Geochemical Characteristics and Hydrocarbon Generation Modeling of the Paleocene Source Rocks in the Jiaojiang Sag, East China Sea Basin

Abstract

Jiaojiang sag in the East China Sea Basin is at the earlier exploration stage, where characterizing hydrocarbon generation of source rocks is important to understand oil-gas exploration potential. Utilizing geochemical and basin modeling analysis, hydrocarbon generation capacity and process of the Paleocene E₁ y, E₁ l and E₁ m formations were investigated. Results show that E₁ y and E₁ l mudstones are high-quality source rocks with Type II kerogen, which is dominated by both aquatic organisms and terrestrial higher plants deposited in sub-reduced environment. E₁ m mudstone interbedded with thin carbonaceous mudstone and coal is poor-quality source rock with Type III kerogen, whose organic matter was originated from terrestrial higher plants under oxidized environment. Controlled by burial and maturity histories, E₁ y and E₁ l source rocks experienced two hydrocarbon generation stages, which took place in the Late Paleocene and in the Middle to Late Eocene, respectively, and had high hydrocarbon generation capacity with cumulative hydrocarbon volume of 363 and 328 mg/g, respectively. E₁ m source rock only had one hydrocarbon generation process in the Late Eocene, which had low hydrocarbon generation capacity with cumulative hydrocarbon volume of only 24 mg/g. The future oil-gas exploration in the Jiaojiang sag should focus on hydrocarbon generation center and select targets in the central uplift formed before the Miocene with high-quality traps.

Keywords

East China Sea Basin / Jiaojiang sag / source rock / geochemical characteristics / hydrocarbon generation / basin modeling / petroleum geology

References

[1] Abdalla Y M, Michael J P, William A A, . Modeling Petroleum Generation in the Southern Muglad Rift Basin, Sudan1. AAPG Bulletin, 1999, 83: 1943-1964.

[2] Adegoke A K, Abdullah W H, Hakimi M H, . Geochemical Characterisation and Organic Matter Enrichment of Upper Cretaceous Gongila Shales from Chad (Bornu) Basin, Northeastern Nigeria: Bioproductivity Versus Anoxia Conditions. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 2015, 135: 73-87.

[3] Bechtel A, Jia J L, Strobl S A I, . Palaeoenvironmental Conditions during Deposition of the Upper Cretaceous Oil Shale Sequences in the Songliao Basin (NE China): Implications from Geochemical Analysis. Organic Geochemistry, 2012, 46: 76-95.

[4] Behar F, Vandenbroucke M, Tang Y, . Thermal Cracking of Kerogen in Open and Closed Systems: Determination of Kinetic Parameters and Stoichiometric Coefficients for Oil and Gas Generation. Organic Geochemistry, 1997, 26(5/6): 321-339.

[5] Cai J, Qi P, Cui M, . Well Analysis of Information from Drilled Wells and Revelation to Oil & Gas Exploration in Jiaojiang Sag. Offshore Oil, 2016, 36(4): 33-39. (in Chinese with English Abstract)

[6] Chandra K, Mishra C S, Samanta U, . Correlation of Different Maturity Parameters in the Ahmedabad-Mehsana Block of the Cambay Basin. Organic Geochemistry, 1994, 21(3/4): 313-321.

[7] Chen C F, Zhu W L, Fu X W, . Provenance Change and Its Influence in Late Paleocene, Jiaojiang Sag, East China Sea Shelf Basin. Journal of Tongji University (Natural Science), 2017, 45(10): 1522-1530. 1548 (in Chinese with English Abstract)

[8] Chen J P, Zhao C Y, He Z H. Criteria for Evaluating the Hydrocarbon Generating Potential of Organic Matter in Coal Measures. Petroleum Exploration and Development, 1997, 24(1): 1-5. 91 (in Chinese with English Abstract)

[9] Cohen K M, Finney S C, Gibbard P L, . The ICS International Chronostratigraphic Chart. Episodes, 2013, 36(3): 199-204.

[10] Coplen T B. Guidelines and Recommended Terms for Expression of Stable-Isotope-Ratio and Gas-Ratio Measurement Results. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry, 2011, 25(17): 2538-2560.

[11] Damsté J S S, Kenig F, Koopmans M P, . Evidence for Gammacerane as an Indicator of Water Column Stratification. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 1995, 59(9): 1895-1900.

[12] Didyk B M, Simoneit B R T, Brassell S C, . Organic Geochemical Indicators of Palaeoenvironmental Conditions of Sedimentation. Nature, 1978, 272(5650): 216-222.

[13] Dong T, He S, Yin S Y, . Geochemical Characterization of Source Rocks and Crude Oils in the Upper Cretaceous Qingshankou Formation, Changling Sag, Southern Songliao Basin. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 2015, 64: 173-188.

[14] Farhaduzzaman M, Abdullah W H, Islam M A. Depositional Environment and Hydrocarbon Source Potential of the Permian Gondwana Coals from the Barapukuria Basin, Northwest Bangladesh. International Journal of Coal Geology, 2012, 90/91: 162-179.

