Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Oil geochemistry derived from the Qinjiatun–Qikeshu oilfields: insight from light hydrocarbons

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Acta Geochimica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A suite of 27 oils from the Qinjiatun–Qikeshu oilfields in the Lishu Fault Depression of the Songliao Basin was analyzed using whole oil gas chromatography. In combination with the relative distribution of C27, C28, and C29 regular steranes, detailed geochemical analyses of light hydrocarbons in oil samples revealed crude oils characterized by the dual input of lower aquatic organisms and higher terrestrial plants. Several light hydrocarbon indicators suggest that the liquid hydrocarbons have maturities equivalent to vitrinite reflectances of around 0.78%–0.93%. This is consistent with the maturity determination of steranes C29 20S/(20S + 20R) and C29 ααβ/(ααα + αββ). Crude oils derived from the two distinct oilfields likely both have source rocks deposited in a lacustrine environment based on light hydrocarbon parameters and on higher molecular weight hydrocarbon parameters. The results show that light hydrocarbon data in crude oils can provide important information for understanding the geochemical characteristics of the Qinjiatun–Qikeshu oils during geologic evolution.

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

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

(from Huang and Meinschein 1979)

Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bement WO, Levey RA, Mango FD (1995) The temperature of oil generation as defined with C7 chemistry maturity parameter (2, 4-DMP/2, 3-DMP). Donostian-San Sebastian: European Association of Organic Geochemists, pp 505–507

  • Chen XH (2012) Study on the origin and accumulation of deep oil and gas in Lishu Fault Depression in Southern Song-Liao Basin. Department of Geochemistry of Yangtze University, Hubei (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheng KM, Jin WM, He ZH, Cheng JP, Yang ZF (1987) Composition characteristics of light hydrocarbons in continental oil and condensate and their significance. Pet Explor Dev 14:34–43 (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Dai JX (1993) Identification of coal formed gas and oil type gas by light hydrocarbons. Pet Explor Dev 20:26–32 (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • George SC, Boreham CJ, Minifie SA, Teerman SC (2002) The effect of minor to moderate biodegradation on C5 to C9 hydrocarbons in crude oils. Org Geochem 33:1293–1317

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hu TL, Ge B, Zhang Y (1990) The development and application of fingerprint parameters for hydrocarbons absorbed by source rocks and light hydrocarbon in natural gas. Pet Geol Exp 12:375–394 (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang W, Meinschein WG (1979) Sterols as ecological indicators. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 43:739–745

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leythaeuser D, Pooch M, Schaefer RG (1983) Diffusion of light hydrocarbons on subsurface sedimentary rocks. AAPG Bull 67:889–892

    Google Scholar 

  • Li HB, Zhang M, Chen XH (2013) Molecular geochemical characteristics of source rock in faulted lacustrine basin: a case study of the Lishu Fault Depression in southern Songliao Basin, China. Acta Geochimica 32:413–419

    Google Scholar 

  • Mango FD (1987) An invariance in the isoheptanes of petroleum. Science 273:514–517

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mango FD (1990a) The origin of light cycloalkanes in petroleum. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 54:23–27

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mango FD (1990b) The origin of light hydrocarbons in petroleum: a kinetic test of steady state catalytic hypothesis. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 54:1315–1323

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mango FD (1994) The origin of light hydrocarbons in petroleum: ring preference in the closure of carbocyclic rings. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 58:895–901

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mango FD (1997) The light hydrocarbons in petroleum: a critical review. Org Geochem 26:417–440

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Odden W (1999) A study of natural and artificially generated light hydrocarbons (C4–C13) in source rocks and petroleum fluids from offshore Mid-Norway and the Southernmost Norwegian and Danish Sectors. Mar Pet Geol 16:747–770

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peters KE, Walters CC, Moldowan JM (2005) The biomarker guide (volume 2): biomarkers and isotopes in petroleum systems and human history, 2nd edn. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Philippi CT (1975) The deep subsurface temperature controlled origin of the gaseous and gasoline-range hydrocarbons of petroleum. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 39:1353–1373

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schaefer RG, Leythaeuser D (1980) Analysis of trace amounts of hydrocarbons (C2–C8) from rock and crude oil samples and its application in petroleum geochemistry. Phys Chem Earth 12:149–156

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Snowdon LR, Powell TG (1982) Immature oil and condensate-modification of hydrocarbon generation model for terrestrial organic matter. AAPG Bull 66:755–788

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson KFM (1979) Light hydrocarbon in subsurface sediments. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 43:657–672

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson KFM (1983) Classification and thermal history of petroleum based on light hydrocarbons. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 47:303–316

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson KFM (1987) Fractionated aromatic petroleum and the generation of gas-condensates. Org Geochem 11:577–590

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson KFM (1988) Gas-condensate migration and oil fractionation in deltaic systems. Mar Pet Geol 5:237–246

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zeng W, Liu H, Zhang M (2014) Geochemical characteristics and genetic types of crude oils from Qinjiatun and Qikeshu oilfields in the Lishu Fault Depression, Songliao Basin, northeastern China. Chin J Geochem 33:103–108

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang J (2010) Source rock evaluation of Yingcheng Formation from Lishu Fault Depression in South Part of Songliao Basin. J Oil Gas Technol 32:45–48 (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang M, Zhang J, Zhang CM (1999) Geochemical characteristics of light hydrocarbons for crude oils in Tarim Basin. Geochemistry 28:191–196 (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang M, Li HB, Wang X (2013a) Geochemical characteristics and grouping of the crude oils in the Lishu Fault Depression, Songliao basin, NE China. J Petrol Sci Eng 110:32–39

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang X, Song ZX, Xu W, Li ZB (2013b) Dynamic evaluation of oil-and-gas resources of Lishu Fault Depression in Songliao Basin. Pet Geol Exp 35:224–230

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This study was financially supported by the National Oil and Gas Major Project (Grant No. 2016ZX05007001-002). We are grateful to the editor Binbin Wang and an anonymous reviewer for their helpful comments, suggestions and linguistic revisions of the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Exploration Technology for Oil and Gas Research (Yangtze University), Ministry of Education, Wuhan, 430100, Hubei, China

    Jin Li, Ting Kong & Min Zhang

  2. College of Resources and Environment, Yangtze University, Wuhan, 430100, Hubei, China

    Jin Li, Ting Kong & Min Zhang

  3. Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration and Development (Langfang Branch), PetroChina, Langfang, 065007, Hebei, China

    Jin Li

  4. The Key Laboratory of Gas Formation and Development, Petrochina, Langfang, 065007, Hebei, China

    Jin Li

Authors
  1. Jin Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ting Kong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Min Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Min Zhang.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Li, J., Kong, T. & Zhang, M. Oil geochemistry derived from the Qinjiatun–Qikeshu oilfields: insight from light hydrocarbons. Acta Geochim 37, 433–440 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11631-017-0243-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11631-017-0243-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation