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The tight sandstone reservoir of the Donghetang Formation underwent complex diagenetic processes for which the controlling factors remain unknown. Here, we present a case study of the lower member of this formation and show that this part of the reservoir consists mostly of lithic quartz sandstone with poor physical characteristics. Using core observation, thin section identification, electronic microprobe, scanning electronic microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and inclusion fluorescence microscopy, we identified five major diagenetic processes: compaction, cementation, dissolution, metasomatism, and hydrocarbon charging. Compaction and cementation have negative effects on petrophysical properties (referred to porosity and permeability of sandstone in this paper), and dissolution improves these properties. Diagenesis is affected by the depositional environment, and clastic constituents control compaction and dissolution; burial history and the geotemperature field control diagenesis at the macroscopic scale, while hydrocarbon charging affects the degree of cementation and dissolution. As oil saturation increases, the percentage of calcareous cements decreases and the development of secondary dissolved pores improves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new method for characterizing architectural elements of fractured-cavernous carbonate reservoirs was proposed, with application to an Ordovician reservoir in the Tahe Oilfield, Tarim basin. The new method integrates observations from outcrop analogs and concepts from modern karst theory for the mapping and modeling of fractured-cavernous reservoirs. In this paper, fractured-cavernous reservoirs were divided into 4 architectural element types—underground river caverns, sinkholes, discrete internal caverns, and faults. Architectural elements of the Ordovician reservoir in Tahe oilfield were identified and characterized by integrating well logs and seismic data. A new method constrained by faults, karst zones, and seismic acoustic impedance data, was introduced to build a 3D model of architectural elements of fractured-cavernous reservoir in the S48 unit of Tahe Oilfield. A porosity model was then derived from the architectural element model using facies-constrained method. The research provides a work-flow for the characterization of fracturedcavernous reservoirs and determining optimal methods for maximizing oil recovery in the study area or in similar areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the breakthrough of exploration in Well TP16-1, the lower Kepingtage Formation becomes a key target for petroleum exploration of deep clastic reservoir in Tahe area. In this paper we focused on the research of the reservoir characteristics and its controlling factors in two sub-member formations (S1 k and S1 k ). Based on X-ray diffraction, conventional physical properties data (porosity and permeability) and reservoir storage space data (casting thin section and scanning electron microscope), we determined that the S1k1 Formation belongs to extra-low porosity and permeability reservoir, although the upper S1 k Formation shows relative better physical characteristic than the lower S1 k Formation. The development of storage space in the study area is controlled by sedimentary microfacies, diagenesis process. Reservoirs in S1k1 Formation are mainly located in channel (S1 k sandstones) and sand flat (S1 k sandstones). The sand flat sediments with a more coarse grain size compared with the channel. In diagenesis, compaction is the major controlling factor for reducing the porosity, followed by cementation. Dissolution of diagenesis is the major controlling factor in enhancing the reservoir porosities. Compared with channel (S1 k ) sandstones, sand flat sandstones (S1 k ) have better reservoir quality for its weaker compaction, cementation and stronger dissolution. On the basis of sedimentary characteristics (grain size and subfacies), physical property (porosity and permeability) and reservoir storage space, we divide the S1k1 reservoir into three categories (I, II and III). Type I reservoir is high quality reservoir. It is mainly distributed in the south area of S1 k and S1 k reservoir. Type II is moderate reservoir. It is located in the middle of S1 k reservoir and in the north of S1 k reservoir. Type III is the poor reservoir. It is only located in the north of S1 k reservoir. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the discovery of the Tahe oilfield, it has been controversial on whether the main source rock is in the Cambrian or Middle-Upper Ordovician strata. In this paper, it is assumed that the crude oil from the Wells YM 2 and TD 2 was derived from the Middle-Upper Ordovician and Cambrian source rocks, respectively. We analyzed the biomarkers of the crude oil, asphalt-adsorbed hydrocarbon and saturated hydrocarbon in bitumen inclusions from the Lunnan and Hade areas in the North Uplift of the Tarim Basin. Results show that the ratios of tricyclic terpane C/C in the crude oil, asphalt-adsorbed hydrocarbon and saturated hydrocarbon in bitumen inclusions are less than 1.0, indicating that they might be from Upper Ordovician source rocks; the ratios of C/(C+C+C) steranes in the saturated hydrocarbon from reservoir bitumen and bitumen inclusions are higher than 25, suggesting that they might come from the Cambrian source rocks, however, the ratios of C/(C+C+C) steranes in oil from the North Uplift are less than 25, suggesting