Petroleum Source-Rock Evaluation and Hydrocarbon Potential in Montney Formation Unconventional Reservoir, Northeastern British Columbia, Canada

Source-rock characteristics of Lower Triassic Montney Formation presented in this study shows the total organic carbon (TOC) richness, thermal maturity, hydrocarbon generation, geographical distribution of TOC and thermal maturity (Tmax) in Fort St. John study area (T86N, R23W and T74N, R13W) and its environs in northeastern British Columbia, Western Canada Sedimentary Basin (WCSB). TOC richness in Montney Formation within the study area is grouped into three categories: low TOC ( 3.5 wt%), and high TOC (>3.5 wt% %). Thermal maturity of the Montney Formation source-rock indicates that >90% of the analyzed samples are thermally mature, and mainly within gas generating window (wet gas, condensate gas, and dry gas), and comprises mixed Type II/III (oil/gas prone kerogen), and Type IV kerogen (gas prone). Analyses of Rock-Eval parameters (TOC, S2, Tmax, HI, OI and PI) obtained from 81 samples in 11 wells that penetrated the Montney Formation in the subsurface of northeastern British Columbia were used to map source rock quality across the study area. Based on total organic carbon (TOC) content mapping, geographical distribution of thermal maturity (Tmax) data mapping, including evaluation and interpretation of Rock-Eval parameters in the study area, the Montney Formation kerogen is indicative of a pervasively matured petroleum system in the study area.

The petroleum system:a new classification scheme based on reservoir qualities

A new classification of petroleum systems(PSs) based on reservoir qualities is proposed. We classify PSs into the following three basic types:(1) source-rock petroleum system(SPS);(2) tight-reservoir or tight petroleum system(TPS);and(3) conventional-reservoir or conventional petroleum system(CPS). The CPS is a PS in which hydrocarbons accumulate in conventional reservoirs, and all the essential elements and processes are significant and indispensable. Oil and gas accumulations are geographically discrete and therefore exist as discontinuous accumulations. The TPS is a PS where hydrocarbons accumulate in tight reservoirs and the source rock, reservoir, seal, migration, and trap are also indispensable,but the traps are mostly non-anticlinal and the accumulations are primarily quasi-continuous and secondarily discontinuous. The SPS is a PS where both hydrocarbon generation and accumulation occurred in source rocks and traps and migration are unnecessary or inconsequential; the hydrocarbon distribution is extensive and continuous and has no distinct boundaries. The aforementioned three PSs can be derived from a common hydrocarbon source kitchen and are closely linked in terms of their formation and distribution. Therefore, to maximize the exploration efficiency, a comprehensive study and different strategies are needed by considering the SPS, TPS, and CPS as parts of a greater whole.

Petroleum Charging and Leakage in the BZ25-1 Field, Bohai Bay Basin

This paper discusses origin and charging histories of the Bozhong （渤中） 25-1 field （BZ25-1） in the Bozhong sub-basin, Bohai （渤海） Bay basin. Petroleum is contained in both Paleogene and Neogene reservoirs in the BZ25-1 field. The origin of the field was studied using biomarker distri-butions for 61 source rock samples and 34 oil samples. Oil in the Paleogene reservoirs was derived from the third member （Es3, 43.0-38.0 Ma in age） of the Eocene Shahejie （沙河街） Formation, whereas oil in the Neogene reservoirs was a mixtures of oil generated from the third member and the first member （Es1, 35.8-32.8 Ma） of the Eocene Shahejie Formation. Charging of the shallow Neogene reservoirs was dynamic, probably ongoing, which was a combined result of the existence of active source rocks, the development of overpressure and the fault reactivation since about 5.1 Ma. On the contrary, the deep Paleogene reservoirs experienced intensive oil leakage as indicated by the high GOI （grains-containing-oil-inclusions） values （up to 30%） for samples below the present-day oil-water con-tact. Part of the oil that leaked from the Paleogene reservoirs re-accumulated in the shallow Neogene reservoirs. The variation of oil origins within the BZ25-1 field, and the dynamic petroleum charging into the shallow Neogene reservoirs and leakage from the deep Paleogene reservoirs have important implications for petroleum exploration.