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The surface geochemical exploration of oil and gas in the Gangbatong-Ya’anxiang and the Dongqiao-Nam Co of the Qinghai-Tibet region

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Abstract

Due to the complexity of geological background and the adverseness of natural geographical environment in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, it is very difficult to carry out petroleum geological study in this region. The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is the only blank space of petroleum exploration on a large scale. The authors carried out the surface geochemical exploration of oil and gas in the Gangbatong-Ya’anxiang and Dongqiao-Nam Co of the Qinghai-Tibet region. Based on the data of actual detection and experiments in the studied area, the characteristics of concentration and profile distribution of the main geochemical exploration indicators (total adsorbed hydrocarbon, altered carbonate, thermal released mercury, etc.) were discussed. The origin of hydrocarbon was also discussed. Moreover, the oil and gas potential of different sections in the Qiangtang Basin and the Biru Basin were evaluated, which could provide references for the exploration and prediction of oil and gas in this region. The concentrations of total adsorbed hydrocarbons in the Ya’anxiang of Suoxian County-Zadong of Baqing County and the Jiecha-Dangxiong of Anduo County in the Qinghai-Tibet region are high, averaging 312.64 μL·kg−1 and 164.36 μL·kg−1. Their altered carbonate concentrations are relatively low, averaging 0.11% and 0.56%. Their concentrations of thermal released mercury are relatively high, averaging 13.09×10−9 and 1.94×10−9. Geochemical exploration results in fact reflect hydrocarbon information in the underground, which are mainly petroleum associated gas and over-matured cracking gas. The Jiecha-Charenluma and the Xiamaya’ertong-Suoba sections in the Qiangtang Basin are the most favorable ones for oil and gas and the Ekou-Zadong section is relatively favorable one, while the Nam Co and the Zigetangcuo-Dongqiao sections in the Biru Basin are the favorable ones for oil and gas, and the Jiang Co-Nading Co and the Ya’anxiang-Ya’ertong sections are relatively favorable ones.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geochemistry, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, 434023, China

    Bo Xiong

  2. Key Laboratory of Exploration Technologies for Oil and Gas Resources (Yangtze University), Ministry of Education, Jingzhou, 434023, China

    Bo Xiong

  3. State Key Laboratory of Coal Resources and Safe Mining, China University of Mining and Technology, Beijing, 100083, China

    XianQing Li

  4. Department of Resources and Earth Sciences, School of Resources and Safety Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Beijing, 100083, China

    XianQing Li

  5. Institute of Geosciences, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, 434023, China

    YiBin Li

  6. Jinzhou Research Branch of New Region Exploration, Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration and Development, SINOPEC, Jingzhou, 434100, China

    Qing Tan

Authors
  1. Bo Xiong
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  2. XianQing Li
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  3. YiBin Li
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  4. Qing Tan
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Bo Xiong or XianQing Li.

Additional information

Supported by New-century Excellent Talent Program of Ministry of Education of China (Grant No. NCET-06-0204), National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 40572085), and “the 9th Five-Year Plan” of Scientific and Technological Program of CNPC (Grant No. BR95YZ2-02)

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Xiong, B., Li, X., Li, Y. et al. The surface geochemical exploration of oil and gas in the Gangbatong-Ya’anxiang and the Dongqiao-Nam Co of the Qinghai-Tibet region. Sci. China Ser. D-Earth Sci. 52 (Suppl 1), 69–76 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-009-5001-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-009-5001-0

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