Liu Zuodong, Graham Blackbourn, Wen Zhixing, Wang Hongjun, He Zhengjun, Ma Feng, Liu Xiaobing, Chen Ruiying, Bian Haiguang
The so-called East Siberian “Basin” extends over an ancient continental block, the Siberian Platform, and is made up of a number of smaller-scale basement arches and basins with a variable sedimentary cover of mostly Proterozoic and Palaeozoic ages. The basin hosts the oldest large-scale petroleum systems known. Proterozoic (“Riphean”: 1650-650 Ma) marine source rocks, which were deposited on the passive margins which surrounded much of the Platform, generated hydrocarbons as they were buried, folded and thermally matured during a series of mostly Late Proterozoic to Cambrian continental collisions, with the final collision taking place in the Early Cretaceous along the northeastern (Verkhoyan) margin. The hydrocarbons were transported by long-distance migration to reservoirs in the sedimentary successions which drape basement uplifts, there forming giant oil and gas accumulations which were sealed by extensive Cambrian evaporites. Subsequent uplift and unroofing, especially in the north and east of the Platform where the seal is not present, led to degradation of the oil to leave giant accumulations of bitumen, defined here as petroleum with an API gravity of less than 10° which is immobile under reservoir conditions. A significantly younger petroleum system, which may still be active, is present in the Vilyui Basin in the NE of the Siberian Platform. This basin was initiated as a mid-Devonian rift and has a later Palaeozoic and Mesozoic fill.
Bitumen accumulations in the East Siberian Basin occur mainly in Precambrian, Cambrian and Permian reservoir rocks, and began to form from precursor oils during the Permian. Around twenty-five named fields have been described, many of which comprise portions of more extensive belts of bitumen occurrence. Although geological mapping of natural resources in the East Siberian Basin has been carried out since the 19th century, the region remains under-explored and none of the bitumen accumulations has yet been developed.
An attempt is made in this paper to catalogue and map all recorded occurrences of bitumen throughout the East Siberian Basin. Regional geological studies have been conducted in order to understand the origin and habitat of each occurrence. So far as possible, data on the areal extent and stratigraphic thickness of each bitumen occurrence has been collated, together with data on bitumen saturations and quality. These data were used to calculate resource volumes for each accumulation from first principles. Thus the total bitumen resources within the East Siberian Basin have been calculated as 24,640 MM (million) tonnes. Disregarding accumulations regarded as either of insufficient resource-density or too small to merit consideration, this figure has been reduced to 14,760 MM tonnes. Recoverable reserves, by analogy with comparable resources worldwide, are calculated as 6100 MM tonnes (approximately 33,900 MM brl)
{"title":"BITUMEN RESOURCES OF THE EAST SIBERIAN BASIN","authors":"Liu Zuodong, Graham Blackbourn, Wen Zhixing, Wang Hongjun, He Zhengjun, Ma Feng, Liu Xiaobing, Chen Ruiying, Bian Haiguang","doi":"10.1111/jpg.12833","DOIUrl":"10.1111/jpg.12833","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The so-called East Siberian “Basin” extends over an ancient continental block, the Siberian Platform, and is made up of a number of smaller-scale basement arches and basins with a variable sedimentary cover of mostly Proterozoic and Palaeozoic ages. The basin hosts the oldest large-scale petroleum systems known. Proterozoic (“Riphean”: 1650-650 Ma) marine source rocks, which were deposited on the passive margins which surrounded much of the Platform, generated hydrocarbons as they were buried, folded and thermally matured during a series of mostly Late Proterozoic to Cambrian continental collisions, with the final collision taking place in the Early Cretaceous along the northeastern (Verkhoyan) margin. The hydrocarbons were transported by long-distance migration to reservoirs in the sedimentary successions which drape basement uplifts, there forming giant oil and gas accumulations which were sealed by extensive Cambrian evaporites. Subsequent uplift and unroofing, especially in the north and east of the Platform where the seal is not present, led to degradation of the oil to leave giant accumulations of bitumen, defined here as petroleum with an API gravity of less than 10° which is immobile under reservoir conditions. A significantly younger petroleum system, which may still be active, is present in the Vilyui Basin in the NE of the Siberian Platform. This basin was initiated as a mid-Devonian rift and has a later Palaeozoic and Mesozoic fill.</p><p>Bitumen accumulations in the East Siberian Basin occur mainly in Precambrian, Cambrian and Permian reservoir rocks, and began to form from precursor oils during the Permian. Around twenty-five named fields have been described, many of which comprise portions of more extensive belts of bitumen occurrence. Although geological mapping of natural resources in the East Siberian Basin has been carried out since the 19th century, the region remains under-explored and none of the bitumen accumulations has yet been developed.</p><p>An attempt is made in this paper to catalogue and map all recorded occurrences of bitumen throughout the East Siberian Basin. Regional geological studies have been conducted in order to understand the origin and habitat of each occurrence. So far as possible, data on the areal extent and stratigraphic thickness of each bitumen occurrence has been collated, together with data on bitumen saturations and quality. These data were used to calculate resource volumes for each accumulation from first principles. Thus the total bitumen resources within the East Siberian Basin have been calculated as 24,640 MM (million) tonnes. Disregarding accumulations regarded as either of insufficient resource-density or too small to merit consideration, this figure has been reduced to 14,760 MM tonnes. Recoverable reserves, by analogy with comparable resources worldwide, are calculated as 6100 MM tonnes (approximately 33,900 MM brl)</p>","PeriodicalId":16748,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Petroleum Geology","volume":"46 2","pages":"127-156"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2023-04-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47950500","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ivanka Orozova-Bekkevold, Erik Skovbjerg Rasmussen, Niels Hemmingsen Schovsbo
