Quantitative prediction of mixed-source crude oils and its significance for understanding oil accumulation in subtle pools in the Dongying Depression,Bohai Bay Basin

Conventional geochemical approaches were utilized in the quantitative prediction of the proportions of mixed-source crude oils derived from the Es3 and ES4 members of the Paleogene Shahejie Formation. The mixed-source oils are accumulated in the middle interval of the Es3 member （Es3 M） in the Niuzhuang Sag, which is one of the sags where subtle traps are primarily of lenticular basin-floor turbidite sands within mudstones mostly developed in the Dongying Depression, Bohai Bay Basin. The result showed that about 18-92% of the mixed-source oils were derived from the Es4 source rocks with an average of 55-60%）. Reservoirs associated with deep faults appear to have much more Es4 genetic affinity oils. A high proportion of the Es4-derived oils discovered in the Es3 M subtle lithological traps in the Niuzhuang Sag have long migration distances. This suggests that surrounding source rocks might not necessarily control the hydrocarbon supply for subtle traps. Subtle migration pathway may play an important role in the vertical oil migration. The traditional concept of hydrocarbons accumulation in these tenticular turbidite sandstone traps within a short migration distance from the surrounding source rocks is not supported by this study. The present result is also consistent with our previous findings that immature oils in the Bamianhe Oilfield in the south slope of the Niuzhuang Sag were actually mixed-source oils mostly sourced from the Es4 in the depocenter of the Niuzhuang Sag, and the petroleum potential of the ES4 member in the Dongying Depression should therefore be re-evaluated.

Origin of the Silurian Crude Oils and Reservoir Formation Characteristics in the Tazhong Uplift

The Silurian stratum in the Tazhong uplift is an important horizon for exploration because it preserves some features of the hydrocarbons produced from multi-stage tectonic evolution. For this reason, the study of the origin of the Silurian oils and their formation characteristics constitutes a major part in revealing the mechanisms for the composite hydrocarbon accumulation zone in the Tazhong area. Geochemical investigations indicate that the physical properties of the Silurian oils in Tazhong vary with belts and blocks, i.e., heavy oils are distributed in the TZ47-15 well-block in the North Slope while normal and light oils in the No. I fault belt and the TZ16 well-block, which means that the oil properties are controlled by structural patterns. Most biomarkers in the Silurian oils are similar to that of the Mid-Upper Ordovician source rocks, suggesting a good genetic relationship. However, the compound specific isotope of n-alkanes in the oils and the chemical components of the hydrocarbons in fluid inclusions indicate that these oils are mixed oils derived from both the Mid- Upper Ordovician and the Cambrian-Lower Ordovician source rocks. Most Silurian oils have a record of secondary alterations like earlier biodegradation, including the occurrence of ＂UCM＂ humps in the total ion current （TIC） chromatogram of saturated and aromatic hydrocarbons and 25-norhopane in saturated hydrocarbons of the crude oils, and regular changes in the abundances of light and heavy components from the structural low to the structural high. The fact that the Silurian oils are enriched in chain alkanes, e.g., n-alkanes and 25-norhopane, suggests that they were mixed oils of the earlier degraded oils with the later normal oils. It is suggested that the Silurian oils experienced at least three episodes of petroleum charging according to the composition and distribution as well as the maturity of reservoir crude oils and the oils in fluid inclusions. The migration and accumulation models of these oils in the TZ47-15 well-blocks, the No. I fault belt and the TZ16 well-block are different from but related to each other. The investigation of the origin of the mixed oils and the hydrocarbon migration and accumulation mechanisms in different charging periods is of great significance to petroleum exploration in this area.

Origin of Crude Oil in the Lunnan Region,Tarim Basin

The oil source of the Tarim Basin has been controversial over a long time. This study characterizes the crude oil and investigates the oil sources in the Lunnan region, Tarim Basin by adopting compound specific isotopes of n-alkanes and biomarkers approaches. Although the crude oil has a good correlation with the Middle-Upper Ordovician （02＋3） source rocks and a poor correlation with the Cambrian-Lower Ordovician （C-O1） based on biomarkers, the ~3C data of n-alkanes of the Lunnan oils show an intermediate value between C-O1 and 02＋3 genetic affinity oils, which suggests that the Lunnan oils are actually of an extensively mixed source. A quantification of oil mixing was performed and the results show that the contribution of the Cambrian-Lower Ordovician source rocks ranges from 11% to 70% （averaging 36%）, slightly less than that of the Tazhong uplift. It is suggested that the inconsistency between the biomarkers and od3C in determining the oil sources in the Lunnan Region results from multiple petroleum charge episodes with different chemical components in one or more episode（s） and different sources. The widespread marine mixed-source oil in the basin indicates that significant petroleum potential in deep horizons is possible. To unravel hydrocarbons accumulation mechanisms for the Lunnan oils is crucial to further petroleum exploration and exploitation in the region.