Quantitative evaluation of geological fluid evolution and accumulated mechanism:in case of tight sandstone gas field in central Sichuan Basin

Tight gas exploration plays an important part in China’s unconventional energy strategy.The tight gas reservoirs in the Jurassic Shaximiao Formation in the Qiulin and Jinhua Gas Fields of central Sichuan Basin are characterized by shallow burial depths and large reserves.The evolution of the fluid phases is a key element in understanding the accumulation of hydrocarbons in tight gas reservoirs.This study investigates the fluid accumulation mechanisms and the indicators of reservoir properties preservation and degradation in a tight gas reservoir.Based on petrographic observations and micro-Raman spectroscopy,pure CH4 inclusions,pure CO2 inclusions,hybrid CH4–CO2 gas inclusions,and N2-rich gas inclusions were studied in quartz grains.The pressure–volume–temperature–composition properties(PVT-x)of the CH4 and CO2 bearing inclusions were determined using quantitative Raman analysis and thermodynamic models,while the density of pure CO2 inclusions was calculated based on the separation of Fermi diad.Two stages of CO2 fluid accumulation were observed:primary CO2 inclusions,characterized by higher densities(0.874–1.020 g/cm3)and higher homogenization temperatures(>210°C)and secondary CO2 inclusions,characterized by lower densities(0.514–0.715 g/cm3)and lower homogenization temperatures:~180–200°C).CO2 inclusions with abnormally high homogenization temperatures are thought to be the result of deep hydrothermal fluid activity.The pore fluid pressure(44.0–58.5 MPa)calculated from the Raman shift of C–H symmetric stretching(v1)band of methane inclusions is key to understanding the development of overpressure.PT entrapment conditions and simulation of burial history can be used to constrain the timing of paleo-fluid emplacement.Methane accumulated in the late Cretaceous(~75–65 Ma),close to the maximum burial depth during the early stages of the Himalayan tectonic event while maximum overpressure occurred at~70 Ma,just before uplift.Later,hydrocarbon gas migrated through the faults and gradually displaced the early emplaced CO2 in the reservoirs accompanied by a continuous decrease in overpressure during and after the Himalayan event,which has led to a decrease in the reservoir sealing capabilities.The continuous release of overpressure to present-day conditions indicates that the tectonic movement after the Himalayan period has led to a decline in reservoir conditions and sealing properties.

High-precision analysis of carbon isotopic composition for individual CO_(2)inclusions via Raman spectroscopy to reveal the multiple-stages evolution of CO_(2)-bearing fluids and melts

The carbon isotopic composition of CO_(2)inclusions trapped in minerals reflects the origin and evolution of CO_(2)-bearing fluids and melts,and records the multiple-stages carbon geodynamic cycle,as CO_(2)took part in various geological processes widely.However,the practical method for determination isotope composition of individual CO_(2)inclusion is still lacking.Developing a microanalytical technique with spatial resolution in micrometers to precisely determinate theδ^(13)C value of individual CO_(2)inclusion,will make it possible to analyze a tiny portion of a zoning mineral crystal,distinguish the differences in micro-scale,and possible to find many useful information that could not be obtained with the bulk extraction and analysis techniques.In this study,we systematically collected Raman spectra of CO_(2)standards with different d13C values(34.9‰to 3.58‰)at 32.0℃and from 7.0 MPa to 120.0 MPa,and developed a new procedure to precisely determinate theδ^(13)C value of individual CO_(2)inclusion.We investigated the relationship among the Raman peak intensity ratio,d13C value,and CO_(2)density,and established a calibration model with high accuracy(0.5‰1.5‰),sufficient for geological application to distinguish different source of CO_(2)with varyingδ^(13)CO_(2).As a demonstration,we measured theδ^(13)C values and the density of CO_(2)inclusions in the growth zones of alkali basalt-hosted corundum megacrysts from Changle,Shandong Province.We found the significant differences of density and d13C between the CO_(2)inclusions in the core of corundum and those inclusions in the outer growth zones,the d13C value decreases from core to rim with decreasing density:δ^(13)C values are from7.5‰to9.2‰for the inclusions in the core,indicating the corundum core was crystallized from mantle-derived magmas;from13.5‰to18.5‰for CO_(2)inclusions in zone 1 and from16.5‰to–22.0‰for inclusions in zone 2,indicating the outer zones of corundum grew in a lowδ^(13)C value environment,resulted from an infilling of low d13C value fluid and/or degassing of the ascending basaltic magma.