Geochemistry of Palaeozoic marine petroleum from the Tarim Basin, NW China: Part 3. Thermal cracking of liquid hydrocarbons and gas washing as the major mechanisms for deep gas condensate accumulations

The Lunnan Lower Uplift in the Tarim Basin, NW China contains a composite petroleum system with mainly biodegraded heavy oil in the west, normal oil in the center and gas condensate in the east. Twenty-three gas samples and 37 oil samples taken from three major hydrocarbon bearing intervals in the Lunnan lower bulge were analyzed for their stable carbon isotopes and molecular biomarkers. On the basis of their isotopic compositions, biomarkers, especially diamondoids, and integrating the physical properties of the hydrocarbons including densities, GOR and PVT relationships, it has been concluded that the recently discovered deep (6500 m) eastern Lungu giant Ordovician gas condensate pool with an estimated reserve of 723 million bbl oil equivalent is a secondary hydrocarbon accumulation derived from the mixing of an early formed oil and a late formed gas. The extremely dry gases with a gas dryness of >0.98 were derived from thermal cracking of crude oils and charged to an existing oil reservoir causing extensive gas washing and secondary alteration. Compared with most of the hydrocarbons in the Lunnan area, the gas from the eastern Lungu gas condensate pool has a heavier carbon isotopic composition, higher dryness and a higher maturity level. The unique physical, chemical and isotopic compositions of the gas condensate are believed to be a direct result of gas flushing of an early formed eastern Lungu oil pool by a late formed dry gas from oil cracking. The eastern Lungu gas condensate pool is presently characterized by containing dry gas, heavy oil, abundant aromatics and high wax. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.