lation; （2） in deep system, long-distance lateral petroleum migration and accumulation mainly take place along the long time exposed unconformity with weathered, fractured or karst reservoir rocks; （3） regio- nal faults are the main conducts for fluids migration from deep system up to middle and/or upper sys- tems. As to middle and/or upper systems, regional faults play a role of ＂petroleum source＂. Small faults within middle and/or upper systems conduct petroleum to carrier beds with less impeding force; （4） petroleum migrated from deep system vertically up to middle and/or upper systems will migrate lat- erally in carrier beds of these systems and accumulate to form nools near or far from faults.