that they might be sourced from the Upper Ordovician source rocks. These findings demonstrate that the sources of crude oil in the Tarim Basin are complicated. The chemical composition and carbon isotopes of Ordovician reservoired oil in the Tarim Basin indicated that the crude oil in the North Uplift (including the Tahe oilfield) and Tazhong Depression was within mixture areas of crude oil from the Wells YM 2 and TD 2 as the end members of the Cambrian and Middle-Upper Ordovician sourced oils, respectively. This observation suggests that the crude oil in the Ordovician strata is a mixture of oils from the Cambrian and Ordovician source rocks, with increasing contribution from the Cambrian source rocks from the southern slope of the North Uplift to northern slope of the Central Uplift of the Tarim Basin. Considering the lithology and sedimentary facies data, the spatial distribution of the Cambrian, Middle-Lower Ordovician and Upper Ordovician source rocks was reconstructed on the basis of seismic reflection characteristics, and high-quality source rocks were revealed to be mainly located in the slope belt of the basin and were longitudinally developed over the maximum flooding surface during the progressive-regressive cycle. Affected by the transformation of the tectonic framework in the basin, the overlays of source rocks in different regions are different and the distribution of oil and gas was determined by the initial basin sedimentary structure and later reformation process. The northern slope of the Central Uplift-Shuntuo-Gucheng areas would be a recent important target for oil and gas exploration, since they have been near the slope area for a long time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reports that the Kuqa depression bears not only plenty of natural gas, but also a large amount of condensate and small quantity of crude oil. Confirmation in this paper that, based on the geochemical correlation between the Jurassic and Triassic terrestrial hydrocarbon source rock, the natural gas in Kuqa depression belongs to coal-type gas and the main gas source rock is attributed to the middle to lower Jurassic coal series formation, while the main oil source rock is the upper Triassic lacustrine mudstone; Indication by the authors that Kuqa depression was slowly subsided in Mesozoic, but rapidly went down in Late Tertiary, which made the Jurassic and Triassic source rock suddenly deep-buried and rapidly evolved to high and over-mature phase since 5 Ma; Statement that the Triassic source rock is postponed to the Early Miocene during 23-12 Ma when entering the oil-generating peak, while the Jurassic is suspended to the latest 5 Ma, especially since 2.5 Ma to the dry gas-generating period, which is one of the characteristics of the source rock thermal evolution in Kuqa depression; Presentation in this paper of a two-stage trapping and late gas trapping model in Kuqa depression whose characteristics are: The main oil and gas reservoirs have different sources; Formation of the oil reservoir is early while the gas reservoir is formed lately; Reference to the fact that, during the early stage, it, mainly as oil, takes long distance lateral migration, while in the later stage, it, mainly as gas, takes the vertical migration and also has lateral migration; Formation of the trap formed in different time on the south and north sides of the depression and evolution into a distributional pattern with oil in the south part and gas in the north, also oil on the outer ring and gas on the inner ring; Reference in this paper to the fact that late trapping of the natural gas in Kuqa depression is favorable for the preservation of large gas fields.

In order to find the impact of regional tectonic evolution of Tarim basin on the inside distribution of sedimentary facies and reservoir development, this paper, based on the research of plate-tectonic evolution of Tarim basin, conducts an in-depth analysis on the basin's inside sedimentary response to the Eopaleozoic regional geodynamic reversion from extension to convergence around Tarim plate, and concludes that the regional geodynamic environment of surrounding areas closely contributes to the formation and evolution of paleo-uplifts, differentiation of sedimentary facies in platform, distribution of high-energy reef and bank facies belts, conversion of sedimentary base level from fall to rise, obvious change of lithology from dolomite to limestone, and formation of several unconformity surfaces in Ordovician system in the basin. A series of sedimentary responses in the basin are controlled by regional dynamic setting, which not only controls the distribution of reservoirs in reef and bank facies but also restricts the development and distribution of karst reservoirs controlled by the unconformity surfaces. This offers the macro geological evidences for us to further analyze and evaluate the distribution of favorable reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The crude oils typically from the Cambrian-Lower Ordovician source rocks of Tarim Basin, NW China, such as TD2Є and TZ62S, are C-enriched with the stable carbon isotopic ratios (VPDB) approaching −28 ‰. In this paper, the main research viewpoints on this issue are summarized, and combined with results from organic and inorganic carbon isotope stratum curves of the outcrop at the Ya'erdang Mountain in Tarim Basin. In addition, more alternative interpretations are discussed. On one hand, the inverse fractionation features of stable carbon and hydrogen isotopes of these