GJ

Article
Vol. 23, No. 1, p. 6986, February 2019
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12303-018-0011-6
pISSN 1226-4806 eISSN 1598-7477 Geosciences Journal

Hydrocarbon migration and accumulation history in deep

reservoirs: a case study of Mesozoic sandstone gas res-
ervoirs in the Kelasu-Yiqikelike structural belt of the
Kuqa Depression, Tarim Basin
Xu Song, Xiuxiang Lü*, Yunqi Shen, and Song Guo
State Key Laboratory of Petroleum Resources and Prospecting, China University of Petroleum, Beijing 102249, China

ABSTRACT: Numerous deep oil and gas reservoirs have recently been discovered in the Kelasu-Yiqikelike structural belt of the Kuqa
Depression in the northern Tarim Basin, north-western China. The sources and accumulation processes of the oil and gas are deter-
mined in this study through a series of biomarker geochemical parameter analyses and fluid inclusion analyses, respectively. The geo-
chemical parameters show that the oil of the Kela 2 gas field originated from the Triassic Huangshanjie (T3h) Formation lacustrine
source rock and that the oil of the Jurassic reservoirs in the Dibei gas field was sourced from Jurassic coal measures, with some con-
tribution from the T3h source rock. Furthermore, the gas in the Kela 2, Keshen and Dibei gas fields was derived from the Jurassic coal
measures. Based on petrographic and fluid inclusion analyses, combined with a reconstruction of the reservoir burial history, timing
estimates and charge models of the hydrocarbon accumulation have been obtained. Two stages of oil charging and one stage of gas
charging were identified in the Kela 2 gas field. The two stages of oil charging occurred in the middle–late Miocene and in the early
Pliocene. The gas charge occurred in the middle–late Pliocene. Additionally, one stage of gas charging occurred in the Keshen gas field
in the late Pliocene to Quaternary. In contrast, two hydrocarbon charging stages were identified in the Dibei gas reservoirs, with the
first occurring in the early Miocene and the second occurring in the Pliocene.
Key words: hydrocarbon charge, hydrocarbon source, fluid inclusion, hydrocarbon accumulation, Kuqa Depression

Manuscript received November 15, 2017; Manuscript accepted March 2, 2018

1. INTRODUCTION The sandstone reservoir in the K1bs Formation is generally

The Kuqa Depression is a superimposed foreland basin in the
northern Tarim Basin with an exploration area of ~2.8 × 104 km2
(Shen et al., 2017). After natural gas exploration achieved
breakthroughs in the Kela 2 and Dina 2 gas fields, a series of deep
reservoirs were discovered in the Kelasu-Yiqikelike structural
belt (e.g., the Keshen 1, Keshen 2 and Keshen 5 gas fields).
Mesozoic strata are the main hydrocarbon-bearing layers in the
Kelasu-Yiqikelike structural belt of the Kuqa Depression and
include the lower Cretaceous Bashijiqike (K1bs) Formation and
the lower Jurassic Ahe (J1a) and the Yangxia (J1y) formations.
*Corresponding author:
Xiuxiang Lü
School of Geosciences, China University of Petroleum, Beijing 102249,
China
Tel: +86-010-89733357, E-mail: luxx@cup.edu.cn
The Association of Korean Geoscience Societies and Springer 2019
buried more than 5000 m deep in the Keshen gas field, and the
burial depth of the lower Jurassic sandstone reservoirs is
approximately 4000–5000 m in the Dibei gas field. According to
the Regulation of Petroleum Reserves Estimation (Ministry of
Land and Resources, 2005), a burial depth from 3500 m to 4500
m is defined as a deep layer, and a burial depth exceeding 4500
m is defined as an ultra-deep layer. Therefore, these reservoirs in
the Kelasu-Yiqikelike structural belt can be defined as deep and
ultra-deep reservoirs. The oil and gas exploration in China has
started to extend to deep reservoirs, especially in the Tarim Basin.
Thus, it is important to understand the hydrocarbon charge and
accumulation history in such deep reservoirs.
Several researchers have studied the oil and gas accumulation
processes in the Kuqa Depression. Zhao et al. (2005) believed
that the formation of the giant gas accumulation in the Kuqa
Depression occurred in the past 5 Ma, and the isotopically heavy
gas in the Kela 2 gas field and Kelasu-Yiqikelike structural belt
70 Xu Song, Xiuxiang Lü, Yunqi Shen, and Song Guo

represents high maturity gas generated since the early Pliocene.
Liang et al. (2002) proposed a two-stage trapping and late gas
trapping model for the Kuqa Depression and suggested that the
oil reservoir formed early, while the gas reservoir formed later.
Therefore, few studies have focused on the quantitative analysis
of the hydrocarbon charge history of the deep reservoirs in the
Kelasu-Yiqikelike structural belt.
Regarding the source of the oil and gas in this area, different
researchers have different opinions. Li et al. (2004) reported that
the natural gas of the YN2 gas pool in the Dibei gas field is derived
from lower–middle Jurassic coal-bearing source rocks and
represents gas accumulated over a long period of time. Lu et al.
(2016) believed that the natural gas in the Dibei gas field derived
from the Triassic source rock. Thus, a detailed hydrocarbon-
source correlation is necessary to understand the oil and gas
accumulation processes in this region.
In this paper, we seek to determine the sources of the oil and
gas in the deep reservoirs in the Kelasu-Yiqikelike structural belt
using various geochemical data and to reconstruct the hydrocarbon
charging history of these reservoirs through the integration of fluid
inclusion data and basin modelling. By discussing the petroleum
migration and accumulation history in the region, this study
can act as a reference for further hydrocarbon exploration.
2. GEOLOGICAL SETTING
2.1. Tectonic Setting
The Kuqa Depression is a Mesozoic foreland basin located in
the southern part of the Tianshan orogenic belt. It is bounded by
the North Tarim Uplift to the south and has an east-west length
of approximately 550 km and a north-south width of 30–80 km.
The Kuqa Depression consists of the northern monoclinal zone,
Kelasu-Yiqikelike structural belt, Qiulitag structural belt, southern
slope region, Wushi sag, Baicheng sag, and Yangxia sag. The
Kela 2 and Keshen gas fields are located in the middle of the Kelasu
structural belt. The Dibei tight sandstone gas field is situated in
the middle of the Yiqikelike structural belt (Figs. 1a–c).
The Kuqa Depression has experienced three evolutionary
stages since the late Palaeozoic: a pre-collisional orogenic stage

