The origin of the unusually high dibenzothiophene (DBT) concentrations in Lower Ordovician oils from the Tazhong Uplift,Tarim Basin was studied by Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR...The origin of the unusually high dibenzothiophene (DBT) concentrations in Lower Ordovician oils from the Tazhong Uplift,Tarim Basin was studied by Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS).The most abundant sulfur compounds in the oils are S 1 species with doublebond equivalent (DBE) values of 1-19 and 11-48 carbon atoms.The range of the number of carbon atoms in the sulfur compounds detected by the FT-ICR MS (S 1 species with DBE=9) is about ten times larger than that for sulfur compounds detected by GC/MS (DBTs).This suggests that FT-ICR MS is a much better approach than GC/MS for characterization of DBTs in crude oils.The abundance of S 1 species with DBE=1-8 decreased with increasing thermal maturity,while the abundance of S 1 species with DBE=9 (primarily DBTs) increased.Therefore,thermal maturity is an important factor in the formation of oils with high DBT concentrations.Unusually high abundances of S 1 species with low DBE values (1-8),which include sulfide,thiophene and benzothiophene,were observed in several oils,especially the TZ83 (O 1) oil with high or very high thermal maturity.Thermochemical sulfate reduction (TSR) was thought to be the reason for the high abundance of these low DBE compounds in deep reservoirs,and thermochemical sulfate reduction could affect the distribution and composition of DBTs in the oils.According to the results of FT-ICR MS analysis,there are no signs that TSR is occurring or has occurred recently for most of the Lower Ordovician oils.展开更多
Carbazole compounds in crude oils from the Tazhong uplift of the Tarim basin have been fractionated and detected and successfully used to study petroleum migration and trace source rocks in the study area. Alkylcarbaz...Carbazole compounds in crude oils from the Tazhong uplift of the Tarim basin have been fractionated and detected and successfully used to study petroleum migration and trace source rocks in the study area. Alkylcarbazoles have been found in large amounts in the oil samples analyzed and alkylbenzocarbazoles detected in a small concentration only in part of the samples, but alkyldibenzocarbazoles have not been found in oils. Based on the distribution of G1, G2 and G3 of C2-alkylcarbazoles, the ratio of C3-carbazoles to C2-carbazoles and the relative amounts of alkylcarbazoles and alkylbenzocarbazoles, one can know that the vertical oil migration in the Tazhong uplift is generally from below upward, i.e. from the Ordovician through the Silurian to the Carboniferous. Evidently, source rocks in the uplift should be lower Palaeozoic strata (Ordovician and Cambrian). This study shows that carbazoles are of great importance in the study of petroleum migration and source rocks.展开更多
The oil, gas and water volumes revealed by the productivity of exploratory wells do not reflect the actual underground situations. Under the geologic conditions, a certain amount of dissolved natural gas is stored in ...The oil, gas and water volumes revealed by the productivity of exploratory wells do not reflect the actual underground situations. Under the geologic conditions, a certain amount of dissolved natural gas is stored in oil or water. Based on the production test data of exploratory wells in the Tazhong uplift of the Tarim basin, this paper discusses in detail the differences in occurrence and distribution featrues between the surface and underground natural gases; presents a restoration of the surface gas occurrence to actual underground geologic conditions according to the dissolubility of natural gas under different temperature, pressure and medium conditions; and classifies the natural gas into three states, i.e. the oversaturated, saturated and undersaturated, according to its relative content underground. Through a comparative analysis of the differences in surface and underground occurrences of natural gas, it discusses the hydrocarbon reservoir formation mechanism and distribution rules, thereby providing guidances as new methods and technologies for the prediction of potential natural gas reservoir distribution in the study area.展开更多
