THE NATURE AND ORIGIN OF PETROLEUM IN THE CHAIWOPU SUB-BASIN (JUNGGAR BASIN), NW CHINA

The Chaiwopu Sub-basin is a minor extension of the Junggar Basin, hW China, and covers an area of about 2,500 sq. km. It is bounded to the east and north by the Bogda Shan and to the south by the Tian Shan ("Shan" meaning "mountains" in Chinese). Four wells have been drilled in the sub-basin; condensate and gas have been produced in noncommercial quantities at one of the wells (Well C), but the other three wells were dry. In this paper, I investigate the nature and origin of the petroleum at Well C.
Three of the four wells in the Chaiwopu Sub-basin penetrated the Upper Permian Lucaogou Formation. Previous studies in the Junggar Basin have established that laminated lacustrine mudstones assigned to this formation comprise a very thick high quality source rock. However, the analysis of cores from wells in the sub-basin shows that the Lucaogou Formation is composed here of shallow lacustrine, fluvial and alluvial deposits which have very low petroleum generation potential. Overlying sediments (Upper Permian, Triassic and younger strata) likewise have little source potential.
Around 1,000 m of Upper Permian laminated oil shales crop out at Dalongkou and Tianchi on the northern side of the Bogda Shan. On the southern side of the Bogda Shan, however, only 30 m of Upper Permian oil shales occur at Guodikong. Shales and oil seeps from these locations were analysed using standard organic-geochemical techniques.
The physical properties of the petroleum present at Well C, and its carbon isotope and biomarker characteristics, suggest that it has migrated over long distances from its source rock, although an alternative explanation for its origin is not precluded. Burial history modelling indicates that hydrocarbon generation and migration may have occurred before the uplift of the Bogda Shan in the Late Jurassic—Early Cretaceous, the orogenic episode which resulted in the diflerentiation of the Chaiwopu Sub-basinfrom the Junggar Basin.     

AN EVALUATION OF THE HYDROCARBON POTENTIAL OF THE SEDIMENTARY BASINS OF LIBYA

Distinctive structural and stratigraphic styles, together with the timely development of source rocks, reservoirs and seals, have produced in Libya the richest hydrocarbon habitats on the African continent. These habitats are located in the Sirte Basin (29,000 MM brl of proved reserves), and Ghadames Basins and Pelagian Shelf (3,000 MM brls of proved reserves). Significant oil discoveries have also been made in the Murzuk Basin (1,500 MM brl of proved reserves) and the offshore Cyrenaica Platform.
Four major potential source rocks have been identified in Libya: the Sirte shales (Campanian), the Hagfa shales (Palaeocene), the Tanezzuft shales (Silurian), and shales of Devonian age. The Sirte and Hagfa shales have generated hydrocarbons for most of the prolific reservoirs in the Sirte Basin. The Sirte shales supply hydrocarbons to clastic reservoirs of Cambro-Ordovician age (the Gargaf Group) and Lower Cretaceous age (Nubian sandstones), and also to Upper Cretaceous carbonates. The Hagfa shales source most of the Tertiary reservoirs in the Sirte Basin and possibly the Cyrenaica Platform. Silurian (Tanezzuft) and Devonian shales supply hydrocarbons to reservoirs of Palaeozoic and Mesozoic ages, particularly Silurian and Devonian sandstones in the Ghadames and Murzuk Basins, and the Cyrenaica Platform.
The principal seals in the Sirte Basin are Late Cretaceous and Tertiary shales and anhydrites. Palaeozoic and Mesozoic shales, impermeable carbonates, and occasional anhydrites form the major seals in the Ghadames and Murzuk Basins and the Cyrenaica Platform.     

西藏波林盆地侏罗—白垩系海相烃源岩评价

波林盆地位于青藏高原西南缘,面积约30 000 km2,是高原内勘探程度极低的海相含油气盆地之一。通过对盆地内烃源岩展布特征以及实测剖面的烃源岩有机质丰度、类型和热演化成熟度等有机地球化学参数的分析,认为该盆地存在2套主要烃源岩:上侏罗统门卡墩组黑色页岩厚达432 m,主要沉积于外陆棚环境,残余有机碳含量在0.67%~1.62%,平均1.03%,经过有机质恢复后有机碳含量在0.91%~2.40%,平均1.48%;岗巴群黑色页岩厚度56 m,为一套外陆棚沉积,残余有机碳含量在0.7%~1.08%,平均0.86%;恢复后有机碳含量在0.96%~1.60%,平均1.21%。2套烃源岩都以Ⅱ1型有机质为主,达到高—过成熟阶段,属于盆地内的好烃源岩。因此,该盆地有较丰富的油气生成的物质基础,具有较好的油气勘探前景。     