Fig. 1. Schematic map of the locations of the main oil and gas accumulations in Kuqa Depression and stratigraphic column of the Mesozoic
and Cenozoic. (a) Location map of the Tarim Basin; (b) location map of the Kuqa Depression; (c) distribution of gas reservoirs in the Kuqa
Depression; (d) generalized Mesozoic–Cenozoic stratigraphy of the Kuqa Depression.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s12303-018-0011-6 http://www.springer.com/journal/12303
 Hydrocarbon accumulation history in deep reservoirs of the Kuqa Depression
(late Permian to Triassic), an extensional rift basin stage (Jurassic
to Paleogene) and an intracontinental orogenic stage (since the
Neogene) (Graham et al., 1993; Jia, 2012). The intra-continent
orogeny stage is a significant period for the formation of the deep
reservoirs in the depression. During the Paleogene to Quaternary,
the South Tianshan Mountains started to uplift because of the
remote effects of the Himalayan Orogeny, and propagating
compressional tectonics developed in central Asia because of
the intense intracontinental compression. Thus, a large number
of thrust faults and accompanying fold structures formed in the
Kuqa Depression (Min et al., 2005).
2.2. Generalized Elements of Petroleum Systems
2.2.1. Source rocks
Two sets of source rocks, Triassic strata and Jurassic strata,
have been identified in the Kuqa Depression. The Triassic includes
the Kelamayi (T2-3k), Huangshanjie (T3h), and Taliqike (T3t)
formations. The Jurassic are the Yangxia (J1y), Kezilenuer (J2kz)
and Qiakemake (J2q) formations (Fig. 1d). Among these source
rock units, the T2-3k, T3h and J2q formations are lacustrine oil-
prone source rocks, while the T3t, J1y and J2kz formations are
coal-bearing sequences with good gas generation potential.
(Liang et al., 2003).
2.2.2. Reservoir-cap combinations
The Mesozoic–Cenozoic stratigraphy present in the Kuqa
Depression includes the Quaternary (Q) units; the Kuqa (N2k),
Kangcun (N1-2k) and Jidike (N1j) formations; the Suweiyi (E2-3s)
Formation; the Kumugeliemu (E1-2km) Group; the Lower
Cretaceous Bashijiqike (K1bs), Baxigai (K1bx) and Sushanhe
(K1s) formations, and the Jurassic and Triassic units (Fig. 1d).
Drilling results and stratigraphic correlation confirmed that the
reservoir-cap combination in the Kela–Keshen area is different
from that in the Dibei area. For the Kela 2 and Keshen gas fields,
the reservoir is located in the Bashijiqike Formation (K1bs), which
was deposited in fan delta and braided river delta environments
and features lithofacies dominated by sandstone. Extensive evaporitic
rocks and thick mudstone are present in the Kumugeliemu
Group and serve as effective seals. For the Dibei gas field, the
reservoir rocks are the internal sand layers in the Jurassic Ahe
(J1a) and Yangxia (J1y) formations, and the mudstones developed
in the Jurassic Yangxia (J1y) and Kezilenuer (J2kz) formations act
as the cap rocks.
3. SAMPLES AND METHODS
Oil, gas and core samples were collected from the reservoirs
of the Kela 2, Keshen and Dibei gas fields. Several analytical
http://www.springer.com/journal/12303
71
techniques, including the analysis of oil biomarkers, gas chemical
and carbon isotope compositions, fluid inclusion petrology and
property measurements, were employed to study these samples.
For soluble bitumen extraction, three source rock samples
were solvent extracted with approximately 500mL of dichloromethane
and methanol (93:7 v/v) for 72 h using a Soxhlet apparatus. Then,
the hydrocarbon extracts and 11 oil samples were fractionated
on a silicon and aluminium column to obtain the aliphatic
hydrocarbon fractions using organic eluents. The molecular
characteristics were further analysed via the gas chromatography-
mass spectrometry (GC-MS) technique. The GC-MS analysis
was performed with a Thermo DSQII instrument. The oven
temperature for the analysis of the saturated fractions was
initially held at 60 °C for 5 min, elevated to 310 °C at 5 °C/min
and held at 310 °C for 30 min. Helium was used as the carrier gas.
The chemical composition of 26 gas samples was analysed
using an Agilent 7890A gas chromatograph equipped with a flame
ionization detector and a thermal conductivity detector. The
oven temperature was initially held at 40 °C for 10 min. elevated
to 180 °C at the rate of 10 °C/min, then held at the maximum
temperature for 30 min.
The carbon isotope composition of 22 gas samples was analysed
using a Finnigan MAT-252 instrument. The oven temperature
was initially held at 50 °C for 2 min, elevated to 180 °C at the rate
of 25 °C/min and held at the maximum temperature for 10 min.
The C isotope ratios are reported in per mil (‰), based on the
PDB standard.
Five samples from the Cretaceous and Jurassic reservoirs were
doubly polished as thick sections, according to the description
reported in (Goldstein, 2001), and the polished samples were
subjected to observation under the microscope to identify the
formation phase of inclusions. To better characterize the fluid
inclusions, the specimens were also observed under UV light.
This examination was conducted using a ZEISS Imager A1m
microscope.
To determine the hydrocarbon charging history, the samples
were further examined to determine the homogenization
temperature (Th) and final ice melting temperature (Tm) of
saline inclusions. The samples were grounded into wafers with a
thickness of 0.2–0.5 mm and doubly polished. A detailed description
of the analysis method is provided by Roedder (1984). These
measurements were conducted with a Linkam THM600 heating-
cooling stage.
4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
4.1. Oil and Source Rock Geochemistry
Because the T3h source rock developed in a lacustrine
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12303-018-0011-6
72 Xu Song, Xiuxiang Lü, Yunqi Shen, and Song Guo