crude oils may imply their protogenous nature. On the other hand, the anisotropy of source rocks and contribution from older stratum source rocks need verifying as well. For the sake of the final resolution of this issue, some further study topics are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meso-Cenozoic extensional structures are important for understanding the tectonics of the Chinese Central Asia. This paper presents a systematic investigation on the Meso-Cenozoic extensional structures in the Northern Tarim Basin. Close interpretations of seismic data reveal that the Meso-Cenozoic extensional structures were widely developed in the Northern Tarim Basin. These extensional structures are regionally composed of many small normal faults, which usually group into left- or right-step en echelon and form several transtensional fault zones. Combinations of normal faults in profile become small graben-horst or staircase-like cross-sections. Based on the areal distribution, structural style, combination relationship, formation and evolution time, and formation mechanism of the extensional structures, we found that the Meso-Cenozoic extensional structures in Northern Tarim Basin can be classified into two conjugate normal fault systems, which were formed separately in Jurassic-Early Cretaceous and Late Cretaceous-Neogene. The former is likely associated with the stress relaxation after a collisional orogeny accompanied with a certain degree of anticlockwise rotation of the Tarim block relative to the South Tianshan; the latter is possibly induced by the east by south tectonic escape of the Tarim block with a certain degree of clockwise rotation relative to the South Tianshan triggered by the far-field effect of the Himalayan orogeny. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The polymetallic (Pb, Zn, Cu, etc) ore belt on the southwestern margin of Tarim is one of the major regions with the greatest prospecting potential in Xinjiang. Reported in this paper are the lead isotope data for 66 sulfide samples (including 50 galena samples, 15 chalcopyrite samples and 1 pyrite sample) collected from such representative deposits as Tamu, Tiekelike, Kalangu, Abalieke, etc. in this ore belt. The Pb isotopic ratios of Pb/Pb, Pb/Pb and Pb/Pb in the galena samples range from 17.931 to 18.176, 15.609 to 15.818 and 38.197 to 38.944, with the average values of 18.017, 15.684 and 38.462, respectively. Those in the chalcopyrite samples range from 17.926 to 18.144, 15.598 to 15.628 and 38.171 to 38.583, with the average values of 18.020, 15.606 and 38.262, respectively. The pyrite sample has the Pb isotopic ratios of Pb/Pb, Pb/Pb and Pb/Pb to be 17.980, 15.604 and 38.145, respectively. In combination with the previous Pb isotope data for sulfides, it is found that there is only a slight variation in the Pb isotopic composition of galena, chalcopyrite, sphalerite and pyrite in the ore belt. However, there is some difference in Pb isotopic characteristics between galena and chalcopyrite, especially the Pb isotopic composition of galena shows an obvious linear correlation with some other relevant parameters (e.g. Δβ and Δγ). The comprehensive analysis suggested that lead in galena (maybe including sphalerite and pyrite) was derived principally from wall rocks and underlying basement, and that in chalcopyrite only originated from the basement. The single-stage model ages of these sulfides couldn't indicate the time limit of metallogenesis (Pb, Zn, Cu, etc.), and the positive linear correlations for the Pb isotopic composition of galena are of no single-stage and two-stage Pb-Pb isochron significance. Furthermore, there are significant differences in Pb isotopic composition characteristics between the genetic type of deposits in this polymetallic ore belt and the Mississippi Valley type (MVT). In addition, the authors also pointed out that there is a phenomenon of differentiation (not paragenesis) for lead and copper elements during the process of metallogenesis in this ore belt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The apatite (U-Th)/He thermochronometry has been used to study the tectono-thermal evolution of mountains and sedimentary basins for over ten years. The closure temperature of helium is important for the apatite (U-Th)/He thermochronometry and has been widely studied by thermal simulation experiments. In this paper, the apatite He closure temperature was studied by establishing the evolutionary pattern between apatite He ages and apatite burial depth based on examined apatite He ages of natural samples obtained from drillholes in the Tarim basin, China. The study showed that the apatite He closure temperature of natural samples in the Tarim basin is approximately 88±5°C, higher than the result (∼75°C) obtained from the thermal simulation experiments. The high He closure temperature resulted from high effective uranium concentration, long-term radiation damage accumulation, and sufficient particle radii. This study is a reevaluation of the conventional apatite He closure temperature and has a great significance in studying the uplifting events in the late period of the basin-mountain tectonic evolution, of which the uplifting time and rates can be determined accurately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The salt beds of the Middle-Lower Cambrian are widespread in the middle-west parts of the Central Uplift and adjacent areas, the Tarim Basin. This paper presents the results of seismic interpretation and drilling data analysis, which discovered