Overpressure build up in the clay-rich succession between sea floor and the top of the Chalk Group in the area around wells North Jens-1 and Fasan-1 in the Danish sector of the Central Graben, North Sea was examined by forward modelling. “Overpressure”, i.e. fluid pressure higher than hydrostatic pressure, is expressed here in terms of both the difference between pore pressure and hydrostatic pressure at a given depth and the ratio between these pressures. Pore pressure changes over time were estimated by numerical simulation of post-Danian depositional processes, incorporating sea level changes and variations in sedimentation rate. Results show that the deposition of the post-Danian (“overburden”) succession led to overpressure build up both in the overburden itself and in the underlying sediments (the so-called “underburden”). The largest estimated present-day overpressures (4.9-5.6 MPa, 23-26% above hydrostatic) occur at the base of the overburden, while an overpressure of up to 5.5 MPa was calculated to occur in the underburden. Variations in sedimentation rate appeared to have influenced the build-up of overpressure in the overburden, although no significant effect was found in the underburden.
The results indicate that more than 50% of the present-day overpressure in the overburden was generated in the last 5.3 million years, i.e. during the Pliocene and the Quaternary. When variations in sedimentation rate during the Miocene were included in the modelling calculation, this proportion increased to nearly 70%. A decrease in sedimentation rate in the mid-Miocene (Serravallian, 15-11.2 Ma) and the late Miocene (Messinian, 7.5-5.3 Ma) resulted in the dissipation of overpressures generated previously when the sedimentation rate was higher. About 60% of the overpressure generated in the Miocene developed during the Tortonian but only 14% during the Messinian.
Water depth appears to influence the overpressure magnitude. Sea level changes played a minor and short-lived role in overpressure build up. The influence of water depth was most pronounced when it was significantly greater than the thickness of the deposited sediments.
The method of overpressure estimation used in this paper may be a valuable alternative to methods based on porosity trend analysis which are widely used in the oil and gas industry. Both the methods used here and the results may be useful in subsurface evaluations related to carbon storage in the Danish Central Graben (e.g. project Green Sand).
{"title":"INFLUENCE OF POST-DANIAN SEA-LEVEL CHANGES AND VARIATIONS IN SEDIMENTATION RATE ON OVERPRESSURE BUILD UP IN THE CLAY-RICH OVERBURDEN IN THE DANISH SECTOR OF THE NORTH SEA CENTRAL GRABEN","authors":"Ivanka Orozova-Bekkevold, Erik Skovbjerg Rasmussen, Niels Hemmingsen Schovsbo","doi":"10.1111/jpg.12835","DOIUrl":"10.1111/jpg.12835","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Overpressure build up in the clay-rich succession between sea floor and the top of the Chalk Group in the area around wells North Jens-1 and Fasan-1 in the Danish sector of the Central Graben, North Sea was examined by forward modelling. “Overpressure”, i.e. fluid pressure higher than hydrostatic pressure, is expressed here in terms of both the difference between pore pressure and hydrostatic pressure at a given depth and the ratio between these pressures. Pore pressure changes over time were estimated by numerical simulation of post-Danian depositional processes, incorporating sea level changes and variations in sedimentation rate. Results show that the deposition of the post-Danian (“overburden”) succession led to overpressure build up both in the overburden itself and in the underlying sediments (the so-called “underburden”). The largest estimated present-day overpressures (4.9-5.6 MPa, 23-26% above hydrostatic) occur at the base of the overburden, while an overpressure of up to 5.5 MPa was calculated to occur in the underburden. Variations in sedimentation rate appeared to have influenced the build-up of overpressure in the overburden, although no significant effect was found in the underburden.</p><p>The results indicate that more than 50% of the present-day overpressure in the overburden was generated in the last 5.3 million years, i.e. during the Pliocene and the Quaternary. When variations in sedimentation rate during the Miocene were included in the modelling calculation, this proportion increased to nearly 70%. A decrease in sedimentation rate in the mid-Miocene (Serravallian, 15-11.2 Ma) and the late Miocene (Messinian, 7.5-5.3 Ma) resulted in the dissipation of overpressures generated previously when the sedimentation rate was higher. About 60% of the overpressure generated in the Miocene developed during the Tortonian but only 14% during the Messinian.</p><p>Water depth appears to influence the overpressure magnitude. Sea level changes played a minor and short-lived role in overpressure build up. The influence of water depth was most pronounced when it was significantly greater than the thickness of the deposited sediments.</p><p>The method of overpressure estimation used in this paper may be a valuable alternative to methods based on porosity trend analysis which are widely used in the oil and gas industry. Both the methods used here and the results may be useful in subsurface evaluations related to carbon storage in the Danish Central Graben (e.g. project Green Sand).</p>","PeriodicalId":16748,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Petroleum Geology","volume":"46 2","pages":"191-217"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2023-04-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47605990","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Anis Khalifeh-Soltani, Mohammad R. Ghassemi, Seyed Ahmad Alavi, Mehdi Ganjiani
Fault-related folds are present in most tectonic settings and can serve as structural traps for hydrocarbons. These structures have therefore been widely studied by both structural and petroleum geologists using a range of techniques. Approaches include field- and seismic-based methods, and numerical and analogue modelling. Geomechanical models attempt to examine the mechanical and geometric features of folds.
