Wang Tieguan

Geochemistry and possible origin of the hydrocarbons from Wells Zhongshen1 and Zhongshen1C, Tazhong Uplift

In 2013, a great breakthrough of deep petroleum exploration was achieved in the Cambrian pre-salt intervals of Wells Zhongshen1 (ZS1) and Zhongshen1C (ZS1C), Tazhong Uplift. However, the hydrocarbon discovery in the Cambrian pre-salt intervals has triggered extensive controversy regarding the source of marine oils in the Tarim Basin. The geochemistry and origin of the Cambrian pre-salt hydrocarbons in Wells ZS1 and ZS1C were investigated using GC, GC-MS and stable carbon isotope technique. These hydrocarbons can be easily distinguished into two genetic families based on their geochemical and carbon isotopic compositions. The oil and natural gases from the Awatage Formation of Well ZS1 are derived from Middle- Upper Ordovician source rocks. In contrast, the condensate and gases from the Xiaoerbulake Formation of Wells ZS1 and ZS1C probably originate from Cambrian source rocks. The recent discovery of these hydrocarbons with two different sources in Wells ZS1 and ZS1C suggests that both Middle-Upper Ordovician-sourced hydrocarbons and Cambrian-sourced petroleums are accumulated in the Tazhong Uplift, presenting a great exploration potential.

Molecular composition and indigenity of organic matter in Late Neoproterozoic sedimentary rocks from the Yangtze region, South China

Diamictites from Late Neoproterozoic Nantuo tillites (∼600 Ma), and dolomites from the overlying Dousantuo and Dengying formations in the Yangtze region, southern China, were analyzed for solvent extractable hydrocarbons. Even though all these samples have low contents of TOC and have undergone overmature thermal evolution, there has been still preserved quite a large amount of hydrocarbons. Analysis of the extracts by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) revealed the presence of n-alkanes, regular acyclic isoprenoids, tricyclic terpanes, hopanes, gammacerane, steranes, and polyaromatic hydrocarbons. Strict experimental measurements were performed in the analytical procedure to prevent any potential contaminants from being introduced. All these bitumens have molecular markers of Precambrian characteristics and no external organics derived from current contamination events or migrated hydrocarbons from younger strata. The maturity parameters for bitumens indicate that the hydrocarbons are of over-maturity, which is consistent with the thermal maturity of the host rocks. Consequently, it is concluded that the Late Neoproterozoic bitumens in the Yangtze region, South China, are indigenous to their host rocks, which provides the basis for our organic geochemical research on “Snowball Earth” and “Cambrian Explosion.”

Identification and significance of 3β-alkyl steranes in the Eogene lacustrine sediments and petroleum of China

Several homologous series of steranes with alkyl side chains (C1 to C4) at the 3β position have been identified in the Jiyang Eogene lacustrine deposition. It is postulated that its precursors represent a new class of steroids, alkylated at the C-3 position with a polyhydroxy n-alkane. These precursors may have been formed by the bacterial addition of a ribose sugar to Δ2-sterenes, diagenetic alteration products of steroids synthesized by eukaryotes. 3-alkyl steroids might substitute for hopanols in bacterial membranes. When they are present in a sample, the patterns of the isomer distributions of 3-alkyl steranes are similar to desmethyl steranes except for lower rearranged ones. It is shown that the configurational isomerization of 3-alkyl steranes is trending in line with that of desmethyl steranes with increasing of maturity. The abundance of 3-alkyl steranes may be controlled by the depositional environments; they are primary in saline or near shore lacustrine, moderate in shallow lacustrine, poor in sub-deep to deep lacustrine relative to the 4-methyl steranes.

Source of the condensates from the Hetianhe Field and the genetic relationship between the condensates and their associated gases

A detailed correlation of Hetianhe condensates versus typical source rocks from the Tarim Basin was established. Moreover, the genetic relationship between the condensates and their associated gases was also studied based on their geochemical compositions and fluid inclusion data. Hetianhe condensates are characterized by high pristine/phytane (Pr/Ph) ratios, high relative abundances of C28 regular steranes, C26–C27 triaromatic steroids, and triaromatic dinosteranes, and relatively heavy stable carbon isotopic compositions. They geochemically correlate well with the Cambrian source rocks, indicating that these condensates are derived from the Cambrian rocks. Based on several molecular maturity parameters, the condensates are recognized as being moderately to highly mature, which are too low in maturity to extensively crack into gases. The gases and condensates of the Hetianhe Field are derived from the same source rocks and the gases are from oil-cracking; however, clear evidence indicates that the gases were not cracked from their associated condensates and that the gas generation from oil-cracking did not occur in the present reservoirs. The liquid condensates produced from wellheads were likely dissolved in their associated gases underground and carried into the reservoirs by the gases.

Characteristics of oil and gas accumulation in Yong’an-Meitai area of the Fushan Depression, Beibuwan Basin, South China Sea

The Yong’an-Meitai area is the focus of the present exploration in the Fushan Depression, Beibuwan Basin, South China Sea. All oils from this area are geochemically characterized by higher Pr/Ph ratio, higher proportion of heavy molecular weight hydrocarbons, and higher proportion of C29 regular steranes, which indicate that the organic matter of source rocks might have been deposited in an oxidizing palaeoenvironment and be dominated by higher plant organic matter input. The oil from E3w2 (the second member of Weizhou Fm. of the Oligocene) has a much higher density, relatively higher Pr/nC17 and Ph/nC18 ratios, and a “UCM—unresolved complex mixture” on gas chromatograms, which indicate that it has been slightly biodegraded. CPI and other terpane and sterane isomer ratios suggest they are all mature oils. The timing of oil charging in E3w2 and E2l1 (the first member of the Liushagang Fm. of the Eocene) determined by the homogenization temperatures of fluid inclusions and thermal evolution history are from 9-3 Ma and 8-3 Ma, respectively. Thus, the interpretation of E3w2 as a secondary reservoir is unlikely. The timing of oil charging is later than that of hydrocarbon generating and expulsion of Liushagang Fm. source rocks and trap formation, which is favorable for oil accumulation in this area. All molecular parameters that are used for tracing oil filling direction decrease with shallower burial depth, which suggests vertical oil migration. The widely occurring faults that penetrate through the source rocks of the Liushagang Fm. may serve as a fine oil charging conduit.

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 macerais, the composition of macerais and types of organic matter, the abundance and evolution of organic matter, oil-prone macerais, 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 macerais with obvious heterogeneity, contain different hydrocarbon-generating macerais with different oil thresholds and oil peaks, and show a two-staged evolutionary pattern of organic matter.