Exploration practices show that the Silurian hydrocarbon accumulation in the Tazhong Uplift is extremely complicated.Our research indicates that the oil and gas accumulation is controlled by favorable facies and low f...Exploration practices show that the Silurian hydrocarbon accumulation in the Tazhong Uplift is extremely complicated.Our research indicates that the oil and gas accumulation is controlled by favorable facies and low fluid potential.At the macro level,hydrocarbon distribution in this uplift is controlled by structural zones and sedimentary systems.At the micro level,oil occurrences are dominated by lithofacies and petrophysical facies.The control of facies is embodied in high porosity and permeability controlling hydrocarbon accumulation.Besides,the macro oil and gas distribution in the uplift is also influenced by the relatively low fluid potential at local highs,where most successful wells are located.These wells are also closely related to the adjacent fractures.Therefore,the Silurian hydrocarbon accumulation mechanism in the Tazhong Uplift can be described as follows.Induced by structures,the deep and overpressured fluids migrated through faults into the sand bodies with relatively low potential and high porosity and permeability.The released overpressure expelled the oil and gas into the normal-pressured zones,and the hydrocarbon was preserved by the overlying caprock of poorly compacted Carboniferous and Permian mudstones.Such a mechanism reflects favorable facies and low potential controlling hydrocarbon accumulation.Based on the statistical analysis of the reservoirs and commercial wells in the uplift,a relationship between oil-bearing property in traps and the facies-potential index was established,and a prediction of two favorable targets was made.展开更多
The Tarim Basin is a representative example of the basins developed in the northwest China that are characterized by multiple stages of heating and cooling.In order to better understand its complex thermal history,apa...The Tarim Basin is a representative example of the basins developed in the northwest China that are characterized by multiple stages of heating and cooling.In order to better understand its complex thermal history,apatite fission track (AFT) thermochronology was applied to borehole samples from the Tazhong Uplift Zone (TUZ).Twelve sedimentary samples of Silurian to Triassic depositional ages were analyzed from depths coinciding with the apatite partial annealing zone (~60-120 ℃).The AFT ages,ranging from 132 ± 7 Ma (from a Triassic sample) to 25 ± 2 Ma (from a Carboniferous sample),are clearly younger than their depositional ages and demonstrate a total resetting of the AFT thermometer after deposition.The AFT ages vary among different tectonic belts and decrease from the No.Ten Faulted Zone (133-105 Ma) in the northwest,the Central Horst Zone in the middle (108-37 Ma),to the East Buried Hill Zone in the south (51 25 Ma).Given the low magnitude of post-Triassic burial heating evidenced by low vitrinite reflectance values (Ro < 0.7%),the total resetting of the AFT system is speculated to result from the hot fluid flow along the faults.Thermal effects along the faults are well documented by younger AFT ages and unimodal single grain age distributions in the vicinity of the faults.Permian-early Triassic basaltic volcanism may be responsible for the early Triassic total annealing of those samples lacking connectivity with the fault.The above arguments are supported by thermal modeling results.展开更多
Based on three-dimensional seismic interpretation, structural and sedimentary feature analysis, and examination of fluid properties and production dynamics, the regularity and main controlling factors of hydrocarbon a...Based on three-dimensional seismic interpretation, structural and sedimentary feature analysis, and examination of fluid properties and production dynamics, the regularity and main controlling factors of hydrocarbon accumulation in the Tazhong uplift, Tarim Basin are investigated. The results show that the oil and gas in the Tazhong uplift has the characteristics of complex accumulation mainly controlled by faults, and more than 80% of the oil and gas reserves are enriched along fault zones. There are large thrust and strike-slip faults in the Tazhong uplift, and the coupling relationship between the formation and evolution of the faults and accumulation determine the difference in complex oil and gas accumulations. The active scale and stage of faults determine the fullness of the traps and the balance of the phase, that is, the blocking of the transport system, the insufficient filling of oil and gas, and the unsteady state of fluid accumulation are dependent on the faults. The multi-period tectonic sedimentary evolution controls the differences of trap conditions in the fault zones, and the multi-phase hydrocarbon migration and accumulation causes the differences of fluid distribution in the fault zones. The theory of differential oil and gas accumulation controlled by fault is the key to the overall evaluation, three-dimensional development and discovery of new reserves in the Tazhong uplift.展开更多