Fig. 2. TIC, m/z 191 and m/z 217 of the saturated hydrocarbons for the source rock extractions and oil samples. Pr: pristane; Ph: phytane; TT:
tricyclic terpanes; Ts: C2718α(H)-22,29,30-trisnorneohopane; Tm: C27 17α(H)-22,29,30-trisnorhopane; C24TeT: C24 tetracyclic terpane; C30H: C30
hopane; C27-29: C27-C29 5α(H),14α(H),17 α(H)-regular steranes (R).

environment whereas the J2kz and J1y source rocks were differences in the relative abundances of the isoprenoids, terpanes,
deposited in a swamp-lacustrine environment, they show obvious hopanes and steranes. The T3h source rock is characterized by a

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 Hydrocarbon accumulation history in deep reservoirs of the Kuqa Depression 73

Table 1. Molecular geochemical parameters of the source rock and oil samples in Kelasu-Yiqikelike structural belt of the Kuqa Depression
Well Depth (m) Formation Sample type 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
YN2 5244–5245 T3h Mudstone 0.95 0.32 0.36 0.9 0.09 0.11 0.65 0.75 0.45 0.42
YN2 4263 J2kz Mudstone 2.5 1.5 0.50 4.43 0.81 0.92 0.3 0.33 0.4 0.47
YN2 4400–4408 J1y Mudstone 2.15 3 0.68 7.6 0.49 1.34 0.47 0.39 0.51 0.53
KL2 3820–3836 K1bs Oil 0.86 1.1 0.16 0.92 0.2 0.14 0.98 1.55 0.45 0.42
KL201 3672–3688 K1bs Oil 1.28 1.24 0.31 0.95 0.29 0.15 0.62 0.92 0.52 0.57
KL201 3770–3795 K1bs Oil 1.14 0.82 0.39 0.33 0.07 0.16 0.54 0.7 0.41 0.51
KL203 3814–3826 K1bs Oil 1.08 0.78 0.07 0.87 0.11 0.15 0.73 0.79 0.49 0.56
YN2 4706 J1y Oil 2.01 3.7 0.79 2.64 1.11 0.73 0.33 0.52 0.53 0.59
YN2 4710–4725 J1y Oil 2.27 2.14 0.51 2.29 1.03 0.69 0.41 0.5 0.4 0.6
YN2 4746–4760 J1y Oil 2.01 3.32 0.54 2.62 1.12 1.75 0.3 0.54 0.53 0.59
YN2 4776–4785 J1a Oil 2.41 2.37 0.47 3.36 1.14 1.1 0.42 0.52 0.45 0.62
YN2 4905–4913 J1a Oil 1.05 0.6 0.40 0.03 0.09 0.26 0.58 0.68 0.48 0.51
YN2C 4606–4620 J1y Oil 2.62 6.04 0.79 4.45 0.68 0.89 0.39 0.53 0.4 0.6
YN5 4529–4538 J1y Oil 1.93 0.61 0.38 0.39 0.07 0.19 0.61 0.78 0.47 0.45
1, Pr/Ph; 2, C24 tetracyclic terpane/C26 tricyclic terpane; 3, C29Ts/C30 norhopane; 4, C19 tricyclic terpane/C23 tricyclic terpane; 5, C30 diahopane/
C30 hopane; 6, C27 diasterane/C27 regular sterane; 7, Regular sterane αααC28 20R/C29 20R; 8, Regular sterane αααC27 20R/C29 20R; 9, Regular
sterane αααC29 20S/(20S + 20R); 10, Regular sterane C29ββ/C29(αα + ββ).

