Distribution and geological significance of 17α(H)-diahopanes from different hydrocarbon source rocks of Yanchang Formation in Ordos Basin

2009 ◽  
Vol 52 (7) ◽  
pp. 965-974 ◽  
Author(s):  
WenZheng Zhang ◽  
Hua Yang ◽  
LiHui Hou ◽  
Fei Liu
2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. SF225-SF242 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xun Sun ◽  
Quansheng Liang ◽  
Chengfu Jiang ◽  
Daniel Enriquez ◽  
Tongwei Zhang ◽  
...  

Source-rock samples from the Upper Triassic Yanchang Formation in the Ordos Basin of China were geochemically characterized to determine variations in depositional environments, organic-matter (OM) source, and thermal maturity. Total organic carbon (TOC) content varies from 4 wt% to 10 wt% in the Chang 7, Chang 8, and Chang 9 members — the three OM-rich shale intervals. The Chang 7 has the highest TOC and hydrogen index values, and it is considered the best source rock in the formation. Geochemical evidence indicates that the main sources of OM in the Yanchang Formation are freshwater lacustrine phytoplanktons, aquatic macrophytes, aquatic organisms, and land plants deposited under a weakly reducing to suboxic depositional environment. The elevated [Formula: see text] sterane concentration and depleted [Formula: see text] values of OM in the middle of the Chang 7 may indicate the presence of freshwater cyanobacteria blooms that corresponds to a period of maximum lake expansion. The OM deposited in deeper parts of the lake is dominated by oil-prone type I or type II kerogen or a mixture of both. The OM deposited in shallower settings is characterized by increased terrestrial input with a mixture of types II and III kerogen. These source rocks are in the oil window, with maturity increasing with burial depth. The measured solid-bitumen reflectance and calculated vitrinite reflectance from the temperature at maximum release of hydrocarbons occurs during Rock-Eval pyrolysis ([Formula: see text]) and the methylphenanthrene index (MPI-1) chemical maturity parameters range from 0.8 to [Formula: see text]. Because the thermal labilities of OM are associated with the kerogen type, the required thermal stress for oil generation from types I and II mixed kerogen has a higher and narrower range of temperature for hydrocarbon generation than that of OM dominated by type II kerogen or types II and III mixed kerogen deposited in the prodelta and delta front.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-27
Author(s):  
Yan Cao ◽  
Hui Han ◽  
Shijia Chen ◽  
Rui Liu ◽  
Jingyue Zhang ◽  
...  

To explore the source and reservoir characteristics of Chang 6 tight oil in the Zhangjiagou area, we have extracted a suite of Chang 6 tight sandstones and the source rocks from the seventh to ninth members of the Upper Cretaceous Yanchang Formation in the Ordos Basin, China, respectively, using chloroform. We examined group components by fractionations of extracted organic matter. Using low-pressure gas adsorptions and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, respectively, we analyzed the pore structure of the studied samples before and after extraction and the oil source of the separate saturated hydrocarbon components. The results indicate that the porosity of the Chang 6 tight sandstone is mainly distributed in the 8%–14% range, averaging 10.5%, the permeability of the studied reservoir is only approximately 0.16 × 10−3 μm2, and the pore-throat radius is mainly less than 2 μm. The major type of pores of the reservoir includes the residual intergranular pore, secondary intergranular dissolved pore, and intragranular dissolved pore. The micropore volume of the Chang 6 tight sandstone is in the range of 0.0071–0.0092 cm3/g, and the mesopore volume of the Chang 6 tight sandstone is in the range of 0.0237–0.0343 cm3/g. The micropore volume and micropore surface area significantly increased after chloroform extractions, and soluble hydrocarbons could be stored in micropores of the Chang 6 tight sandstone. The three sets of source rocks from the seventh to ninth members of the Upper Cretaceous Yanchang Formation are high quality by the evaluation of source rocks, and the Chang 7 has the highest value of source rocks, followed by Chang 9 and Chang 8. The pentacyclic triterpene characteristics (Ts-C30H-C30*) of Chang 6 crude oil are similar to those of Chang 7 source rock, and the tight oil of the Chang 6 member in the Zhangjiagou area originated from Chang 7 source rocks.


