Abstract
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.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bray E E, Evans E D. 1961. Distribution of n-paraffins as a clue to recognition of source beds. Geochim Cosmochim Acta, 22: 2–15
Brincat D, Abbott G. 2001. Some aspects of the molecular biogeochemistry of laminated and massive rocks from the Naples Beach Section. In: Isaacs C M, Rullkötter J, eds. The Monterey Formation: From Rocks to Molecules. New York: Columbia University Press. 140–149
Cai C F, Hu W S, Worden R H. 2001. Thermochemical sulphate reduction in Cambro-Ordovician carbonates in Central Tarim. Mar Petrol Geol, 18: 729–741
Cai C F, Li K K, Ma A L, Zhang C M, Xu Z M, Worden R H, Wu G H, Zhang B S, Chen L X. 2009. Distinguishing Cambrian from Upper Ordovician source rocks: Evidence from sulfur isotopes and biomarkers in the Tarim Basin. Org Geochem, 40: 755–768
Chen L X, Yang H J, Wu G H, Han J F, Cai C F, Zhai S L. 2008. Characteristics of the Ordovician reef–shoal reservoir in Tazhong No. 1 Slope-break Zone, Tarim Basin (in Chinese). Xinjiang Petrol Geol, 29: 327–330
Didyk B M, Simoneit B R T, Brassell S C, Eglinton G. 1978. Organic geochemical indicators of palaeoenvironmental conditions of sedimentation. Nature, 272: 216–222
Eglinton T I, Douglas A G, Rowland S J. 1988. Release of aliphatic, aromatic and sulphur compounds from Kimmeridge kerogen by hydrous pyrolysis: A quantitative study. Org Geochem, 13: 655–663
Galimov E M. 2006. Isotope organic geochemistry. Org Geochem, 37: 1200–1262
Graham S A, Brassell S, Carroll A R. 1990. Characteristics of selected petroleum source rocks, Xianjiang Uygur autonomous region, Northwest China. AAPG Bull, 74: 493–512
Guo J J, Chen J F, Shi S B, Duan C L, Xie H H. 2009. Origin and geochemical characteristics of Ordovician oils from Tazhong Uplift (in Chinese). Acta Sedimentol Sin, 27: 732–739
Hanson A D, Zhang S C, Moldowan J M. 2000. Molecular organic geochemistry of the Tarim basin, Northwest China. AAPG Bull, 84: 1109–1128
Li S M, Alon A, Pang X Q, Yang H J, Said-Ahmad W, Zhang B S, Pang Q J. 2015. Origin and quantitative source assessment of deep oils in the Tazhong Uplift, Tarim Basin. Org Geochem, 78: 1–22
Li S M, Pang X Q, Jin Z J, Yang H J, Xiao Z Y, Gu Q Y, Zhang B S. 2010. Petroleum source in the Tazhong Uplift, Tarim Basin: New insights from geochemical and fluid inclusion data. Org Geochem, 41: 531–553
Li Y J, Wu G Y, Meng Q L, Yang H J, Han J F, Li X S, Dong L S. 2008. Fault systems in central area of the Tarim Basin: Geometry, kinematics and dynamic settings (in Chinese). Chin J Geol, 43: 82–118
Liang D G, Zhang S C, Zhang B M, Wang F Y. 2000. Understanding of marine oil generation in China basin on Tarim Basin (in Chinese). Earth Sci Front, 7: 534–546
Moldowan J M, Fago F J. 1986. Structure and significance of a novel rearranged monoaromatic steroid hydrocarbon in petroleum. Geochim Cosmochim Acta, 50: 343–351.
Moldowan J M, Sundararaman P, Schoell M. 1986. Sensitivity of biomarker properties to depositional environment and/or source input in the Lower Toarcian of SW Germany. Org Geochem, 10: 915–926
Pang H, Chen J Q, Pang X Q, Liu L F, Liu K Y, Xiang C F. 2013. Key factors controlling hydrocarbon accumulations in Ordovician carbonate reservoirs in the Tazhong area, Tarim Basin, western China. Mar Petrol Geol, 43: 98–101
Peters K E, Moldowan J M. 1993. The Biomarker Guide. Interpreting Molecular Fossils in Petroleum and Ancient Sediments. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall. 363
Peters K E, Walters C C, Moldowan J M. 2005. The Biomarker Guide. 2nd ed. New York: Cambridge University Press. 503–504, 1155
Ren J Y, Hu D S, Yang H Z, Yin X Y, Li P. 2011. Fault system and its control of carbonate platform in Tazhong uplift area, Tarim Basin (in Chinese). Geol China, 38: 935–943
Requejo A G, Wielchowsky C C, Klosterman M J, Sassen R. 1994. Geochemical characterization of lithofacies and organic facies in Cretaceous organic rich rocks from Trinidad, East Venezuela Basin. Org Geochem, 22: 441–459
Riolo J, Albrecht P. 1985. Novel rearranged ring C monoaromatic steroid hydrocarbons in sediments and petroleums. Tetrahedron Lett, 26: 2701–2704
Riolo J, Hussler G, Albrecht P, Connan J. 1986. Distribution of aromatic steroids in geological samples: Their evaluation as geochemical parameters. Org Geochem, 10: 981–990
Riolo J, Ludwig B, Albrecht P. 1985. Synthesis of ring C monoaromatic steroid hydrocarbons occurring in geological samples. Tetrahedron Lett, 26: 2607–2700
Rubinstein I, Sieskind O, Albrecht P. 1975. Rearranged sterenes in a shale: Occurrence and simulated formation. J Chem Soci, Perkin Transaction I: 1833–1836