low pristine to phytane ratio (Pr/Ph), a low abundance of C24
tetracyclic terpane (C24 TeT) relative to C26 tricyclic terpane (C26
TT), and scarce rearranged hopanes, with a low C30 rearranged
hopane (diaC30H) to C30 hopane (C30H) ratio of 0.09 (as shown
in Fig. 2 and Table 1). In the J2kz and J1y source rocks, the
distributions of the hopanes and terpanes are similar overall.
Compared with the T3h source rock, the J2kz and J1y source
rocks have higher proportions of C29 sterane, with C27/C29
sterane ratios of 0.33 and 0.39, respectively (Table 1). Therefore,
the input of higher plants was more abundant in the lower-
middle Jurassic source rocks (Huang and Meinschein, 1979).
The abundances of terpanes, hopanes and steranes were
measured in the oil samples (Fig. 2). The Pr/Ph ratios of the oil
samples range from 0.86 to 2.62. Most of the oil samples from
the Dibei gas field show higher C24 TeT/C26 TT, C19 tricyclic
terpane (C19TT) to C23 tricyclic terpane (C23TT) and diaC30H/
C30H values than the oil samples from the Kela 2 gas field,
except for the oil samples from the wells YN2 (4905–4913 m)
and YN5. The C27/C29 sterane values in the oil from the Kela 2
gas field are generally higher than those in the oil samples from
the Dibei gas field (Table 1).
The biomarker parameters that are influenced by the source
rock depositional environments and organic matter input can
be selected to determine the sources of oil in the Kela 2 and Dibei
gas fields. Oil generated from lacustrine source rocks often
contains relatively more 20R-C27 14α (H), 17α (H) sterane and
less 20R-C29 14α (H), 17α (H) sterane, indicating little influence
by higher plants (Peters et al., 2005). Oil from coaly humic
depositional environments contains more diasteranes and diahopanes
than oil of the lacustrine oils. The relative abundance of diahopanes
and diasteranes can indicate acid catalysis by clay minerals in an
oxidizing or sub-oxidizing depositional environment (Rubinstein
et al., 1975). In addition, the ratio of C19/C23 tricyclic terpane in
coal-derived oil is generally more than 1.5, while this ratio in
lacustrine oil is approximately 1.0; hence, this ratio can be used
as an indicator to determine the sources of the oil in the Kuqa
Depression (Bao et al., 2007).
Based on the criteria discussed above, the oil in the Kela 2 and
Dibei gas fields can be classified into two groups (Fig. 3). Group
1 includes all the oil samples from the Kela 2 gas field and two
samples from wells YN2 and YN5. The Pr/Ph ratios of the
Group 1 oil are generally lower than those of the Group 2 oil,
except one sample from well YN5 with a value of 1.93, which is
similar to the Pr/Ph ratios of the Group 2 oil from the Dibei gas
field. The Group 1 oil also shows lower ratios of diaC30H/C30H
and diaC27/C27 sterane than the Group 2 oil, indicating that the
Group 1 oils came from a source rock that was deposited in a
relatively oxygen-deficient lacustrine environment. The C24TeT/
C26TT and C19TT/C23TT ratios in the Group 2 oil are higher
than those in the Group 1 oil, indicating that the Group 2 oil
came from a source rock with relatively abundant higher plant
input. The Group 1 oil has relatively high C27/C29 and C28/C29
sterane ratios, suggesting that the oil source rock was primarily
dominated by aquatic organisms, with little higher plant input.
In summary, the Group 1 and Group 2 oils have different
biomarker characteristics, suggesting that the oils belonging to
these two groups came from different source rocks. The Group
1 oil includes all the samples from the Kela 2 gas field and a
small portion of the samples from the Dibei gas field. They are
typical lacustrine, sapropelic oils, with relatively low contents of

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74 Xu Song, Xiuxiang Lü, Yunqi Shen, and Song Guo

Fig. 3. Correlation between various biomarker parameters on source rock depositional environments and organic matter input for the oils,
showing that the oils from Kela 2 and Dibei gas fields can be categorized into two groups. diaC27/C27: 20R 13β(H),17α(H)-diasterane/20R
14α(H),17α(H)-sterane; diaC30H: C30 diahopane; C29Ts: 18α(H)-30-norneohopane; Pr: pristane; Ph: phytane; TT: tricyclic terpanes; C24TeT: C24
tetracyclic terpane; H: hopane; C27-29: C27-29 20R 14α(H),17α(H)-sterane.

diasteranes and diahopanes, high concentrations of 20R-C27
14α (H), 17α (H) sterane and low Pr/Ph ratios, except for the oil
sample from well YN5, which has a high Pr/Ph ratio of 1.93. The
biomarker characteristics indicate that the Group 1 oil came
from the T3h mudstones rather than the J2q mudstones. Liu et
al. (2016) reported that the oil derived from the J2q source rock
has a high concentration of the diahopane series. Thus, the Group
1 oil came from the T3h source rock because it is characterized
by low diaC30H/C30H and diaC27/C27 sterane ratios. The Group
2 oil includes most of the samples from the Dibei gas field, and
they are typical coaly humic oils with higher abundances of
20R-C29 14α (H), 17α (H) sterane, diasteranes and diahopanes.
The biomarker characteristics of the Group 2 oil correlate well
with the extracts of the J2kz and J1y mudstone, thus suggesting a
source in the lower–middle Jurassic coal measures. The C19/C23
tricyclic terpane ratios in the samples from the Dibei gas field
range from 0.03–4.45, indicating that some oil samples show
characteristics of lacustrine oils. Therefore, the oils from the Kela
2 gas field came from the T3h source rock, and the oils from the
Dibei gas field primarily came from the lower–middle Jurassic
coal measures, with some contribution from the T3h source
rock.
In terms of oil maturity, the sterane αααC29 20S/(20S + 20R)
ratios of the oil samples from the Kela 2 gas field range from
0.41–0.52 (Table 1), clearly indicating that most of the oils have
not reached an equilibrium point (0.52–0.55) in sterane isomerization
(Seifert and Moldowan, 1981; Peters and Moldowan, 1993).
Moreover, the C29ββ/C29(αα + ββ) values of 0.42–0.57 are even
further from the equilibrium point (0.70), indicating that the
Kela 2 oils are in the mature stage. Zhuo et al. (2012) reported
that the interpreted maturity of the KL201 oil corresponds to
equivalent Ro values between 0.7 and 0.8 based on the sterane

