Turbidite Dynamics and Hydrocarbon Reservoir Formation in the Tano Basin: A Coastal West African Perspective

This study examines the turbidite dynamics and hydrocarbon reservoir formation in Ghana’s Tano Basin, which is located in coastal West Africa. Through an exploration of geological processes spanning millions of years, we uncover key factors shaping hydrocarbon accumulation, including source rock richness, temperature, pressure, and geological structures. The research offers valuable insights applicable to exploration, management, and sustainable resource exploitation in coastal West Africa. It facilitates the identification of exploration targets with higher hydrocarbon potential, enables the anticipation of reservoir potential within the Tano Basin, and assists in tailoring exploration and management strategies to specific geological conditions of the Tano Basin. Analysis of fluvial channels sheds light on their impact on landscape formation and hydrocarbon exploration. The investigation into turbidite systems unveils intricate interactions involving tectonics, sea-level fluctuations, and sedimentation patterns, influencing the development of reservoirs. An understanding of sediment transport and depositional settings is essential for efficient reservoir management. Geomorphological features, such as channels, submarine canyons, and distinct channel types, are essential in this situation. A detailed examination of turbidite channel structures, encompassing canyons, channel complexes, convex channels, and U-shaped channels, provides valuable insights and aids in identifying exploration targets like basal lag, channel levees, and lobes. These findings underscore the enduring significance of turbidite systems as conduits for sediment transport, contributing to enhanced reservoir management and efficient hydrocarbon production. The study also highlights how important it is to examine the configuration of sedimentary layers, stacking patterns, and angular laminated facies to identify turbidites, understand reservoir distribution, and improve well design. The dynamic nature of turbidite systems, influenced by basin characteristics such as shape and slope, is highlighted. The research provides valuable insights essential for successful hydrocarbon exploration, reservoir management, and sustainable resource exploitation in coastal West Africa.

Heterogeneity and differential hydrocarbon accumulation model of deep reservoirs in foreland thrust belts: A case study of deep Cretaceous Qingshuihe Formation clastic reservoirs in southern Junggar Basin, NW China

Using the data of drilling, logging, core, experiments and production, the heterogeneity and differential hydrocarbon accumulation model of deep reservoirs in Cretaceous Qingshuihe Formation(K1q) in the western section of the foreland thrust belt in southern Junggar Basin are investigated. The target reservoirs are characterized by superimposition of conglomerates, sandy conglomerates and sandstones, with high content of plastic clasts. The reservoir space is mainly composed of intergranular pores. The reservoirs are overall tight, and the sandy conglomerate has the best physical properties. The coupling of short deep burial period with low paleotemperature gradient and formation overpressure led to the relatively weak diagenetic strength of the reservoirs. Specifically, the sandy conglomerates show relatively low carbonate cementation, low compaction rate and high dissolution porosity. The special stress-strain mechanism of the anticline makes the reservoirs at the top of the anticline turning point more reformed by fractures than those at the limbs, and the formation overpressure makes the fractures in open state. Moreover, the sandy conglomerates have the highest oil saturation. Typical anticline reservoirs are developed in deep part of the thrust belt, but characterized by "big trap with small reservoir". Significantly, the sandy conglomerates at the top of anticline turning point have better quality, lower in-situ stress and higher structural position than those at the limbs,with the internal hydrocarbons most enriched, making them high-yield oil/gas layers. The exponential decline of fractures makes hydrocarbon accumulation difficult in the reservoirs at the limbs. Nonetheless, plane hydrocarbon distribution is more extensive at the gentle limb than the steep limb.

