Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Geothermal regime and hydrocarbon kitchen evolution in the Jianghan Basin

  • Research Paper
  • Published:
Science China Earth Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The present geothermal gradient and terrestrial heat flow was calculated of 18 wells in the Jianghan Basin. Thermal gradient distribution of the Jianghan Basin was obtained based on data of systematical steady-state temperature and oil-test temperature. The basin-wide average thermal gradient in depth interval of 0–4000 m is 33.59°C/km. We report nine measured terrestrial heat flow values based on the data of detailed thermal conductivity and systematical steady-state temperature. These values vary from 41.9 to 60.9 mW/m2 with a mean of 52.3 ± 6.3 mW/m2. However, thermal history analyses based on vitrinite reflectance (VR) and apatite fission track (AFT) data indicate that thermal gradient in the northern and southern Qianbei Fault reached its peak of ∼36 and ∼39°C/km respectively in the Middle Jurassic and the Oligocene, and it descended during the early Miocene to the present-time value. Furthermore, tectonic subsidence analysis reveals that the tectonic subsidence of the Jianghan Basin in the Cretaceous to early Miocene was characterized by synrift initial subsidence followed by the subsequent thermal subsidence. The thermal history and tectonic subsidence history of Jianghan Basin are of great significance to petroleum exploration and hydrocarbon source assessment, because they bear directly on issues of petroleum source rock maturation. Based on the thermal history and tectonic subsidence history, with the combination of geochemical and thermal parameters, the maturation and the hydrocarbon generation intensity evolution history of the P2 d source rocks are modeled. The results show that the P2 d source rocks are in a higher degree of maturation at present, and the Yuan’an and Herong sags are the two most important kitchens in the Late Jurassic, Xiaoban Sag is another most important kitchen during the Late Cretaceous to late Paleogene, and the Zhijiang and Mianyang sags are other two important hydrocarbon kitchens in the Late Cretaceous. The Mianyang Sag and Yichang Ramp are the favorable exploration targets in the future. This study may provide new insight for the understanding of the oil and gas exploration potential for the Jianghan Basin.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Liu G D. Pre-Cenozoic marine residual basins (in Chinese). Prog Geophys, 2001, 16: 1–7

    Google Scholar 

  2. Liu G D. The second round of oil and gas exploration of China (in Chinese). Mar Geol Lett, 2002, 18: 1–3

    Google Scholar 

  3. Philp R P, Fan Z A. Geochemical investigation of oils and source rocks from Qianjiang Depression of Jianghan Basin, a terrigenous saline basin, China. Org Geochem, 1987, 11: 549–562

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Wang J, Huang S Y, Wang J Y. Chinese Basic Feature of Temperature Distribution (in Chinese). Beijing Earthquake Press, 1990. 112–119

  5. Wang X B, Ni S, Luo Y T, et al. Geothermal evolution characteristics and their geological interpretation of the Tuoshi area in Jianghan Basin (in Chinese). J Chengdu Inst Tech, 1996, 23: 30–35

    Google Scholar 

  6. Hu S B, He L J, Wang J Y. Compilation of heat flow data in the China continental area (in Chinese). Chin J Geophys, 2001, 4: 611–626

    Google Scholar 

  7. Yuan Y S, Ma Y S, Hu S B, et al. Present day geothermal characteristics in south China (in Chinese). Chin J Geophys, 2006, 49: 1118–1126

    Google Scholar 

  8. Yuan Y S, Mi L J, Zhang G C, Zhong K, et al. Cenozoic thermal history of the deep water area of the northern margin of South China Sea (in Chinese). Chin J Geol, 2008, 44: 911–921

    Google Scholar 

  9. Yuan Y S, Zhu C Q, Hu S B. Heat flow history, tectono-sedimentary evolution and thermal events of the Jianghan Basin (in Chinese). Prog Geophys, 2007, 22: 934–939

    Google Scholar 

  10. Wang S H, Song M Y, Li G X. Thermal evolution characteristics of Permian source rocks in the southern Jianghan Basin (in Chinese). Petrol Geol Rec Effic, 2002, 9: 31–33

    Google Scholar 

  11. Demaison G. The generative basin concept. In: Demaison G, Murris R J, eds. Petroleum Geochemistry and Basin Evaluation. AAPG Memoir, 1984, 35: 1–14

  12. Larue D K, Underwood M B. Source rock potential of Franciscan Complex: The galloping gourmet and the hydrocarbon kitchen. AAPG Bull, 1986, 70: 471

    Google Scholar 

  13. Prinzhofer A, Mello M R, Takaki T. Geochemical characterization of natural Gas: A physical multivariable approach and its applications in maturity and migration estimates. AAPG Bull, 2000, 84: 1152–1172

