Earth Science Frontiers ›› 2025, Vol. 32 ›› Issue (5): 205-219.DOI: 10.13745/j.esf.sf.2025.8.100

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The trans-spheric petroleum system and the new development direction of Petroleum Geology

TAO Shizhen1(), YANG Yiqing1,*(), ZHANG Gongcheng2, LI Jianghai3, GUO Qiulin1, LIU Xiangbai1, CHEN Yue1,*()   

  1. 1. PetroChina Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration and Development, Beijing 100083, China
    2. CNOOC South China Sea Oil and Gas Energy Academician Workstation, Haikou 570300, China
    3. Peking University, Beijing 100091, China
  • Received:2023-08-29 Revised:2023-12-05 Online:2025-09-25 Published:2025-10-14
  • Contact: YANG Yiqing, CHEN Yue

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Abstract:

The study of Earth system evolution drives innovation in oil and gas geology theories, and the coupling of cross-sphere tectonics and organo-inorganic hydrocarbon generation and associated rare gases (e.g., helium [He], hydrogen [H2]) represents a major emerging direction for the discipline in the future. Based on integrated analysis of Earth system dynamics, hydrocarbon generation, and environmental effects, this study proposes the future development innovation trend of the petroleum geology: (1) The future research on oil and gas geology is facing a large-scale shift from “petroleum system” within the basins to “cross-sphere petroleum systems” (i.e., “carbon cycle-hydrocarbon transformation systems” across Earth's spheres); (2) Research focused on oil and gas resources effects under multi-sphere tectonic activities, emphasizing the carbon cycle trajectory converge-transform-accumulate-disperse cycle process driven by deep dynamic processes and inter-sphere material-energy fluxes, as well as the corresponding resource-environmental chain of “basin formation-hydrocarbon generation-reservoir formation-end utilization”; (3) The coupling of different spheres facilitates organo-inorganic hydrocarbon generation, and the deep tectonic dynamics, crust-mantle interactions, and material-energy exchanges drive upwelling of deep-sourced H2-rich fluids into the basin reservoir-accumulation system, enabling the generation, accumulation and enrichment of organo-inorganic hydrocarbon and associated rare non-hydrocarbon gases (e.g., He, H2); (4) The Earth’s inter-sphere carbon cycle is accompanied by the “kinetic response-material interaction-energy transfer” and multi-genesis hydrocarbon evolution. Concurrently, the carbon release from different spheres and carbon emissions caused by oil-gas resource development and utilization facilitate different climate-environmental effects, this study promotes the innovation of targeted assessment methods and technologies, providing theoretical support for oil-gas development and utilization as well as “carbon neutrality”. (5) This study proposes that the future development and major research direction of “Petroleum Geology” field: 1) Evolution of cross-sphere tectonics and basin dynamics; 2) Organo-inorganic hydrocarbon generation and co-resources under crust-mantle coupling generation under crust-mantle coupling; 3) Deep material-energy interaction and hydrocarbon migration- accumulation mechanism; 4) Hydrocarbon utilization and carbon-neutral technologies. These findings will lay a theoretical foundation for the disciplinary development strategy of petroleum geology and the development direction of the energy industry in the future.

Key words: trans-layer tectonics, layer coupling, trans-layer petroleum system, organic-inorganic composite hydrocarbon formation, co-associated non-hydrocarbon resources, development direction of petroleum geology

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