Sedimentary paleoenvironment and its control on organic matter enrichment in the Mesoproterozoic hydrocarbon source rocks in the Ordos Basin,southern margin of the North China Craton

The black shale of the Mesoproterozoic Cuizhuang Formation in the Changcheng System in Yongji city,North China Craton,is a potential source rock.Understanding the organic matter enrichment mechanism is crucial for evaluating source rock resources and understanding oil and gas accumulation mechanisms.In this study,we evaluated the sedimentary paleoenvironment and organic matter enrichment mechanisms of shale using thin section observations,mineral composition analysis,organic geochemistry,and elemental geochemistry.We found significant differences in the sedimentary paleoenvironment and organic matter enrichment mechanisms between the lower Cuizhuang Formation and the Beidajian Formation shale.The Cuizhuang Formation was deposited in a late-stage,restricted basin environment during the rift phase,and elemental and geochemical indicators showed that the Cuizhuang Formation was in a suboxic-anoxic water environment,that was influenced by a warm and humid paleoclimate and submarine hydrothermal activities,which promoted the accumulation of organic matter.However,the enrichment of organic matter in the Cuizhuang Formation was mainly controlled by redox conditions.The formation of suboxic-anoxic water environments may be closely related to the warm and humid paleoclimate and submarine hydrothermal activities.Warm conditions promote continental weathering and increase marine productivity,thereby consuming oxygen in the bottom water.Moreover,acidic hydrothermal activity also helps to establish an anoxic environment.Our results reveal the effects controlling various coupled mechanisms dominated by redox conditions,which may explain the development of source rocks in the Cuizhuang Formation.

Factors Controlling Organic Matter Enrichment in Alkaline Lacustrine Source Rocks:A Case Study of the Late Paleozoic Fengcheng Formation in the Junggar Basin,NW China

The late Paleozoic Fengcheng Formation shale(LPF shale)in the Junggar Basin,NW China,is the oldest alkaline source rock discovered in the world,providing a unique perspective with which to explore organic matter(OM)enrichment in alkaline lake environments.Combined with the organic carbon isotope profile and paleoenvironmental proxies,this study reveals that the LPF shale was deposited in an arid climate with high salinity and a strong reducing environment,accompanied by frequent volcanic activity.High TOC values are concentrated in two intervals with frequent fluctuations in OM types.A negative excursion due to changes in sedimentary OM source is found in the δ^(13)C_(org) profile.The excursion corresponds to the OM enrichment interval and is accompanied by abnormally high values of Sr/Ba and Sr/Cu.This implies that the extreme arid climate has led to high salinity,resulting in strong reducibility and changes in paleontological assemblages,which in turn controlled the differential enrichment of OM.The Fengcheng Fm.high-quality source rocks are the result of the combined action of climatic events,volcanism,high-salinity water environment and superior hydrocarbon-generating organisms.The results provide new insights into the formation conditions of terrestrial alkaline high-quality source rocks and the factors controlling alkaline OM enrichment.

Supply of terrigenous organic matter from tidal flat to the marine environment:An example of neritic source rocks in the Eocene Pinghu Formation,Xihu Depression,East China Sea Shelf Basin

The terrigenously-dominated marine shales which were deposited in the lower Eocene Pinghu Formation were thought to be a potential source rock in the Xihu Depression of the East China Sea Shelf Basin.However,the exceptionally high total organic carbon content(TOC,>6%on average)of the tidal sand ridge samples was not compatible with their sedimentary environment,indicating coal-bearing sedimentary debris may have been transferred from the coast to the ocean.In this study,new sights into the origins and supply of organic materials in the coastal environment were proposed in the neritic organic matter of the Eocene Pinghu Formation.A discriminant model was developed using plynofacies analysis data to pinpoint the source of organic materials in marine source rocks.The discrimination results suggested that marine mudstones were associated with tidal flat mudstones rather than deltaic ones.The biomarker characteristics of mudstones deposited in various environments support this assertion,indicating that the supply of plant materials in tidal flats is the primary organic matter source for the marine environment.The organic matter abundance was elevated in tidal flats due to their superior preservation conditions.Additionally,the lithological assemblage of tidal flats suggests that tidal currents can scour marshes and then transport dispersed terrigenous organic materials to neritic areas.These findings indicate that coal-bearing sedimentary debris was likely transferred from the coast to the ocean,and tidal currents are thought to be the dominant mechanism driving organic matter from the tidal to the marine environment.