Whole petroleum system and ordered distribution pattern of conventional and unconventional oil and gas reservoirs

The classical source-to-trap petroleum system concept only considers the migration and accumulation of conventional oil and gas in traps driven dominantly by buoyance in a basin,although revised and improved,even some new concepts as composite petroleum system,total petroleum system,total composite petroleum system,were proposed,but they do not account for the vast unconventional oil and gas reservoirs within the system,which is not formed and distributed in traps dominantly by buoyancedriven.Therefore,the petroleum system concept is no longer adequate in dealing with all the oil and gas accumulations in a basin where significant amount of the unconventional oil and gas resources are present in addition to the conventional oil and gas accumulations.This paper looked into and analyzed the distribution characteristics of conventional and unconventional oil/gas reservoirs and their differences and correlations in petroliferous basins in China and North America,and then proposed whole petroleum system(WPS)concept,the WPS is defined as a natural system that encompasses all the conventional and unconventional oil and gas,reservoirs and resources originated from organic matter in source rocks,the geological elements and processes involving the formation,evolution,and distribution of these oil and gas,reservoirs and resources.It is found in the WPS that there are three kinds of hydrocarbons dynamic fields,three kinds of original hydrocarbons,three kinds of reservoir rocks,and the coupling of these three essential elements lead to the basic ordered distribution model of shale oil/gas reservoirs contacting or interbeded with tight oil/gas reservoirs and separated conventional oil/gas reservoirs from source rocks upward,which is expressed as“S\T-C”.Abnormal conditions lead to other three special ordered distribution models:The first is that with shale oil/gas reservoirs separated from tight oil/gas reservoirs.The second is that with two direction ordered distributions from source upward and downward.The third is with lateral distribution from source outside.

A unified model for the formation and distribution of both conventional and unconventional hydrocarbon reservoirs

The discovery and large-scale exploration of unconventional oil/gas resources since 1980s have been considered as the most important advancement in the history of petroleum geology;that has not only changed the balance of supply and demand in the global energy market,but also improved our understanding of the formation mechanisms and distribution characteristics of oil/gas reservoirs.However,what is the difference of conventional and unconventional resources and why they always related to each other in petroliferous basins is not clear.As the differences and correlations between unconventional and conventional resources are complex challenging issues and very critical for resources assessment and hydrocarbon exploration,this paper focused on studying the relationship of formations and distributions among different oil/gas reservoirs.Drilling results of 12,237 exploratory wells in 6 representative petroliferous basins of China and distribution characteristics for 52,926 oil/gas accumulations over the world were applied to clarify the formation conditions and genetic relations of different oil/gas reservoirs in a petroliferous basin,and then to establish a unified model to address the differences and correlations of conventional and unconventional reservoirs.In this model,conventional reservoirs formed in free hydrocarbon dynamic field with high porosity and permeability located above the boundary of hydrocarbon buoyancy-driven accumulation depth limit.Unconventional tight reservoirs formed in confined hydrocarbon dynamic field with low porosity and permeability located between hydrocarbon buoyancy-driven accumulation depth limit and hydrocarbon accumulation depth limit.Shale oil/gas reservoirs formed in the bound hydrocarbon dynamic field with low porosity and ultra-low permeability within the source rock layers.More than 75%of proved reserves around the world are discovered in the free hydrocarbon dynamic field,which is estimated to contain only 10%of originally generated hydrocarbons.Most of undiscovered resources distributed in the confined hydrocarbon dynamic field and the bound hydrocarbon dynamic field,which contains 90%of original generated hydrocarbons,implying a reasonable and promising area for future hydrocarbon explorations.The buried depths of hydrocarbon dynamic fields become shallow with the increase of heat flow,and the remaining oil/gas resources mainly exist in the deep area of“cold basin”with low geothermal gradient.Lithology changing in the hydrocarbon dynamic field causes local anomalies in the oil/gas dynamic mechanism,leading to the local formation of unconventional hydrocarbon reservoirs in the free hydrocarbon dynamic field or the occurrence of oil/gas enrichment sweet points with high porosity and permeability in the confined hydrocarbon dynamic field.The tectonic movements destroy the medium conditions and oil/gas components,which leads to the transformation of conventional oil/gas reservoirs formed in free hydrocarbon dynamic field to unconventional ones or unconventional ones formed in confined and bound hydrocarbon dynamic fields to conventional ones.

