Hetero- and Homogeneous States of Hydrocarbon Fluids in the Earth’s Interior: Evidence from the Study of Synthetic Fluid Inclusions

Abstract

Based on experiments including in situ studies of the phase composition and states of aqueous–hydrocarbon fluids in synthetic inclusions in quartz, the thermometric data indicating a heterogeneous state of fluids at shallow, medium, and great depths of oil- and gas-bearing layers were obtained. It was shown that aqueous–hydrocarbon fluids with an oil content of ≥10 vol % remain heterogeneous even at depths of up to 10–12 km at temperatures of 250–290°С. As is evident from experiments, homogenization in such fluids was achieved at temperatures above 380–400°C. However, such temperatures have not yet been recorded in any of the real oil and gas basins of the world. The results of our studies allow us to hope for the discovery of homogeneous deep deposits of oil and other hydrocarbons in the future.