Complex petroleum migration and accumulation in central region of southern Junggar basin, Northwest China

Abstract

The central region of the southern Junggar basin (Northwest China) is a key exploration target in this petroliferous basin. As there are four sets of potential source rocks (e.g., Permian, Jurassic, Cretaceous and Paleogene sequences), petroleum migration and accumulation are likely complex. This study represents an attempt to understand this complexity in order to provide fundamental information for future regional petroleum exploration and geological studies. Based on petroleum geology and geochemistry, it is implied that there are mainly three types of hydrocarbons, including Cretaceous- and Paleogene-sourced oils (with the former being dominant) and Jurassic-sourced gas. The petroleum migration and accumulation mainly cover three stages. The first stage is the late period of the Early Pleistocene, in which the Cretaceous-sourced oils migrate and accumulate. Then, in the second stage (from the late period of the Middle Pleistocene to the early period of the Late Pleistocene), the Cretaceous-sourced oils, together with the Paleogene-sourced oils, participate in the migration and accumulation. At last, in the end of the Late Pleistocene, large quantities of oils remigrate and accumulate, with gas (especially Jurassic-sourced gas) migrating along faults to accumulate. Thus, petroleum charge events in the area are complex, reflecting the control of complex tectonic evolution on petroleum migration and accumulation.

Keywords

southern Junggar basin / Cretaceous-sourced oil / fault-controlled petroleum migration and accumulation / petroleum geochemistry

References

[1] Abulimiti, Tang Y., Li C., . New Understandings of Cretaceous Oil Generation Zone in Foreland Basin in Southern Margin of Junggar. Xinjiang Petroleum Geology, 2004, 25(4): 446-448.

[2] Baylis S. A.. Geochemical Comparison of Core Extracts and Oil Samples in Reservoir. Organic Geochemistry, 1998, 29(1–3): 463-484.

[3] Cao J., Yao S. P., Jin Z. J., . Petroleum Migration and Mixing in the Northwestern Junggar Basin (NW China): Constraints from Oil-Bearing Fluid Inclusion Analyses. Organic Geochemistry, 2006, 37(7): 827-846.

[4] Carroll A. R.. Upper Permian Lacustrine Organic Facies Evolution, Southern Junggar Basin, NW China. Organic Geochemistry, 1998, 28(11): 649-667.

[5] Chen, J. P., Wang, X. L., Liang, D. G., et al., 2007. Differentiation of Tertiary- and Cretaceous-Sourced Oils and Mixed Oil Studies in Southern Junggar Basin. Technical Report of PetroChina Xinjiang Oilfield Company, Karamay. 1–157 (in Chinese)

[6] Chen J. P., Zhao C. Y., Wang Z. Y.. Organic Geochemical Characteristics of Oil, Gas and Source Rocks of Jurassic Coal Measures in Northwestern China. Geological Review, 1998, 44(2): 149-159.

[7] Chen S. J., Wang X. L., Abulimiti, . Geochemical Study of Forming Gas Reservoir in Hutubi Field in the Junggar Basin. Natural Gas Industry, 2004, 24(3): 16-18.

[8] Chen X., Lu H., Shu L., . Study on Tectonic Evolution of Junggar Basin. Geological Journal of China Universities, 2002, 8(3): 257-267.

[9] Fan G. H., Li J. X.. Oil Source in the Southern Junggar Basin. Xinjiang Petroleum Geology, 1985, 5(4): 11-18.

[10] George S. C., Krieger F. W., Eadington P. J., . Geochemical Comparison of Oil-Bearing Fluid Inclusions and Produced Oil from the Toro Sandstone, Papua New Guinea. Organic Geochemistry, 1997, 26(3–4): 155-173.

[11] Guo C. Q., Shen Z. M., Zhang L. Y., . Biogenic Process of Source Rocks and Classification of Oils in the South Part of Junggar Basin, China. Journal of Chengdu University of Technology (Science & Technology Edition), 2005, 32(3): 257-262.

[12] Haliya Y. C. H., Reyihanguli, . Depositional Framework of Major Exploration Targets in the Piedmont Belt of North Tianshan Mountains in the Junggar Basin. Xinjiang Petroleum Geology, 2000, 21(6): 476-479.

[13] Huang D. F., Li J. C.. China’s Non-marine Hydrocarbon Formation, 1982, Beijing: Petroleum Industry Press 68-188.

[14] Hui R. Y., Zhang J. Z., Meng Q. X.. Geochemical Characteristics of Coal-Type Oil in South Margin of Junggar Basin. Acta Sedimentologica Sinica, 1990, 8(1): 29-35.

[15] Jia C. Z.. The Characteristics of Intra-continental Deformation and Hydrocarbon Distribution Controlled by the Himalayan Tectonic Movements in China. Earth Science Frontiers, 2007, 14(4): 96-104.

[16] Jia C. Z., Wei G. Q., Xiao A. C., . Tectonic Evolution of Two-Phase Foreland Basins and Its Control over Natural Gas Accumulation in West-Central China. Acta Petrolei Sinica, 2003, 24(2): 13-17.