Geologic Characteristics of Volcanic Hydrocarbon Reservoirs and Exploration Directions in China

Volcanic rocks are distributed widely in China, which are important exploration targets. By analyzing many discovered volcanic hydrocarbon reservoirs all over the world, the authors summarized the geologic characteristics of the formation of volcanic hydrocarbon reservoirs in China, and gave further exploration directions and advices. (1) There are mainly Carboniferous-Permian, Jurassic-Cretaceous, Paleogene-Neogene volcanic rocks in oil- and gas-bearing basins in China, which are mainly distributed in the Junggar Basin, Songliao Basin, Bohai Bay Basin, etc. There are mainly intermediate rocks and acidic rocks in east China, and intermediate rocks and basic rocks in west China. They primarily develop in intracontinental rift settings and island arc environments. (2) Pore- fissure reservoirs are distributed widely in basins, which are volcanic rocks mainly in explosive and effusive facies. (3) Volcanic hydrocarbon reservoirs are chiefly near-source lithostratigraphic hydrocarbon reservoirs, and the oil and gas accumulation is predominantly controlled by lithotypes, faults and structural positions. (4) Deep-seated oil and gas reservoirs in the Songliao Basin and Carboniferous volcanic hydrocarbon reservoirs in the Junggar Basin are potential giant volcanic gas provinces, the volcanic hydrocarbon reservoirs in the Bohai Bay Basin and Santanghu Basin are favorable for oil and gas reserves increase, and volcanic rocks in the Turpan Basin, Sichuan Basin, Tarim Basin have exploration potentiality. (5) The technology series of oil and gas exploration in volcanic rocks have been preliminarily formed.

Pre-Drilling Prediction Techniques on the High-Temperature High-Pressure Hydrocarbon Reservoirs Offshore Hainan Island,China

Decreasing the risks and geohazards associated with drilling engineering in high-temperature high-pressure(HTHP) geologic settings begins with the implementation of pre-drilling prediction techniques(PPTs). To improve the accuracy of geopressure prediction in HTHP hydrocarbon reservoirs offshore Hainan Island, we made a comprehensive summary of current PPTs to identify existing problems and challenges by analyzing the global distribution of HTHP hydrocarbon reservoirs, the research status of PPTs, and the geologic setting and its HTHP formation mechanism. Our research results indicate that the HTHP formation mechanism in the study area is caused by multiple factors, including rapid loading, diapir intrusions, hydrocarbon generation, and the thermal expansion of pore fluids. Due to this multi-factor interaction, a cloud of HTHP hydrocarbon reservoirs has developed in the Ying-Qiong Basin, but only traditional PPTs have been implemented, based on the assumption of conditions that do not conform to the actual geologic environment, e.g., Bellotti's law and Eaton's law. In this paper, we focus on these issues, identify some challenges and solutions, and call for further PPT research to address the drawbacks of previous works and meet the challenges associated with the deepwater technology gap. In this way, we hope to contribute to the improved accuracy of geopressure prediction prior to drilling and provide support for future HTHP drilling offshore Hainan Island.

Evaluation of Hydrocarbon Reservoir in the “SIMA” Field of Niger Delta Nigeria from Interpretation of 3D Seismic and Petrophysical Log Data

3D seismic and petrophysical log data interpretation of reservoir sands in “SIMA” Field, onshore Niger Delta has been undertaken in this study to ascertain the reservoir characteristics in terms of favourable structural and petrophysical parameters suitable for hydrocarbon accumulation and entrapment in the field. Horizon and fault interpretation were carried out for subsurface structural delineation. In all, seven faults (five normal and two listric faults) were mapped in the seismic section. These faults were major structure building faults corresponding to the growth and antithetic faults in the area within the well control. The antithetic fault trending northwest-southeast and the normal fault trending northeast-southwest on the structural high in the section act as good trapping mechanisms for hydrocarbon accumulations in the reservoir. From the manual and auto-tracking methods applied, several horizons were identified and mapped. The section is characterized by high amplitude with moderate-to-good continuity reflections appearing parallel to sub-parallel, mostly disturbed by some truncations which are more fault related than lithologic heterogeneity. The southwestern part is, however, characterized by low-to-high or variable amplitude reflections with poor-to-low continuity. Normal faults linked to roll-over anticlines were identified. Some fault truncations were observed due to lithologic heterogeneity. The combination of these faults acts as good traps for hydrocarbon accumulations in the reservoir. Reservoir favourable petrophysical qualities, having average NTG, porosity, permeability and water saturation of 5 m, 0.20423, 1128.219 kD and 0.458 respectively.