Formation and distribution of coal measure source rocks in the Eocene Pinghu Formation in the Pinghu Slope of the Xihu Depression,East China Sea Shelf Basin

The Xihu Depression in the East China Sea Shelf Basin is a large petroliferous sedimentary depression,in which oil and gas reservoirs were mainly discovered in the Pinghu Slope and the central inversion zone.The oil-gas source correlation in the Xihu Depression was analyzed by hydrocarbon generating thermal simulation data via gold-tube pyrolysis experiments.The results indicated that the oil and gas in the Xihu Depression were mainly derived from coal measure source rocks of the Eocene Pinghu Formation.Therefore,the identification of coal seams is extremely crucial for evaluating coal measure source rocks in the Pinghu Formation in the Xihu Depression.Geochemical and petrological characterization pointed to input of terrigenous organic matter and redox conditions of the depositional environment as factors that govern the ability of the coal measure source rocks in hydrocarbon generation in the Xihu Depression.In this regard,the sedimentary organic facies in the Pinghu Formation were classified into four predominantly terrigenous and one mixed-source subfacies,which all varied in carbon and hydrogen content.The coal measure source rocks in the carbon-and hydrogen-rich tidal flat-lagoon exhibited the highest hydrocarbon generation potential,whereas the mudstone in the neritic facies was the poorest in its hydrocarbon yield.These results suggested that the coal measure source rocks in the Pinghu Formation likely developed in the Hangzhou Slope and the Tiantai Slope,both representing promising sources for oil and gas exploration.

The contribution of bacteria to organic matter in coal-measure source rocks

On the basis of GC–MS analysis, a suite of nine coal-measure source rocks(Ro 0.51%–0.63%) from the southern margin of Junggar basin was found to contain many biomarkers for bacterially-generated hydrocarbons:hopane, sesquiterpene, C_(23)+ monomethyl alkanes(even carbon predominance), and C_(24)+ alkyl cyclohexane.Rock–eval and microscope analysis indicate that vitrinite(especially desmocollinite and homocollinite) plays a significant role in the generation of hydrocarbons in coalmeasure source rocks. Vitrinite performs this role by absorbing ultramicroscopic organic matter, generally in the form of resins or bacterial plastids. C_(23)+ monomethyl alkanes(even carbon predominance) and C_(24)+ alkyl cyclohexane series compounds are derived from bacterial metabolites of higher plants. The ultramicro organic matter adsorbed by vitrinite source rocks in the study area is probably ultramicro bacterial plastids. Because the organic matter of higher plants with low hydrogen content has been transformed into organic matter rich in hydrogen by bacteria, the hydrocarbon generation capacity of source rocks is greatly improved. In other words, in coal-measure source rocks, bacteria play an important role in hydrocarbon generation.

Occurrence of Highly Mature Organic Matter in Marine Black Shale Petroleum Source Rocks of Basal Cambrian from Northern Tarim Basin, China

More and more evidence indicates that organic matter (OM) in immature organic-rich sediments and sedimentary rocks is chemically adsorbed onto the outer surfaces of minerals and into interlayer (inner) surfaces of smectitic clay minerals in the form of amorphous molecular-scale carbon. But there have been few reports about the occurrence of highly mature OM in marine black shales (petroleum source rocks). The occurrence of highly mature OM in the black shales of basal Cambrian from northern Tarim Basin is studied in this paper. Based on the comprehensive analyses of total organic carbon contents (TOC), maximum thermolysis temperatures (T-max) of OM, mineral surface areas (MSA), and scanning electronic microscopic (SEM) and transmission electronic microscopic (TEM) observations of the black shales, it is concluded that the highly mature OM in the marine black shales of the basal Cambrian from northern Tarim Basin occurs in particulates ranging in size from 1 to 5 μm in diameter. Through the contrast of the occurrence of the highly mature OM in the black shales with that of the immature ones in modern marine continental margin sediments, some scientific problems are proposed, which are worth to study further in detail.