THE PETROLEUM SYSTEM IN THE SANDINO FOREARC BASIN, OFFSHORE WESTERN NICARAGUA

The underexplored Sandino Basin (Nicaragua Basin/Trough) is located within the forearc area of western Nicaragua and NW Costa Rica. Exploration activity since 2004 has focussed on the onshore sector of the basin, and has included the first drilling campaign for over 30 years. Recent 2D basin modelling of the offshore sector together with organic geochemical studies has attempted to reassess the basin's petroleum potential. Geochemical data from the deepest offshore well indicate that Middle Eocene to Lower Oligocene sediments of the Brito Formation, as well as Upper Oligocene to Lower Miocene sediments of the Masachapa Formation, may have source rock potential. A third and perhaps more significant potential source rock interval is associated with the Lower Cretaceous black shales of the Loma Chumico Formation, which has been studied in the adjacent forearc area in NW Costa Rica (Tempisque Basin) and is inferred to be present in the Sandino Basin.
The thermal history of the forearc basin is controlled by the low basal heat flow (39 mW/m²). 2D modelling has shown that the Sandino Basin is thermally mature, resulting in the potential for hydrocarbon generation in organic-rich intervals in the Brito and Masachapa Formations. A petroleum-generating "kitchen" has tentatively been identified on a NE-SW seismic section which crosses the basin. Modelling suggests that this kitchen has been active from the Late Eocene until the present day, and that the main phases of petroleum generation in general coincide with phases of maximum subsidence in the Late Eocene, Late Oligocene and Plio-Pleistocene. Hydrocarbon migration most probably occurred from the deep basin towards the flanks. Significant volumes of petroleum may have been lost prior to the Late Miocene before the formation of a coastal flexure which can be recognised in the NE of the seismic profile.     

ORGANIC GEOCHEMISTRY,BURIAL HISTORY AND HYDROCARBON GENERATION MODELLING OF THE UPPER JURASSIC MADBI FORMATION,MASILA BASIN,YEMEN

The Masila Basin is an important hydrocarbon province in Yemen but the origin of its hydrocarbons is not fully understood. In this study, we evaluate Upper Jurassic source rocks in the Madbi Formation and assess the results of basin modelling in order to improve our understanding of burial history and hydrocarbon generation. This source rock has generated commercial volumes of hydrocarbons which migrated into Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous reservoir rocks. Cuttings samples of shales from the Upper Jurassic Madbi Formation from boreholes in the centre-west of the Masila Basin were analysed using organic geochemistry (Rock-Eval pyrolysis, extract analysis) and organic petrology. The shales generally contain more than 2.0 wt % TOC and have very good to excellent hydrocarbon potential. Kerogen is predominantly algal Type II with minor Type I. Thermal maturity of the organic matter is R_r 0.69–0.91%. Thermal and burial history models indicate that the Madbi Formation source rock entered the early-mature to mature stage in the Late Cretaceous to Early Tertiary. Hydrocarbon generation began in the Late Cretaceous, reaching maximum rates during the Early Tertiary. Cretaceous subsidence had only a minor influence on source rock maturation and OM transformation.     

南华北上古生界油气成藏关键条件分析

南华北上古生界石炭—二叠系含煤地层是一套良好的烃源岩,但多年勘探一直未能取得油气突破。该文从控制上古生界油气成藏的关键因素出发,立足有效烃源岩与油气保存这2个基本条件的分析,取得了对该区主要凹陷上古生界成烃演化和油气保存条件的重要认识。研究认为,南华北上古生界具有二次生烃的有利条件,并具有油气兼生的特点;太康隆起、鹿邑凹陷、谭庄—沈丘凹陷在燕山中晚期已具备二次生烃条件,而倪丘集凹陷较晚,主要在喜山晚期,是寻找晚生晚成油气藏的重点地区;现今深凹区是二次生烃的主要区,并具有有利的油气保存条件。     