Ordovician Basement Hydrocarbon Reservoirs in the Tarim Basin, China

Ordovician marine carbonate basement traps are widely developed in the paleo-highs and paleo-slopes in the Tarim Basin. Reservoirs are mainly altered pore-cavity-fissure reservoirs. Oil sources are marine carbonate rocks of the Lower Paleozoic. Thus, the paleo-highs and paleo-slopes have good reservoiring conditions and they are the main areas to explore giant and large-scale oil reservoirs. The main factors for their reservoiring are: (1) Effective combination of fenestral pore-cavity-fracture reservoirs, resulting from multi-stage, multi-cyclic karstification (paleo-hypergene and deep buried) and fracturing, with effective overlying seals, especially mudstone and gypsum mudstone in the Carboniferous Bachu Formation, is essential to hydrocarbon reservoiring and high and stable production; (2) Long-term inherited large rises and multi-stage fracture systems confine the development range of karst reservoirs and control hydrocarbon migration, accumulation and reservoiring; (3) Long-term multi-source hydrocarbon supply, early reservoiring alteration and late charging adjustment are important reservoiring mechanisms and determine the resource structure and oil and gas properties. Favorable areas for exploration of Ordovician carbonate basement hydrocarbon reservoirs in the Tarim Basin are the Akekule rise, Katahe uplift, Hetianhe paleo-high and Yakela faulted rise.

K-Ar Dating of Authigenic Illites and Its Applications to the Study of Hydrocarbon Charging Histories of Typical Sandstone Reservoirs in Tarim Basin, China

The Tarim Basin in China comprises eight sets of sandstone reservoirs, five of which are investigated in detail in this study. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the hydrocarbon charging histories of reservoirs by applying K-Ar dating of authigenic illites. The ages of authigenic illites from the Lower Silurian bituminous sandstones in the Central Uplift area range from 383.5 to 235.2 Ma, suggesting that the Silurian oil accumulations were formed from the late Caledonian till the late Hercynian. The ages of authigenic illites from the Upper Devonian Donghe Sandstone reservoirs range from 263.8 to 231.3 Ma, indicating that hydrocarbon accumulations within the Donghe sandstone were formed mainly in the late Hercynian. The authigenic illites ages from the Lower Jurassic Yangxia Group sandstones in the Yinan-2 gas reservoir (Yinan-2, Kuqa Depression) range from 28.1 to 23.9 Ma, suggesting that the initial hydrocarbon charging occurred in the Miocene. The ages of the authigenic illites from the Lower Cretaceous sandstones in the Akemomu gas field (Ake-1, Kashi Sag, Southwest Depression) range from 22.6 to 18.8 Ma, indicating a probable early oil accumulation or early migration of hydrocarbon within this area. The illites from the Paleogene sandstones in the Dina-2 gas reservoir (Dina-201, Kuqa Depression) have a detrital origin; they cannot be used to study the hydrocarbon charging histories. The ages of authigenic illites in the underlying Cretaceous sandstones in the same well (Dina-201) range from 25.5 to 15.5 Ma, indicating that hydrocarbon charging in this reservoir probably occurred within the Miocene. This study highlights the potential of applying K-Ar dating of authigenic illites to investigate the timing of hydrocarbon charging histories of the Tarim Basin reservoir sandstones.

