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The identification of secondary microbial methane and biodegradation:Case study of Luliang oil and gas field,Junggar Basin

Gong De-yu,Zhang Yue-qian,Guo Wen-jian,Song Zhi-hua,Lu Shan,Wu Wei-an   

  1. 1.Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration and Development,PetroChina,Beijing 100083,China;
    2.Exploration Division,Xinjiang Oil Field Company,PetroChina,Karamay 834000,China;
    3.Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration and Development,Xinjiang Oil Field Company,PetroChina,Karamay 834000,China
  • Received:2019-02-05 Revised:2019-03-18 Online:2019-07-10
  • About author:Gong Deyu(1983-), Male, Senior engineer, Ph.D, Mainly engaged in petroleum geology and geochemistry research. E-mail:deyugong@petrochina.com.cn.
  • Supported by:

    Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation for Young Scholar of China “Development environment and hydrocarbon generation potential of carboniferous tuff source rocks in Junggar Basin” (Grant No. 41802177).

Abstract: The “secondary microbial gas” is defined as natural gas generated via the biodegradation of oil reservoirs.Since methane dominates,it is also called “secondary microbial methane”.
Taking Luliang oil and gas field in the Junggar Basin as example,the methods for identifying secondary microbial methane and selective biodegradation of alkane gases were fully discussed in this study based on the molecular and stable carbon isotopes of natural gas as well as the geochemical characteristics of low molecular weight hydrocarbons of oil reservoirs.When the thermogenic gas is mixed with secondary microbial methane,its δ13C -CH4 ratio tends to be lighter with the C1/C1-4 increasing.In the meantime,there is a tight relationship between secondary microbial methane,burial depth of gas reservoirs and the existence of biodegraded oil reserves.The methanogenesis is commonly accompanied by the selective biodegradation of C2-4 alkane gases,which results in the increase of gas dryness coefficients and the enrichment of 13C (even the reversal of carbon isotopes).Most currently used empirical diagrams to identify the gas genetic types are only applicable to the original thermogenic gases.All kinds of secondary alterations should be fully taken into consideration when these diagrams are used.

Key words: Secondary microbial methane, Selective biodegradation, Stable carbons isotopes, Low molecular weight hydrocarbons, Junggar Basin

CLC Number: 

  • TE122.1+13
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