that the salt beds were formed in an old geologic age, deeply buried, with relatively small scaled flowing and gathering and uneven distribution. As the regional detachment layers, the salt sequences considerably control the structural deformation of the up-salt Paleozoic, forming a series of hydrocarbon traps. In due course, the salt beds of the Middle-Lower Cambrian provide excellent cap rocks and trap conditions; thus the value of exploring hydrocabon reservoir in the target strata of the sub-salt Sinian-Cambrian is greatly increased. Research has shown that the salt-related structures of the Middle-Lower Cambrian in the area mainly exist in the form of salt pillow, salt roller, up-salt anticline, salt diapir, assemblage of the salt arch and up-salt fault-block, assemblage of basement fault and salt anticline, assemblage of the basement fault-block and salt dome, assemblage of salt detachment and fault-related fold, and assemblage of basement fault-block, salt arch and up-salt imbricated thrusts. The evolution and deformation mechanisms of the salt-related structures are controlled largely by basement faulting, compressional shortening, plastic flowing and gathering, superstratum gravitation, and up-salt faulting and detaching. They are distributed in rows or belts along basement faults or fault block belts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polychaete serpulids are globally distributed tubeworms mostly in marine environments from Late Triassic to modern time. These calcareous tubeworms could be rock-forming, reef-building, or a principal fouling organism in harbor and bays. Carbonates of the Paleogene Kalatar Formation in southwest Tarim Basin yield abundant serpulid fossils, which, together with oyster fossils, constitute the characteristic fossil assemblage of the Kalatar Formation. Other common fossils include bivalves, gastropods, ostracods, echinoderms, and bryozoans. Lithologies that yielded serpulid fossils are characterized by micritic bioclastic limestone, sandy limestone, and shelly limestone, indicating a semi-restricted to open shallow marine environment with medium to low water energy. The research data about serpulids and their fossil materials from China are relatively rare. Based on the studies of fossils taxonomy, community palaeoecology, and fossil taphonomy, this paper analyzed and studied the types, occurrence, distribution, and morphological characteristics of serpulids and their palaeoecological features in the Kalatar Formation. Two serpulid community compositions were recognized in the Kalatar Formation, including a rock-forming Ditrupa community and a cluster-growth Propomatoceros community. The Ditrupa community was distributed in coastal environment of the west Kunlun piedmont, lived on sandy hard substrates with little mud, and rarely occurred in lagoon and tidal settings. The Propomatoceros community occurred in offshore middle carbonate ramp in the piedmont of the south Tianshan Mountains and in offshore shelf in the piedmont of the west Kunlun Mountains. According to the analysis on the host-rock lithologies, preservation and symbionts, it is inferred that serpulids in the Kalatar Formation grew on the oyster shell or other hard substrate, and they did not form reefs or bioherms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TD-2 structure is located in the eastern part of the Central Uplift zone of the Tarim Basin, China. It is a basement-uplift anticline-type structure confirmed by seismic and gravity prospecting, and it is expected to have good potential for oil and gas according to the analysis of regional geological evolution history. But further exploration such as drilling is suspended because of lacking direct geochemical information. Therefore, multi-parametric geochemical surveys, such as free hydrocarbons (C-C), acid hydrocarbons (C-C) and ΔC, Hg of soil, were conducted. It is concluded in this paper that free hydrocarbons are obviously better than other geochemical parameters and could be used for evaluation of oil and gas potential of TD-2 structure in the desert area. Shapes of near-surface geochemical anomalies and geochemical characteristic parameters suggested that TD-2 structure was a dry gas-bearing structure at the early-middle dissipation stage. So TD-2 structure should have some promising potential for oil-gas. Multi-parametric geochemical survey provided important information for further drilling exploration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the teleconnection between the Arctic Oscillation Index (AO) and dust activities in the Tarim Basin [in terms of the Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) Aerosol Index (AI) level]. In this study, High Dust Active years (H) and Low Dust Active years (L) in terms of dust loading are identified. Composites of geopotential height at both 850 and 500 hPa level show that, the geopotential height level of H years is generally lower than the average, especially over the south end of the Central Siberian Plateau. The geopotential height level of L years is generally higher than the average, especially over the same region of Siberia. By correlating the AO and TOMS AI with geopotential height at different pressure levels, a South Siberia Geopotential Height Index (SSGI) is constructed. A strong positive correlation is found between AO and SSGI. Strong negative correlations are found between TOMS AI and AO, and between TOMS AI and SSGI. Through investigating the relation among these three measures (TOMS AI, AO and SSGI), we found that in the positive phase of AO, geopotential gradient between the inside and outside of the basin is small. The northerly wind from Siberia is weak and decreases when it encounters the north barrier of the basin. As a result, dust activities in the Tarim Basin is weak and Eddy Kinetic Energy (EKE) level measured in the basin is lower. In the negative phase of AO, geopotential gradient between the inside and outside of the basin is big. The northerly wind from Siberia is strong, and passes the north barrier of the basin. When it encounters the Tibetan Plateau, a component of the wind goes into the basin. During this process, the wind accelerates given the higher pressure gradient. As a result, dust activities in the Tarim Basin are frequent and intensive, and the EKE level in the basin is higher. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some large-scale oil-gas fields have recently been discovered in marine carbonate in China, especially the significant discoveries in deep reservoir that reveals a favorable exploration prospect. Tazhong area is the first-order tectonic unit in Tarim Basin, where there are nearly trillion cubic meters of natural gas resources in the Ordovician limestone reef flat complex in Lianglitage Formation. The reservoir is shelf edge reef flat complex, characterized by ultra-low porosity, low permeability and strong heterogeneous, with a current burial depth of 4500-6500 m. Studies find that the formation and distribution of deep reservoir of the Lianglitage Formation were controlled not only by the early high-energy sedimentary facies and corrosion, but the fracture network formed by the strong gas-charging process since the Himalayan epoch, which played an important role in optimizing and improving reservoir properties. This paper discusses the relationship between the strong later gas-charging and the improvement of the reservoir capacity in deep Ordovician carbonate reservoir, and also builts the corresponding mechanisms and modes, which is favorable for the prediction and evaluation of the advantageous exploration targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a 2D velocity structure of the crust and the upper mantle of the northern margin of the Tarim Basin (TB) has been obtained by ray tracing and theoretical seismogram calculation under the condition of 2D lateral inhomogeneous medium using the data of seismic wide angle reflection/refraction profile from Baicheng to Da Qaidam crossing the Kuqa Depression (KD) and Tabei Uplift (TU). And along the Baicheng to Da Qaidam profile, 4 of the 10 shot points are located in the northern margin of the TB. The results show that the character of the crust is uniform on the whole between the KD and TU, but the depth of the layers, thickness of the crust and the velocity obviously vary along the profile. Thereinto, the variation of the crust thickness mainly occurs in the middle and lower crust. The Moho has an uplifting trend near the Baicheng shot point in KD and Luntai shot point in TU, and the thickness of the crust reduces to 42 km and 47 km in these two areas, respectively. The transition zone between the KD and TU has a thickest crust, up to 52 km. In this transition zone, there are high velocity anomalies in the upper crust, and low velocity anomalies in the lower crust, these velocity anomalies zone is near vertical, and the sediment above them is thicker than the other areas. According to the velocity distributions, the profile can be divided into three sections: KD, TU and transition zone between them. Each section has a special velocity structural feature, the form of the crystalline basement and the relationship between the deep structure and the shallow one. The differences of velocity and tectonic between eastern and western profile in the northern margin of the Tarim Basin (NMTB) may suggest different speed and intensity of the subduction from the Tarim basin to the Tianshan orogenic belt (TOB). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ordovician system is an important target for exploration in the Tarim Basin. Restoration of the Ordovician tectono-depositional environment is a key basis for the study of the structural development history in Tarim block and the prediction of the favorable Ordovician reservoir belts (zones). Based on the surrounding tectonic settings, the litho-facies and sedimentary fill, the palaeo-geography, palaeoclimate and palaeo-ecology, and the structural deformation and magmatic eruptions, in this paper we combine the sedimentary fill in the basin with the development of the surrounding orogenic belts and re-build the proto-type basins of the different Ordovician periods. During the Ordovician period, the Tarim region was characterized by the composite of the interior cratonic depression with the peripheral cratonic depression. The interior cratonic depression in the central and western parts is mainly the depositional area of the platform facies while the peripheral cratonic depression in the eastern part is mainly the zone of deepwater basin facies, with the slope acting as the transition belt between them. During the Late Ordovician period, the closure of the Northern Kunlun Ocean and destruction of the trench- arc-basin system in the Altyn Tagh region put the southern part of the Tarim block under compression and uplifting and turned the central and western parts of the carbonate platform into the mixed depositional continental shelf. The eastern region of the basin had the over-compensated flysch sedimentation with huge thickness, marking