Hydrocarbon accumulation of Sinian natural gas reservoirs, Leshan-Longnüsi paleohigh, Sichuan Basin, SW China

Abstract

Abstract The old Sinian carbonate reservoir in the Leshan-Longnusi paleohigh was taken as a research object to study the process of gas accumulation in the Sinian reservoir through analysis of gas reservoir characteristics, gas composition, gas reservoir types, accumulation condition and evolution. The results show that the reservoir lithology and type are almost the same in the six gas pools discovered in the Leshan-Longnusi paleohigh. All the gas reservoirs are characterized by high temperature, ordinary pressure, and intense heterogeneity. The gas reservoir type in different layers and the gas compositions and carbon isotopes in different locations vary obviously. The gas of Sinian Dengying Formation, originated from oil cracking, is mixed gas mainly from source rocks of Sinian Dengying Formation as well as Cambrian Qiongzhusi Formation. The source and reservoir condition, their combination and fluid transporting conditions are favorable, which can determine the gas accumulation and preservation in Dengying Formation. The Sinian gas reservoirs are believed to have been accumulated by the following processes: paleo-oil accumulation, paleo-oil cracking, and gas reservoir adjustment and finalization. There are three processes of gas accumulation in the reservoir, which are influenced by the formation of paleohigh and differential structural evolution in different positions.