Geochemistry of solvable organic matter from source rocks in Shangkuli Formation of Labudalin Basin

A suit of lacustrine source rocks are developed in volcanic deposits in the Shangkuli Formation of the Cretaceous. However, it is poor to understand the characteristics of source rocks due to the low degree of exploration, thus the exploration is severely constrained in this area. Based on the geochemical analysis, the analytic technique of GC and GC-MS, combined with the characteristics of solvable organic matter and biomarkers of the source rocks, the authors discussed the depositional environment, the derivation of the matrix and the maturity characteristics of the organic material of the Shangkuli Formation in Cretaceous. The results show that the organic matter mainly belongs to type Ⅱ1 kerogen, whose abundance is relatively high; it was formed in reductive surrounding where was deep-lake; the hydrocarbon is characterized by mixed-source of organic matter. The thermal evolution of source rocks had reached maturation stage.

Main Controlling Factors of Organic Matter Richness in a Permian Section of Guangyuan, Northeast Sichuan

A complete Permian section in Guangyuan （广元）, Northeast Sichuan （四川）, has been investigated, to explore the variation in organic matter richness and its main controlling factors. The research results of the detailed lithological description and organic/inorganic geochemical analysis of about 325 samples indicate that a high content of total organic carbon （TOC） occurs in calcareous mudstones and laminated marls or thin-bedded limestones. In carbonate rocks, the TOC content is negatively related to the thickness of the massive beds; the thinner the bed is, the higher the TOC content is. Marine organic matter is enriched in the outer shelf and relatively shallow basin floor environments with the maximum TOC contents of 5.07% and 14.6%, respectively. The main factors that affect the quantity and quality of marine organic matter include primary productivity, depositional processes, and redox conditions during deposition and the early diagenesis stage. Three intervals of marine good quality source rocks are identified in this section; they are lower Chihsia Formation, topmost Maokou （茅口） Formation, and the middle segment of the Dalong （大隆） Formation. They are formed in anoxic environments, in association with high primary productivity. Among these, high productivity in the lower Chihsia interval may originate from an upwelling flow area, whereas, in the rest of the intervals, it is inferred to be related to hot fluid activity due to volcanic eruption. The results of this study suggest that good quality marine source rocks in the Permian strata offer significant hydrocarbon potential.

Cretaceous source rocks and associated oil and gas resources in the world and China: A review

The Cretaceous is one of the most important stratigraphic intervals for hydrocarbon source rocks. This article summarizes the distribution, formation, and development characteristics of Cretaceous source rocks and associated oil and gas resources in the world and China, aiming at improving the understanding of this hydrocarbon enrichment and at broadening domestic exploration. Outside China, these rocks are generally formed in marine or transgressive environments during both the Upper and Lower Cretaceous. The majority of Cretaceous source rocks are located in the Persian Gulf, Mediterranean, and Gulf Coast of the USA. Kerogen types within these source rocks have distinct spatial distribution characteristics, with high-latitude Boreal Realm, Tethyan Realm and South Gondwana Realm source rocks containing type III, II, II-III kerogens, respectively. Cretaceous source rocks in China can be mainly divided into four zones： Eastern, Central, Northwest, and Qinghai-Tibet Plateau zones. The majority of Chinese source rocks formed in the Early Cretaceous, whereas the most productive source rocks are developed in the Upper Cretaceous, such as those within the Songliao Basin. Most of these basins are formed in lacustrine environments, although some may have been influenced by transgressive events： Cretaceous source rocks are formed in four distinctive ways： 1） during Oceanic Anoxic Events and associated global sea-level rises, 2） in Black Sea-type retention basins, 3） during transgression and 4） during periods of significant terrestrial input. Formation of these source rocks is controlled by four factors： paleoclimate, paleotopography, transgression, and Oceanic Anoxic Events. These four major controlling factors indicate that China＇s hydrocarbon exploration within the Cretaceous should focus on two key areas with extremely low exploration levels, the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the southeastern coast of China.