    Google Scholar 

  14. Demaison, Huizinga B J. Genetic classification of petroleum systems. AAPG Bull, 1991, 75: 1626–1643

    Google Scholar 

  15. Terken, J M J, Frewin N L, Indrelid S L. Petroleum systems of Oman: Charge timing and risks. AAPG Bull, 2001, 85: 1817–1845

    Google Scholar 

  16. Beck A E, Balling N. Determination of virgin rock temperature. In: Hanenl R, Rybach L, Stegena L, eds. Handbook of Terrestrial Heat Flow Density Determination. Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1988. 59–58

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  17. El-Ghamri M A, Warburton I C, Burley S D. Hydrocarbon generation and charging in the October field, Gulf of Suez, Egypt. J Pet Geol, 2002, 25: 433–464

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Lewan M D, Henry M E, Higley D K, et al. Material-balance assessment of the new Albany-Chesterian petroleum system of the Illinois basin. AAPG Bull, 2002, 86: 745–777

    Google Scholar 

  19. Hu L G, Fuhrmann A, Poelchau H S, et al. Numerical simulation of petroleum generation and migration in the Qingshui Sag, western depression of the Liaohe basin, northeast China. AAPG Bull, 2005, 89: 1629–1649

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Ahmad S, Fayaz A, Khan A A, et al. Hydrocarbon prospectivity of the Bhittani and northern Sulaiman Ranges, northwest Himalayas, Pakistan. Pakistan J Hydrocarbon Res, 2006, 16: 1–10

    Google Scholar 

  21. Hanks C L, Parris T M, Wallace W K. Fracture paragenesis and microthermometry in Lisburne Group detachment folds: Implications for the thermal and structural evolution of the northeastern Brooks Range, Alaska. AAPG Bull, 2006, 90: 1–20

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Connolly D L, Aminzadeh F. Detecting vertical hydrocarbon generation from source rock in seismic data. Annual Meeting-American Association of Petroleum Geologists, 2008. 563

  23. Wang S H, Hu X F, Lin J H. Hydrocarbon generation history and late hydrocarbon generation potential of neopaleozoic marine source rocks in the south of Jianghan Basin (in Chinese). Nat Gas Geosci, 2009, 20: 222–227

    Google Scholar 

  24. Li Z X, Zhao P, Sun Z X, et al. A study on maturity evolution of Lower Silurian marine hydrocarbon source rocks and thermal history in the southern Jianghan Basin (in Chinese). Chin J Geophys, 2010, 53: 2918–2928

    Google Scholar 

  25. Wang B J, Lin C S, Chen Y, et al. Episodic tectonic movement and evolutional character in Jianghan basin (in Chinese). Oil Geophys Prospect, 2000, 41: 226–230

    Google Scholar 

  26. Xu Zai Y, Lin K. A discussion on amalgamation course between the south China and north China blocks: Evidences from deformational characters in the Jianghan superimposed basin (in Chinese). Chin J Geol, 2004, 39: 284–295

    Google Scholar 

  27. Li C H, Liu X M. Tectonic features and evolution of Mesozoic-Paleozoic in Jianghan Plain Region (in Chinese). Geol Sci Tech Infor, 2008, 8: 34–39

    Google Scholar 

  28. Zheng B. Geochemical study of hydrocarbon accumulation with multiple sources and multiple source generation stages in the middle Yangtze area (in Chinese). Dissertation for the Doctoral Degree. Chengdu: Chengdu University of Technology, 2008. 55–66

    Google Scholar 

  29. Qiu N S, Zhang Z H, Xu E S. Geothermal regime and Jurassic source rock maturity of the Junggar basin, northerwest China. J Asian Earth Sci, 2007, 31: 464–478

    Google Scholar 

  30. Gosnold W D. Basin-scale groundwater flow and advective heat flow: An example from the Northern Great Plains. In: Foerster A, Merriam D F, eds. Geothermics in Basin Analysis. New York: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1999. 99–116

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  31. Harris, R N, Gosnold, W D. Comparisons of borehole temperature depth profiles and surface air temperature in the northern plains of the USA. Geophys J Int, 1999, 138: 541–548

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Kukkonen I T, Gosnold W D, Safanda J. Anomalously low heat flow density in eastern Karelia, Baltic Shield, a possible palaeoclimatic signature. Tectonophysics, 1998, 29: 235–249

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Majorowicz J A, Garven G, Jessop A, et al. Present heat flow along a profile across the Western Canada sedimentary basin, the extent of hydrodynamic influence. In: Foerster A, Merriam D F, eds. Geothermics in Basin Analysis. Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1999. 61–79

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  34. Wang J, Huang S Y, Huang G S, et al. Basic characteristics of the temperature distribution in southern China (in Chinese). Acta Geol Sin, 1986, (3): 297–309

