Bin Cheng

The Geochemical Characterization of Adsorbed/Occluded Hydrocarbons Inside Solid Bitumen in the Kuangshanliang Area of the Northwestern Sichuan Basin and Its Significance

The geochemical characterizations of adsorbed and occluded components of solid bitumen in the Kuangshanliang area of northwestern Sichuan Basin were studied by comparing the results of conventional extraction and mild oxidative degradation. The results indicate that the solid bitumen originated from Sinian–Cambrian ancient oil reservoirs. The main source of the parent material is lower-order aquatic deposited in a high-sulfur anoxic marine environment. Exposed solid bitumen suffered from severe biodegradation, altering the tricyclic terpane/pentacyclic terpane and (pregnane + homo-pregnane)/regular sterane ratios as compared to the earlier parent material.

Comprehensive diagnostic review of the 13C-enriched crude oils exemplified by TD2Є and TZ62S in Tarim Basin, NW China

The crude oils typically from the Cambrian-Lower Ordovician source rocks of Tarim Basin, NW China, such as TD2Є and TZ62S, are 13C-enriched with the stable carbon isotopic ratios (VPDB) approaching −28xa0‰. In this paper, the main research viewpoints on this issue are summarized, and combined with results from organic and inorganic carbon isotope stratum curves of the outcrop at the Ya’erdang Mountain in Tarim Basin. In addition, more alternative interpretations are discussed. On one hand, the inverse fractionation features of stable carbon and hydrogen isotopes of these crude oils may imply their protogenous nature. On the other hand, the anisotropy of source rocks and contribution from older stratum source rocks need verifying as well. For the sake of the final resolution of this issue, some further study topics are recommended.

The geochemical characteristics of Tazhong crude oils from the Tarim Basin, northwestern China:

Recent exploration work in the Tazhong district has gradually transferred to the exploitation of high and over mature oils in deep and ultra-deep layers. This has proved problematic, however, as the distribution of crude oils in the Tazhong is complex. This means that the geochemical characterization of high and over mature oils, especially for light crude oils, have become increasingly important. The stability of concerted ring structure of aromatics makes them having stronger thermal stability and resistance to biodegradation. This means that there are abundant aromatic compounds in high and over mature oils. This study presents a series of geochemical analyses of the maturity parameters of 89 crude oils from the Tazhong area, including stable carbon and hydrogen isotope analyses of compounds from 43 light crude oils. These analyses are then compared with other data from the Tazhong Number I fault zone, as well as the Tazhong Number 10 and Tazhong Uplift structural zones. Results show that the geochemical parameters of oils from Tazhong Number I fault zone generally encompass a wider range than those from the Tazhong Number 10 structural zone, which indicates that the Tazhong Number I slope belt is more active than its counterpart structural belt and generates oils with more complex geochemical characteristics. The positive correlation between the toluene/methyl cyclohexane ratio and the dibenzothiophene/phenanthrene ratio, as well as with the naphthalene/phenanthrene ratio indicates that aromatization parameters can be used to evaluate the maturity of light crude oils, and there may be inherited relationships between toluene and methyl cyclohexane in crude oils.

Distribution and geochemical significance of trace elements in shale rocks and their residual kerogens

There is a dearth of information about the distribution of trace elements in kerogen from shale rocks despite several reports on trace element composition in many shale samples. In this study, trace elements in shale rocks and their residual kerogens were determined by inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry. The results from this study show redox-sensitive elements relatively concentrated in the kerogens as compared to the shales. This may be primarily due to the adsorption and complexation ability of kerogen, which enables enrichment in Ni, Co, Cu, and Zn. For the rare earth elements (REEs), distinct distribution characteristics were observed for shales dominated by terrigenous minerals and their kerogen counterparts. However, shales with less input of terrigenous minerals showed similar REE distribution patterns to their residual kerogen. It is speculated that the distribution patterns of the REEs in shales and kerogens may be source-related.