Source of hydrocarbons discovered from Cambrian sub-salt dolomite in Bachu uplift area, Tarim Basin

Abstract

Exploration experiences have showed that the main source rocks of the Lower Cambrian have not been developed in the Bachu uplift; however, the well MB1 in this area had a good oil and gas showing in the Lower Cambrian.To clarify the hydrocarbon source of well MB1 and evaluate the exploration potential of the Bachu uplift, the core extracts from the oil and gas display section of the Lower Cambrian Wusongge'er Formation of well MB1 were studied here by using of geochemical analysis, moreover, oil-oil and oil-source correlations have also been carried out.The saturated hydrocarbon fraction of extracts showed a typical signature which is consistent with marine crude oil in the Tarim Basin, of which the n-alkanes have a single-peak pre-peak distribution, the series is preserved intact and there was no apparent "hump" in the basline, the ratio of Pr/Ph was 0.89, the abundance of the tricyclic terpanes was higher than that of the hopanes, the C27-C28-C29ααα20R regular steranes had a typical "V" shape, the carbon isotope value of crude oil is -30.8‰, and the trifluorene compounds were obviously override thiofluorene.It then indicates that they were derived from the saprolite-type sources with a strongly reducing sedimentary environment, moreover, the organic matters are high mature.The Lower Cambrian oil showed in well MB1 have the same origin as the Ordovician crude oil in the Yubei 1 belt, and both of them probably came from the Lower Cambrian source rocks. It was inferred that the Lower Cambrian oil and gas in well MB1 came from the peripheral Lower Cambrian source rocks or paleo-oil reservoirs, which enhanced the exploration potential of Cambrian in the Bachu uplift.

Keywords

• oil shows
• geochemical characteristics
• oil-source correlation
• cambrian
• bachu uplift
• tarim basin