A method for evaluating paleo hydrocarbon pools and predicting secondary reservoirs:a case study of the Sangonghe Formation in the Mosuowan area,Junggar Basin

Taking the Jurassic Sangonghe Formation in the Mosuowan-Mobei area of the Junggar Basin as an example, this paper provides a method that evaluates paleo hydrocarbon pools and predicts secondary reservoirs. Through Quantitative Grain Fluorescence(QGF) experiments, well-tie seismic correlation, and paleo structure analysis, the scale and distribution of paleo hydrocarbon pools in the study area are outlined. Combining current structural features and fault characteristics, the re-migration pathways of paleo oil and gas are depicted. Based on barrier conditions on the oil re-migration pathways and current reservoir distribution, we recognize three types of secondary reservoirs. By analyzing structural evolution and sand body-fault distribution, the major control factors of secondary reservoirs are specified and, consequently, favorable zones for secondary reservoirs are predicted. The results are mainly as follows.(1) In the primary accumulation period in the Cretaceous, paleo hydrocarbon pools were formed in the Sangonghe Formation of the Mosuowan uplift and their size and distribution were extensive and the exploration potential for secondary reservoirs should not be ignored. Besides, paleo reservoirs were also formed in the Mobei uplift, but just small scale.(2) In the adjustment period in the Neogene, traps were reshaped or destroyed and so were the paleo reservoirs, resulting in oil release. The released oil migrated linearly northward along the structural highs of the Mobei uplift and the Qianshao low-relief uplift and then formed secondary reservoirs when it met new traps. In this process, a structural ridge cooperated with sand bodies and faults, applying unobstructed pathways for oil and gas re-migration.(3) The secondary hydrocarbon pools are classified into three types:low-relief anticlinal type, lithologic pinch-out type and fault block type. The distribution of the first type is controlled by a residual low uplift in the north flank of the paleo-anticline. The second type is distributed in the lithologic pinch-out zones on the periphery of the inherited paleo uplift. The third type is controlled by fault zones of which the strikes are perpendicular to the hydrocarbon re-migration pathways.(4) Four favorable zones for secondary reservoirs are predicted:the low-relief structural zone of the north flank of the Mosuowan paleo-anticline, the fault barrier zone on the western flank of the Mobei uplift, the Qianshao low-relief uplift and the north area of the Mobei uplift that parallels the fault zone. The study above effectively supports the exploration of the Qianshao low-relief uplift, with commercial oil discovered in the Qianshao1 well. Besides, the research process in this paper can also be applied to other basins to explore for secondary reservoirs.

Controlling effects of the Ordovician carbonate pore structure on hydrocarbon reservoirs in the Tarim Basin, China

The Ordovician carbonate reservoirs in the Tarim Basin with secondary dissolution pores and vugs have complicated pore structures. The weathering crust reservoirs mainly consist of large cavities or vugs connected by fractures, but most of the reef-shoal reservoirs have complex and small throats among matrix pores. The pore structure can be divided into four types: big pore and big throat, big pore but small throat, small pore and small throat, and fracture type. Most of the average throat radius falls between 0.03 and 0.07 μm, close to that of unconventional reservoirs except in local areas with developed fractures. Fluid driving force analysis shows that the differentiation of fluid is mainly controlled by the throat radius in two kinds of mechanism separated by the critical throat radius about 0.1 μm. There is obvious fluid differentiation and oil/gas/water contact in fracture-cavity reservoirs with big throats. However, most of reservoirs under the critical throat radius have high capillary pressure, which resulted in incomplete differentiation of gas/oil/water, and complicated fluid distribution and fluid properties in the unconventional reservoirs.