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 Hydrocarbon accumulation history in deep reservoirs of the Kuqa Depression 75

αααC29 20S/(20S + 20R) stereoisomer ratio. This finding also
implies that the sample is within the oil generation window.
However, the diamondoids maturity parameter based on the
methyldiamantane index suggests that the equivalent Ro values
are 1.64–1.82%, indicating that the oil was generated at the very
high maturity stage (Guo et al., 2016a). Such a maturity discrepancy
implies that multi-stage hydrocarbon accumulation occurred in
the Kela 2 gas field and that the oil is actually a mixture of the
hydrocarbons generated during different maturity stages of the
source rock. Thus, a single maturity parameter cannot effectively
describe the properties of this oil mixture. The sterane parameters
appear to reflect only the low-maturity oil, while the diamondoids
parameter reflects only the high-maturity oil that interfused
into the reservoir. Further supporting evidence for multi-stage
hydrocarbon accumulation derived from inclusion petrography
and homogenization temperature will be discussed later. In the
oil from the Dibei gas field, the sterane αααC29 20S/(20S + 20R)
ratios range from 0.4 to 0.53, and the C29ββ/C29(αα + ββ) ratios
range from 0.45 to 0.6. Therefore, this oil was derived from
source rocks in the mature stage.
4.2. Gas Geochemistry
The compositional data for all the samples from the gas fields
is shown in Table 2. The natural gas from the Kela 2 gas field
displays a high content of CH4 with a deficiency of heavy
hydrocarbons. The CH4 content in the gas ranges from 96.41–
98.63%, indicating that the gas type is typically dry gas. Similar
to the Kela 2 gas field, the methane content of the Keshen gas
field is 96.3–97.9%, hence, the Keshen gas field can be classified
as a dry gas field. In the Dibei gas field, the content of CH4 ranges
from 80.88–93.39%, hence, this field can be classified as a wet
gas field.
For the gases that have not been affected by migration or
mixing with biogenic gas, the carbon isotope value of the hydrocarbon
component can reflect their maturation and origin. Figure 4a
shows that the δ13C values of the natural gas vary greatly among
these gas fields. The points representing the Kela 2 and Keshen
gases are located in the upper right of the graph, showing a
higher maturity with δ13C1 values higher than –31‰. In contrast,
the plot shows that the Dibei natural gas is less mature than the

Table 2. Molecular, stable carbon and dryness coefficient (C1/C1-4) gases from Kuqa Depression in the Tarim Basin, China
Main composition (vol%) Dryness coefficient δ13C (PDB, ‰)
Gas field Well Strata Depth (m)
CH4 C2H6 C3H8 C4H10 CO2 N2 (C1/C1-C4) δ C1 δ13C2 δ13C3
13
δ13C4
Kela2 KL2 E,K 3499.9–3809 98.63 0.56 0.04 0.00 0.74 0.04 99.40 –28.2 –18.2 –19.3 –19.1
KL2 E 3499.87–3534.66 96.90 0.31 0.04 0.00 1.24 1.55 99.64 –31.1 –16.8 –18.5 –17.8
KL2 K 3803–3809 96.63 0.09 0.00 0.00 0.76 2.52 99.91 –27.8 –18.7
KL2 K 3888–3895 98.22 0.53 0.04 0.03 0.55 0.60 99.39 –27.8 –19.0
KL201 K 4016–4021 96.88 0.91 1.00 0.00 0.00 1.21 98.07 –27.3 –19.0 –19.5 –20.9
KL201 K 3630–3640 97.04 0.78 0.03 0.00 0.55 1.61 99.17 –27.1 –18.5 –19.1 –20.3
KL201 K 3770–3795 96.41 0.77 0.02 0.00 0.88 1.92 99.19 –27.2 –17.9 –19.1 –20.6
KL201 K 3936–3938 97.45 0.79 0.03 0.00 0.57 1.15 99.17 –26.2 –18.1 –19.1 –22.1
KL201 K 3630–4021 96.96 0.82 0.03 0.00 0.54 1.65 99.13 –27.2 –18.5 –19.5 –20.9
KL202 E 1472–1481 97.39 0.80 0.03 0.00 0.65 1.13 99.15 –28.2 –18.9 –19.2 –20.9
KL203 E,K 3968.5–3916.5 97.83 0.79 0.07 0.09 0.65 0.47 99.04 –28.9 –18.0 –20.1 –21.8
Keshen KS2 K 6573–6697 97.50 0.51 0.04 0.04 0.83 1.10 99.40 –28.3 –17.7 –15.7
KS201 K 6735–6755 97.20 0.57 0.04 0.01 0.74 1.34 99.37
KS201 K 6505–6700 97.10 0.56 0.04 0.01 0.89 1.38 99.37
KS202 K 6705–6969 97.00 0.60 0.05 0.02 0.82 1.54 99.32
KS5 K 6703–6742 97.00 0.27 0.01 0.01 0.76 1.92 99.70 –26.5 –17.8 –19.2
KS5 K 6813–6875 97.90 0.28 0.02 0.00 0.83 0.93 99.69 –26.4
KS8 K 6684.42–6827.8 96.30 0.40 0.05 0.13 0.57 2.18 99.40
Dibei YN2 J 4726–4785 89.63 5.49 1.26 0.49 2.52 0.62 92.54 –32.2 –24.6 –23.1 –22.8
YN2 J 4578.8–4758 88.61 6.83 2.15 0.88 0.28 0.93 89.99 –34.8 –22.4 –25.9 –21.7
YN2 J 4776–4785 90.06 4.95 1.01 0.40 2.59 93.41 –32.2 –24.6 –23.0 –22.8
YN2C J 4606–4620 81.94 8.98 3.21 1.33 1.50 2.24 85.84 –36.0 –27.6 –24.4 –23.6
YN4 J 3619.39–3677.13 93.39 2.49 1.41 1.34 0.98 0.89 94.69 –30.7 –25.8 –24.4 –25.4
YN5 J 3276.5–3282.5 87.96 5.56 1.16 0.53 0.60 3.97 92.39 –33.1 –19.4 –23.5 –25.0
YS4 J 1759–1761 81.14 13.14 2.32 0.85 0.17 2.28 83.26 –37.7 –25.6 –22.3 –22.3
YS4 J 3554–3564 80.88 12.26 2.64 0.99 0.10 2.93 83.58 –36.9 –25.1 –26.5 –27.4

