Lianfu Mei

High-precision 40Ar/39Ar age of the gas emplacement into the Songliao Basin

The problem of determining an exact isotopic age of hydrocarbon emplacement is complex because minerals suitable for dating with common isotopic methods are often lacking in the sedimentary domain. However, the igneous quartz from the Cretaceous volcanic rocks that host the gas reservoir in the Songliao Basin (northeastern China), contains abundant secondary fluid inclusions with high concentrations of K and high partial pressures of methane trapped during gas emplacement. Quartz with abundant K-rich fluid inclusions provides an excellent closed system well suited for 40 Ar/ 39 Ar dating. Three igneous quartz samples were measured by stepwise crushing to release the inclusion-based argon gas. All three samples yielded well-defined isochrons with ages in close agreement, precisely constraining the gas emplacement at 42.4 ± 0.5 Ma (2σ) below the Daqing oil field in the Songliao Basin, extending possible gas reservoirs from the upper Cretaceous to the middle Eocene.

Low-Temperature Thermochronology Constraints on the Mesozoic-Cenozoic Exhumation of the Huangling Massif in the Middle Yangtze Block, Central China

The Huangling (黄陵) massif is an important area to understand the tectonic evolution of the northern Middle Yangtze Block. Integrating previously published thermochronology data with new zircon and apatite fission track, and apatite (U-Th)/He thermochronometry, the Meso-Cenozoic exhumation history of the Huangling massif has been quantitatively studied. Based on the data and the time-temperature thermal history modelling results, the exhumation process of the Huangling massif can be divided into four stages: the slow cooling stage during 200-150 Ma; the rapid cooling event at ca. 150-80 Ma; a period of relative thermal stability during ca. 80-40 Ma, and an increase in cooling thereafter. Two rapid cooling/exhumation indicate two tectonic events in the northern Middle Yangtze Block. The rapid exhumation between ca. 150-80 Ma is likely related to a wide range Cretaceous intra-continental reactive and deformation in the eastern China. The accelerated cooling after ca. 40-30 Ma may result from a far-field effect of the India-Asia collision.

Late Mesozoic to Cenozoic Tectonic Events in Volcanic Arc, West Burma Block: Evidences from U-Pb Zircon Dating and Apatite Fission Track Data of Granitoids

Genetic type of basement granite from volcanic arc in the north of West Burma Block is S-type granites, which developed in volcanic arc of convergent plate margins. The results yield a group of weighted mean 206Pb/238U ages at 102±0.81 Ma (MSWD=0.23), which show similarity to 93.7±3.4 Ma in the northern part of sampling points and 105±2 Ma in the southern part of sampling points, indicating continuous development of volcanic arc in the north of West Burma Block and subsequent granitic intrusion of late Early Cretaceous. The apatite fission track age of the samples is 22.72±3 Ma, thermal history modeling reveals that the volcanic arc in the north of West Burma Block went through two main stages in the process of uplift-cooling since Cenozoic: rapid uplifting and cooling from Late Oligocene to Early Miocene (29±1 to 20±1 Ma) and slow uplifting and cooling since Early Pliocene (4.2±1 Ma).

Automatic 40 Ar/ 39 Ar Dating Techniques Using Multicollector ARGUS VI Noble Gas Mass Spectrometer with Self-Made Peripheral Apparatus

A new fully automatic 40Ar/39Ar laboratory with a Thermo Scientific© ARGUS VI mass spectrometer has been established in China University of Geosciences (Wuhan). We designed and developed a mini efficient preparation system (80 mL), a CO2 laser for heating samples, a crusher for extracting fluid inclusions within K-poor minerals and an air reservoir (31 L) and pipette (0.1 mL) system. The ARGUS VI mass spectrometer is operated by the Qtegra Noble Gas software, which can control the peripheral accessories, such as pneumatic valves, CO2 laser and crusher through a PeriCon (peripheral controller). The experimental procedures of atmospheric argon analyses, 40Ar/39Ar dating by laser stepwise heating and by progressive crushing in vacuo, can be fully automatically performed. The weighted mean of atmospheric 40Ar/36Ar ratios is 302.22±0.03 (1σ, MSWD=0.74, n=200), indicating that air reservoir and pipette system and the whole instrument system are very stable. This laboratory is a successful pioneer example in China to establish a new noble gas laboratory with self-made peripheral accessories expect for the mass spectrometer.