Alteration and Reformation of Hydrocarbon Reservoirs and Prediction of Remaining Potential Resources in Superimposed Basins

复杂的烃水库在从在早阶段形成的烃水库的多重结构的改变，改革和破坏形成的中国的附加的盆广泛地发展了。他们被陷井调整，部件变化，阶段变换，和规模改革当前描绘。这为由在烃水库形成以后并且为预言揭示进化机制指导当前的烃探索是重要的仍然是潜在的资源。基于很多座复杂的烃水库的分析，有四个地质的特征，控制在早阶段形成的烃水库的破坏的度：在构造进化期间为油和气体封上的构造事件紧张，频率，时间和 caprock。研究看那越大构造事件紧张，越多经常构造事件，以后的最后构造事件，越多更弱为油和气体封上的 caprock，并且更大在早阶段的破坏的烃的体积。基于关于烃水库破坏机制，构造重迭的一个地质的模型和评估潜在的留下的复杂的烃水库的一个数学模型的主要控制因素的研究被建立了。断言方法和技术过程在 Tarim 盆的 Tazhong 区域被使用，在烃累积的四个阶段和烃改变的三个阶段发生了的地方。Geohistorical 烃累积到达了 31.84 亿吨， 12.71 亿吨被破坏。仍然是为探索可得到的资源的全部的体积是 19 亿吨。

Strike-Slip Faults and Their Control on Differential Hydrocarbon Enrichment in Carbonate Karst Reservoirs: A Case Study of Yingshan Formation on Northern Slope of Tazhong Uplift, Tarim Basin

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.

Hydrocarbon accumulation in deep ancient carbonate-evaporite assemblages

The Ediacaran–Ordovician strata within three major marine basins(Tarim,Sichuan,and Ordos)in China are analyzed.Based on previous studies focusing on the characteristics of the Neoproterozoic–Cambrian strata within the three major basins(East Siberian,Oman,and Officer in Australia)overseas,the carbonate–evaporite assemblages in the target interval are divided into three types:intercalated carbonate and gypsum salt,interbedded carbonate and gypsum salt,and coexisted carbonate,gypsum salt and clastic rock.Moreover,the concept and definition of the carbonate-evaporite assemblage are clarified.The results indicate that the oil and gas in the carbonate-evaporite assemblage are originated from two types of source rocks:shale and argillaceous carbonate,and confirmed the capability of gypsum salt in the saline environment to drive the source rock hydrocarbon generation.The dolomite reservoirs are classified in two types:gypseous dolomite flat,and grain shoal&microbial mound.This study clarifies that the penecontemporaneous or epigenic leaching of atmospheric fresh water mainly controlled the large-scale development of reservoirs.Afterwards,burial dissolution transformed and reworked the reservoirs.The hydrocarbon accumulation in carbonate-evaporite assemblage can be categorized into eight sub-models under three models(sub-evaporite hydrocarbon accumulation,supra-evaporite hydrocarbon accumulation,and inter-evaporite hydrocarbon accumulation).As a result,the Cambrian strata in the Tazhong Uplift North Slope,Maigaiti Slope and Mazatag Front Uplift Zone of the Tarim Basin,the Cambrian strata in the eastern-southern area of the Sichuan Basin,and the inter-evaporite Ma-4 Member of Ordovician in the Ordos Basin,China,are defined as favorable targets for future exploration.

Evaluation of Hydrocarbon Potential Using AVO Analysis in the FORMAT Field, Niger Delta Basin, Nigeria

