Geochemical characteristics and geological significance of noble gases in natural gas from Songliao Basin, China

Wei LI; Jianfa CHEN; Jie WANG; Xiaobo WANG; Daxiang HE; Dongliang WANG; Kaixuan LIU; Bing YOU; Cong CHEN; Rao FU; Shuaiqi TANG; Jiaqi ZHANG

doi:10.11781/sysydz202403576

Shiyou shiyan dizhi (May 2024)

Geochemical characteristics and geological significance of noble gases in natural gas from Songliao Basin, China

Wei LI,
Jianfa CHEN,
Jie WANG,
Xiaobo WANG,
Daxiang HE,
Dongliang WANG,
Kaixuan LIU,
Bing YOU,
Cong CHEN,
Rao FU,
Shuaiqi TANG,
Jiaqi ZHANG

Affiliations

Wei LI: National Key Laboratory of Petroleum Resources and Engineering, College of Geosciences, China University of Petroleum (Beijing), Beijing 102249, China
Jianfa CHEN: National Key Laboratory of Petroleum Resources and Engineering, College of Geosciences, China University of Petroleum (Beijing), Beijing 102249, China
Jie WANG: Wuxi Research Institute of Petroleum Geology, SNOPEC, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214126, China
Xiaobo WANG: Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration and Development, PetroChina, Beijing 100089, China
Daxiang HE: Hubei Key Laboratory of Oil & Gas Geochemistry and Environment, Yangtze University, Wuhan, Hubei 430100, China
Dongliang WANG: Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration and Development, PetroChina, Beijing 100089, China
Kaixuan LIU: National Key Laboratory of Petroleum Resources and Engineering, College of Geosciences, China University of Petroleum (Beijing), Beijing 102249, China
Bing YOU: National Key Laboratory of Petroleum Resources and Engineering, College of Geosciences, China University of Petroleum (Beijing), Beijing 102249, China
Cong CHEN: National Key Laboratory of Petroleum Resources and Engineering, College of Geosciences, China University of Petroleum (Beijing), Beijing 102249, China
Rao FU: National Key Laboratory of Petroleum Resources and Engineering, College of Geosciences, China University of Petroleum (Beijing), Beijing 102249, China
Shuaiqi TANG: National Key Laboratory of Petroleum Resources and Engineering, College of Geosciences, China University of Petroleum (Beijing), Beijing 102249, China
Jiaqi ZHANG: National Key Laboratory of Petroleum Resources and Engineering, College of Geosciences, China University of Petroleum (Beijing), Beijing 102249, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.11781/sysydz202403576
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 46, no. 3
pp. 576 – 589

Abstract

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Geochemistry of noble gases has been applied to the study of deep Earth materials and celestial meteorites. With advancements in measurement technology, it is also increasingly being used in natural gas research. Using the most advanced noble gas mass spectrometer, a systematic analysis was conducted on the abundance and isotopes of noble gas samples collected from the middle and deep Songliao Basin in eastern China to elucidate the compositional characteristics of noble gases in a faulted basin. The findings reveal that the abundance of noble gases in natural gas decreases from light noble gases to heavy noble gases in a left-to-right reversed L-shaped pattern. Specifically, the isotopic ratios of noble gases are: 3He/4He at 2.64×10-6, 20Ne/22Ne at 9.94, 21Ne/22Ne at 0.029 22, and 40Ar/36Ar at 743.7, all of which are higher than atmospheric values. The isotopes 80Kr, 84Kr, 86Kr, and 131-136Xe show relative excess compared to atmospheric levels, indicating the mixing of mantle-derived gases in the natural gas. Based on the compositional characteristics of noble gases, this study suggests that the natural gas in the middle and deep Songliao Basin originated from inorganic crust and mantle mixing. Additionally, certain differences exist in the contribution of mantle-derived components across different tectonic blocks and categories of natural gas within the basin. Comparison between noble gas compositions and the types of natural gas demonstrates that light noble gases distinguish effectively between different types of natural gas, whereas the composition of heavy noble gases shows no significant differences among various types of natural gas. Noble gas isotopes, in addition to tracing the source of natural gas, can also be used to determine natural gas genesis, distinguish natural gas types and characterize tectonic settings.

Published in Shiyou shiyan dizhi

ISSN: 1001-6112 (Print)
Publisher: Editorial Office of Petroleum Geology and Experiment
Country of publisher: China
LCC subjects: Science: Physics: Geophysics. Cosmic physics; Science: Geology
Website: https://www.sysydz.net/indexen.htm

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