Geochemistry and origins of natural gases in the central Junggar Basin, northwest China

Abstract The petroliferous central Junggar Basin in northwest China is predominantly an oil exploration region. However, its gas exploration also might have good prospects. Thus to assist in gas exploration, the geochemistry and origins of gases are discussed in this paper based on relatively comprehensive analyses of compositions, carbon isotopes and light hydrocarbons of gases. Based on the results, the gas genetic types are grouped into families and combined with the geological setting (e.g., biomarkers of retrograde condensates and source rock characteristics). We show that there are four representative genetic types of gases. The first consists of gases derived from Permian lacustrine mudstones with type I–II kerogen and type III kerogen sources in the Penyijingxi sag. Their representative geochemical feature is δ 13 C 2 ranging from −31.4‰ to −24.7‰. The second is gas sourced from Carboniferous tufaceous mudstones of type III kerogen in the Dishuiquan sag, whose representative geochemical feature is the heaviest values of δ 13 C 1 in the studied samples, ranging from −32.0‰ to −30.4‰. The third consists of gases sourced from Jurassic coals and mudstones in the Shawan–Fukang sag. The light hydrocarbon fingerprints of these gases are similar to those of gases and oils typically derived from Jurassic source rocks in the southern Junggar Basin. The fourth is gas most likely generated from the degradation of crude oil. It is mainly found in the Luliang area and has dryness values as much as 0.999 and δ 13 C 1 ranging from −54.8‰ to −43.2‰. Among these four types of gases, the first (mainly sourced from the Permian lacustrine mudstones in the Penyijingxi sag) is the predominant type.