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76 Xu Song, Xiuxiang Lü, Yunqi Shen, and Song Guo

Kela 2 and Keshen gases. As a maturation parameter, the carbon

isotope ratios of the gas generated by different types of kerogen
tend to undergo different evolution trends, and these gases have
typical carbon isotope kinetic models. The maturity evolution
trends for sapropelic type II and humic type III kerogen established
by Rooney et al. (1995) are used to analyse the gas origins in this
paper, as shown in (Fig. 4a). The carbon isotope ratios of type II
kerogen differ from those of type III kerogen, and the majority
of the carbon isotope values of the samples in this study plot
along the type III kerogen line, indicating that the natural gas
was generated from humic type III organic matter. In addition,
based on their study of giant gas fields discovered in China, Dai
et al. (2005) proposed that the gas from a sapropelic source has
δ13C2 and δ13C3 values generally lower than –29‰ and –27‰,
respectively, whereas the gas from a humic source has values
higher than –27.5‰ and –25.5‰, respectively. According to
this criterion, the natural gas δ13C2 values from these gas fields,
which range between –17.8‰ and –27.6‰ and are therefore
higher than –28‰, are characteristic of coal-type gas (Fig. 4b).
The comparison between the calculated Ro values based on
the δ13C values of natural gas and the measured Ro values of source
rocks provides an effective method for gas-source correlation.
The empirical model proposed by Berner and Faber (1996) can
be used to estimate the maturity of gases based on maturity
curves in plots of δ13C2 vs. δ13C3, and this model has been widely
in previous studies (Rodriguez and Philp, 2010; Kotarba et al.,
2014). One essential element that must be constrained is the
δ13C value of the precursor kerogen. According to a previous
study, the measured δ13C values of the type III kerogen in the
Kuqa Depression range from –23.8‰ to –25.2‰ (Liang et al.,
2003). An average value of –24.5‰ was used to calculate the
maturity curve, and the results are shown in Figure 4c.
Figure 4c demonstrates that most of the samples from the
Dibei gas field fit well on the curve with a Ro value between
0.8% and 1.3%, and the calculated Ro value is consistent with
the maturity of the Jurassic source rocks in the Dibei gas field,
which have Ro values of 1.0–1.3%, as reported by Tang et al.
(2014). Thus, the gas in the Dibei gas field was primarily derived
from the Jurassic coal measures. Notably, some samples from the
Dibei gas field show anomalously high δ13C2 values, suggesting
that these samples experienced gas diffusive leakage (Xiao, 2012).
Almost all the samples from the Kela 2 gas field and the Keshen
gas field depart from the maturity curve due to anomalously
high δ13C2 values. The Kela 2 and Keshen gas could have been
generated from a source rock with a maturity of Ro = 2.0–2.5%, Fig. 4. Correlation of carbon isotopic ratios of (a) methane and eth-
which is consistent with the Jurassic source rocks in the Kela 2 ane, (b) ethane and propane from gases in the Kela 2, Keshen and
Dibei fields, (c) predicting maturity levels for the gases analyzed,
and Keshen gas fields, which have Ro values of > 2% (Tang et al., based on calculation model proposed by Berner and Faber (1996),
2014). Thus, the gas in the Kela 2 and Keshen gas fields was derived numbers on the lines indicate the maturity of the respective source
from the Jurassic coal measures. The samples with anomalously rock.

