Organic matter maturity and oil/gas prospects in Middle-Upper Proterozoic and Lower Paleozoic carbonate rocks in northern China

Abstract

Middle-Upper Proterozoic and Lower Paleozoic carbonate formations in northern China are well developed with an accumulative thickness of 6000–1400 m. Both seepages and oils have been found in the outcrops and drilling wells.The maturity of organic matter in these carbonate formations in obviously lower than that in southern China, as viewed from reflectance (R°), H/C (atomic ratio), the amount and distribution of hydrocarbons,T max°C and so on.T max°C may be used as a principal index for determining the maturity of organic matter in carbonate rock-covered areas. According to the results of themeasurement ofT max°C andR° for natural samples and simulating experiments on bitumens from carbonate rocks, the limitation values for oil and gas have been estimated at 455°C (R°=1.35) and 476°C(R°=2.25), respectively. On this basis, the map of organic matter maturity for the Middle-Upper Proterozoic, Ordovician, Cambrian and Carboniferous of northern China has been compiled. It has been proposed that prospects of both oil and gas are expected, with oil and condensate dominant in the Ordovician, and condensate and dry gas in the Middle-Upper Proterozoic. The Cambrian is intermediate between them.