the drastic turn of the basin nature. The basin tectonic framework turned to the south-north differentiation of the Silurian period from the east-west differentiation of the Ordovician period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The identification of marine source rocks in the Tarim Basin is debated vigorously. The intention of this paper is to investigate the asphaltenes in heavy oils from the Lunnan and Tahe oilfields and Well TD2 with ruthenium-ions-catalyzed oxidation technique (RICO), in order to explore its role in oil-oil and oil-source correlations. The RICO products included n-alkanoic acids, α, ω-di-n-alkanoic acids, branched alkanoic acids, tricyclic terpanoic acids, hopanoic acids, gammacerane carboxylic acid , regular sterane carboxylic acids and 4-methylsterane carboxylic acids. The n-alkyl chains and biomarkers bounded on the asphaltenes were of unsusceptibility to biodegradation. The distribution and absolute concentrations of n-alkanoic acids in the RICO products of heavy oils from the Lunnan and Tahe oilfields are different from those of Well TD2. The biomarkers bounded on the asphaltenes, especially steranes, have a distribution trend similar to that of the counterparts in saturates. The sterane carboxylic acids and 4-methylsterane carboxylic acids in the RICO products of heavy oils from the Lunnan and Tahe oilfields, dominated by C30 sterane and C31 4-methylsterane carboxylic acids, respectively, are significantly different from those of the heavy oils of Well TD2, whose dominating sterane and 4-methylsterane carboxylic acids are C28 sterane and C29 4-methylsterane acids, respectively. The RICO products of the asphaltenes further indicate that the Middle-Upper Ordovician may be the main source rocks for heavy oils from the Lunnan and Tahe oilfields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The issue of source of oil/gas in the platform basin area in Tarim Basin has been debated for a long time, and the debate is focused on whether the marine oil/gas resources that have been discovered in the basin were originated from hydrocarbon source rocks in the Cambrian-Lower Ordovician or in the Mid-Upper Ordovician. In this paper a summary was made in regard to the major points and supporting data by the predecessors, and a discussion was conducted toward the core issues related to the study on the oil source in the Tarim Basin area, such as choice of correlation parameters, influence of maturation and physical differentiation on oil source correlation parameters, and geological and geochemical significance of these relevant correlation indices. It is quite probable that different interpretation results could arise from the oil source correlation due to choice of parameters severely affected by the thermal maturation and physical differentiation effect, and insisted that only those parameters that come with clearly defined geochemical significance and are less affected by thermal maturation and variations occurring during secondary evolution process are valid ones. The marine crude in Tarim Basin covers contributions that were originated from two sets of hydrocarbon source rocks as mentioned above but dominated by the one from the Mid-Upper Ordovician hydrocarbon source rocks. Here oil of mixed sources occurs extensively, and crude from Cambrian sources was also discovered. It is suggested that for further study on the origin of marine crudes in Tarim Basin, the parameters used for correlation of oil sources shall be optimized, and a comprehensive set of geological and geochemical methods shall be adopted for this purpose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There were different opinions about the origin of petroleum property variations in the Lunnan Low Uplift of the Tarim Basin. In this paper, a software PVTsim was applied to investigate the compositions of the petroleum fluid inclusions in different sets of reservoir rocks from this area. The results show that there are three phases of petroleum inclusions in the Ordovician carbonate reservoirs and two types of petroleum inclusions in the Carboniferous and Triassic sandstone reservoirs. The three phases of the petroleum inclusions from the Ordovician reservoir rocks have similar compositions with the type 1 petroleum inclusion from the carboniferous and Triassic reservoir rocks, but the type 2 petroleum inclusion from the carboniferous and Triassic reservoirs is characterized by higher content of C1 and higher GOR values. With the combination of the geological background, it was inferred that the current petroleum pools in the Lunnan Low Uplift were formed mainly by two phases of petroleum charges, one is normal oils and another light oils, and both occurred during the late Tertiary. The light oils came from eastern-south direction, and migrated and charged into the reservoirs upward and toward northern west directions. On the basis of this, it was believed that the multiphases of the petroleum charges and some composition dissipation caused by the preserved condition changes would be the main reason of the petroleum property variations in the petroleum pools in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