Apatite fission-track and Re-Os geochronology of the Xuefeng uplift, China: Temporal implications for dry gas associated hydrocarbon systems

Hydrocarbon evolution is extremely challenging to determine, both temporally and spatially, in complex tectonic settings. Here we investigate the western margin of the Xuefeng uplift (southern China), which records multiple and protracted tectonic and hydrocarbongeneration events. This timing of initial oil generation is recorded by low-maturity bitumen (type A), which yields an Re-Os bitumen date of ca. 430 Ma, consistent with basin models and a ca. 405 Ma bitumen Rb-Sr date. In contrast, apatite fission-track (AFT) data yield consider ably younger dates that reflect the timing and tectonic evolution of the Yanshan orogeny from the northwest (ca. 150 Ma) to the southeast (ca. 70 Ma). The youngest AFT date coincides with the western margin of Xuefeng uplift, where high-maturity bitumen (type B) occurs that yields a ca. 70 Ma Re-Os date. The Re-Os and AFT dates imply that both the last stage of the Yanshan orogeny and, by inference, the cessation of dry gas generation, occurred ca. 70 Ma. The Re-Os data of this study imply that the Re-Os chronometer can aid in constraining the timing of oil generation and secondary and/or more mature hydrocarbon processes (e.g., thermal cracking and/or gas generation) in hydrocarbon systems worldwide.

Petroleum generation timing and source in the northern Longmen Shan thrust belt, Southwest China: Implications for multiple oil generation episodes and sources

The temporal evolution of hydrocarbons (∼500 million bbl) and its relationship to the orogenic events of the Longmen Shan thrust belt have been extensively debated. The hydrocarbons occur as solid bitumen, as dykes and/or coatings within/along faults/fractures, and as present-day oil seeps. Here, utilizing organic geochemistry, we demonstrate that all of the bitumen exhibit similar organo-geochemical characteristics, and were sourced from the upper Neoproterozoic–lower Cambrian Doushantuo and Qiongzhusi Formations. In contrast, the organic geochemistry of the present-day oil seeps are distinct from that of the bitumen, and suggest that the source is the Permian Dalong Formation. Bitumen Re-Os data indicate that the upper Neoproterozoic–lower Cambrian Doushantuo and Qiongzhusi Formations underwent two temporally distinct oil-generation events; initial oil generation occurred during the Late Cambrian/Early Ordovician prior to the Caledonian orogeny, and secondly during the Jurassic (∼165 Ma) coinciding with the Indosinian-Yanshan orogenies. In contrast, the Re-Os data of the present-day oil seeps are too similar to yield a meaningful age, although the source is considered to have undergone hydrocarbon maturation between the Triassic and Jurassic. The temporal hydrocarbon evolution in the Longmen Shan thrust belt also provides an understanding of the hydrocarbon evolution and future exploration of the adjacent petroliferous Sichuan Basin.

Structural Features and Proto-Type Basin Reconstructions of the Bay of Bengal Basin: A Remnant Ocean Basin Model

Remnant ocean basin is a key to understand the plate suturing and subsequent uplift and erosion of orogen. The Bay of Bengal Basin (BOBB) provides a typical example to analyze the remnant ocean basin structures, evolution, and relationships between depositional filling and uplifting of the Himalayan Orogen. Thirty-nine seismic profiles as well as interval velocities of well BODC3 were used to compile isopach maps of the basin. Among the seismic data, 26 seismic profiles were applied to establish 8 cross sections. The cross sections suggest the basin is asymmetric, bounded to the west by the eastern continental margin of India (ECMI) with graben-horst and to the east by the Sunda convergence margin dominated by trench-arc system. The BOBB is characterized by a prominent down flexure structures caused by huge amount of Bengal fan turbidite sediments accumulation. Our isopach maps and chronology data collected from adjacent regions reveal the initial development and fast southward growth of the Bengal fan were related to the early and major stage uplift and erosion of the Himalayan Orogen, respectively. The BOBB has experienced a critical transition from an ocean basin to a remnant ocean basin at Late Oligocene. Such basin structures and evolution features indicate the BOBB provides whole records of oblique convergence of the India and Asia plates, and the early and major stage evolution of the Himalayan Orogen.

Geochemical characteristics and accumulated process of heavy crude oil of Chunguang oilfield in Junggar Basin, China

Chunguang oilfield is a new focus of the exploration in Junnggar Basin with the heavy crude oil distributing in Jurassic, Cretaceous and Tertiary strata. Based on the analysis of the geochemistry and fluid inclusion in the reservoirs, the source, accumulated period and process of the heavy crude oil reservoir has been investigated. The results indicate that the heavy crude oil can be divided into three types based on the degradation and sources. The heavy crude oil was mainly derived from the Permian source rocks, and latterly mixed by the heavy crude oil generated by the Jurassic source rocks. The accumulated period of the heavy crude oil has two stages. One was ranged from Cretaceous to Paleogene and the heavy crude oil was sourced from Permian source rocks of the Shawan depression and latterly mixed by the heavy crude oil generated by the Jurassic source rocks. The second period was from Neogene to present and the heavy crude oil was mainly derived from the Jurassic source rocks. Combined with the geological evolution, the heavy crude oil accumulated process has been recovered.