Scalan R S, Smith J E. 1970. An improved measure of the odd-to-even predominance in the normal alkanes of sediment extracts and petroleum. Geolchim Cosmochim Acta, 34: 611–620
Seifert W K, Moldowan J M. 1978. Applications of steranes, terpanes and monoaromatics to the maturation migration and source of crude oils. Geochim Cosmochima Acta, 42: 77–95
Sieskind O, Joly G, Albrecht P. 1979. Simulation of the geochemical transformation of sterols: Superacid effects of clay minerals. Geochimt Cosmochim Acta, 43: 1675–1679
Sofer Z. 1984. Stable carbon isotope composition of crude oils: Application to source depositional environments and petroleum alteration. AAPG Bull, 68: 31–49
Sofer Z. 1991). Stable isotopes in petroleum exploration. In: Merrill R K, ed. Source and Migration Processes and Evaluation Techniques. Tulsa: American Association of Petroleum Geologists. 103–106
Sun Y G, Xu S P, Lu H, Cuai P X. 2003. Source facies of the Paleozoic petroleum systems in the Tabei Uplift, Tarim Basin, NW China: Implications from aryl isoprenoids in crude oils. Org Geochem, 34: 629–634
Tang Y J, Wang T G. 2007. Molecular fossils and oil-source rock correlations of Cambrian heavy oil in TD2 well in Tarim Basin (in Chinese). J China Univ Petrol, 11: 18–22
Volkman J K, Barrett S M, Blackburn S I. 1999. Eustigmatophyte microalgae are potential sources of C29 sterols, C22-C28 n-alcohols and C28–C32 n-alkyl diols in freshwater environments. Org Geochem, 30: 307–318
Wang C G, Wang T G, Zhang W B, He F Q. 2006. Molecular geochemistry and classifications of genetic types of petroleum from Tahe Oilfied of the northern Tarim Basin (in Chinese). Acta Sedimentol Sin, 24: 901–907
Wang Q M, Nishidai T, Coward M P. 1992. The Tarim Basin, NW China: Formation and aspects of petroleum geology. J Petrol Geol, 15: 5–34
Wang T G, Song D F, Li M J, Yang C Y, Ni Z Y, Li H L, Cao Z C, Zhang B S, Feng Z H. 2014. Natural gas source and deep gas exploration potential of the Ordovician Yingshan Formation in the Shunnan-Gucheng region, Tarim Basin (in Chinese). Oil Gas Geol, 35: 753–783
Wang Z M, Xie H W, Chen Y Q, Qi Y M, Zhang K. 2014. Discovery and exploration of Cambrian subsalt dolomite original hydrocarbon reservoir at Zhongshen-1 well in Tarim Basin (in Chinese). China Petrol Expl, 19: 1–12
Wingert W S, Pomerantz M. 1986. Structure and significance of some twenty-one and twenty-two carbon petroleum steranes. Geochim Cosmochim Acta, 50: 2763–2769
Wu G H, Yang H J, Qu T L, Li H W, Luo C S, Li B L. 2012. The fault system characteristics and its controlling roles on marine carbonate hydrocarbon in the Central uplift, Tarim Basin (in Chinese). Acta Petrol Sin, 28: 793–805
Xiang C F, Wang J Z, Pang X Q, Jiang Z X, Liu L F, Li S M. 2009. Differential hydrocarbon migration and entrapment in a karstified carbonate reservoir: a case study of Well TZ83 block of the central Tarim uplift zone (in Chinese). Earth Sci Front, 16: 349–358
Zhang S C, Hanson A D, Moldowan J M, Graham S A, Liang D G, Chang E, Fago F. 2000a. Paleozoic oil-source rock correlations in the Tarim Basin, NW China. Org Geochem, 31: 273–286
Zhang S C, Huang H P. 2005. Geochemistry of Paleozoic marine petroleum from the Tarim Basin, NW China. Part 1: Oil family classification. Org Geochem, 36: 1204–1214
Zhang S C, Huang H P, Xiao Z Y, Liang D G. 2005. Geochemistry of Palaeozoic marine petroleum from the Tarim Basin, NW China. Part 2: Maturity assessment. Org Geochem, 36: 1215–1225
Zhang S C, Liang D G, Li M, Xiao Z Y, He Z H. 2002. Molecular fossils and oil-source rock correlations in Tarim Basin, NW China (in Chinese). Chin Sci Bull, 47(Suppl.): 16–23
Zhang S C, Liang D G, Zhang B M, Wang F Y, Bian L Z, Zhao M J. 2004. Marine Petroleum Generation in the Tarim Basin (in Chinese). Beijing: Petroleum Industry Press. 1–50
Zhang S C, Moldowan J M, Bian L Z, Zhang B M, Fago F J. 2000b. Biological and molecular geochemical evidence for dinoflagellate ancestors in the Upper Sinian-Cambrian (in Chinese). Acta Geol Sin, 74: 740–747
Zhu Y M, Weng H X, Su A G, Liang D G, Peng D H. 2005. Geochemical characteristics of Tertiary saline lacustrine oils in the Western Qaidam Basin, northwest China. Appl Geochem, 20: 1875–1889
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Song, D., Wang, T. & Li, M. Geochemistry and possible origin of the hydrocarbons from Wells Zhongshen1 and Zhongshen1C, Tazhong Uplift. Sci. China Earth Sci. 59, 840–850 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-015-5226-z
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-015-5226-z