Objective Oil and gas are abundant in the Ordovician Yingshan Formation carbonate karst reservoirs on the northern slope of Tazhong uplift in the Tarim Basin, and have extremely complicated oil-gas-water distribution...Objective Oil and gas are abundant in the Ordovician Yingshan Formation carbonate karst reservoirs on the northern slope of Tazhong uplift in the Tarim Basin, and have extremely complicated oil-gas-water distribution, however. The difference in burial depth of the reservoirs between east and west sides is up to 1000 m. Water-bearing formations exist between oil- and gas-bearing formations vertically and water-producing wells are drilled between oil- and gas-producing wells. Macroscopically, oil and gas occur at low positions, while water occurs at high positiona on the northern slope of Tazhong uplift. The mechanism of differential hydrocarbon enrichment in heterogeneous reservoirs is by far not clarified, which has affected the efficient exploration and development of oil and gas fields in this area.展开更多
In 2013, a great breakthrough of deep petroleum exploration was achieved in the Cambrian pre-salt intervals of Wells Zhongshen1(ZS1) and Zhongshen1C(ZS1C), Tazhong Uplift. However, the hydrocarbon discovery in the Cam...In 2013, a great breakthrough of deep petroleum exploration was achieved in the Cambrian pre-salt intervals of Wells Zhongshen1(ZS1) and Zhongshen1C(ZS1C), Tazhong Uplift. However, the hydrocarbon discovery in the Cambrian pre-salt intervals has triggered extensive controversy regarding the source of marine oils in the Tarim Basin. The geochemistry and origin of the Cambrian pre-salt hydrocarbons in Wells ZS1 and ZS1 C were investigated using GC, GC-MS and stable carbon isotope technique. These hydrocarbons can be easily distinguished into two genetic families based on their geochemical and carbon isotopic compositions. The oil and natural gases from the Awatage Formation of Well ZS1 are derived from Middle-Upper Ordovician source rocks. In contrast, the condensate and gases from the Xiaoerbulake Formation of Wells ZS1 and ZS1 C probably originate from Cambrian source rocks. The recent discovery of these hydrocarbons with two different sources in Wells ZS1 and ZS1 C suggests that both Middle-Upper Ordovician-sourced hydrocarbons and Cambrian-sourced petroleums are accumulated in the Tazhong Uplift, presenting a great exploration potential.展开更多
Based on the outcrop survey,3D seismic data interpretation,drilling data analysis,the structural patterns and distribution of fault damage zones in carbonate strata of Tazhong Paleo-uplift were established to reveal t...Based on the outcrop survey,3D seismic data interpretation,drilling data analysis,the structural patterns and distribution of fault damage zones in carbonate strata of Tazhong Paleo-uplift were established to reveal the oil and gas enrichment law in the fault damage zones.The following findings were reached:(1)Through the filed survey,the fault damage zone system consists of fault core,damage zone with branch fault and fracture network.Affected by the active nature of the major faults,the fault damage zones differ in planar pattern and scale along the major faults.(2)3D seismic profiles reveal that there are three types of fault damage zones in carbonate strata in Tazhong paleo-uplift,strike-slip fault damage zones,thrust fault damage zones and superimposed fault damage zones.Featuring3 flowers and 3 root belts in vertical,the strike-slip fault damage zone can be subdivided into linear type,oblique type,feather type and horsetail type in plane.Thrust fault damage zones can be further divided into fault anticline type,anticline type and slope type.As the superimposition result of the above two kinds of fault damage zones,superimposed fault damage zones appear in three patterns,intersect type,encompassment type and penetrating type.(3)Cores from wells and geochemical data show oil and gas may migrate along the major fault and laterally.The feather type in strike-slip fault system,fault anticline type in thrust fault damage zone and intersect type in superimposed fault damage zone are possible sites for high production and efficiency wells.展开更多
8,14-secohopanes in the marine oils from the Tazhong area in the Tarim Basin are detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS)and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-mass spectrometry(GC-MS-MS),and their di...8,14-secohopanes in the marine oils from the Tazhong area in the Tarim Basin are detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS)and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-mass spectrometry(GC-MS-MS),and their distributions and compositions are compared in order to study their potential significances in oil-source correlation.C35+extended hopane series and three series of extended 8,14-secohopanes can be detected in two kinds of end-member oils in the Tazhong area in the Tarim Basin,and they are different in distribution,suggesting that they may have some special geochemical significance.The presence of 8,14-secohopanes in two kinds of end-member oils in the Tarim Basin suggests that these biomarkers are primary,and not related to biodegradation.The relative abundance of 8,14-secohopanes in the type-A oil is much less than that in the type-B oil,and the 8,14-secohopanes content in end-member oils is much less than that in the corresponding mixed oils.Based on the relative contents of 8,14-secohopanes and the compositions of common steranes and triterpanes,it is very effective to distinguish different crude oils from the Tazhong area.The great difference in the relative abundance of 8,14-secohopanes between the type-A oil and type-B oil suggests that their formation may require some specific geological-geochemical conditions.展开更多
基金funded by the Natural Science FundingCouncil of China(Grant No.#40973031)the Foundationof State Key Laboratory of Petroleum Resources and Prospecting,China University of Petroleum(No.PRPJC2008-02)Natural Science Research Council of China(China 973 National Key Research and Development Program 2011CB201102)
文摘The origin of the unusually high dibenzothiophene (DBT) concentrations in Lower Ordovician oils from the Tazhong Uplift,Tarim Basin was studied by Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS).The most abundant sulfur compounds in the oils are S 1 species with doublebond equivalent (DBE) values of 1-19 and 11-48 carbon atoms.The range of the number of carbon atoms in the sulfur compounds detected by the FT-ICR MS (S 1 species with DBE=9) is about ten times larger than that for sulfur compounds detected by GC/MS (DBTs).This suggests that FT-ICR MS is a much better approach than GC/MS for characterization of DBTs in crude oils.The abundance of S 1 species with DBE=1-8 decreased with increasing thermal maturity,while the abundance of S 1 species with DBE=9 (primarily DBTs) increased.Therefore,thermal maturity is an important factor in the formation of oils with high DBT concentrations.Unusually high abundances of S 1 species with low DBE values (1-8),which include sulfide,thiophene and benzothiophene,were observed in several oils,especially the TZ83 (O 1) oil with high or very high thermal maturity.Thermochemical sulfate reduction (TSR) was thought to be the reason for the high abundance of these low DBE compounds in deep reservoirs,and thermochemical sulfate reduction could affect the distribution and composition of DBTs in the oils.According to the results of FT-ICR MS analysis,there are no signs that TSR is occurring or has occurred recently for most of the Lower Ordovician oils.
基金This study was partially supported by the State Educational Commission Foundation for Returned Students.
文摘Carbazole compounds in crude oils from the Tazhong uplift of the Tarim basin have been fractionated and detected and successfully used to study petroleum migration and trace source rocks in the study area. Alkylcarbazoles have been found in large amounts in the oil samples analyzed and alkylbenzocarbazoles detected in a small concentration only in part of the samples, but alkyldibenzocarbazoles have not been found in oils. Based on the distribution of G1, G2 and G3 of C2-alkylcarbazoles, the ratio of C3-carbazoles to C2-carbazoles and the relative amounts of alkylcarbazoles and alkylbenzocarbazoles, one can know that the vertical oil migration in the Tazhong uplift is generally from below upward, i.e. from the Ordovician through the Silurian to the Carboniferous. Evidently, source rocks in the uplift should be lower Palaeozoic strata (Ordovician and Cambrian). This study shows that carbazoles are of great importance in the study of petroleum migration and source rocks.
基金supported by the State Key Basic Research Program 973(No.2006CB202308)
文摘The oil, gas and water volumes revealed by the productivity of exploratory wells do not reflect the actual underground situations. Under the geologic conditions, a certain amount of dissolved natural gas is stored in oil or water. Based on the production test data of exploratory wells in the Tazhong uplift of the Tarim basin, this paper discusses in detail the differences in occurrence and distribution featrues between the surface and underground natural gases; presents a restoration of the surface gas occurrence to actual underground geologic conditions according to the dissolubility of natural gas under different temperature, pressure and medium conditions; and classifies the natural gas into three states, i.e. the oversaturated, saturated and undersaturated, according to its relative content underground. Through a comparative analysis of the differences in surface and underground occurrences of natural gas, it discusses the hydrocarbon reservoir formation mechanism and distribution rules, thereby providing guidances as new methods and technologies for the prediction of potential natural gas reservoir distribution in the study area.
