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Comparison of Evaporite-Related Source Rocks and Implications for Petroleum Exploration: A Case Study of the Dongying Depression, Bohai Bay Basin, Eastern China

Author

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  • Yong Chen

    (School of Geosciences, China University of Petroleum, Qingdao 266580, China
    Laboratory for Marine Mineral Resources, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266071, China)

  • Yun Han

    (School of Geosciences, China University of Petroleum, Qingdao 266580, China)

  • Pengfei Zhang

    (Shengli Oilfield Company, SINOPEC, Dongying 257015, China)

  • Miao Wang

    (School of Geosciences, China University of Petroleum, Qingdao 266580, China)

  • Yibo Qiu

    (Shengli Oilfield Company, SINOPEC, Dongying 257015, China)

  • Xuelei Zhu

    (School of Geosciences, China University of Petroleum, Qingdao 266580, China)

  • Xuejun Zhang

    (Shengli Oilfield Company, SINOPEC, Dongying 257015, China)

Abstract

The Dongying Depression (Bohai Bay Basin, eastern China) was widely filled with evaporite (anhydrite and halite) layers during the Paleogene period, especially the middle of the fourth member of the Shahejie Formation (Es 4 ). Most evaporite layers are interbedded with mudstone strata. The strata of Es 4 are divided into three sections, referred to as the upper layers, evaporite layers, and lower layers, respectively. The analysis of elemental concentrations, elemental ratios, and Pr/Ph suggests that the lower layers were deposited in an intermittent saline lake environment within a relatively dry climate. The evaporite layers were formed in a highly saline lake environment, whereas the upper layers were formed in a brackish-saline to fresh-water environment. Organic matter (OM) abundance indices, including total organic carbon (TOC), chloroform extracts, total hydrocarbon content (HC), hydrocarbon generation potential (S 1 + S 2 ), and OM type, show that the source rock potential for petroleum generation in the upper layers is best, that in the evaporite layers is fair, and in the lower layers it is poor. Carbon isotopes (δ 13 C) of hydrocarbons in the evaporite and lower layers were heavier than those in the upper layers. Thermal maturity parameters show that the thermal evolution process of OM in the upper layers was faster where evaporite were present compared with evaporite-free areas, while the thermal evolution of OM in the lower layers was slower in these regions. The high thermal conductivity of evaporites may have accelerated the thermal evolution of source rocks in upper layers and allowed hydrocarbon generation at a shallower burial depth. This resulted in the earlier appearance of the petroleum generation window compared to in evaporite-free areas. Meanwhile, the thermal evolution of OM in the lower layers was restrained, and consequently the hydrocarbon generation window was widened, which implies the potential for petroleum exploration in deep strata under the evaporite sequence. This is a common phenomenon in evaporite-bearing basins, according to previous and present studies.

Suggested Citation

  • Yong Chen & Yun Han & Pengfei Zhang & Miao Wang & Yibo Qiu & Xuelei Zhu & Xuejun Zhang, 2023. "Comparison of Evaporite-Related Source Rocks and Implications for Petroleum Exploration: A Case Study of the Dongying Depression, Bohai Bay Basin, Eastern China," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-20, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:16:y:2023:i:13:p:5000-:d:1181155
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jeffrey S. Seewald, 2003. "Organic–inorganic interactions in petroleum-producing sedimentary basins," Nature, Nature, vol. 426(6964), pages 327-333, November.
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