An Improved Method for Evaluating Hydrocarbon Generation of Shale:A Case Study of the Lower Cretaceous Qingshankou Formation Shale in the Songliao Basin

Because of the influence of hydrocarbons,especially adsorbed hydrocarbons,on the detection of cracked hydrocarbon(S2)and total organic carbon(TOC),the hydrogen index(HI)-based hydrocarbon generation model deviates from actual practice.In this study,the shale in the first member of the Qingshankou Formation in the central depression of the Songliao Basin,where in northeastern China,was taken as the research object and a correction method for S2 and TOC was established.By correcting the experimental results of different maturity samples,the actual hydrocarbon generation model has been revealed,the differences before and after correction compared,and the evolutionary characteristics of the adsorbed hydrocarbon content were clarified.The results show that the organic matter enters the hydrocarbon generation threshold at R_(o)-0.5% and reaches the hydrocarbon generation peak at R_(o)-1.0% and that the hydrocarbon generation process ends at R_(o)-1.3%.The hydrocarbon generation model established based on the measured values has a‘lag effect’compared to actual values,and this extends the hydrocarbon generation window of organic matter and delays the hydrocarbon generation peak.With the increase of maturity,adsorbed hydrocarbon content shows the characteristics of‘first increasing,then stabilizing,and then decreasing’,and reache s the most abundant stage at Roof 0.9%-1.3%.

Surface geochemical data evaluation and integration with geophysical observations for hydrocarbon prospecting,Tapti graben,Deccan Syneclise,India

The Deccan Syneclise is considered to have significant hydrocarbon potential. However, significant hydrocarbon discoveries, particularly for Mesozoic sequences, have not been established through conventional exploration due to the thick basalt cover over Mesozoic sedimentary rocks. In this study, near-surface geochemical data are used to understand the petroleum system and also investigate type of source for hydrocarbons generation of the study area. Soil samples were collected from favorable areas identified by integrated geophysical studies. The compositional and isotopic signatures of adsorbed gaseous hydrocarbons （methane through butane） were used as surface indicators of pe- troleum micro-seepages. An analysis of 75 near-surface soil-gas samples was carried out for light hydrocarbons （C_1-C_4） and their carbon isotopes from the western part of Tapti graben, Deccan Syneclise, India. The geochemical results reveal sites or clusters of sites containing anomalously high concentrations of light hydrocarbon gases. High concentrations of adsorbed thermogenic methane （C1 518 ppb） and ethane plus higher hydrocarbons （∑C2＋ = 977 ppb） were observed. Statistical analysis shows that samples from 13% of the samples contain anomalously high concentrations of light hydrocarbons in the soil-gas constituents. This seepage suggests largest magnitude of soil gas anomalies might be generated/source from Mesozoic sedimentary rocks, beneath Deccan Traps. The carbon isotopic composition of methane, ethane and propane ranges are from 22.5‰to -30.2‰ PDB, -18.0‰ to 27.1‰,, PDB and 16.9‰-32.1‰ PDB respectively, which are in thermogenic source. Surface soil sample represents the intersection of a migration conduit from the deep subsurface to the surface connected to sub-trappean Mesozoic sedimentary rocks. Prominent hydrocarbon concentra- tions were associated with dykes, lineaments and presented on thinner basaltic cover in the study area, which probably acts as channel for the micro-seepage of hydrocarbons.