[17] Jin Z. J., Cao J., Hu W. X., . Episodic Petroleum Fluid Migration in Fault Zones of the Northwestern Junggar Basin (Northwest China): Evidence from Hydrocarbon-Bearing Zoned Calcite Cement. AAPG Bulletin, 2008, 92(9): 1225-1243.

[18] Karlsen D. A., Nedkvitne T., Larter S. R., . Hydrocarbon Composition of Authigenic Inclusions: Application to Elucidation of Petroleum Reservoir Filling History. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 1993, 57(15): 3641-3659.

[19] Kong X. X.. Oil Source of Foothill Fault-Fold Structural Belt in Western Part of the Southern Margin, Junggar Basin. Petroleum Exploration and Development, 2007, 34(4): 413-418.

[20] Li Y. J., Wang T. D., Zhang Y. Y., . Natural Gas Genesis and Formation of Gas Pools in the South Margin of Junggar Basin. Aata Sedimentologica Sinica, 2004, 22(3): 529-534.

[21] Luo X. R., Xiao L. X., Li X. Y., . Overpressure Distribution and Affecting Factors in Southern Margin of Junggar Basin. Earth Science—Journal of China University of Geosciences, 2004, 29(4): 404-412.

[22] Pan C. C., Yang J. Q.. Geochemical Characteristics and Implications of Hydrocarbons in Reservoir Rocks of Junggar Basin, China. Chemical Geology, 2000, 167(3–4): 321-335.

[23] Peters K. E., Walters C. C., Moldowan J. M.. The Biomarker Guide: Interpreting Molecular Fossils in Petroleum and Ancient Sediments, 2005 Second Edition Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 1-1155.

[24] Song Y., Dai J. X., Xia X. Y., . Genesis and Distribution of Natural Gas in the Foreland Basins of China. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 2004, 41(1–3): 21-29.

[25] Song Y., Zhao M. J., Liu S. B., . Oil and Gas Accumulation of Foreland Basins in China. Geological Review, 2006, 52(1): 85-92.

[26] Wang, X. L., Yang, H. B., Kuang, J., et al., 2000. The Third-Round Petroleum Resource Assessment in the Junggar Basin. Technical Report of PetroChina Xinjiang Oilfield Company, Karamay. 1–261 (in Chinese)

[27] Wang Y. L., Zhang Y. J., Wang G. H., . Achievements and Prospect for Petroleum Exploration and Development in Junggar Basin. Xinjiang Petroleum Geology, 2002, 23(6): 449-455.

[28] Wang Y. T., Gu B., Wang L. H.. Pool-Forming History of Oil and Gas in South Margin of Junggar Basin. Oil & Gas Geology, 1998, 19(4): 291-295.

[29] Wang Z. M., Luo X. R., Liu L. J., . Active Features of Huo-Ma-Tu Fault and Hydrocarbon Accumulation in the Southern Junggar Basin. Acta Petrolei Sinica, 2006, 27(5): 28-34.

[30] Wei D. T., Jia D., Zhao Y. C., . Geochemical Behaviors of Crude Oil in the Southern Margin of Junggar Basin. Oil and Gas Geology, 2007, 28(3): 433-440.

[31] Wu K. Y., Zha M., Wang X. L., . Pool-Forming Dynamic System Division in Junggar Basin. Geological Review, 2007, 53(1): 75-82.

[32] Yang H. B., Lan W. F., Zhang W. L.. Simulation of Southern Junggar Basin with PRA Simulator. Xinjiang Petroleum Geology, 1999, 20(1): 58-61.

[33] Yang, J. Q., Ren, J. L., Ma, Z., et al., 1999. Nonmarine Hydrocarbon Geochemistry in the Junggar Basin. Technical Report of PetroChina Xinjiang Oilfield Company, Karamay. 1–40 (in Chinese)

[34] Yu J. N., Zou H. Y., Gong Z. S.. Preferential Petroleum Migration Pathways in Eastern Pearl River Mouth Basin, Offshore South China Sea. Journal of Earth Science, 2009, 20(4): 720-730.

[35] Zhang W. L., Zhang S. N., Wang S. Q.. Geochemical Characteristics of Oil and Correlation of Oil to Resource Rock in the Southern Edge of Junggar Basin. Journal of Chengdu University of Technology (Science & Technology Edition), 2003, 30(4): 374-377.

[36] Zhang Y. J.. Fault-Controlled Hydrocarbon Migration and Accumulation in the Junggar Basin: [Dissertation], 2002, Beijing: China University of Petroleum 1-207.

[37] Zhang Y. J., Wang H. M., He Z. H.. The Basement Structure, the Formation and the Evolution of the Junggar Basin. Xinjiang Petroleum Geology, 1999, 20(Suppl.): 568-571.

[38] Zhao M. J., Song Y., Liu S. B.. Hydrocarbon Accumulation of Four Association Types of Foreland Basins in Central and Western China: Part I. Geological Conditions. Natural Gas Geoscience, 2007, 18(2): 181-186.

[39] Zou H. Y., Zhang Y. C., Liu J. Z., . Evolution of the Moxizhuang Oil Field, Central Junggar Basin, Northwest China. Journal of China University of Geosciences, 2008, 19(3): 242-251.