    Google Scholar 

  35. Zhu C Q, Xu M, Yuan Y S, et al. Palaeogeothermal response and record of the effusing of Emeishan basalts in the Sichuan basin. Chin Sci Bull, 2009, 55: 949–956

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Guo T L, Li G X, Zeng Q L. Thermal history reconstruction for Well DS3 in the Dangyang synclinorium, Jianghan Basin and its exploration significance (in Chinese). Chin J Geol, 2005, 40: 570–578

    Google Scholar 

  37. Yuan Y S, Sun D S, Zhou Y, et al. Determination of onset of uplifting for the Mid-Upper Yangtze area after Indosinian event (in Chinese). Chin J Geophys, 2010, 53: 362–369

    Google Scholar 

  38. Sweeney J, Burnham A K. Evaluation of a simple model of vitrinite reflectance based on chemical kinetics. AAPG Bull, 1990, 74: 1559–1571

    Google Scholar 

  39. Laslett G M, Kendall W S, Gleadow A J W. Bias in measurement of fission track length distribution. Nuclear Tracks, 1982, 6: 79–85

    Google Scholar 

  40. Platte River Associates Inc. Basin 1-D Manual to Accompany the September 2000 Release. 2790 Valmont Road, Boulder, Colorado, USA, 2003. 304–2906

  41. Zhao C Y, Song H B, Qian Y Y. Research on tectono-thermal evolution for superimposed basin with the Jianghan Basin as an example (in Chinese). Chin J Geophys, 2010, 53: 128–137

    Google Scholar 

  42. Sclater J G, Christie P A F. Continental stretching: An explanation of the Post-Mid-Cretaceous subsidence of the central North Sea basin. J Geophys Res, 1980, 85: 3711–3739

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Van Hinte J E. Geohistory analysis: Application of micropaleontology in exploration geology. AAPG Bull, 1978, 62: 201–222

    Google Scholar 

  44. Flavey D A, Middleton M F. Passive continental margins: Evidence for pre-break up deep crustal metamorphic subsidence mechanism. Oceanol Acta, 1981, 4: 103–114

    Google Scholar 

  45. Sclater J G, Christie P A F. Continental stretching: An explanation of the Post-Mid-Cretaceous subsidence of the central North Sea basin. J Geophys Res, 1980, 85: 3711–3739

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Pepper A S, Corvi P J. Simple kinetic models of petroleum formation. Part III: Modeling an open system. Mar Pet Geol, 1995, 12: 417–452

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Geology Special Report of Geology Mineral Resource Ministry of China. Reginoal Geology of Hubei Province (in Chinese). Beijing: Geological Publishing House, 1990. 342–471

  48. Xu Z Y, Yao, G S, Lin G, et al. A numerical approach of coupling between Mesozoic sedimentary basin and orogenic belt in Jianghan Overlain Basin and its adjacent area (in Chinese). Geot Metal, 2006, 30: 305–311

    Google Scholar 

  49. Xu L X, Yan C D, Yu H L, et al. Chronology of Paleogene volcanic rocks in Jianghan Basin (in Chinese). Oil Gas Geol, 1995, 16: 132–137

    Google Scholar 

  50. Peng T P, Wang Y J, Fan W M, et al. 39Ar/40Ar geochronology and geochemistry of the early Tertiary basaltic rocks in the Jianghan Basin, China and its petrogenesis (in Chinese). Acta Petrol Sin, 2006, 22: 1617–1626

    Google Scholar 

  51. Liu C P, Wang Y J, Lin J H. Indosinian-Himalayan tectonic evolution, marine reservoir-foming pattern and exploration field in Jianghan Basin. Petrol Geol, 2006, 2: 24–30

    Google Scholar 

  52. Li L, Wang S H, Fu Y X. Marine reservoir formation pattern and its exploration potential in Jianghan Plain. J Oil Gas Tech, 2007, 29: 208–211

    Google Scholar 

  53. Wang S H, Hu X F, Li Z X, et al. Accumulation potential and exploration direction of marine petroleum in Jianghan Basin. Resour Environ Eng, 2008, 22: 316–319

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Engineering Geomechanics, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100029, China

    ZongXing Li & Ping Zhao

  2. Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China

    ZongXing Li, Ming Xu & ChuanQing Zhu

  3. State Key Laboratory of Lithospheric Evolution, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100029, China

    Ming Xu & ChuanQing Zhu

  4. East China Institute of Technology, Fuzhou, 344000, China

    ZhanXue Sun

Authors
  1. ZongXing Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ming Xu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ping Zhao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. ZhanXue Sun
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. ChuanQing Zhu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ming Xu.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Li, Z., Xu, M., Zhao, P. et al. Geothermal regime and hydrocarbon kitchen evolution in the Jianghan Basin. Sci. China Earth Sci. 56, 240–257 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-012-4462-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-012-4462-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation