River-gulf system--the major location of marine source rock formation

Petroleum was generated from sedimentary rocks. The world＇s oldest oil source rock so far was found in Proterozoic rocks. Since then, 73% to 81% of the earth＇s surface has been covered with sedimentary rocks. However, only quite a limited area is rich in oil and gas. It is found that source rocks have controlled oil and gas distribution, and they are mainly formed in two systems： （1） river-lake systems and （2） river-gulf systems. Phytoplankton is an important source of kerogen, the blooming of which is strongly dependent on nutrients. Rivers are the major nutrient provider for basins. Rivers around lakes and an undercompensation （where the sedimentation rate is less than the rate of basin subsidence） environment provide favorable conditions for phytoplankton blooming in lakes. Gulfs are usually located at the estuary of big rivers, characterized by restricted current circulation and exchange with the open sea, which benefit maintaining the nutrient density, phytoplankton levels and organic matter preservation. The river-gulf system is the most favorable place for marine source rock development. Most of the world famous marine petroleum-rich provinces are developed from river-gulf systems in geological history, such as the Persian Gulf Basin, Siberian Basin, Caspian Basin, North Sea, Sirte Basin, Nigerian Basin, Kwanza Basin, Gulf of Mexico, Maracaibo Basin and the Eastern Venezuelan Basin.

世界油气形成的三个体系

油气是由沉积盆地内岩石中的有机质生成的。通过对全球含油气盆地进行深入、系统研究,认识到全球油气田的分布很不均匀,油气只在少数沉积岩层段内富集成藏。油气分布具有明显的"源控"性,寻找新的含油气盆地必须首先寻找烃源岩。沉积盆地内生物生长所需的营养物质主要来源于河流,河流注入沉积盆地的营养物质控制了生物繁衍程度,进而控制了烃源岩的有机质丰度,而烃源岩有机质丰度控制了沉积盆地的油气生成量和油气资源富集程度。地球上油气主要分布于河流—湖泊体系、河流—海湾体系和河流—三角洲体系,其中,河流—湖泊体系是地球上重要的含油领域。湖相石油主要是由湖泊中的藻类死亡后形成的沉积有机质生成,藻类生长主要取决于河流注入湖水中的营养物质,这些营养物质可以促进裂谷期藻类生长,为优质烃源岩的形成提供保障。河流—海湾体系是全球海相石油分布的主要场所。海湾是河流的入海口,河流带来丰富的矿物质促进了藻类等水生生物生长并大量繁殖,且海湾相对闭塞,均有利于有机质保存。世界上分布最广、储量最多的天然气是由煤系烃源岩生成的煤型气,河流—三角洲体系是煤型气的主要分布场所。河流带来的泥沙是高等植物生长的肥沃土壤,河流—三角洲平原上的原生高等植物为煤系气源岩的形成提供了雄厚的物质基础;三角洲储层发育,储-盖配置好,有利于天然气富集成藏。