Petroleum charging and leakage in the BZ25-1 field, Bohai Bay basin

Abstract

This paper discusses origin and charging histories of the Bozhong (渤中) 25-1 field (BZ25-1) in the Bozhong sub-basin, Bohai (渤海) Bay basin. Petroleum is contained in both Paleogene and Neogene reservoirs in the BZ25-1 field. The origin of the field was studied using biomarker distributions for 61 source rock samples and 34 oil samples. Oil in the Paleogene reservoirs was derived from the third member (Es3, 43.0–38.0 Ma in age) of the Eocene Shahejie (沙河街) Formation, whereas oil in the Neogene reservoirs was a mixtures of oil generated from the third member and the first member (Es1, 35.8–32.8 Ma) of the Eocene Shahejie Formation. Charging of the shallow Neogene reservoirs was dynamic, probably ongoing, which was a combined result of the existence of active source rocks, the development of overpressure and the fault reactivation since about 5.1 Ma. On the contrary, the deep Paleogene reservoirs experienced intensive oil leakage as indicated by the high GOI (grains-containing-oil-inclusions) values (up to 30%) for samples below the present-day oil-water contact. Part of the oil that leaked from the Paleogene reservoirs re-accumulated in the shallow Neogene reservoirs. The variation of oil origins within the BZ25-1 field, and the dynamic petroleum charging into the shallow Neogene reservoirs and leakage from the deep Paleogene reservoirs have important implications for petroleum exploration.