[15] Gao S L, Zhao H, Wang J Q, . Zircon U-Pb Dating and Its Significance in Jiaojiang Sag, East China Sea Basin. Petroleum Geology & Experiment, 2019, 41: 311-318. (in Chinese with English Abstract)

[16] Gottardi R, Adams L M, Borrok D, . Hydrocarbon Source Rock Characterization, Burial History, and Thermal Maturity of the Steele, Niobrara and Mowry Formations at Teapot Dome, Wyoming. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 2019, 100: 326-340.

[17] Hakimi M H, Abdullah W H. Thermal Maturity History and Petroleum Generation Modelling for the Upper Jurassic Madbi Source Rocks in the Marib-Shabowah Basin, Western Yemen. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 2015, 59: 202-216.

[18] Hakimi M H, Abdullah W H, Alqudah M, . Organic Geochemical and Petrographic Characteristics of the Oil Shales in the Lajjun Area, Central Jordan: Origin of Organic Matter Input and Preservation Conditions. Fuel, 2016, 181: 34-45.

[19] Hakimi M H, Al-Matary A M, Salad Hersi O. Burial and Thermal History Reconstruction of the Mukalla-Sayhut Basin in the Gulf of Aden, Yemen: Implications for Hydrocarbon Generation from Paleocene Potential Source Rock. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 2018, 144: 59-75.

[20] Hanson A D, Zhang S C, Moldowan J M, . Molecular Organic Geochemistry of the Tarim Basin, Northwest China. AAPG Bulletin, 2000, 84: 1109-1128.

[21] Hao F, Zhou X H, Zhu Y M, . Lacustrine Source Rock Deposition in Response to Co-Evolution of Environments and Organisms Controlled by Tectonic Subsidence and Climate, Bohai Bay Basin, China. Organic Geochemistry, 2011, 42(4): 323-339.

[22] Hunt J M. Generation of Gas and Oil from Coal and Other Terrestrial Organic Matter. Organic Geochemistry, 1991, 17(6): 673-680.

[23] Jiang Z L, Li Y J, Du H L, . The Cenozoic Structural Evolution and Its Influences on Gas Accumulation in the Lishui Sag, East China Sea Shelf Basin. Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering, 2015, 22: 107-118.

[24] Koopmans M P, Rijpstra W I C, Klapwijk M M, . A Thermal and Chemical Degradation Approach to Decipher Pristane and Phytane Precursors in Sedimentary Organic Matter. Organic Geochemistry, 1999, 30(9): 1089-1104.

[25] Kutas R I. Heat Flow, Radiogenic Heat and Crustal Thickness in Southwest U.S.S.R.. Tectonophysics, 1984, 103(1/2/3/4): 167-174.

[26] Lei C, Yin S Y, Ye J R, . Characteristics and Deposition Models of the Paleocene Source Rocks in the Lishui Sag, East China Sea Shelf Basin: Evidences from Organic and Inorganic Geochemistry. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 2021, 200: 108342

[27] Li D Y, Guo T Y, Jiang X D, . Erosion Thickness Recovery and Tectonic Evolution Characterization of Southern East China Sea Shelf Basin. Oil & Gas Geology, 2015, 36(6): 913-923. (in Chinese with English Abstract)

[28] Li Y, Zhang J L, Liu Y, . Organic Geochemistry, Distribution and Hydrocarbon Potential of Source Rocks in the Paleocene, Lishui Sag, East China Sea Shelf Basin. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 2019, 107 382-396.

[29] Makeen Y M, Abdullah W H, Pearson M J, . Thermal Maturity History and Petroleum Generation Modelling for the Lower Cretaceous Abu Gabra Formation in the Fula Sub-Basin, Muglad Basin, Sudan. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 2016, 75: 310-324.

[30] Mckenzie D. Some Remarks on the Development of Sedimentary Basins. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 1978, 40(1): 25-32.

[31] Moldowan J M, Sundararaman P, Schoell M. Sensitivity of Biomarker Properties to Depositional Environment and/or Source Input in the Lower Toarcian of SW-Germany. Organic Geochemistry, 1986, 10(4/5/6): 915-926.

[32] Moldowan J M, Seifert W K, Gallegos E J. Relationship between Petroleum Composition and Depositional Environment of Petroleum Source Rocks. AAPG Bulletin, 1985, 69: 1255-1268.

[33] Peters K E, Moldowan J M. Effects of Source, Thermal Maturity, and Biodegradation on the Distribution and Isomerization of Homohopanes in Petroleum. Organic Geochemistry, 1991, 17(1): 47-61.

[34] Peters K E, Walters C C, Moldowan J M. The Biomarker Guide Volume 1: Biomarkers and Isotopes in the Environment and Human History, 2005, New York: Cambridge University Press

[35] Powell T G. Development in Concepts of Hydrocarbon Generation from Terrestrial Organic Matter: Petroleum Resources of China and Related Subjects. In: Circum Pacific Council of Energy and Mineral Resources. Earth Science Series, 1988, 10: 807-824.