2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 330-338 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianqi Tu ◽  
Yiguo Dong ◽  
Bin Zhang ◽  
Hongli Nan ◽  
Chengjian Li ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiyuan You ◽  
Yiqun Liu ◽  
Dingwu Zhou

<p>The "black chimney" type of hydrothermal vents in the modern deep sea have become a popular research topic in many disciplines. Due to the actual conditions, the research on palaeo-thermal vents in geological history is relatively low. Fortunately, the discovery of hydrothermal vents and bio-fossils from the Chang 7 source rocks of the Yanchang Formation of the Triassic in the Ordos Basin, China, provides the best evidence for deciphering hydrothermal activity during geological history. Here, we report a case study. Through ordinary sheet observation, scanning electron microscopy and electron probe observation, layered grained siliceous rocks, dolomites, and hydrothermal mineral combinations, such as pyrite + dolomite + gypsum and calcite + barite, are found. Their unique petrological characteristics, mineral composition, and structure confirm the existence of palaeo-thermal fluid vents. We further analysed the geochemical characteristics and in situ isotope characteristics. The study found that Cs, U, Th, Pb, Ba and other trace elements of the sample showed positive abnormalities, in which values of U/Th were high; in addition, the enrichment of major elements such as Sr, Mn, and the in situ sulphur isotopes of pyrite reached 7.89%-10.88%. This study of hydrothermal vents over geological history is expected to provide new insights on the life forms of various extreme microorganisms in hydrothermal environments and on their formation of high-quality source rocks.</p>


2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. SF15-SF29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen C. Ruppel ◽  
Harry Rowe ◽  
Kitty Milliken ◽  
Chao Gao ◽  
Yongping Wan

The Late Triassic Yanchang Formation (Fm) is a major target of drilling for hydrocarbons in the Ordos Basin. Although most of the early focus on this thick succession of lacustrine rocks has been the dominant deltaic sandstones and siltstones, which act as local reservoirs of oil and gas, more recent consideration has been given to the organic-rich mudstone source rocks. We used modern chemostratigraphic analysis to define vertical facies successions in two closely spaced cores through the Chang 7 Member, the primary source rock for the Yanchang hydrocarbon system. We used integrated high-resolution X-ray fluorescence and X-ray diffraction measurements to define four dominant facies. Variations in stable carbon isotopes mimic facies stacking patterns, suggesting that terrigenous organic matter (although minor in volume) is associated with the arkoses and sandstones, whereas aquatic organic matter is dominant in the mudstones. Facies stacking patterns define three major depositional cycles and parts of two others, each defined by basal mudstone facies that document basin flooding and deepening (i.e., flooding surfaces). Unconfined compressive strength measurements correlate with clay mineral abundance and organic matter. Comparisons of core attributes with wireline logs indicate that although general variations in clay mineral volumes (i.e., mudstone abundance) can be discerned from gamma-ray logs, organic-matter distribution is best defined with density or resistivity logs. These findings, especially those established between the core and log data, provide a powerful linkage between larger scale facies patterns and smaller scale studies of key reservoir attributes, such as pore systems, mineralogy, diagenesis, rock mechanics, hydrocarbon saturation, porosity and permeability, and flow parameters. This first application of modern chemostratigraphic techniques to the Yanchang Fm reveals the great promise of applying these methods to better understand the complex facies patterns that define this lacustrine basin and the variations in key reservoir properties that each facies displays.


2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. SF81-SF98
Author(s):  
Jing Wang ◽  
Xiangbo Li ◽  
Huaqing Liu ◽  
Xiuqin Deng ◽  
Rong Wanyan

The Ordos Basin has abundant conventional and unconventional oil and gas resources. Focusing on shale oil in the Ordos Basin, we studied the distribution, depositional features, and resource potential of shales in the upper Triassic Yanchang Formation based on the Ordos Basin development and depocenter migration. During the late Triassic, the Ordos Basin was a large cratonic sedimentary basin that bordered to the Hexi Corridor to the west, the southern North China block to the east, the Qilian and western Qinling orogenic zone to the south, and the foot of the Yin Mountains to the north. During deposition of the Yanchang Formation, its depocenter was not fixed. It migrated to the west before deposition of the Chang 7 oil layer and to the south after deposition of the Chang 7 oil layer. Controlled by the depocenter migration and relevant deep-lake facies, the Yanchang Formation mainly developed two sets of source rocks. The dark mudstone and shale in the Chang 9 oil layer is chiefly distributed in the south-central region of the basin, with thicknesses of 4–16 m and covers an area of approximately [Formula: see text]. The shales in the Chang 7 oil layer can be divided into two types, black oil shale and dark mudstone, and they are much thicker and more widespread than the dark mudstone in the Chang 9 oil layer. The black shale alone can be up to 60 m thick, and covers an area of more than [Formula: see text]. The shales in the Chang 7 and 9 oil layers were mainly formed in a deep-lake environment that produced high concentrations of organic matter and large hydrocarbon generation potential. According to preliminary estimates, the Chang 7 oil shale may contain [Formula: see text] of oil, thereby representing a huge resource potential with broad exploration prospectivity.


2013 ◽  
Vol 24 (5) ◽  
pp. 804-814 ◽  
Author(s):  
Senhu Lin ◽  
Xuanjun Yuan ◽  
Shizhen Tao ◽  
Zhi Yang ◽  
Songtao Wu

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