Abstract
There are abundant natural gas resources in Chinese marine sedimentary basin. The exploration hot shots of natural gas are the Palaeozoic marine strata here in recent years, and several large scale gas fields have been discovered. Chinese Palaeozoic high-post matured and coal measure hydrocarbon source rocks are mainly prone to gas generation in the present. This research considered that gas source rocks and TSR are the key cause of gas enrichment of marine strata. High-quality argillaceous and coal measure hydrocarbon rocks are distributed widely in the Palaeozoic marine strata, which have been in highly matured phase in the present. The argillaceous source rock generally contains various sulfates that could accelerate crude oil cracking to gas for TSR occurrence, and coal measure source rock mainly generates gas, so Chinese marine basin gives priority to accumulating gas. Marine strata have not founded oil reservoirs in the Sichuan Basin and Ordos Basin, and they consist mainly of dry gas. Marine natural gases are the mixed gases of oil cracking gas and coal-formed gas in a general way, oil cracking gases contain usually some H2S and CO2. Hydrocarbon carbon isotopes are very complicated, and methane and ethane isotopic values bear apparent reversal caused by thermal evolution and mixing among different genetic types of natural gas. Coal-formed gases are the main component of Chinese marine natural gas. The Upper Permian of the Sichuan Basin and the Carboniferous-Permian of the Ordos Basin coal measure hydrocarbon source rock present large hydrocarbon generation potential, which are the prospecting highlight of marine natural gas hereafter. Oil cracking gas exploration will be paid much attention to in the Tarim Basin because of the lack of coal measure hydrocarbon source rock.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Dai J X, Qin S F, Tao S Z, et al. Developing trends of nature gas industry and the significant progress a nature gas geological theories in China. Nature Gas Geosci (in Chinese), 2005, 16(2): 127–142
Wang T B. Distribution of large-middle sized gas fields in China: Geological characteristics and key controlling factors. Petrol Explor Devel (in Chinese), 2005, 32(4): 1–8
Song Y, Xu Y C. Origin and identification of natural gases. Petrol Explor Devel (in Chinese), 2005, 32(4): 24–29
Dai J X. Preliminary research on nature gas in coal series in China. Acta Petrol Sin (in Chinese), 1980, (4): 27–37
Dai J X, Zhong N N, Liu H D, et al. The Geological Base and Key Controlling Factors of Large and Medium Coalformed Gas Fields in China (in Chinese). Beijing: Petroleum Industry Press, 2000. 35–223
Dai J X, Qi H F. The relationship of δ 13C and R 0 of coalformed hydrocarbon gas in China. Chin Sci Bull, 1989, 34(9): 690–692
Dai J X. Chinese great advance: from a gas-shortage country to a giant gas-producer. Petrol Explor Devel (in Chinese), 2005, 32(1): 1–15
Zhao W Z, Wang Z C, Wang H J, et al. Geological characteristic of large-mid scale gas fields discovered recently in China and nature gas prospecting in the early 21st century. Nature Gas Geosci (in Chinese), 2005, 16(6): 687–692
Tang Y, Perry J K, Jenden P D, et al. Mathematical modeling of stable isotope ratio in natural gases. Geochim Cosmochim Acta, 2000, 64: 2673–2687
Schoell M. The hydrogen and carbon isotopic composition of methane from natural gases of various origins. Geochim Cosmochim Acta, 1980, 44: 649–661
Jenden P D, Newell K D, Kaplan I R. Composition and stable isotope geochemistry of natural gases from Kansas Midcontinent USA. Chem Geol, 1988, 71: 117–147
Galimov E. Sources mechanisms of formation of gaseous hydrocarbon on sedimentary rocks. Chem Geol, 1988, 71: 77–95
Larter S, Wilhelms A, Head I, et al. The controls on the composition of biodegraded oils in the deep subsurface-part 1: Biodegradation rates in petroleum reservoirs. Organic Geochem, 2003, 34: 601–613
Dai J, Xia X, Qin S, et al. Origins of partially reversed alkane δ 13C values for biogenic gases in China. Organic Geochem, 2004, (3): 405–411
Galimov E M. Isotope organic geochemistry. Organic Geochem, 2006, 37: 1200–1262
Behar F, Kressmann S, Rudkiewicz J L, et al. Experimental simulation in confined system and kinetic modeling of kerogen and oil cracking. Organic Geochem, 1991, 19: 173–189
Dahl J E, Moldowan J M, Peters K E, et al. Diamondoid hydrocarbons as indicators of natural oil cracking. Nature, 1999, 399(6731): 54–57
Zhang S C, Wang Z M, Wang F Y, et al. Oil accumulation history in Tadong 2 oil reservoir in Tarim Basin, NW China — A case study of oil stability and cracking. Petrol Explor Devel (in Chinese), 2004, 31(6): 25–31
Zhao W Z, Zhang S C, Li M W, et al. Advances in natural gas geochemistry of Chinese sedimentary basins. Organic Geochem, 2005, 36(12): 1581–1582
Zhao W Z, Wang Z Y, Zhang S C, et al. Successive generation of natural gas from organic materials and its significance in future exploration. Petrol Explor Devel (in Chinese), 2005, 32(2): 1–7
Zhang S C, Huang H B, Xiao Z Y, et al. Geochemistry of Palaeozoic marine petroleum from the Tarim Basin, NW China. Part 2: Maturity assessment. Organic Geochem, 2005, 36(8): 1215–1225
Zhu G Y, Zhang S C, Liang Y B, et al. The characteristics of nature gas in Sichuan Basin and its sources. Earth Sci Front (in Chinese), 2006, 13(2): 234–248
Zhang K. Study petroleum prospect of marine sequences in China from hydrocarbon fields have found. Marine Origin Petrol Geol (in Chinese), 2002, 7(2): 1–14
Dai J X, Xia X Y, Hong F, et al. The key controlling factors of coalformed large-scale gas fields in China. Chin Sci Bull, 1999, 44(22): 2455–2464
Ma Y S, Guo X S, Guo T L, et al. Discovery of the large-scale Puguang Gas Field in the Sichuan Basin and its enlightenment for hydrocarbon prospecting. Geol Rev, 2005, 51(4): 477–480
Zhang S C, Zhu G Y, Liang Y B. Probe into formation mechanism of H2S and high-quality reservoirs of Puguang large gas field in Sichuan Basin. Geol Rev, 2006, 52(2): 46–50
Ran L H, Chen G S, Xu R F. Discovery and exploration of Luojiazhai Gas Field, Sichuan Basin. Marine Origin Petol Geol, 2005, 10(1): 43–47
Zeng X B, Tang Z Z, Jin H, et al. Marine sedimentary sequences and major gas fields in China. Experimen Petrol Geol, 2000, 22(4): 325–329
Zhang S C, Liang D G, Zhang B M, et al. The Generation of Marine Origin Petroleum (in Chinese). Beijing: Petroleum Industry Press, 2005
Zhang S C, Huang H P. Geochemistry of Palaeozoic marine petroleum from the Tarim Basin, NW China: Part 1. Oil family classication. Organic Geochem, 2005, 36(8): 1204–1214
Zhang S C, Zhang B M, Bian L Z, et al. Development constraints of marine source rocks in China. Earth Sci Front (in Chinese), 2005, 12(3): 39–48
Li G Y. Marine facies sedimentary rocks: The future expectation of China’s petroleum industry. Marine Origin Petrol Geol (in Chinese), 2005, 10(1): 5–12
Li J C, Ma Y S, Zhang D J, et al. Some important scientific problems on petroleum exploration in marine formations of China. Petrol Explor Devel (in Chinese), 1998, 25(5): 1–2
Wang Z Y, Zhao W Z, Wang Y P. The study on the evaluation index of marine carbonate source rocks in China. Prog Nat Sci (in Chinese), 2004, 14(11): 1236–1243
Geng X H, Geng A S, Xiong Y Q. Review on the evaluation of Lower Paleozoic carbonate source rocks in China. Bull Mineral Petrol Geochem (in Chinese), 2004, 23(4): 344–350
