Genesis and distribution of hydrogen sulfide in deep heavy oil of the Halahatang area in the Tarim Basin, China

As the largest oil-and-gas-bearing basin in China, the Tarim Basin contains rich oil and gas resources buried deep underground. In recent years, large oil fields have been discovered in the Halahatang area of the northern Tarim Basin. The reservoir is buried 6000–7300 m underground. This reservoir i...

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Main Authors: Guangyou Zhu, Xingwang Liu, Haijun Yang, Jin Su, Yongfeng Zhu, Yu Wang, Chonghao Sun
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. 2017-02-01
Series:Journal of Natural Gas Geoscience
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468256X17300093
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author Guangyou Zhu
Xingwang Liu
Haijun Yang
Jin Su
Yongfeng Zhu
Yu Wang
Chonghao Sun
author_facet Guangyou Zhu
Xingwang Liu
Haijun Yang
Jin Su
Yongfeng Zhu
Yu Wang
Chonghao Sun
author_sort Guangyou Zhu
collection DOAJ
description As the largest oil-and-gas-bearing basin in China, the Tarim Basin contains rich oil and gas resources buried deep underground. In recent years, large oil fields have been discovered in the Halahatang area of the northern Tarim Basin. The reservoir is buried 6000–7300 m underground. This reservoir is dominated by the Ordovician carbonate rocks, and the crude oil is mainly heavy oil. As a crude oil-associated gas, the natural gas generally contains hydrogen sulfide (H2S). The heavy oil in this region is the deepest buried heavy oil found in the world. H2S is also associated with the deepest buried natural gas. The burial, preservation and degree of biodegradation of a paleo-reservoir can be used to predict the distribution of H2S. According to research findings, there is a clear planar distribution pattern of H2S content: high in the east and north, and low in the west and south. We compared the physical properties of crude oil and the analysis of the composition of natural gas and isotopes, biomarker compounds of crude oil and groundwater. We find that the content of H2S in natural gas bears some relation to the physical properties and degree of biodegradation of crude oil. Crude oil density, sulfur content, colloid, and asphaltene have positive correlations with H2S content in natural gas. The formation of H2S is controlled by the degradation and densification of crude oil. Crude oil densification can lead to an increase of the sulfur content. The rise in the temperature of the reservoir resulting from the depth of burial causes the thermal decomposition of sulfur compounds to produce H2S. The generation of H2S by the thermal decomposition of sulfur compounds is confirmed by data on sulfur isotopes. The distribution of H2S can then be predicted based on the burial conditions of the paleo-reservoir and the degree of biodegradation. In the south Rewapu of the Halahatang area, the thick cap rock of the Ordovician oil reservoir was preserved well in the late Hercynian Period, without undergoing biodegradation. The oil is mainly normal oil and light oil. Sulfur content in the crude oil is quite low, making it impossible to generate a large amount of H2S in the later stages of deep burial.
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spelling doaj.art-6528078c2bad41aea94936a806a24bb42023-09-02T19:28:59ZengKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.Journal of Natural Gas Geoscience2468-256X2017-02-0121577110.1016/j.jnggs.2017.03.004Genesis and distribution of hydrogen sulfide in deep heavy oil of the Halahatang area in the Tarim Basin, ChinaGuangyou Zhu0Xingwang Liu1Haijun Yang2Jin Su3Yongfeng Zhu4Yu Wang5Chonghao Sun6PetroChina Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration and Development, Beijing 100083, ChinaPetroChina Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration and Development, Beijing 100083, ChinaExploration and Development Research Institute, PetroChina Tarim Oil Field Company, Korla 841000, ChinaPetroChina Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration and Development, Beijing 100083, ChinaExploration and Development Research Institute, PetroChina Tarim Oil Field Company, Korla 841000, ChinaPetroChina Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration and Development, Beijing 100083, ChinaExploration and Development Research Institute, PetroChina Tarim Oil Field Company, Korla 841000, ChinaAs the largest oil-and-gas-bearing basin in China, the Tarim Basin contains rich oil and gas resources buried deep underground. In recent years, large oil fields have been discovered in the Halahatang area of the northern Tarim Basin. The reservoir is buried 6000–7300 m underground. This reservoir is dominated by the Ordovician carbonate rocks, and the crude oil is mainly heavy oil. As a crude oil-associated gas, the natural gas generally contains hydrogen sulfide (H2S). The heavy oil in this region is the deepest buried heavy oil found in the world. H2S is also associated with the deepest buried natural gas. The burial, preservation and degree of biodegradation of a paleo-reservoir can be used to predict the distribution of H2S. According to research findings, there is a clear planar distribution pattern of H2S content: high in the east and north, and low in the west and south. We compared the physical properties of crude oil and the analysis of the composition of natural gas and isotopes, biomarker compounds of crude oil and groundwater. We find that the content of H2S in natural gas bears some relation to the physical properties and degree of biodegradation of crude oil. Crude oil density, sulfur content, colloid, and asphaltene have positive correlations with H2S content in natural gas. The formation of H2S is controlled by the degradation and densification of crude oil. Crude oil densification can lead to an increase of the sulfur content. The rise in the temperature of the reservoir resulting from the depth of burial causes the thermal decomposition of sulfur compounds to produce H2S. The generation of H2S by the thermal decomposition of sulfur compounds is confirmed by data on sulfur isotopes. The distribution of H2S can then be predicted based on the burial conditions of the paleo-reservoir and the degree of biodegradation. In the south Rewapu of the Halahatang area, the thick cap rock of the Ordovician oil reservoir was preserved well in the late Hercynian Period, without undergoing biodegradation. The oil is mainly normal oil and light oil. Sulfur content in the crude oil is quite low, making it impossible to generate a large amount of H2S in the later stages of deep burial.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468256X17300093Hydrogen sulfideBiodegradationCarbonate rocksOrdovicianHalahatangTarim Basin
spellingShingle Guangyou Zhu
Xingwang Liu
Haijun Yang
Jin Su
Yongfeng Zhu
Yu Wang
Chonghao Sun
Genesis and distribution of hydrogen sulfide in deep heavy oil of the Halahatang area in the Tarim Basin, China
Journal of Natural Gas Geoscience
Hydrogen sulfide
Biodegradation
Carbonate rocks
Ordovician
Halahatang
Tarim Basin
title Genesis and distribution of hydrogen sulfide in deep heavy oil of the Halahatang area in the Tarim Basin, China
title_full Genesis and distribution of hydrogen sulfide in deep heavy oil of the Halahatang area in the Tarim Basin, China
title_fullStr Genesis and distribution of hydrogen sulfide in deep heavy oil of the Halahatang area in the Tarim Basin, China
title_full_unstemmed Genesis and distribution of hydrogen sulfide in deep heavy oil of the Halahatang area in the Tarim Basin, China
title_short Genesis and distribution of hydrogen sulfide in deep heavy oil of the Halahatang area in the Tarim Basin, China
title_sort genesis and distribution of hydrogen sulfide in deep heavy oil of the halahatang area in the tarim basin china
topic Hydrogen sulfide
Biodegradation
Carbonate rocks
Ordovician
Halahatang
Tarim Basin
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468256X17300093
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