基金funded by National Natural Science Foundation Programs of China(Grant No.40802029 and No. 41072100)973 Program(Grant No.2006CB209108)
文摘Exploration practices show that the Silurian hydrocarbon accumulation in the Tazhong Uplift is extremely complicated.Our research indicates that the oil and gas accumulation is controlled by favorable facies and low fluid potential.At the macro level,hydrocarbon distribution in this uplift is controlled by structural zones and sedimentary systems.At the micro level,oil occurrences are dominated by lithofacies and petrophysical facies.The control of facies is embodied in high porosity and permeability controlling hydrocarbon accumulation.Besides,the macro oil and gas distribution in the uplift is also influenced by the relatively low fluid potential at local highs,where most successful wells are located.These wells are also closely related to the adjacent fractures.Therefore,the Silurian hydrocarbon accumulation mechanism in the Tazhong Uplift can be described as follows.Induced by structures,the deep and overpressured fluids migrated through faults into the sand bodies with relatively low potential and high porosity and permeability.The released overpressure expelled the oil and gas into the normal-pressured zones,and the hydrocarbon was preserved by the overlying caprock of poorly compacted Carboniferous and Permian mudstones.Such a mechanism reflects favorable facies and low potential controlling hydrocarbon accumulation.Based on the statistical analysis of the reservoirs and commercial wells in the uplift,a relationship between oil-bearing property in traps and the facies-potential index was established,and a prediction of two favorable targets was made.
基金supported by the National Program on Key Basic Research Project(973 Program)(Grant Nos.2006CB202308 and 2011CB201100)the Major National Science&Technology Program(Grant Nos.2011ZX05006-005 and 2011ZX05006-006)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.40872097 and41272161)
文摘The Tarim Basin is a representative example of the basins developed in the northwest China that are characterized by multiple stages of heating and cooling.In order to better understand its complex thermal history,apatite fission track (AFT) thermochronology was applied to borehole samples from the Tazhong Uplift Zone (TUZ).Twelve sedimentary samples of Silurian to Triassic depositional ages were analyzed from depths coinciding with the apatite partial annealing zone (~60-120 ℃).The AFT ages,ranging from 132 ± 7 Ma (from a Triassic sample) to 25 ± 2 Ma (from a Carboniferous sample),are clearly younger than their depositional ages and demonstrate a total resetting of the AFT thermometer after deposition.The AFT ages vary among different tectonic belts and decrease from the No.Ten Faulted Zone (133-105 Ma) in the northwest,the Central Horst Zone in the middle (108-37 Ma),to the East Buried Hill Zone in the south (51 25 Ma).Given the low magnitude of post-Triassic burial heating evidenced by low vitrinite reflectance values (Ro < 0.7%),the total resetting of the AFT system is speculated to result from the hot fluid flow along the faults.Thermal effects along the faults are well documented by younger AFT ages and unimodal single grain age distributions in the vicinity of the faults.Permian-early Triassic basaltic volcanism may be responsible for the early Triassic total annealing of those samples lacking connectivity with the fault.The above arguments are supported by thermal modeling results.
基金Supported by the China Science and Technology Major Project(2017ZX05008-004-001,2017ZX05001-001)Chinese Academy of Sciences Strategic Pilot Project(XDA14010302)
文摘Based on three-dimensional seismic interpretation, structural and sedimentary feature analysis, and examination of fluid properties and production dynamics, the regularity and main controlling factors of hydrocarbon accumulation in the Tazhong uplift, Tarim Basin are investigated. The results show that the oil and gas in the Tazhong uplift has the characteristics of complex accumulation mainly controlled by faults, and more than 80% of the oil and gas reserves are enriched along fault zones. There are large thrust and strike-slip faults in the Tazhong uplift, and the coupling relationship between the formation and evolution of the faults and accumulation determine the difference in complex oil and gas accumulations. The active scale and stage of faults determine the fullness of the traps and the balance of the phase, that is, the blocking of the transport system, the insufficient filling of oil and gas, and the unsteady state of fluid accumulation are dependent on the faults. The multi-period tectonic sedimentary evolution controls the differences of trap conditions in the fault zones, and the multi-phase hydrocarbon migration and accumulation causes the differences of fluid distribution in the fault zones. The theory of differential oil and gas accumulation controlled by fault is the key to the overall evaluation, three-dimensional development and discovery of new reserves in the Tazhong uplift.
