Characteristics of Liquid-Hydrocarbon Yield and Biomarkers in Various Thermal-Evolution Stages: A Simulation Experiment with the Middle Jurassic Source Rocks in the Northern Margin of the Qaidam Basin

Yongxin Chen, Xilong Zhang (), Xiang Li, Tao Liu, Yaru Sun, Guotao Zhu and Pengfei Ju
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Yongxin Chen: Key Laboratory of Petroleum Resources, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
Xilong Zhang: Key Laboratory of Petroleum Resources, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
Xiang Li: Technological Service Company, Xinjiang Oilfield Company, PetroChina, Karamay 834000, China
Tao Liu: Technological Service Company, Xinjiang Oilfield Company, PetroChina, Karamay 834000, China
Yaru Sun: Technological Service Company, Xinjiang Oilfield Company, PetroChina, Karamay 834000, China
Guotao Zhu: Technological Service Company, Xinjiang Oilfield Company, PetroChina, Karamay 834000, China
Pengfei Ju: Engineering Technology Research Institute, Xinjiang Oilfield Company, PetroChina, Karamay 834000, China

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 20, 1-14

Abstract: Although there are many studies on the Jurassic source rocks in the northern margin of the Qaidam Basin, the characteristics of biomarkers and products with the same source rock in different evolutionary stages are still not well understood. Such an understanding is essential for accurately estimating oil and gas resources. In order to explore the hydrocarbon-generation potential of high-quality source rocks of the Middle Jurassic and the evolution of liquid hydrocarbons and biomarkers, we carried out simulation research (under hydrous conditions) at various temperatures (250, 300, 350, 400 and 450 °C) with the mudstone of the Yu 33 well in the Yuka Sag. The results revealed that the “oil window” of the Middle Jurassic source rocks in the Yuka area was 300 °C (simulation temperature, Ro = 0.84%), but this was not the peak of hydrocarbon expulsion, which was gradually reached and stabilized above 350 °C. Overall, the concentration of alkanes and aromatics increased with temperature; although the concentration of alkanes was complex in the low evolutionary stages, temperature (simulated maturity) was still the main factor controlling the change in alkanes and aromatics. Among the maturity parameters of biomarkers, the ratio of ∑tricyclic terpanes/∑hopanes was the most effective parameter for indicating the maturity evolution of the Yuka area, but others were complicated by the increasing temperature. Therefore, when evaluating maturity, the applicability of other parameters needed to be fully considered. The results obtained offer new insights in the research on liquid-hydrocarbon and biomarker evolution of the Middle Jurassic source rocks in the Yuka Sag of the Qaidam Basin.

Keywords: biomarkers; liquid hydrocarbons; Middle Jurassic; Qaidam Basin; thermal simulation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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