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 Hydrocarbon accumulation history in deep reservoirs of the Kuqa Depression
high δ13C2 values can be explained by leakage of earlier oil and
the gas associated with the oil. Hence, the gas in the Kela 2 and
Keshen gas fields is the gas generated in the highly to post-
mature stage. This reservoir destruction model is supported by
the following lines of evidence. (1) In the hydrocarbon generation
process, the δ13C value of gas increases as the maturity of the
source rock increases, and the δ13C value of the gas and source
rock are approximately equal (Galimov, 1974; Stahl, 1974). However,
the δ13C2 value of the Kela 2 gas is clearly much higher than that
of the source rock (δ13Ckerogen: –23.8 ~ –25.2‰), indicating that the
gas originating from the early charge has dissipated. (2) Abnormally
high benzene and toluene contents were found in light hydrocarbon
component of the Kela 2 gas. Coal pyrolysis experiments have
verified that high yields of aromatics are generated when the
source rocks reach high thermal maturity (Hu et al., 2014). (3)
Reservoir bitumen formed by evaporative fractionation was
widely detected in the Cretaceous reservoir (Zhao, 2003), implying
that the petroleum generated in the early stage was destroyed in
a later period. In summary, the gas in the Kela 2, Keshen and
Dibei gas fields was derived from the Jurassic coal measures.
4.3. Petrography of Hydrocarbon Charge
The fluid inclusion petrography can provide general information
on the composition of pore fluids trapped in different diagenetic
minerals and the generation, migration and accumulation of
hydrocarbons. In this paper, numerous oil and gas inclusions
distributed in secondary diagenetic minerals were observed
under a microscope. In the KL201 well samples, the shape and
size of fluid inclusions are heterogeneous. These inclusions are
commonly irregular in shape and have diameters ranging from
2–8 μm. Three types of inclusions are observed under the
microscope. The first type, with gas and liquid phases, is rare
and is mainly distributed in early calcite cement. The gaseous
component of these inclusions appears charcoal grey, and the
liquid component is light grey under plane-polarized light (Fig.
5a), and both present a light yellow colour under UV light (Fig.
5b). As the inclusions exist in early cement, the formation of these
inclusions and the charging of the hydrocarbons associated with
these inclusions are inferred to have occurred relatively early.
The second type primarily exists in quartz veins. These two-
phase (gas and liquid) inclusions are dark grey in colour (Fig. 5c),
and exhibit a blue-white fluorescence colour (Fig. 5d). Because
these inclusions occur in secondary mineral veins that developed
during the middle diagenetic period, they formed after those
presenting a light yellow fluorescence colour. The third type
features single-phase gaseous inclusions present primarily in
secondary fractures in quartz. These inclusions appear black or
grey in transmitted light and exhibit no fluorescence colour.
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77
These inclusions in secondary fractures in quartz are typical dry
gas inclusions, indicating that the associated gas charging event
was late (Fig. 5e).
In contrast to the KL201 well samples, the inclusions of the
Keshen well samples are remarkably different. In the KS8 well
samples, only single-phase gaseous inclusions are present, and
they are abundant in the secondary quartz overgrowth in cracks
(Figs. 5f and g). These inclusions range in size from 1–10 μm,
and they appear dark grey under plane-polarized light but are
colourless under UV light. Because the inclusion-bearing quartz
overgrowth is well developed, as evidenced by orthogonal
polarization microscopic observations (Fig. 5h), the reservoir is
inferred to have experienced strong diagenesis, and the gas
charging event likely occurred relatively late.
In the Dibei well samples, the inclusions are mainly round
and ellipsoidal in shape and are generally smaller than 10 μm.
Two types of inclusions have been identified in the YN wells of
the Dibei gas field. One type is mainly located in micro-fissure
shear zones across quartz grains and associated secondary
overgrowth. These inclusions contain light oil and gas. The
liquid hydrocarbons appear light yellow in colour, while the gas
bubbles are grey under plane-polarized light (Fig. 5i), and their
fluorescent colour is green (Fig. 5j). The other type exhibits
linear distributions along diagenetic microfractures in quartz.
These inclusions are single-phase gaseous inclusions that appear
charcoal grey in colour under plane-polarized light (Fig. 5k)
and exhibit a blue-white fluorescence colour (Fig. 5l). As most
of the inclusions are spread along micro-fractures intersecting
the quartz overgrowth, the formation of these inclusions likely
occurred relatively late. The two types of fluid inclusions observed
present different fluorescence colours, indicating that they
formed during at least two stages of charging with hydrocarbons of
different maturities.
4.4. Inclusion Homogenization Temperature and
Salinity
Based on the analysis of the petrography above, it is clear that
the gas reservoirs of the Kelasu-Yiqikelike structural zone have
experienced different hydrocarbon charging processes, and some
of them have the characteristics of multi-stage hydrocarbon
accumulation. The formation time of reservoirs can be determined
by measuring inclusion homogenization temperature (Th),
which can also reveal the reservoir burial and evolution history
(Karlsen et al., 1993; Feely and Parnell, 2003). As the homogenization
temperature of contemporaneous saline inclusions is closer to
the fluid capture temperature than that of hydrocarbon inclusions,
it is suitable for determining the reservoir formation periods
(Nedkvitne et al., 1993; Munz et al., 1999).
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78 Xu Song, Xiuxiang Lü, Yunqi Shen, and Song Guo

Fig. 5. Photomicrographs of inclusions under plane polarized and UV light from the Kuqa Depression. (a, c, and e) hydrocarbon inclusions
under plane polarized light, well KL201, 3936 m, Cretaceous; (b and d) oil-gas inclusions under UV light, well KL201, 3936 m; Cretaceous; (f–
h) gas inclusions under plane polarized light, well KS8, 6732–6740 m, Cretaceous; (i and j) oil-gas inclusions under plane polarized and UV
light, respectively, well YN4, 4419 m, Jurassic; (k and l) gas inclusions under plane polarized and UV light, respectively, well YN2, 4787 m, Jurassic.

To determine the hydrocarbon charging processes, the final
ice melting temperatures (Tm) of the saline inclusions were measured,
and the salinities of those saline inclusions were calculated (Figs
6a–c). The salinity values of the saline inclusions from the Kela 2
gas field range from 4.03–22.38 wt% NaCl equivalent. The
saline inclusions coeval with the yellow-coloured oil inclusions
have relatively higher salinity values (18.17–22.38 wt%) than the
saline inclusions coeval with blue-coloured oil inclusions (7.59–
12.05 wt%). The salinity of the saline inclusions coeval with gas
inclusions is generally lower than that of the saline inclusions
coeval with oil inclusions, ranging from 4.03–8.68 wt%. In the
samples from the Keshen gas field, the saline inclusions coeval
with gas inclusions have similar salinity values of approximately
19.05–23 wt%. In the samples from the Dibei gas field, the
salinity values of the saline inclusions coeval with oil inclusions
range from 17.86–23 wt%, which are higher than the saline
inclusions coeval with gas inclusions (2.9–8.35 wt%).
The homogenization temperature of the saline inclusions

