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Distribution and significance of C +40 alkanes in the extracts of Cretaceous source rocks from the Songliao Basin

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Abstract

Source rock extracts and crude oils from the Songliao Basin were analyzed by high-temperature gas chromatography (HTGC), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HTGC-MS) and gas chromatography-isotope ratio-mass spectrometry (GC-IRMS), for high molecular-weight alkanes. The distributions of n-alkanes in the Nenjiang Formation extracts are in the C14–C63 range; a bimodal distribution occurs in the C −121 and C21–40 regions. The C30–C37 n-alkanes are accompanied by C29–C35 hopanes, whereas the high molecular-weight C45–C47 n-alkanes co-occur with abundant isoalkanes, alkylcyclohexanes and alkylcyclopentanes. The high δ 13C values of the n-alkanes and the microscopic maceral compositions indicate a highly diversified organic source input for the Nenjiang Formation source rocks, ranging from aquatic plants, blue alge-bacteria, to land plant material. In contrast, n-alkanes in the rock extracts of the Qingshankou Formation are characterized by a single modal distribution, with relatively low abundances of C29–C35 hopanes, but high molecular-weight isoalkanes, alkylkanes, alkylcyclohexanes and alkylcyclopentanes. The relatively low δ 13C values of C22–C44 n-alkanes and organic material compositions indicate that the source rocks in the Qingshankou Formation contain dominantly type I algal organic matter. The relative abundance of C +40 compounds in source rocks changes little at low maturity stage, but decreases drastically at higher maturity levels, with a concurrent reduction in the odd/even carbon predominance. In crude oils, in contrast, the relative abundance of C +40 compounds appears to relate closely with the oil source and oil viscosity.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Exploration and Development Research Institute, Daqing Oilfield Company Ltd., Daqing, 163712, China

    Feng ZiHui, Fang Wei, Zhang JuHe, Li ZhenGuang, Huang ChunYan, Wang Xue, Zhao QinLing & Huo QiuLi

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  1. Feng ZiHui
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  2. Fang Wei
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  3. Zhang JuHe
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  4. Li ZhenGuang
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  6. Wang Xue
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  7. Zhao QinLing
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  8. Huo QiuLi
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Correspondence to Feng ZiHui.

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Supported by the Chinese National 973 Key Research and Development Program (Grant No. 2006CB701404) and Daqing Oilfield Company Limited

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Feng, Z., Fang, W., Zhang, J. et al. Distribution and significance of C +40 alkanes in the extracts of Cretaceous source rocks from the Songliao Basin. SCI CHINA SER D 50, 1510–1520 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-007-0101-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-007-0101-1

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