Study on source rock potential and source rocks spatial distribution in the Manghan Faulted Sag, Kailu Basin

Manghan Faulted Sag is an exploratory target area in Kailu Basin. In order to determine its exploration prospect, the effectiveness of its source rocks is evaluated by organic geochemical behavior analysis of the samples, and their distributions are predicted using trace integration seismic inversion technology. Studies on their organic matter abundance, type and maturity indicate that the source rocks in the Sag have great generating potentials. Furthermore, it is found that, based on the spatial distribution predication, the source rocks in the Sag are well developed. Therefore, the Sag has a promising prospect for exploration.

Organic Petrological Studies on Immature Source Rocks

Organic petrology is a marginal science that is quite practicable. At present, it has developed into a routine research tool that is widely applied in petroleum exploration and assessment. Based on several years’ research of the authors, this paper presents the advances in organic petrological studies on immature source rocks, including the classification and characteristics of macerals, the composition of macerals and types of organic matter, the abundance and evolution of organic matter, oil-prone macerals, hydrocarbon generation and expulsion. All these results show that organic petrology is of considerable value pertaining to its application in the assessment of immature oil and gas. The immature source rocks consist of various macerals with obvious heterogeneity, contain different hydrocarbon-generating macerals with different oil thresholds and oil peaks, and show a two-staged evolutionary pattern of organic matter.

Geochemical prerequisites for the formation of oil and gas accumulation zones in the South Turgay basin,Kazakhstan

This study predicts favorable oil and gas source-rock formation conditions in the Aryskum Depression of the South Turgay Basin,Kazakhstan.This study assesses the thermal maturity and characteristics of organic matter by determining its environmental conditions using data from geochemical analysis of core(pyrolysis)and oil(biomarkers and carbon isotopic compositions)samples.According to the geochemical parameters obtained by pyrolysis,the oil generation potential of the original rocks of most studied samples varies from poor to rich.The facies–genetic organic matter is predominantly humic and less frequently humus–sapropel,indicating organic matter accumulation in the studied samples were under moderately reducing conditions(kerogenⅢand Ⅱ types)and coastal–marine environments(kerogen typeⅠ).The carbon isotopic compositions of oils derived from the Jurassic deposits of the Aryskum Depression also indicate the sapropelic and mixed humic–sapropelic type of organic matter(kerogenⅡandⅠ).Biomarker analysis of oils indicates original organic matter formation in an anoxic environment.

Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Extraction of Organic Matter from Petroleum Source Rocksand Its Implications

Organic matter was experimentally extracted by supercritical fiuids （CO2 +1% isopropanol） from petroleum source rocks of different thermo-maturities at different buried depths in the same stratigraphic unit in the Dongying Basin. The results show that supercritical fluid extraction （SFE） is more effective than Soxhlet extraction （SE）, with higher amounts and greater varieties of hydrocarbons and soluble organic matter becoming extractive. The supercritical CO2 extraction is therefore considered more valuable in evaluation of petroleum source rocks and oil resources, particularly those of immature types.

Molecular Organic Geochemical Characteristics and Coal Gas Potential Evaluation of Mesozoic Coal Seams in the Western Great Khingan Mountains

Coal-bearing strata are widespread in the western Great Khingan Mountains. Abundant coal resources have been found in the Jurassic Alatanheli Groups, the Cretaceous Bayanhua Groups, the Damoguaihe Formation and the Yimin Formation. The organic geochemical characteristics were analyzed in combination with hydrocarbon source rock evaluation and molecular organic geochemistry experiments, and the coal gas potential of coal seams was evaluated. The source rock evaluation results indicated that the Mesozoic coal samples have the characteristics of high organic matter abundance(TOC>30%), low maturity(Ro values of approximately 0.6%), and type Ⅲ composition. The hydrocarbon generation potentials of the Alatanheli Groups and Bayanhua Groups are high, while the generation potentials of the Damoguaihe Formation and the Yimin Formation are low. The results of geochemistry show that the depositional environment of the coal seam was a lacustrine, oxidizing environment with a low salinity, and the source of the organic matter was mainly higher plants. Affected by weak degradation, the coal seams mainly formed low-maturity gas of thermal catalytic origin. The Cretaceous coal seams contain a large amount of phytoplankton groups deposited in a low-stability environment affected by a transgression event, and the potential range varied widely. For the Jurassic coal seams, the depositional environment was more stable, and the coal seams feature a higher coal-forming gas potential.

Genesis and distribution of oils in Mahu Sag,Junggar Basin,NW China

Based on the geological and geochemical analysis of potential source rocks in different formations and the classification of crude oil types,combined with the hydrocarbon generation thermal simulation experiments,the source,genesis,and distribution of different types of oils in the Mahu large oil province of the Junggar Basin are investigated.Four sets of potential source rocks are developed in the Mahu Sag.Specifically,the source rocks of the Permian Fengcheng Formation have the highest hydrocarbon generation potential and contain mainly TypesⅡandⅠorganic matters,with a high oil generation capacity.In contrast,the source rocks in other formations exhibit lower hydrocarbon generation potential and contain mainly TypeⅢorganic matter,with dominant gas generation.Oils in the Mahu Sag can be classified as three types:A,B and C,which display ascending,mountainous and descending C_(20)-C_(21)-C_(23)tricyclic terpenes abundance patterns in sequence,and gradually increasing relative content of tricyclic terpenes and sterane isomerization parameters,indicating an increasing oil maturity.Different types of oils are distributed spatially in an obviously orderly manner:Type A oil is close to the edge of the sag,Type C oil is concentrated in the center of the sag,and Type B oil lies in the slope area between Type A and Type C.The results of oil-source correlation and thermal simulation experiments show that the three types of oils come from the source rocks of the Fengcheng Formation at different thermal evolution stages.This new understanding of the differential genesis of oils in the Mahu Sag reasonably explains the source,distribution,and genetic mechanism of the three types of oils.The study results are of important guidance for the comprehensive and three-dimensional oil exploration,the identification of oil distribution in the total petroleum system,and the prediction of favorable exploration areas in the Mahu Sag.

鄂尔多斯盆地南缘长7烃源岩地球化学特征与沉积环境

鄂尔多斯盆地南缘出露多处典型长7段页岩剖面,为了加深该区域烃源岩的研究,对35个烃源岩样品开展有机碳含量测定、岩石热解分析、饱和烃气相色谱-质谱分析、微量元素含量测定等测试分析,研究其地球化学特征,分析其有机质来源及沉积环境。结果表明:暗色页岩发育于淡水和还原的半深湖—深湖环境,沉积期气候温暖湿润,适宜生物发育,Mo元素高度富集,指示湖泊富营养化,初级生产力高;物质来源为藻类等低等水生生物和陆地植物的混合来源,但藻类等低等水生生物是主要来源;源岩有机质高度富集,总有机碳(TOC)平均值为23.51%,高于陆相优质烃源岩的丰度标准;有机质以腐泥—混合型为主,生烃潜量S1+S2均值为112.93 mg/g,生烃潜力良好;岩石热解峰温及生物标志化合物参数,指示达到成熟热演化程度,具有勘探潜力。

陆相咸化湖盆“低TOC”烃源岩高生烃效率探讨——以苏北盆地溱潼凹陷阜宁组二段泥页岩为例

苏北盆地溱潼凹陷阜宁组二段(以下简称阜二段)页岩油勘探取得重大突破,但其泥页岩总有机碳含量(TOC)普遍不高,一般低于2%。业界认为陆相咸化湖盆“低TOC”烃源岩能生成大量油气,称之为陆相咸化湖盆的“低TOC”高效生烃模式。由于生排烃效应,烃源岩的TOC会降低,因此,恢复烃源岩原始TOC对客观认识烃源岩的生烃能力、油气资源评价和持续增储上产具有重要意义。以溱潼凹陷典型钻井阜二段泥页岩为研究对象,利用生烃模拟实验和岩石热解资料,采用热模拟TOC演化、有效碳(PC)演化和元素质量守恒法,对QY1井阜二段泥页岩TOC进行了恢复。结果表明:咸化湖盆烃源岩的TOC恢复系数最高可达3~4,且受到岩相的重要影响。随着热演化程度增高,TOC恢复系数增大,纹层状页岩TOC恢复系数高于块状泥岩,QY1井阜二段Ⅳ亚段泥岩、Ⅰ—Ⅲ亚段页岩TOC恢复系数可分别高达1.1~1.5、1.5~3.0。母质类型和生烃活化能的差异导致页岩成烃转化率和TOC恢复系数高于泥岩。