The study involved the evaluation of the hydrocarbon potential of FORMAT Field, coastal swamp depobelt Niger delta, Nigeria to obtain a more efficient reservoir characterization and fluid properties identification. Despite advances in seismic data interpretation using traditional 3D seismic data interpretation, obtaining adequate reservoir characteristics at the finest level had proved very challenging with often disappointing results. A method that integrates the amplitude variation with offfset (AVO) analysis is hereby proposed to better illuminate the reservoir. The Hampson Russell 10.3 was used to integrate and study the available seismic and well data. The reservoir of interest was delineated using the available suite of petrophysical data. This was marked by low gamma ray, high resistivity, and low acoustic impedance between a true subsea vertical depth (TVDss) range of 10,350 - 10,450 ft. The AVO fluid substitution yielded a decrease in the density values of pure gas (2.3 - 1.6 g/cc), pure oil (2.3 - 1.8 g/cc) while the Poisson pure brine increased (2.3 to 2.8 g/cc). Result from FORMAT 26 plots yielded a negative intercept and negative gradient at the top and a positive intercept and positive gradient at the Base which conforms to Class III AVO anomaly. FORMAT 30 plots yielded a negative intercept and positive gradient at the top and a positive intercept and negative gradient at the Base which conforms to class IV AVO anomaly. AVO attribute volume slices decreased in the Poisson ratio (0.96 to - 1.0) indicating that the reservoir contains hydrocarbon. The s-wave reflectivity and the product of the intercept and gradient further clarified that there was a Class 3 gas sand in the reservoir and the possibility of a Class 4 gas sand anomaly in that same reservoir.

Characteristics of Paleozoic clastic reservoirs and the relationship with hydrocarbon accumulation in the Tazhong area of the Tarim Basin, west China

In order to predict favorable exploration areas of the Paleozoic, Carboniferous and Silurian clastic reservoirs in the Tazhong area of the Tarim Basin, west China, we studied the basic characteristics of Paleozoic clastic reservoirs in the Tazhong area based on a lot of data. Several issues about the hydrocarbon accumulation related to the reservoirs were also discussed. The results were concluded that: the high-value areas of the porosity and permeability of clastic reservoirs were located in the southeast of the Tazhong area; the content of cement (carbonate cement in particular) was the main factor controlling the porosity and permeability of clastic reservoirs; the hydrocarbon distributions of Carboniferous and Silurian clastic reservoirs were closely related to the porosity and permeability; the favorable hydrocarbon accumulation areas of the two sets of strata were located in the southeast of this area, especially in the updip pinch-out area.

Evolution of nC_(16)H_(34)-water-mineral systems in thermal capsules and geological implications for deeply-buried hydrocarbon reservoirs

Organic-inorganic interactions between hydrocarbons and most minerals in deeply buried reservoirs remain unclear.In this study,gold capsules and fused silica capillary capsules(FSCCs)with different com-binations of nC_(16)H_(34),water(distilled water,CaCl_(2) water)and minerals(quartz,feldspar,calcite,kaolinite,smectite,and illite)were heated at 340℃ for 3-10 d,to investigate the evolution and reaction pathways of the organic-inorganic interactions in different hot systems.After heating,minerals exhibited little alteration in the anhydrous systems.Mineral alterations,how-ever,occurred obviously in the hydrous systems.Different inorganic components affected nC_(16)H_(34) degra-dation differently.Overall,water promoted the free-radical thermal-cracking reaction and step oxidation reaction but suppressed the free-radical cross-linking reaction.The impact of CaCl_(2) water on the nC_(16)H_(34) degradation was weaker than the distilled water as high Ca^(2+)concentration suppressed the formation of free radicals.The presence of different waters also affects the impact of different minerals on nC_(16)H_(34) degradation,via its impact on mineral alterations.In the anhydrous nC_(16)H_(34)-mineral systems,calcite and clays catalyzed generation of low-molecular-weight(LMW)alkanes,particularly the clays.Quartz,feldspar,and calcite catalyzed generation of high-molecular-weight(HMW)alkanes and PAHs,whereas clays catalyzed the generation of LMW alkanes and mono-bicyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(M-BAHs).In the hydrous nC_(16)H_(34)-distilled water-mineral systems,all minerals but quartz promoted nC_(16)H_(34) degra-dation to generate more LMW alkanes,less HMW alkanes and PAHs.In the nC_(16)H_(34)-CaCl_(2) water-mineral systems,the promotion impact of minerals was weaker than that in the systems with distilled water.This study demonstrated the generation of different hydrocarbons with different fluorescence colors in the different nC_(16)H_(34)-water-mineral systems after heating for the same time,implying that fluorescence colors need to be interpreted carefully in investigation of hydrocarbon charging histories and oil origins in deeply buried reservoirs.Besides,the organic-inorganic interactions in different nC_(16)H_(34)-water-mineral systems proceeded in different pathways at different rates,which likely led to preservation of liquid hydrocarbons at different depth(temperature).Thus,quantitative investigations of the reaction kinetics in different hydrocarbon-water-rock systems are required to improve the prediction of hydrocar-bon evolution in deeply buried hydrocarbon reservoirs.