[36] Sachsenhorfer R F, Popov S V, Akhmetiev M A, . The Type Section of the Maikop Group (Oligocene–Lower Miocene) at the Belaya River (North Caucasus): Depositional Environment and Hydrocarbon Potential. AAPG Bulletin, 2017, 101(3): 289-319.

[37] Schoell M. Recent Advances in Petroleum Isotope Geochemistry. Organic Geochemistry, 1984, 6: 645-663.

[38] Seifert W K, Michael Moldowan J. Applications of Steranes, Terpanes and Monoaromatics to the Maturation, Migration and Source of Crude Oils. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 1978, 42(1): 77-95.

[39] Seifert W K, Moldowan J M. Use of Biological Markers in Petroleum Exploration, 1986, New York: Elsevier

[40] Sepúlveda J, Wendler J, Leider A, . Molecular Isotopic Evidence of Environmental and Ecological Changes across the Cenomanian-Turonian Boundary in the Levant Platform of Central Jordan. Organic Geochemistry, 2009, 40(5): 553-568.

[41] Shanmugam G. Significance of Coniferous Rain Forests and Related Organic Matter in Generatingcommercial Quantities of Oil, Gippsland Basin, Australia. AAPG Bulletin, 1985, 69: 1241-1254.

[42] Sweeney J J, Burnham A K. Evaluation of a Simple Model of Vitrinite Reflectance Based on Chemical Kinetics (1). AAPG Bulletin, 1990, 74: 1559-1570.

[43] Ten Haven H L, de Leeuw J W, Rullkötter J, . Restricted Utility of the Pristane/Phytane Ratio as a Palaeoenvironmental Indicator. Nature, 1987, 330(6149): 641-643.

[44] Ten Haven H L, Rohmer M, Rullkötter J, . Tetrahymanol, the most Likely Precursor of Gammacerane, Occurs Ubiquitously in Marine Sediments. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 1989, 53(11): 3073-3079.

[45] Tian B, Li X Y, Pang G Y, . Sedimentary Systems of the Superimposed Rift-Subsidence Basin: Taking Lishui-Jiaojiang Sag of the East China Sea as an Example. Acta Sedimentologica Sinica, 2012, 30(4): 696-705. (in Chinese with English Abstract)

[46] Tian B, Pang G Y, Wang Q, . Hydrocarbon Accumulation Condition of Superimposed Rift-Subsidence Basin: A Case Study from Lishui-Jiaojiang Sag in the East China Sea. Lithologic Reservoirs, 2012, 24: 32-37. (in Chinese with English Abstract)

[47] Tong Z G, Zhao Z G, Yang S C, . Research on Thermal Evolution and Hydrocarbon Expulsion History of Source Rocks in Low-Exploration Basins: A Case Study on Jiaojiang Sag, East China Sea Basin. Petroleum Geology & Experiment, 2012, 34(3): 319-324. 329 (in Chinese with English Abstract)

[48] van Krevelen D W. Coal: Typology, Physics, Chemistry, Constitution, 1993, Amsterdam: Elsevier

[49] Volkman J K. A Review of Sterol Markers for Marine and Terrigenous Organic Matter. Organic Geochemistry, 1986, 9(2): 83-99.

[50] Volkman J K, Kearney P, Jeffrey S W. A New Source of 4-Methyl Sterols and 5α(H) -Stanols in Sediments: Prymnesiophyte Microalgae of the Genus Pavlova. Organic Geochemistry, 1990, 15(5): 489-497.

[51] Wang S J, Hu S B, Wang J Y. The Characteristics of Heat Flow and Geothermal Field in Junggar Basin. Chinese Journal of Geophysics, 2000, 43(6): 816-824.

[52] Wu F D, Li S T, Lu Y C, . The Tertiary Sea Level Changes in the East China Sea Shelf Basin. Chinese Journal of Geology (Scientia Geologica Sinica), 1998, 33(2): 214-221. (in Chinese with English Abstract)

[53] Wygrala B P. Integrated Study of an Oil Field in the Southern Po Basin, Northern Italy: [Dissertation], 1989, Cologne: University of Cologne

[54] Yang S C, Hu S B, Cai D S, . Present-Day Heat Flow, Thermal History and Tectonic Subsidence of the East China Sea Basin. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 2004, 21(9): 1095-1105.

[55] Yu K, Ju Y W, Zhang B X. Modeling of Tectono-Thermal Evolution of Permo-Carboniferous Source Rocks in the Southern Qinshui Basin, China: Consequences for Hydrocarbon Generation. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 2020, 193: 107343

[56] Zhao Z F, Pang X Q, Jiang F J, . Hydrocarbon Generation from Confined Pyrolysis of Lower Permian Shanxi Formation Coal and Coal Measure Mudstone in the Shenfu Area, Northeastern Ordos Basin, China. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 2018, 97 355-369.

[57] Zhu W L, Zhong K, Fu X W, . The Formation and Evolution of the East China Sea Shelf Basin: A New View. Earth-Science Reviews, 2019, 190: 89-111.