A Comparison of the Geochemical Characteristics of Ultra-Deep Natural Gas in the Kuqa Foreland and Marine Craton Areas in the Tarim Basin, China

This research analyzed the composition and hydrocarbon isotope geochemical characteristics of ultra-deep natural gas (buried deeper than 6000 m) in more than 130 wells in the Tarim Basin. Characteristics of the ultra-deep natural gas components in the Tarim Basin are as follows: natural gas in the Kuqa sandstone reservoir is developed as dry gas, with a high methane content (an average of 95.53%) and a low ethane content (an average of only 1.39%). The ultra-deep gas of the marine craton carbonate reservoirs in the North Tarim-Central Tarim-East Tarim area is developed as wet gas. It is mainly composed of methane ranging from 56.1% to 98.8%, with an average content of 76.36% and also contains a small amount of ethane amounting to 6.74%. CO2 and H2S contents of ultra-deep condensate gas in the Central Tarim area are high, with maximum values of 24.2% and 23.1%, respectively. Isotopic characteristics are as follows: delta C-13(1) values of Kuqa natural gas are distributed between -36 parts per thousand and -25.3 parts per thousand, with an average of -28.2 parts per thousand, delta C-13(2) values are distributed between -26.2 parts per thousand and -13.8 parts per thousand, with an average of -18.3 parts per thousand. Most gas samples in Kuqa area are developed with the reversal of carbon isotopic series as delta C-13(2) > delta C-13(3), and the delta C-13(CO2) values are distributed between -19.5 parts per thousand and -10.3 parts per thousand. The delta C-13(1) values of ultra-deep gas in marine craton carbonate rocks are distributed between -54.4 parts per thousand and -33.3 parts per thousand, with an average of -42.6 parts per thousand. delta C-13(2) values are distributed between -41.1 parts per thousand and -29.4 parts per thousand, with an average of -33.8 parts per thousand, and delta C-13(CO2) values are distributed between -28.2 parts per thousand-0.6 parts per thousand. According to the identification chart, it can be seen that the ultra-deep gas in the sandstone reservoir of the Kuqa foreland is mainly coal-derived gas in the high over-mature stage, and the reversal of carbon isotopic series may be caused by the mixing of natural gas of the same type and different sources. The natural gas in carbonate reservoirs of marine craton is mainly oil-type gas with complex sources, including both kerogen cracking gas and oil cracking gas. CO2 can be formed by organic and inorganic genesis. Inorganic CO2 is most likely to be generated by the dissolution of carbonate rocks under acid formation water.

Automated summary

This research analyzed the composition and hydrocarbon isotope geochemical characteristics of ultra-deep natural gas in the Tarim Basin. The results showed that the natural gas in the Kuqa sandstone reservoir is dry gas with high methane content and low ethane content, while the ultra-deep gas in the marine craton carbonate reservoirs is wet gas with mainly methane and a small amount of ethane. The isotopic analysis revealed that the ultra-deep gas in the Kuqa area is mainly coal-derived gas, while the gas in the marine craton carbonate reservoirs is oil-type gas with complex sources.