准噶尔盆地东道海子凹陷二叠系平地泉组烃源岩特征及热演化史模拟

基于钻井、录井、测井及烃源岩分析测试等资料,对准噶尔盆地东道海子凹陷二叠系平地泉组烃源岩的生烃潜力和热演化史进行了系统研究。研究结果表明:(1)准噶尔盆地东道海子凹陷二叠系平地泉组烃源岩主要为深灰色、灰黑色泥岩,颜色深且厚度普遍较大,自东北部斜坡区向凹陷中部厚度逐渐增大,并向西部莫索湾凸起逐渐减小,最大泥岩厚度可达536 m。(2)研究区平地泉组烃源岩有机质丰度综合评价为中等—极好,纵向上以平一段有机质丰度最高,平面上以凹陷东北部滴南7井区和滴南19井区最高;平地泉组有机质类型主要为Ⅱ_(2)—Ⅲ型,少部分为Ⅱ_(1)型,纵向上以平二段有机质类型最好,平面上凹陷区烃源岩有机质类型主要为Ⅱ_(1)—Ⅱ_(2)型。(3)热演化史模拟结果显示,凹陷区和斜坡区烃源岩分别在晚三叠世和晚侏罗世达到生烃高峰,现今分别处于高成熟阶段和成熟阶段。(4)研究区发育“下生上储”和“自生自储”2类油气藏,其中平地泉组烃源岩与上乌尔禾组储集层形成“下生上储”油气藏,平二段和平一段的优质烃源岩与湖盆边缘的小型扇三角洲沉积在平地泉组内部形成“自生自储”油气藏,二者油气勘探潜力均较大。

加强油源岩沉积成岩成油模拟实验研究

干酪根热降解生油学说源于油页岩高温热解生成“人造石油”的生产实践,其理论内涵是凡富含干酪根的岩石,经高温热解后其所含的干酪根都可以生成“人造石油”。应用该学说的高温热解实验方法,可以评价油页岩的品质及其热解生成“人造石油”的潜力,因此仅适用于油页岩的评价研究。但该学说的倡导者却认为油页岩和油源岩都是能生成石油的岩石,如果埋藏较浅时就称为油页岩,如果埋藏较深时就是油源岩,因此干酪根热降解生油学说同样适用于油源岩。这种观点并没有被美欧等国家所认可,但遗憾的是,在改革开放之初不甚了解国外同行对该学说如何评价的情况下,中国的石油地质家不仅全盘接受了该学说,而且推广应用了40多年。为彻底改变这种被动局面,唯一可行的就是通过油源岩沉积成岩成油模拟实验,研究油源岩中可溶有机质的生油问题和评价方法。

北羌塘胜利河地区布曲组优质烃源岩形成环境与有机质富集机制

羌塘盆地是我国陆上新区油气勘探程度最低的中生代海相含油气沉积盆地,其主力烃源岩一直认识不清。本文以胜利河地区中侏罗统布曲组烃源岩为研究对象,开展了有机地球化学和元素地球化学的系统研究,探讨了布曲组烃源岩的形成环境和有机质富集机制,为预测北羌塘坳陷中侏罗统布曲组优质烃源岩的分布提供了理论依据。胜利河地区布曲组烃源岩有机质丰度高,有机质类型为Ⅱ型,处于成熟阶段,综合评价为优质烃源岩。布曲组沉积时期,气候干旱炎热,研究区初级生产力水平较高,属于弱局限盆地,具有浅水、高盐度、贫氧—缺氧的沉积环境。布曲组沉积时期,羌塘盆地发生大规模海侵,研究区邻近中央隆起,陆源输入和热液活动携带大量营养物质磷、铁等进入海洋,导致较高的初级生产力,是北羌塘坳陷布曲组优质烃源岩有机质富集的主控因素。研究区位于北羌塘坳陷的最小含氧带区域,有利于大量浮游生物在此缺氧死亡埋藏保存。通过有机质富集机制的分析,北羌塘坳陷的近岸陆棚斜坡带可能是中侏罗统布曲组优质烃源岩分布的有利区域。