Porosity and Rock-Typing in Hydrocarbon Reservoirs Case Study in Upper Member of Dalan Formation in Kish Gas Field, South of Zagros, Iran

To estimate the volume of oil and gas in the hydrocarbon reservoirs, the rock-typing must be considered. The volume and type of available space in the reservoir rocks (porosity) and the ease of hydrocarbons flow (permeability) are important in the classification of rock-types. In the field study, touching-vug Porosities (intergranular, intercrystalline and brecciate) increase the total porosity and form high quality rock-types, on the other side, separated-vug porosities (such as moldic, intraparticle and vuggy) increase the total porosity but do not play a large role in the production of hydrocarbon. In this paper, based on the SCAL data (Special Core Analysis) and according to amount of irreducible water saturation (Swir) and capillary pressure, the reservoir rocks are divided into 4 classes including Reservoir Rock-Types 1 to Reservoir Rock-Types 4 (RRTs-1 to RRTs-4). By study of the prepared thin sections, we investigated the role of porosity in the rock-typing. Among the rock-types, category 1 is the best type-reservoir and category 4 is non-reservoir. Probably, the latest diagenetic process determines the quality rocks, not sedimentary environments.

Characteristics of Fluid Inclusions and Determination of Hydrocarbon Accumulation Period of Caofeidian 18-1/2Buried Hill Reservoirs in Bozhong Depression,Bohai Bay Basin

The study area Caofeidian 18-1/2 structure is located in the Shadongnan structural belt at the southeast subduction end of the Shaleitian salient in the western Bohai Sea. The characteristics of reservoirs and fluid inclusions from 13 core samples near the buried hills in the study area are studied,and regional geology and conditions for reservoir formation are analyzed to reveal the characteristics and the processes of reservoir formation. Phase I oil and gas inclusions are mainly developed,and the abundance of oil and gas inclusions in this period is high( GOI is about 15%). The homogenization temperature of the hydrocarbon-containing brine inclusions accompanying them is mainly 90-120 ℃ . The simulation results of burial history and thermal history show that the main charging period of oil and gas is the present Himalayan tectonic movement period since 8 Ma,and mainly through unconformities,faults,and drainage systems,they are migrated and accumulated into fault anticline traps of Dongying Formation mudstone( E_d).

Origin, hydrocarbon accumulation and oil-gas enrichment of fault-karst carbonate reservoirs: A case study of Ordovician carbonate reservoirs in South Tahe area of Halahatang oilfield, Tarim Basin

Based on comprehensive analysis of tectonic and fault evolution, core, well logging, seismic, drilling, and production data, the reservoir space characteristic, distribution, origin of fault-karst carbonate reservoir in Yueman block of South Tahe area, Halahatang oilfield, Tarim Basin, were studied systematically. And the regular pattern of hydrocarbon accumulation and enrichment was analyzed systematically based on development practice of the reservoirs. The results show that fault-karst carbonate reservoirs are distributed in the form of "body by body" discontinuously, heterogeneously and irregularly, which are controlled by the development of faults. Three formation models of fault-karst carbonate reservoirs, namely, the models controlled by the main deep-large fault, the secondary fault and the secondary internal fault, are built. The hydrocarbon accumulation and enrichment of fault-karst carbonate reservoirs is controlled by the spatiotemporal matching relation between hydrocarbon generation period and fault activity, and the size and segmentation of fault. The study results can effectively guide the well deployment and help the efficient development of fault-karst carbonate reservoirs of South Tahe area, Halahatang oilfield.