This study investigates the effects of variations in a range of parameters, including detachment and ramp geometry, friction coefficient and internal friction angle, on the geometry and development of detachment folds and fault-bend folds. For this purpose, we ran seven series of numerical, 3D elastic-plastic finite element models using ABAQUS software (26 model runs in all). Each model set-up consisted of five layers whose mechanical properties were based on those of stratigraphic units in the Zagros fold-and-thrust belt, SW Iran. The models were labelled series A to F and series H. Models in series A investigated the impact of concave, convex, wavy and oblique detachment surfaces on the development of detachment folds; those in series D examined the role of ramp dip and of listric, oblique and wavy ramps on the development of fault-bend folds. Models in series B and E, and series C and F, examined the effects of variations in the friction coefficient and of the internal friction angle, respectively, on the development of these two classes of folds. Finally, hybrid models in series H were provided to evaluate the results.
Major results were as follows. Firstly, the geometry of modelled detachment and fault-bend folds was found to be influenced by the geometry of the associated ramps and detachment faults. Thus the crests of anticlines and the trough lines of synclines were located at points of maximum curvature and at inflexion points on a wavy detachment fault or wavy ramp, respectively. Second, two important additional factors controlling fold style were identified: the friction coefficient, and the presence of along-strike geometric variations in the ramp or the detachment fault. Layers with low friction coefficients and high internal friction angles formed detachment folds with thick hinges and thin limbs; conversely, layers with high friction coefficients and low internal friction angles created detachment folds with thick limbs and thin hinges. Application of the results to modelling of the Ahwaz anticline in the Dezful Embayment, SW Iran, was successful, and in general the modelled structure was consistent with that observed in the field.
{"title":"PARAMETERS CONTROLLING THE GEOMETRY OF DETACHMENT AND FAULT-BEND FOLDS: INSIGHTS FROM 3D FINITE-ELEMENT MODELS APPLIED TO THE AHWAZ ANTICLINE IN THE DEZFUL EMBAYMENT, SW IRAN","authors":"Anis Khalifeh-Soltani, Mohammad R. Ghassemi, Seyed Ahmad Alavi, Mehdi Ganjiani","doi":"10.1111/jpg.12834","DOIUrl":"10.1111/jpg.12834","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Fault-related folds are present in most tectonic settings and can serve as structural traps for hydrocarbons. These structures have therefore been widely studied by both structural and petroleum geologists using a range of techniques. Approaches include field- and seismic-based methods, and numerical and analogue modelling. Geomechanical models attempt to examine the mechanical and geometric features of folds.</p><p>This study investigates the effects of variations in a range of parameters, including detachment and ramp geometry, friction coefficient and internal friction angle, on the geometry and development of detachment folds and fault-bend folds. For this purpose, we ran seven series of numerical, 3D elastic-plastic finite element models using ABAQUS software (26 model runs in all). Each model set-up consisted of five layers whose mechanical properties were based on those of stratigraphic units in the Zagros fold-and-thrust belt, SW Iran. The models were labelled series A to F and series H. Models in series A investigated the impact of concave, convex, wavy and oblique detachment surfaces on the development of detachment folds; those in series D examined the role of ramp dip and of listric, oblique and wavy ramps on the development of fault-bend folds. Models in series B and E, and series C and F, examined the effects of variations in the friction coefficient and of the internal friction angle, respectively, on the development of these two classes of folds. Finally, hybrid models in series H were provided to evaluate the results.</p><p>Major results were as follows. Firstly, the geometry of modelled detachment and fault-bend folds was found to be influenced by the geometry of the associated ramps and detachment faults. Thus the crests of anticlines and the trough lines of synclines were located at points of maximum curvature and at inflexion points on a wavy detachment fault or wavy ramp, respectively. Second, two important additional factors controlling fold style were identified: the friction coefficient, and the presence of along-strike geometric variations in the ramp or the detachment fault. Layers with low friction coefficients and high internal friction angles formed detachment folds with thick hinges and thin limbs; conversely, layers with high friction coefficients and low internal friction angles created detachment folds with thick limbs and thin hinges. Application of the results to modelling of the Ahwaz anticline in the Dezful Embayment, SW Iran, was successful, and in general the modelled structure was consistent with that observed in the field.</p>","PeriodicalId":16748,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Petroleum Geology","volume":"46 2","pages":"157-190"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2023-04-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46234031","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}