基金financially supported by the National Science Foundation of China(grant No.41372146)
文摘Objective Oil and gas are abundant in the Ordovician Yingshan Formation carbonate karst reservoirs on the northern slope of Tazhong uplift in the Tarim Basin, and have extremely complicated oil-gas-water distribution, however. The difference in burial depth of the reservoirs between east and west sides is up to 1000 m. Water-bearing formations exist between oil- and gas-bearing formations vertically and water-producing wells are drilled between oil- and gas-producing wells. Macroscopically, oil and gas occur at low positions, while water occurs at high positiona on the northern slope of Tazhong uplift. The mechanism of differential hydrocarbon enrichment in heterogeneous reservoirs is by far not clarified, which has affected the efficient exploration and development of oil and gas fields in this area.
基金supported by the Science Foundation of China University of Petroleum,Beijing(Grant No.2462015YQ0101)
文摘In 2013, a great breakthrough of deep petroleum exploration was achieved in the Cambrian pre-salt intervals of Wells Zhongshen1(ZS1) and Zhongshen1C(ZS1C), Tazhong Uplift. However, the hydrocarbon discovery in the Cambrian pre-salt intervals has triggered extensive controversy regarding the source of marine oils in the Tarim Basin. The geochemistry and origin of the Cambrian pre-salt hydrocarbons in Wells ZS1 and ZS1 C were investigated using GC, GC-MS and stable carbon isotope technique. These hydrocarbons can be easily distinguished into two genetic families based on their geochemical and carbon isotopic compositions. The oil and natural gases from the Awatage Formation of Well ZS1 are derived from Middle-Upper Ordovician source rocks. In contrast, the condensate and gases from the Xiaoerbulake Formation of Wells ZS1 and ZS1 C probably originate from Cambrian source rocks. The recent discovery of these hydrocarbons with two different sources in Wells ZS1 and ZS1 C suggests that both Middle-Upper Ordovician-sourced hydrocarbons and Cambrian-sourced petroleums are accumulated in the Tazhong Uplift, presenting a great exploration potential.
基金Supported by the China National Science and Technology Major Project(2016ZX05004-004)
文摘Based on the outcrop survey,3D seismic data interpretation,drilling data analysis,the structural patterns and distribution of fault damage zones in carbonate strata of Tazhong Paleo-uplift were established to reveal the oil and gas enrichment law in the fault damage zones.The following findings were reached:(1)Through the filed survey,the fault damage zone system consists of fault core,damage zone with branch fault and fracture network.Affected by the active nature of the major faults,the fault damage zones differ in planar pattern and scale along the major faults.(2)3D seismic profiles reveal that there are three types of fault damage zones in carbonate strata in Tazhong paleo-uplift,strike-slip fault damage zones,thrust fault damage zones and superimposed fault damage zones.Featuring3 flowers and 3 root belts in vertical,the strike-slip fault damage zone can be subdivided into linear type,oblique type,feather type and horsetail type in plane.Thrust fault damage zones can be further divided into fault anticline type,anticline type and slope type.As the superimposition result of the above two kinds of fault damage zones,superimposed fault damage zones appear in three patterns,intersect type,encompassment type and penetrating type.(3)Cores from wells and geochemical data show oil and gas may migrate along the major fault and laterally.The feather type in strike-slip fault system,fault anticline type in thrust fault damage zone and intersect type in superimposed fault damage zone are possible sites for high production and efficiency wells.
基金Supported by the national Natural Science Foundation of China(41772119,41272169)。
文摘8,14-secohopanes in the marine oils from the Tazhong area in the Tarim Basin are detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS)and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-mass spectrometry(GC-MS-MS),and their distributions and compositions are compared in order to study their potential significances in oil-source correlation.C35+extended hopane series and three series of extended 8,14-secohopanes can be detected in two kinds of end-member oils in the Tazhong area in the Tarim Basin,and they are different in distribution,suggesting that they may have some special geochemical significance.The presence of 8,14-secohopanes in two kinds of end-member oils in the Tarim Basin suggests that these biomarkers are primary,and not related to biodegradation.The relative abundance of 8,14-secohopanes in the type-A oil is much less than that in the type-B oil,and the 8,14-secohopanes content in end-member oils is much less than that in the corresponding mixed oils.Based on the relative contents of 8,14-secohopanes and the compositions of common steranes and triterpanes,it is very effective to distinguish different crude oils from the Tazhong area.The great difference in the relative abundance of 8,14-secohopanes between the type-A oil and type-B oil suggests that their formation may require some specific geological-geochemical conditions.