More and more evidence indicates that organic matter (OM) in immature organic-rich sediments and sedimentary rocks is chemically adsorbed onto the outer surfaces of minerals and into interlayer (inner) surfaces of smectitic clay minerals in the form of amorphous molecular-scale carbon. But there have been few reports about the occurrence of highly mature OM in marine black shales (petroleum source rocks). The occurrence of highly mature OM in the black shales of basal Cambrian from northern Tarim Basin is studied in this paper. Based on the comprehensive analyses of total organic carbon contents (TOC) , maximum thermoplastics temperatures (Tmax) of OM, mineral surface areas ( MSA ) , and scanning electronic microscopic (SEM) and transmission electronic microscopic (TEM) observations of the black shales, it is concluded that the highly mature OM in the marine black shales of the basal Cambrian from northern Tarim Basin occurs in particulates ranging In size from 1 to 5µm in diameter. Through the contrast of the occurrence of the highly mature OM in the black shales with that of the immature ones in modem marine continental margin sediments, some scientific problems are proposed, which are worth to study further in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ten series of aromatic hydrocarbon compounds (biphenyl, naphthalene, phenanthrene, anthracene, retene, chrysene, benzoanthracene, dibenzofuran, fluorene, dibenzothiophene) isolated from seven Triassic and Jurassic lacustrine mudstone samples and three swamp coal samples, as well as five crude oil samples collected in the Kuche depression of the Tarim Basin, NW China, have been analysed by GC-MS techniques. It is found that the relative abundances of dibenzofuran series are higher in the three swamp coal samples than those in the lacustrine mudstone samples. Based on the similar relative abundances of dibenzofuran series, especially dibenzofuran compound, in the TICs of aromatic hydrocarbons, crude oils from wells SA3 ( K ) , YTK5 ( E , K) and QLl (E) are thought to have been derived predominantly from the coals of the Lower Jurassic Yangxia Formation or Middle Jurassic Kezilenuer Formation, whereas those from wells YM7 ( 0 ) and YH1 (E) were derived mainly from Triassic and Jurassic lacustrine mudstones in the Kuche depression. This is the first report about how lo distinguish coal-generated oils from lacustrine mudstone-generated oils in the Kuche depression in terms of the dibenzofuran series. The present paper has enlightening and directive significance for further oil-source rock correlations and oil and/or gas exploration in the Kuche depression of the Tarim Basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reports that the Lunnan area in the Tarim Basin has become an important onshore oil production base in China. Statement that the formation of the oil and gas pools in the low uplift of Lunnan has experienced a comparatively complex process of dynamics; Reference to the fact that, based on the hydrocarbon generation period of source rocks, the formation period of cap rocks and traps, the analysis of organic inclusion and the analysis of bitumen in the reservoir, this paper draws the conclusion that the low uplift area of Lunnan has experienced three pool formation periods: the Permian period, the Cretaceous-Early Tertiary period and the Late Tertiary-Quaternary period and two oil and gas reservoir adjustment periods: the Late Permian period and the Late Tertiary-Quaternary period; Indication of the comprehensive study that the large-scale Ordovician buried hill, formed in Early Hercynian, became the reservoir during the Permian period, because the Cambrian-Lower Ordovician oil was discharged laterally into the reservoir along the top of the Ordovician weathering crust from south to north; Claim that the reservoir experienced a complicated process—reconstruction in the end of Permian, adjustment in Cretaceous-Early Tertiary and re-discharging process in Late Tertiary-Quaternary, leading to the early original heavy oil reservoir of marine facies and the late original light oil reservoir and gas pool; Statement that carboniferous, Triassic and Jurassic oil and gas reservoirs result from upward adjustment and re-distribution of Ordovician oil and gas reservoirs; Reference to the fact that, of those results, the formation of Triassic-Jurassic oil and gas pools came under the influence of the northward-tilting structure; Vertical migration of the oil and gas sourcing from the different hydrocarbon source rock intervals into the base unconformity of Triassic system; Migration of the the oil and gas laterally from north to south and accumulated into th

Reports that, based on the theory of plate tectonics, combining with the isotopic dating of ophiolite, igneous and volcanics, geochemical tests rare earth element analyze and seismic interpretation, this paper studies the pre-Carboniferous tectonics and sedimentary formation of the south edge of the Tarim Basin and proves that there exists the Kunlun Ocean under tensional tectonics during the Sinian and Cambrian in the south edge of the Tarim Plate. Statement that, due to the collision orogenesis, there formed the peripheral foreland basin in the south edge of Tarim; Reference to the fact that Upper Silurian and Devonian molasses sedimentary system superposed on the Sinian and Middle Silurian passive margin flysch sedimentary system and formed the bivariate structure of the foreland basin; Identification, based on the field geology and seismic interpretation, that the formation of the Silurian and Devonian have the character of half deposit which shows thick in the south area and thin in the north, and the pre-Carboniferous thrust compression tectonics remained in the foreland thrust belt, which further demonstrates that there existed the Silurian and Devonian peripheral foreland basin on the south edge of the Tarim Basin.

