Quick Evaluation of Present-Day Low-Total Organic Carbon Carbonate Source Rocks from Rock-Eval Data: Middle–Upper Ordovician in the Tabei Uplift, Tarim Basin

Previous studies have postulated the contribution of present-day low-total organic carbon （TOC） marine carbonate source rocks to oil accumulations in the Tabei Uplift, Tarim Basin, China. However, not all present-day low-TOC carbonates have generated and expelled hydrocarbons; therefore, to distinguish the source rocks that have already expelled sufficient hydrocarbons from those not expelled hydrocarbons, is crucial in source rock evaluation and resource assessment in the Tabei Uplift. Mass balance can be used to identify modern low-TOC carbonates resulting from hydrocarbon expulsion. However, the process is quite complicated, requiring many parameters and coefficients and thus also a massive data source. In this paper, we provide a quick and cost effective method for identifying carbonate source rock with present-day low TOC, using widely available Rock-Eval data. First, we identify present-day low-TOC carbonate source rocks in typical wells according to the mass balance approach. Second, we build an optimal model to evaluate source rocks from the analysis of the rocks＇ characteristics and their influencing factors, reported as positive or negative values of a dimensionless index of Rock-Eval data （IR）. Positive IR corresponds to those samples which have expelled hydrocarbons. The optimal model optimizes complicated calculations and simulation processes; thus it could be widely applicable and competitive in the evaluation of present-day low TOC carbonates. By applying the model to the Rock-Eval dataset of the Tabei Uplift, we identify present-day iow-TOC carbonate source rocks and primarily evaluate the contribution equivalent of 11.87×10^9 t oil.

Method for identifying effective carbonate source rocks:a case study from Middle-Upper Ordovician in Tarim Basin,China

Hydrocarbon expulsion occurs only when pore fluid pressure due to hydrocarbon generation in source rock exceeds the force against migration in the adjacent carrier beds.Taking the Middle-Upper Ordovician carbonate source rock of Tarim Basin in China as an example,this paper proposes a method that identifies effective carbonate source rock based on the principles of mass balance.Data from the Well YW2 indicate that the Middle Ordovician Yijianfang Formation contains effective carbonate source rocks with low present-day TOC.Geological and geochemical analysis suggests that the hydrocarbons in the carbonate interval are likely self-generated and retained.Regular steranes from GC-MS analysis of oil extracts in this interval display similar features to those of the crude oil samples in Tabei area,indicating that the crude oil probably was migrated from the effective source rocks.By applying to other wells in the basin,the identified effective carbonate source rocks and non-source rock carbonates can be effectively identified and consistent with the actual exploration results,validating the method.Considering the contribution from the identified effective source rocks with low present-day TOC(TOC_(pd))is considered,the long-standing puzzle between the proved 3 P oil reserves and estimated resources in the basin can be reasonably explained.