Earth Science Frontiers ›› 2021, Vol. 28 ›› Issue (1): 388-401.DOI: 10.13745/j.esf.sf.2020.7.6

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Effects of the lacustrine hydrothermal activity in the Yanchang period on the abundance and type of organic matter in source rocks in the Ordos Basin

JI Liming1,2(), LI Jianfeng3, ZHANG Mingzhen1,2, HE Cong1, MA Bo1,4, JIN Peihong1   

  1. 1. Gansu Key Laboratory of Petroleum Resources, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
    2. State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
    3. National Engineering Laboratory for Exploration and Development of Low-Permeability Oil & Gas Fields, Research Institute of Exploration and Development, PetroChina Changqing Oilfield Company, Xi’an 710018, China
    4. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
  • Received:2020-05-01 Revised:2020-05-28 Online:2021-01-25 Published:2021-01-28

Abstract:

We selected continuous core samples from the Yanchang Formation in Well YK1, southern Ordos Basin to completed a systematic source rock evaluation and geochemical and palynofacies analyses. We discussed the effects of lacustrine lake hydrothermal activity in the Yanchang period on the abundance and type of organic matter in source rocks. Field studies show that the high-quality source rocks developed in the Chang 7-3 interval are mainly carboniferous mudstone and oil shale, the well-developed source rocks from some sections of the Chang 7-1+2 interval are mainly gray-black mudstone, and the individual stratum of the Chang 6 member, interbedded with sandstone and mudstone interlayers, can also form good source rocks. The hydrothermal activity indicators, Al/(Al+Fe+Mn) and (Fe+Mn)/Ti ratios, show that the ancient lake underwent three episodes of significant hydrothermal activity corresponding to the above three stages of source rock development, with the peak intensity in the Chang 7-3 period. The source rock from Well YK1 can be divided into 3 types of palynofacies. Palynofacies A, mainly type III and a small amount of type II organic matter, is distributed in the Chang 8-9 and Chang 6-2+3 members, where translucent ligno-cellulosic fragments and gelified particles are dominant organic debris. Palynofacies B, distributed in the Chang 7-3 interval, is mainly amorphous type Ⅰ and Ⅱ1 organic matter containing high abundance algae. Distributed in the Chang 7-1+2 interval, Palynofacies C is mainly amorphous type II organic matter with simultaneously developed phytoclasts. The source rock total organic carbon content, organic matter type and fraction of hydrocarbon-generating components correlate well with the intensity of hydrothermal activity. It suggests that hydrothermal activity may play a role in the lake algae and plankton proliferation, thereby improving the abundance and quality of organic matter in source rocks. Indeed, our study show that the algae bloom and high-quality source rock deposition occurred during the Chang 7-3 period of peak hydrothermal activity.

Key words: Ordos Basin, Triassic, Yanchang Formation, high-quality source rocks, hydrothermal activity

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