Spatiotemporal Variation in Mature Source Rocks Linked to the Generation of Various Hydrocarbons in the Fuxin Basin, Northeast China

The assessment of highly mature source rocks linked to hydrocarbon generation remains a challenge in oil and gas exploration. However, substantial terrigenous influences and thermal variations have complicated the formation and evolution of source rocks. This study presents an integrated assessment...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Xin Su, Jianliang Jia, Xiaoming Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Energies
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/22/5654
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Summary:The assessment of highly mature source rocks linked to hydrocarbon generation remains a challenge in oil and gas exploration. However, substantial terrigenous influences and thermal variations have complicated the formation and evolution of source rocks. This study presents an integrated assessment of highly mature source rocks in the Fuxin Basin, based on sedimentological, geochemical, and organic petrological analyses. Two types of oil- and coal-bearing source rocks were deposited in the semi-deep lake and shore–shallow lake facies during the Jiufotang and Shahai periods. The development of source rocks migrated eastward alongside the lacustrine depocenter, influenced by basin evolution related to extensional detachment tectonism. Furthermore, a gradual increase in thermal records was detected from the western to eastern basins. Consequently, thermal decomposition of source rocks in the Jiufotang formation reduced the organic matter (OM) abundance in the central and eastern basins. Meanwhile, OM types of source rocks range from kerogen type-II<sub>1</sub>/-I to type-II<sub>2</sub>/-III, with intense hydrogen generation observed from the western to eastern basins. Consequently, the quality and hydrocarbon accumulation of source rocks are influenced by sedimentation and thermal maturity variation. The spatiotemporal variation in mature source rocks enhances the potential for exploring conventional petroleum, coalbed methane, and shale gas across different strata and locations. Our findings illustrate the significance of the sedimentary and thermal effects in characterizing the evolution of highly mature source rocks, which is relevant to determine oil and gas exploration in similar geological settings.
ISSN:1996-1073