Controls on anomalously high porosity/permeability of Middle Jurassic deeply buried tight sandstones in the Taibei Sag, Turpan-Hami Basin, northwestern China: Implications for reservoir quality prediction

The lower member of the Middle Jurassic Xishanyao Formation (J2x1+2) sandstones are significant exploratory targets for hydrocarbon resources in the Taibei Sag of the Turpan-Hami Basin, northwestern China. Formation of anomalously high porosity/permeability in deeply buried J2x1+2 sandstones and reservoir quality prediction were investigated using a variety of petrographic analyses. These results show that the J2x1+2 sandstones are mostly feldspathic litharenites and litharenites, which are characterized by moderate-to good sorting, silty to medium granularity, and point- to long grain contacts. The J2x1+2 sandstone has low porosity (avg 6.0%) and permeability (avg 1.12 mD), but shows anomalously high porosity/permeability at depth interval of 3850–4050 m. There is a noticeable variation in pore types and sizes from intergranular-intragranular dissolution pores with a size mode of 2.0 μm in anomalously high porosity (AHP) sandstones, to major intragranular dissolution pores with a size mode of 0.5 μm in normally high porosity (NHP) sandstones, to most micropores with a size mode of 0.25 μm occurred in the normally low porosity (NLP) sandstones. The compaction is the main cause of porosity destruction, resulting in an average porosity loss of 89.6%. However, the authigenic minerals have relatively little influence on reservoir quality. The combination of nappe tectonics and well-sorted particles alleviated the compaction and thus preserved more intergranular pores in the AHP sandstones. Dissolution further increases the porosity and eventually forms the AHP sandstones. The strong carbonate-cemented facies (SCC), tightly compacted facies (TC), moderately compacted with moderate dissolution facies (MCMD), and weakly compacted with strong dissolution facies (WCSD) are determined in the J2x1+2 sandstones. The sandstones with SCC and TC are recognized as the NLP reservoirs. The MCMD and WCSD correspond to the NHP and AHP reservoirs, respectively. The reservoir quality predicted using the constructed diagenetic facies charts is in good agreement with the photomicrograph observations and physical property tests. Additionally, the AHP reservoirs are still developed in the deeply buried sandstones with depths larger than 4000 m

Synthesis of well-shaped and high-crystalline Ce-based metal organic framework for CO2/CH4 separation

A well-shaped Ce (IV)-based metal organic framework (Ce-BDC) is prepared under solvothermal method. The influence of synthesis time, temperature and the amount of acetic acid (HAc) as a modulator is studied to develop a new strategy for the synthesis of well-shaped Ce-based MOF. The relationship between the synthesis parameters and morphology as well as crystallinity of Ce-BDC is investigated by XRD and SEM. Furthermore, the obtained well-shaped Ce-BDC shows a CO2 uptake capacity of 2.28 mmol g(-1) at 0 degrees C and 1.0 bar. Meanwhile, the breakthrough curve behaviors of Ce-BDC are investigated for a CO2/CH4 and CO2/N-2 mixture gas. It is found that the Ce-based MOF adsorbs CO 2 under ambient temperature and pressure, but completely excludes CH4 and N-2, suggesting that it is a promising adsorbent for efficient separation of CO2 from natural gas

Study on the lower limits of petrophysical parameters of the Upper Paleozoic tight sandstone gas reservoirs in the Ordos Basin, China

There hasn't been a clear understanding of the lower limits of petrophysical parameters of tight sandstone gas reservoirs so far. However, it is an important question directly related to exploration and development strategies. Research methods of the lower limits of petrophysical parameters are reviewed. The new minimum flow pore throat radius method is used to determine the lower limit of flow pore throat radius. The relative permeability curve method, irreducible water saturation method, and testing method, are used to determine the lower limits of porosity, permeability, and gas saturation. After the comprehensive analysis, the lower limits of petrophysical parameters of the Upper Paleozoic tight sandstone gas reservoirs in Ordos Basin are thought as follows: the minimum flow pore throat radius is 0.02 μm, the lower limits of porosity are 3%, the permeability is 0.02 × 10−3 μm2 and the gas saturation is 20%. Besides, the influence of formation pressure on porosity and permeability, the tight sandstone gas filling mechanism, and reservoir characterization petrophysical parameters of tight sandstone reservoirs are further discussed

New progresses in basic geological theories and future exploration domains of natural gas in China

As natural gas exploration expands to deep, ultra-deep and unconventional areas, more and more complex exploration targets are encountered. In this circumstance, it is necessary to improve the existing basic natural gas geological theories for guiding the exploration and discovery of more giant gas fields. In this paper, the researches on basic natural gas geological theories since the beginning of the 12th Five-Year Plan were engaged, and then the key exploration target zones were analyzed. Some results were obtained. (1) The theory of whole-process hydrocarbon generation of organic matters was improved and the geologic theories of organic matter hydrocarbon generation (e.g. the thermal evolution model of kerogen degradation and the successive gas generation of organic matters) were developed. (2) Multi-element natural gas genesis identification method, quantitative evaluation method for different types of seals/caprocks, tight sandstone gas accumulation theory for low hydrocarbon generation intensity region, and hydrocarbon accumulation theory for giant ancient carbonate gas field were established, and the geological theories of gas generation, genesis identification and hydrocarbon accumulation were developed to provide the effective guidance for the exploration breakthrough and discovery of giant gas fields in the key basins of China recently. Four conclusions were reached: (1) ancient carbonate rock, tight sandstone, foreland region, shale and volcanic rock are primary exploration targets for discovering giant gas fields; (2) craton and foreland basins are still the key exploration areas, and ancient uplift, gentle slope and thrust belt are the main enrichment zones; (3) ancient strata and deep formations are critical gas exploration targets in the future; (4) oil cracking gas in marine basins, tight sandstone gas and shale gas are the important replacement resources for future gas reserves and production growth. Keywords: Natural gas, Basic geological theory, New progress, Exploration domain, Ancient carbonate rock, Tight sandstone, Craton, Foreland basin, Giant gas fiel

New indexes and charts for genesis identification of multiple natural gases

Identification of natural gas genesis and source for high-matured multiple natural gases is a great challenge in the exploration of deep–ultra deep and unconventional natural gases. In this paper, the genesis identification method system of multiple natural gases is enriched through new experimental techniques and comprehensive analysis of geological data. New indexes and charts of genesis identification for multiple natural gases were determined to distinguish the sapropelic kerogen degraded gas and oil cracking gas, accumulated and scattered liquid hydrocarbon cracking gas in different evolution stages, nitrogen, carbon dioxide of organic and inorganic origins, inert gases of crustal and mantled origins, coal-formed gas and oil-typed gas by helium, nitrogen, carbon dioxide and mercury content in natural gas. These indexes and charts have been successfully applied in the Sichuan, Tarim and Songliao basins to identify the natural gas genesis and source for complicated gas reservoirs. The research results have provided effective supports for the natural gas exploration in the Sinian–Cambrian ancient carbonate formations in the Sichuan Basin, deep formations in the Kuqa depression of the Tarim Basin, and deep volcanic formations in the Songliao Basin. Key words: multiple natural gases, genesis identification, cracking gas, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, inert gas, mercury conten