PETROLEUM GEOLOGY AND HYDROCARBON POTENTIAL OF THE GUBAN BASIN,NORTHERN SOMALILAND

The Guban Basin is a NW‐SE trending Mesozoic‐Tertiary rift basin located in northern Somaliland (NW Somalia) at the southern coast of the Gulf of Aden. Only seven exploration wells have been drilled in the basin, making it one of the least explored basins in the Horn of Africa – southern Arabia region. Most of these wells encountered source, reservoir and seal rocks. However, the wells were based on poorly understood subsurface geology and were located in complex structural areas. The Guban Basin is composed of a series of on‐ and offshore sub‐basins which cover areas of 100s to 1000s of sq. km and which contain more than 3000 m of sedimentary section. Seismic, gravity, well, outcrop and geochemical data are used in this study to investigate the petroleum systems in the basin. The basin contains mature source rocks with adequate levels of organic carbon together with a variety of reservoir rocks. The principal exploration play is the Mesozoic petroleum system with mature source rocks (Upper Jurassic Gahodleh and Daghani shales) and reservoirs of Upper Jurassic to Miocene age. Maturity data suggest that maximum maturity was achieved prior to Oligocene rift‐associated uplift and unroofing. Renewed charge may have commenced during post‐ Oligocene‐Miocene rifting as a result of the increased heat flows and the increased depth of burial of the Upper Jurassic source rocks in localised depocentres. The syn‐rift Oligocene‐Miocene acts as a secondary objective owing to its low maturity except possibly in localised offshore sub‐basins. Seals include various shale intervals some of which are also source rocks, and the Lower Eocene evaporites of the Taleh Anhydrite constitute an effective regional seal. Traps are provided by drag and rollover anticlines associated with tilted fault blocks. However, basaltic volcanism and trap breaching as a consequence of the Afar plume and Oligocene‐Miocene rifting of the Gulf of Aden cause considerable exploration risk in the Guban Basin.     

SOURCE ROCK POTENTIAL OF THE BLUE NILE (ABAY) BASIN, ETHIOPIA

The Blue Nile Basin, a Late Palaeozoic ‐ Mesozoic NW‐SE trending rift basin in central Ethiopia, is filled by up to 3000 m of marine deposits (carbonates, evaporites, black shales and mudstones) and continental siliciclastics. Within this fill, perhaps the most significant source rock potential is associated with the Oxfordian‐Kimmeridgian Upper Hamanlei (Antalo) Limestone Formation which has a TOC of up to 7%. Pyrolysis data indicate that black shales and mudstones in this formation have HI and S₂ values up to 613 mgHC/gCorg and 37.4 gHC/kg, respectively. In the Dejen‐Gohatsion area in the centre of the basin, these black shales and mudstones are immature for the generation of oil due to insufficient burial. However, in the Were Ilu area in the NE of the basin, the formation is locally buried to depths of more than 1,500 m beneath Cretaceous sedimentary rocks and Tertiary volcanics. Production index, T_max, hydrogen index and vitrinite reflectance measurements for shale and mudstone samples from this areas indicate that they are mature for oil generation. Burial history reconstruction and Lopatin modelling indicate that hydrocarbons have been generated in this area from 10Ma to the present day. The presence of an oil seepage at Were Ilu points to the presence of an active petroleum system. Seepage oil samples were analysed using gas chromatography and results indicate that source rock OM was dominated by marine material with some land‐derived organic matter. The Pr/Ph ratio of the seepage oil is less than 1, suggesting a marine depositional environment. n‐alkanes are absent but steranes and triterpanes are present; pentacyclic triterpanes are more abundant than steranes. The black shales and mudstones of the Upper Hamanlei Limestone Formation are inferred to be the source of the seepage oil. Of other formations whose source rock potential was investigated, a sample of the Permian Karroo Group shale was found to be overmature for oil generation; whereas algal‐laminated gypsum samples from the Middle Hamanlei Limestone Formation were organic lean and had little source potential     

CHARACTERIZATION OF UPPER PALAEOZOIC ORGANIC‐RICH UNITS IN SVALBARD: IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PETROLEUM SYSTEMS OF THE NORWEGIAN BARENTS SHELF

Recent discoveries of hydrocarbons along the western margin of the Norwegian Barents Shelf have emphasised the need for a better understanding of the source rock potential of the Upper Palaeozoic succession. In this study, a comprehensive set of organic geochemical data have been collected from the Carboniferous – Permian interval outcropping on Svalbard in order to re‐assess the offshore potential. Four stratigraphic levels with organic‐rich facies have been identified: (i) Lower Carboniferous (Mississippian) fluvio‐lacustrine intervals with TOC between 1 and 75 wt.% and a cumulative organic‐rich section more than 100 m thick; (ii) Upper Carboniferous (Pennsylvanian) evaporite‐associated marine shales and organic‐rich carbonates with TOC up to 20 wt.%; (iii) a widespread lowermost Permian organic‐rich carbonate unit, 2–10 m thick, with 1–10 wt. % TOC; and (iv) Lower Permian organic‐rich marine shales with an average TOC content of 10 wt.%. Petroleum can potentially be tied to organic‐rich facies at formation level based on the gammacerane index, δ¹³C of the aromatic fraction and/or the Pr/Ph ratio. Relatively heavy δ¹³C values, a low gammacerane index and high Pr/Ph ratios characterize Lower Carboniferous non‐marine sediments, whereas evaporite‐associated facies have lighter δ¹³C, a higher gammacerane index and lower Pr/Ph ratios.