Liu D H, Fu J H, Zheng C B, et al. Research on hydrocarbon generation of ordovician marine carbonatite of the Ordos Basin and genesis of Changqing Gas Fields. Acta Geol Sin (in Chinese), 2004, 78(4): 542–550
Zhang S C, Liang D G, Zhang D J. Evaluation criteria for Paleozoic effective hydrocarbon source rocks. Petrol Explor Devel (in Chinese), 2002, 9(2): 8–12
Hunt J M. Petroleum Geochemistry and Geology. 1st ed. New York: Freman, 1979. 261–273
Zhu G Y, Jin Q, Wang R. Identification methods for efficient source rocks. J Univ Petrol, China (in Chinese), 2003, 27(3): 6–10
Dai J X. Pool-forming periods and gas sources of Weiyuan Field. Petrol Geol Exper (in Chinese), 2003, 25(5): 473–479
Yi C H, Wang T D, Wang S Y, et al. Nature gas and petroleum generation, migration and accumulation in Sinian reservoirs of Weiyuan area, Sichuan. Geol Geochem (in Chinese), 2000, 28(1): 78–82
Zhu G Y, Zhang S C, Liang Y B, et al. The genesis of H2S in the Weiyuan Gas Field, Sichuan Basin and its evidence. Chin Sci Bull, 2007, 52(10): 1394–1404
Dai J X, Chen J F, Zhong N N, et al. The Source and Large Gas Fields in China (in Chinese). Beijing: Science Press, 2003. 170–194
Xia X Y. Rules of petroleum source correlation and their application in the Changqing gas field. Petrole Explor Devel (in Chinese), 2002, 29(5): 101–105
Xia X Y, Dai J X. A critical review on the evaluation hydrocarbon potential of marine carbonate rocks in China. Acta Petrol Sci (in Chinese), 2000, 21(4): 36–41
Dai X J, Li J, Ding W W, et al. Geochemical characters of the giant gas accumulations with over one hundred billion cubic meters reserves in China. Petrol Explor Devel (in Chinese), 2005, 32(4): 16–23
Zhang S C, Zhu G Y, Liang Y B, et al. Probe into the source of high H2S-bearing large gas fields group. Chi Scie Bull, 2007, 52: in press
Zhu G Y, Zhang S C, Liang Y B, et al. Characteristics of gas reservoirs with high content of H2S in the northeastern Sichuan Basin and the consumption of hydrocarbons due to TSR. Acta Sed Sin (in Chinese), 2006, 24(1): 79–85
Zhao M J, Zhang S C, Liu F Z. Two possible fates for paleo-reservoir oils. Petrol Explor Devel (in Chinese), 2003, 30(5): 21–24
Krouse H R, Viau C A, Eliuk L S, et al. Chemical and isotopic evidence of thermochemical sulphate reduction by light hydrocarbon gases in deep carbonate reservoirs. Nature, 1988, 333(2): 415–419
Machel H G. Gas souring by thermochemical sulfate reduction at 140°C: discussion. Am Assoc Pet Geol Bull, 1998, 82: 1870–1873
Orr W L. Geologic and geochemical controls on the distribution of hydrogen sulfide in natural gas. In: Advances in Organic Geochemistry Enadisma, Madrid, 1977. 571–597
Worden R H, Smalley P C, Oxtoby N H. Gas souring by thermochemical sulfate reduction at 140°C. AAPG Bull, 1995, 79(6): 854–863
Zhu G Y, Zhang S C, Liang Y B, et al. Isotopic evidence of TSR origin for natural gas bearing high H2S contents within the Feixianguan Formation of the northeastern Sichuan Basin, southwestern China. Sci China Ser D-Earth Sci, 2005, 48(11): 1960–1971
Zhu G Y, Zhang S C, Liang Y B, et al. Discussion on origins of the high-H2S-bearing natural gas in China. Acta Geol Sin, 2005, 79(5): 697–708
Zhu G Y, Zhang S C, Liang Y B. Dissolution and alteration of the deep carbonate reservoirs by TSR: an important type of deep-buried high-quality carbonate reservoirs in Sichuan Basin, Acta Petrol Sin, 2006, 22(8): 2182–2194
Zhang S C, Zhu G Y, Dai J X, et al. TSR and sour gas accumulation: A case study in the Sichuan Basin, SW China. Geochem Cosmochim Acta, 2005, 69(10): A562–A562
Zhang S C, Zhu G Y, Li M W, et al. Two contrasting scenarios for thermochemical sulfate reduction and sour gas accumulation: Case studies in the Chinese sedimentary basins. In: 22nd International Meeting on Organic Geochemistry. Seville-Spain, Sep. 12–16, 2005, 443–444.
