Characteristics of Liquid-Hydrocarbon Yield and Biomarkers in Various Thermal-Evolution Stages: A Simulation Experiment with the Middle Jurassic Source Rocks in the Northern Margin of the Qaidam Basin
Although there are many studies on the Jurassic source rocks in the northern margin of the Qaidam Basin, the characteristics of biomarkers and products with the same source rock in different evolutionary stages are still not well understood. Such an understanding is essential for accurately estimati...
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2022-10-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/20/7793 |
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| author | Yongxin Chen Xilong Zhang Xiang Li Tao Liu Yaru Sun Guotao Zhu Pengfei Ju |
| author_facet | Yongxin Chen Xilong Zhang Xiang Li Tao Liu Yaru Sun Guotao Zhu Pengfei Ju |
| author_sort | Yongxin Chen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Although there are many studies on the Jurassic source rocks in the northern margin of the Qaidam Basin, the characteristics of biomarkers and products with the same source rock in different evolutionary stages are still not well understood. Such an understanding is essential for accurately estimating oil and gas resources. In order to explore the hydrocarbon-generation potential of high-quality source rocks of the Middle Jurassic and the evolution of liquid hydrocarbons and biomarkers, we carried out simulation research (under hydrous conditions) at various temperatures (250, 300, 350, 400 and 450 °C) with the mudstone of the Yu 33 well in the Yuka Sag. The results revealed that the “oil window” of the Middle Jurassic source rocks in the Yuka area was 300 °C (simulation temperature, Ro = 0.84%), but this was not the peak of hydrocarbon expulsion, which was gradually reached and stabilized above 350 °C. Overall, the concentration of alkanes and aromatics increased with temperature; although the concentration of alkanes was complex in the low evolutionary stages, temperature (simulated maturity) was still the main factor controlling the change in alkanes and aromatics. Among the maturity parameters of biomarkers, the ratio of ∑tricyclic terpanes/∑hopanes was the most effective parameter for indicating the maturity evolution of the Yuka area, but others were complicated by the increasing temperature. Therefore, when evaluating maturity, the applicability of other parameters needed to be fully considered. The results obtained offer new insights in the research on liquid-hydrocarbon and biomarker evolution of the Middle Jurassic source rocks in the Yuka Sag of the Qaidam Basin. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T20:16:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f136bb0b8a904a199a4df5725daa3e70 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T20:16:03Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-f136bb0b8a904a199a4df5725daa3e702023-11-24T00:01:08ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732022-10-011520779310.3390/en15207793Characteristics of Liquid-Hydrocarbon Yield and Biomarkers in Various Thermal-Evolution Stages: A Simulation Experiment with the Middle Jurassic Source Rocks in the Northern Margin of the Qaidam BasinYongxin Chen0Xilong Zhang1Xiang Li2Tao Liu3Yaru Sun4Guotao Zhu5Pengfei Ju6Key Laboratory of Petroleum Resources, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, ChinaKey Laboratory of Petroleum Resources, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, ChinaTechnological Service Company, Xinjiang Oilfield Company, PetroChina, Karamay 834000, ChinaTechnological Service Company, Xinjiang Oilfield Company, PetroChina, Karamay 834000, ChinaTechnological Service Company, Xinjiang Oilfield Company, PetroChina, Karamay 834000, ChinaTechnological Service Company, Xinjiang Oilfield Company, PetroChina, Karamay 834000, ChinaEngineering Technology Research Institute, Xinjiang Oilfield Company, PetroChina, Karamay 834000, ChinaAlthough there are many studies on the Jurassic source rocks in the northern margin of the Qaidam Basin, the characteristics of biomarkers and products with the same source rock in different evolutionary stages are still not well understood. Such an understanding is essential for accurately estimating oil and gas resources. In order to explore the hydrocarbon-generation potential of high-quality source rocks of the Middle Jurassic and the evolution of liquid hydrocarbons and biomarkers, we carried out simulation research (under hydrous conditions) at various temperatures (250, 300, 350, 400 and 450 °C) with the mudstone of the Yu 33 well in the Yuka Sag. The results revealed that the “oil window” of the Middle Jurassic source rocks in the Yuka area was 300 °C (simulation temperature, Ro = 0.84%), but this was not the peak of hydrocarbon expulsion, which was gradually reached and stabilized above 350 °C. Overall, the concentration of alkanes and aromatics increased with temperature; although the concentration of alkanes was complex in the low evolutionary stages, temperature (simulated maturity) was still the main factor controlling the change in alkanes and aromatics. Among the maturity parameters of biomarkers, the ratio of ∑tricyclic terpanes/∑hopanes was the most effective parameter for indicating the maturity evolution of the Yuka area, but others were complicated by the increasing temperature. Therefore, when evaluating maturity, the applicability of other parameters needed to be fully considered. The results obtained offer new insights in the research on liquid-hydrocarbon and biomarker evolution of the Middle Jurassic source rocks in the Yuka Sag of the Qaidam Basin.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/20/7793biomarkersliquid hydrocarbonsMiddle JurassicQaidam Basinthermal simulation |
| spellingShingle | Yongxin Chen Xilong Zhang Xiang Li Tao Liu Yaru Sun Guotao Zhu Pengfei Ju Characteristics of Liquid-Hydrocarbon Yield and Biomarkers in Various Thermal-Evolution Stages: A Simulation Experiment with the Middle Jurassic Source Rocks in the Northern Margin of the Qaidam Basin Energies biomarkers liquid hydrocarbons Middle Jurassic Qaidam Basin thermal simulation |
| title | Characteristics of Liquid-Hydrocarbon Yield and Biomarkers in Various Thermal-Evolution Stages: A Simulation Experiment with the Middle Jurassic Source Rocks in the Northern Margin of the Qaidam Basin |
| title_full | Characteristics of Liquid-Hydrocarbon Yield and Biomarkers in Various Thermal-Evolution Stages: A Simulation Experiment with the Middle Jurassic Source Rocks in the Northern Margin of the Qaidam Basin |
| title_fullStr | Characteristics of Liquid-Hydrocarbon Yield and Biomarkers in Various Thermal-Evolution Stages: A Simulation Experiment with the Middle Jurassic Source Rocks in the Northern Margin of the Qaidam Basin |
| title_full_unstemmed | Characteristics of Liquid-Hydrocarbon Yield and Biomarkers in Various Thermal-Evolution Stages: A Simulation Experiment with the Middle Jurassic Source Rocks in the Northern Margin of the Qaidam Basin |
| title_short | Characteristics of Liquid-Hydrocarbon Yield and Biomarkers in Various Thermal-Evolution Stages: A Simulation Experiment with the Middle Jurassic Source Rocks in the Northern Margin of the Qaidam Basin |
| title_sort | characteristics of liquid hydrocarbon yield and biomarkers in various thermal evolution stages a simulation experiment with the middle jurassic source rocks in the northern margin of the qaidam basin |
| topic | biomarkers liquid hydrocarbons Middle Jurassic Qaidam Basin thermal simulation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/20/7793 |
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