scholarly journals Quantitative prediction model of present-day low-TOC carbonate source rocks: Example from the Middle–upper Ordovician in the Tarim Basin

2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (5) ◽  
pp. 1335-1355 ◽  
Author(s):  
Junqing Chen ◽  
Xiongqi Pang ◽  
Hong Pang

Plenty of marine crude oil generated by the Middle–Upper Ordovician source rocks has been discovered in the Tabei Uplift, Tarim Basin. Previous studies on the extensively distributed low organic matter source rock total organic carbon ≤ 0.5%) imply that this contributes to oil accumulation. Thus, the identification of present-day low-total organic carbon source rocks that experience hydrocarbon expulsion and evaluation of their contribution is of considerable significance to analyze marine oil accumulation and to assess the resources in the Tarim Basin. Using the mass balance approach, we identify and verify present-day low-total organic carbon carbonate source rocks and present a quantitative model using well-logging data to predict the present-day low-total organic carbon carbonate source rocks in order to evaluate their contribution in the Tarim Basin. Hydrocarbon expulsion has occurred in the Yijianfang formation, which has present-day low-total organic carbon, between 6452 and 6487 m in the Yangwu 2 well. In the horizons depicting carbonates with hydrocarbon expulsion, the porosity is relatively high and the daily oil production is 0.19 m3 according to the perforation tests. The extracts have similar biomarker signatures to that of the crude oils in the Tabei Uplift. In this study, a quick and cost-effective quantitative model is developed using double lateral resistivity and uranium/thorium well-logging data. By applying the prediction model, the contribution of present-day low-total organic carbon carbonate source rocks in the Middle–Upper Ordovician formation of the Tarim Basin is primarily evaluated to be 363.38 × 109 bbl oil equivalent.

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (6) ◽  
pp. 1491-1511
Author(s):  
Jun-Qing Chen ◽  
Xiong-Qi Pang ◽  
Song Wu ◽  
Zhuo-Heng Chen ◽  
Mei-Ling Hu ◽  
...  

AbstractHydrocarbon expulsion occurs only when pore fluid pressure due to hydrocarbon generation in source rock exceeds the force against migration in the adjacent carrier beds. Taking the Middle–Upper Ordovician carbonate source rock of Tarim Basin in China as an example, this paper proposes a method that identifies effective carbonate source rock based on the principles of mass balance. Data from the Well YW2 indicate that the Middle Ordovician Yijianfang Formation contains effective carbonate source rocks with low present-day TOC. Geological and geochemical analysis suggests that the hydrocarbons in the carbonate interval are likely self-generated and retained. Regular steranes from GC–MS analysis of oil extracts in this interval display similar features to those of the crude oil samples in Tabei area, indicating that the crude oil probably was migrated from the effective source rocks. By applying to other wells in the basin, the identified effective carbonate source rocks and non-source rock carbonates can be effectively identified and consistent with the actual exploration results, validating the method. Considering the contribution from the identified effective source rocks with low present-day TOC (TOCpd) is considered, the long-standing puzzle between the proved 3P oil reserves and estimated resources in the basin can be reasonably explained.


Geofluids ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Jian Fu ◽  
Xuesong Li ◽  
Yonghe Sun ◽  
Qiuli Huo ◽  
Ting Gao ◽  
...  

In the evaluation of source rocks, the total organic carbon (TOC) is an important indicator to evaluate the hydrocarbon generation potential of source rocks. At present, the commonly used methods for assessing TOC include △ log R and neural network method. However, practice shows that these methods have limitations in the application of unconventional intervals of sand-shale interbeds, and they cannot sufficiently reflect the variation of TOC in the vertical direction. Therefore, a total organic carbon (TOC) evaluation model suitable for shale and tight sandstone was established based on the effective medium symmetrical conduction theory. The model consists of four components: nonconductive matrix particles, clay minerals, organic components (solid organic matter and hydrocarbons), and pore water. The conductive phase in the model includes clay minerals and pore water, and other components are treated as nonconductive phases. When describing the conductivity of rock, each component in the model is completely symmetrical, and anisotropic characteristics of each component are considered. The model parameters are determined through the optimization method, and the bisection iteration method is used to solve the model equation. Compared with the classic TOC calculation method, the new model can evaluate the abundance of organic matter in shale and tight sandstone, which provides a new option to assess the TOC of rocks based on logging methods.