Cai C F, Worden R H, Bottrell S H, et al. Thermochemical sulphate reduction and the generation of hydrogen sulphide and thiols (mercaptans) in Triassic carbonate reservoirs from the Sichuan Basin, China. Chem Geology, 2003, 202(1): 39–57
Zhu G Y, Zhang S C, Liang Y B, et al. Genesis and prediction of high H2S in nature gas. Chin J Geol, 2006, 41(1): 152–157
Zhu G Y, Zhang S C, Liang Y B, et al. Effectiveness of thermochemical sulfate reduction on oil and gas industry—a H2S formation accelerating development of the secondary pores in reservoirs. Earth Sci Front (in Chinese), 2006, 13(3): 141–149
Qin S F, Li X Q, Xiao Z Y, et al. Geochemistry, origin and distribution of natural gases in Tarim Basin, NW China. Petrol Explor Devel (in Chinese), 2005, 32(4): 70–78
Huang J Z. A further discussion of geochemical characteristics of nature gas in the Sichuan Basin. Geochimica, 1990, (1): 32–43
Dai J X, Xia X Y, Wei Y Z, et al. Carbon isotope characteristics of nature gas in the Sichuan Basin, China. Experimen Petrol Geol (in Chinese), 2001, 23(2): 115–121
Liu G X, Tao J Y, Pan W L, et al. genetic types of the nature gas in the northeast and the east of Sichuan Basin. Exp Petrol Geol (in Chinese), 2002, 24(6): 512–515
Wang L S, Li Z Y, Shen P, et al. On the hydrocarbon generation conditions of the large and middle scale gas fields in eastern part of Sichuan Basin. Nat Gas Geosci (in Chinese), 2004, 15(6): 567–571
Li J, Xie Z Y, Dai J X, et al. Geochemistry and origin of sour gas accumulations in the northeastern Sichuan Basin, SW China. Organic Geochem, 2005, 36(12): 1703–1716
Dai J, Li J, Luo X, et al. Stable carbon isotope compositions and source rock geochemistry of the giant gas accumulations in the Ordos Basin, China. Organic Geochem (in Chinese), 2005, 36: 1617–1635
Hu G C, Xie Y X. The Carboniferous Gas Fields of the High-steep Structures in East Sichuan Basin, China (in Chinese). Beijing: Petroleum Industry Press, 1997. 63–130
Dai J X, et al. On the indicators for identifying gas from oil and gas from coal measure. Acta Petrol Sin (in Chinese), 1985, 16(2): 31–38
Dai J X. Identification of every type parrffin hydrocarbon gas. Sci China Ser B, 1992, (2): 187–193
Qin S F, Jia C Z, Li M. The difference in geochemical characteristics of natural gases between eastern and western parts in Hetianhe gas field of Tarim basin and its origin. Petrol Explor Devel (in Chinese), 2002, 29(5): 16–18
Zhu G Y, Zhang S C, Liang Y B, et al. Alteration of thermochemical sulfate reduction to hydrocarbons. Acta Petrol Sin (in Chinese), 2005, 26(5): 48–52
Wang Y G, Dou L R, Wen Y C, et al. Origin of H2S in Triassic Feixianguan Formation gas pools, Northeastern Sichuan Basin, China. Geochimica, 2002, 31(6): 517–524
Zhu G Y, Zhang S C, Liang Y B, et al. Stable sulfur isotopic composition of hydrogen sulfide and its genesis in Sichuan basin. Geochimica, 2006, 35(3): 412–422
Zhu G Y, Zhang S C, Liang Y B, et al. Distribution of high H2S-bearing natural gas and evidence of TSR origin in the Sichuan Basin. Acta Geol Sin (in Chinese), 2006, 80(8): 1208–1218
Zhu G Y, Zhang S C, Liang Y B, et al. Main controlling factors of high H2S-bearing nature gas generation. Nat Gas Indust, 2006, 26(Suppl): 8–12
Xie Z Y, Tian S C, Li J, et al. Geochemical characteristics and origin of Feixianguan Formation oolitic shoal natural gases in northeastern Sichuan basin. Geochimica, 2004, 33(6): 567–573
Zhang S C, Zhu G Y. Gas accumulation characteristics and exploration potential of marine sediments in Sichuan Basin. Acta Petrol Sin, 2006, 27(5): 1–8
Ma Y S, Cai X Y, Li G X. Basic characteristics and concentration of the Puguang Gas Field in the Sichuan Basin. Acta Geol Sin, 2005, 79(6): 858–865
Krooss B M, Leythaeuser D, Lillack H. Nitrogen-rich natural gases, lualitative and quantitatire aspects of natural gas accumulation in eservoirs. Erdol and kohle-Erdgas-Petrochemie. 1993, 46(7–8): 271–276
Littke R, Krooss B, Idic E, et al. Molecular nitrogen in natural gas accumulations: Generation from sedimentary organic matter at high temperatures. AAPG Bull, 1995, 79(3): 410–430
Chen J F, Zhu Y N. The origin of molecular nitrogen in nature gas and geochemical characters of molecular nitrogen in nature gas from east part of Tarim Basin. Nat Gas Geosci (in Chinese), 2003, 14(3): 172–176
Chen A D. Nitrogen as an index of oil-gas preservation conditions in marine strata. Petrol Geol Exp (in Chinese), 2005, 27(1): 85–89
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 40602016) and PetroChina Science and Technology Risk Innovation Research Item
About this article
Cite this article
Zhu, G., Zhao, W., Zhang, S. et al. Discussion of gas enrichment mechanism and natural gas origin in marine sedimentary basin, China. Chin. Sci. Bull. 52 (Suppl 1), 62–76 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-007-6016-6
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-007-6016-6