Reports that, based on the pore cast and cathodoluminescence thin sections, diagenesis process, source rock maturation history, structural evolution and reservoir quality characteristics, the points of view that the porosities of Paleozoic elastic eureservoirs in the platform of the Tarim Basin are mainly secondary, and the dissolution plays an unignorable role in the formation of eureservoirs, are put forward. Presentation in this paper of a series of criteria for the recognition of the secondary porosities; Introduction of the occurrence extent and classification of secondary porosity; Discovery of three kinds of dissolution mechanism–the aluminosilicate dissolution, the silicon dioxide dissolution and the carbonate dissolution—to generate the secondary porosity; Statement that the formation, distribution, preservation and disappearance of eureservoirs are controlled by the paleostructural framework and evolution, and hydrocarbon filling and discharging; Reference to the fact that paleostructural framework manipulate the migration path and direction of the acid fluid so as to determine the position and extent of the dissolution; Statement that the paleostructure highs and continuous paleouplifts are in favor of developing the secondary porosity; Potential for the hydrocarbon filling to preserve the secondary porosities; Ability of the hydrocarbon discharging t let the secondary porosities be filled by later calcite or quartz overgrowth cements; Suggestion that paleostructure highs and continuous paleouplifts during the maturation period of Cambrian, Ordovician and Carboniferous source rocks (corresponding to S, P and K) are main areas for eureser volts developing.

Reports that, based on detailed studies, this paper proposes that in the Tarim Basin, hydrocarbon reservoirs widespread either in vertical sequences or in plane and high-porosity and high-permeability reservoirs are developed all over the basin. Claim that obvious difference and heterogeneity exist among different kinds of reservoirs; Statement that the lithologic characteristics, reservoir space types and reservoir properties in various strata have been probed; Result indicating that although the Paleozoic carbonates have been deeply buried for a long period, high-quality reservoirs with the porosity of up to 5% -8% (12% as the maximum) and the permeability of 10x10&sup-3;–100x10&sup-3; µm² (1000x10&sup-3; µm² as the maximum) can be found in certain areas; Inclusion of the area with the development of reefs and carbonate beaches, the weathered-crust buried-hill belts that have undergone the long-term exposure, weathering and leaching, the area with the development of dolomitization, and those areas that have experienced the resolution of carbonic acid and organic acid generated by the maturity of the organic matter; Thorough investigation of the genesis of the high-porosity and high-permeability reservoirs in deep-buried conditions (with the depth more than 3500 m).

Tar mats were firstly discovered and determined accurately in terrestrial oil and gas reservoirs associated with Lower Tertiary sandstone reservoirs in the Yaha field of the Tarim Basin, China, by thin-layer chromatography-flame ionization detector (TLC-FID) and Rock-Eval analysis. The relative content of asphaltene in gross composition of tar mat extracts accounts for more than 30%, that in the corresponding oil leg less than 20%. In the geochemical description profile of oil and gas reservoirs, drastic changes in asphaltene contents between tar mats and oil legs could be discovered. This is an important marker to determine tar mats. Distribution characteristics of saturated and aromatic hydrocarbons from reservoir core extracts and crude oils in the Yaha oil and gas reservoirs in the Tarim Basin are described systematically in this paper, and the results show there are similarities among n-alkane distribution characteristics, biomarker distribution characteristics and their combined characteristics of saturated hydrocarbons, and the geochemical characteristics of aromatic hydrocarbons for tar mats, oil leg, asphaltic sand and crude oil. These characteristics suggest the hydrocarbons in these samples were originated from the common source rocks. However, the geochemical characteristics of tar mats revealed that the mechanism of formation of tar mats is the precipitation of asphaltene from crude oils in petroleum reservoirs caused by increased dissolved gas in oil legs (gas injection). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]