2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. SJ67-SJ75
Author(s):  
Chao Liu ◽  
Lidong Sun ◽  
Jijun Li ◽  
Shuangfang Lu ◽  
Lei Tian ◽  
...  

To lay the foundation for the exploration of shale gas, we calculated the total organic carbon (TOC) of Shahezi Formation source rocks in the Xujiaweizi Fault Depression in the Songliao Basin by using the measuring data and the logging curves. Because the source rocks in the study area were formed in a lacustrine basin, they are characterized by strong organic heterogeneity, making it difficult to objectively characterize any changes in the TOC of the underground source rocks based on discrete and limited sampling. In addition, because the source rock is relatively rich in shale and poor in organic matter, the logging response features of high natural gamma, medium-high interval transit time, and medium-low resistivity, making it easily identified. However, because the logging parameters to predict the TOC of source rocks are not universal, it is impossible to establish a prediction equation that is universally applicable. To solve the above problems, we used the variable-coefficient [Formula: see text] technique to predict the TOC of the source rocks in the study area. We defined the two key parameters that affect the TOC prediction in the classic [Formula: see text] technique as the undetermined coefficients, and the coefficients were determined according to the logging and geologic data of the individual wells. The application results indicate that the variable-coefficient [Formula: see text] technique has an average relative error of 17.5% in the prediction of the TOC, which is 16.1% lower than that of the classic [Formula: see text] technique. Thus, the prediction results can effectively reflect the vertical variation in the TOC of source rocks. Based on the logging evaluation results for the TOC of source rocks in 35 wells throughout the study area, the thickness of the high-quality source rocks in the fourth member of the Shahezi Formation was mapped. The thickness of the high-quality source rocks in the fourth member of the Shahezi Formation is generally [Formula: see text]. There are two centers of greater thickness in the plane, with the maximum thickness of more than 70 m.


2019 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 654-681 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lixin Mao ◽  
Xiangchun Chang ◽  
Youde Xu ◽  
Bingbing Shi ◽  
Dengkuan Gao

Previous studies on Chepaizi Uplift mainly focused on its reservoirs, and the potential source rocks natively occurred was ignored. During the exploration process, dark mudstones and tuffaceous mudstones were found in the Carboniferous interval. These possible source rocks have caused great concern about whether they have hydrocarbon generation potential and can contribute to the reservoirs of the Chepaizi Uplift. In this paper, the potential source rocks are not only evaluated by the organic richness, type, maturity, and depositional environment, but also divided into different kinetics groups. The Carboniferous mudstones dominated by Type III kerogen were evolved into the stage of mature. Biomarkers indicate that the source rocks were deposited in a marine environment under weakly reducing conditions and received mixed aquatic and terrigenous organic matter, with the latter being predominant. The effective source rocks are characterized by the total organic carbon values >0.5 wt.% and the buried depth >1500 m. The tuffaceous mudstone shows a greater potential for its lower active energy and longer hydrocarbon generation time. Considering the hydrocarbon generation potential, base limits of the total organic carbon and positive correlation of oil–source rock together, the native Carboniferous mudstones and tuffaceous mudstones might contribute to the Chepaizi Uplift reservoirs of the northwestern region of the Junggar Basin, especially the deeper effective source rocks should be paid enough attention to.


1994 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 307
Author(s):  
J.L. Lin ◽  
H.A. Salisch

This paper discusses, in some detail, the log responses to total organic carbon (TOC) in the Upper and Middle Velkerri Formation in an area of the McArthur Basin, Northern Territory, Australia. The Formation Density log was found to be superior to other standard well logs in assessing values of TOC in the area studied. A theoretical model was used to estimate TOC from the Formation Density log. The model was established and its applicability was verified by comparison with other models. Based on geochemical properties the Upper and Middle Velkerri Formation is classified into three categories: nonsource rocks, mature source rocks and immature source rock. They show significant differences in the well log responses, and different models had to be established for the three categories to determine the TOC content from well logs. Comparison of the results of using a different model for each category instead of a single model to cover the three categories shows that the former approach gives more meaningful answers.


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