Kerogen Pyrolysis Experiment and Hydrocarbon Generation Kinetics in the Dongpu Depression, Bohai Bay Basin, China

Recently, petroleum exploration of the Dongpu depression has become increasingly difficult, primarily because of the unclear potential and distribution of deep strata resources (specifically, the Shahejie 3 formation). A pyrolysis experiment and hydrocarbon generation kinetics can provide important parameters for hydrocarbon generation history and resource reevaluation. Therefore, four samples of the Dongpu depression were selected for a kerogen pyrolysis experiment, and the software KINETICS 2000 was used to calculate the pre-exponential factors (A) of different components and the activation energies (E) of the reactants to further establish the kinetic parameters of different kerogens in the Dongpu depression. The hydrocarbon generation history of the sample was determined using the software BasinMod 1D based on thermal and burial histories, and the hydrocarbon generation characteristics of different sags and different types of kerogen were studied. The results show that the hydrocarbon generation potential in the northern Dongpu depression is stronger than that in the south. Moreover, the activation energy (E) distribution of type I kerogen (Well W146) is widest, followed by type II1 (Well C9) and type II2 kerogens (Well H88); and type III kerogen (Well X8) is the most concentrated. Moreover, the potential for hydrocarbon generation in the Qianliyuan the Haitongji-Liutun areas is high.