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 Hydrocarbon accumulation history in deep reservoirs of the Kuqa Depression 79

Fig. 6. Cross plot of homogenization temperature and salinity of saline inclusions coeval with oil inclusions and gas inclusions and their
homogenization temperature histograms from the Mesozoic reservoir sandstone in the Kelasu-Yiqikelike structural belt of the Kuqa Depres-
sion. OI: oil inclusions; SI: saline inclusions; GI: gas inclusions.

coeval with hydrocarbon inclusions in the Cretaceous reservoir characteristics of multiple peaks distribution (Fig. 6d). The
of the Kela 2 gas field ranges from 70–140 °C, showing the saline inclusions coeval with the oil inclusions show variable

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80 Xu Song, Xiuxiang Lü, Yunqi Shen, and Song Guo
salinities. The high-salinity saline inclusions coeval with the
yellow-coloured oil inclusions have Th values ranging from 75–
98 °C (with peak values between 80–90 °C), whereas the low-
salinity saline inclusions coeval with the blue-coloured oil inclusions
have Th values of 101–127 °C (with peak values between 100–
120 °C). This pattern suggests that the oil inclusions became
trapped over a prolonged period of time and that there were two
episodes of oil charging in the reservoir. The low-salinity saline
inclusions coeval with the single-phase gaseous inclusions that
are colourless under fluorescent light exhibit Th values ranging
from 120–140 °C (with peak values between 120–130 °C), implying
that a late post-mature gas charge event occurred in the reservoir.
The Th values from the Cretaceous reservoir samples in the
Keshen gas field range from 111–184 °C (with peak values between
140–160 °C) and feature a single-peak distribution pattern (Fig.
6e). The saline inclusions coeval with the gas inclusions have
similar salinities, suggesting that the Keshen reservoir experienced
one stage of natural gas accumulation. Some saline inclusions
display anomalously high Th values (> 170 °C), which may be
due to the re-equilibration of early-trapped inclusions at high
temperatures.
The Th values of saline inclusions in the Dibei gas field range
from 87.7–150 °C (Fig. 6f). The Th values of 87.7–110.3 °C (with
peak values between 90–100 °C) are associated with the relatively
high-salinity saline inclusions coeval with the oil inclusions, and
the Th values of 111.6–150 °C (with peak values between 130–
140 °C) are associated with the low-salinity saline inclusions
coeval with the single-phase gaseous inclusions with a blue-
Fig. 7. Calibration of thermal maturity modelling of the (a) KL201, (b) KS8, and (c) YN2 wells showing good correlations between the mea-
sured and calculated temperatures.
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white fluorescence colour. Therefore, two stages of hydrocarbon
accumulation occurred in the Dibei reservoir; the first stage was
the mature oil charge, and the second stage was the high-maturity
wet gas filling stage.
4.5. Basin Modelling and Calibration Data
Several parameters can be used to calibrate the burial history
of a unit, including deposition age, lithology, paleo-water depth,
surface temperature, geothermal gradient and heat flow. The
geothermal gradients in the Kela-Keshen and Dibei gas fields
are 22–24 °C/km and 20.5 °C/km, respectively. The calculated
current heat flow of the Kela-Keshen and Dibei gas fields is 52.1
mW/m2 and 45.2 mW/m2, respectively (Guo et al., 2016a, b).
The other parameters are from a previous study (Liu et al., 2016).
The borehole temperatures derived from the well testing results
were used to calibrate the thermal modelling results. Three wells,
i.e., KL 201, KS 8, and YN2, were used to reconstruct the burial
history. The goodness of fit between the modelled and measured
temperatures shown in Figure 7 implies that the burial history
models are reasonable in this area.
4.6. Hydrocarbon Charge History
Based on the peak Th values of the saline inclusions and the
reservoir burial and thermal evolution history, the timing of the
hydrocarbon charge can be determined. As shown in Figures 8a
and b, the first hydrocarbon charging event in the Cretaceous
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 Hydrocarbon accumulation history in deep reservoirs of the Kuqa Depression 81

Fig. 8. Burial and thermal histories as well as hydrocarbon charge timing in the Kuqa Depression. The shaded bars represent the main hydro-
carbon charging stages occurred in the gas reservoirs.

reservoir in the Kela 2 gas field occurred in the late Miocene, and middle–late Pliocene, respectively. Because the source rock
and the second and third charging events occurred in the early was buried rapidly starting in the late Miocene, the maturity of

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82 Xu Song, Xiuxiang Lü, Yunqi Shen, and Song Guo

Fig. 9. Hydrocarbon charging history of Kela and Keshen gas fields. (a) The gas reservoir distribution during the late Pliocene–Quaternary.
(b) Dry gas filled into the pools and oil dissipated during the middle–late Pliocene. (c) High mature oil charged into the reservoir during the
early Pliocene. (d) Low mature oil charged into the reservoir during the late Miocene.

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 Hydrocarbon accumulation history in deep reservoirs of the Kuqa Depression
the source rock increased dramatically, and the hydrocarbon
accumulation, including both oil and gas charging, was continuous.
In contrast to the Kela 2 gas field, one gas charging event was
identified in the Keshen gas reservoir according to the Th values,
and this gas charging event occurred in the late Pliocene–
Quaternary (Figs. 8c and d). In the Dibei gas field, two stages of
hydrocarbon accumulation were recognized. The first, corresponding
to a mature oil charge, occurred in the early Miocene, and the
second, corresponding to a highly mature wet gas charge, occurred
in the Pliocene (Figs. 8e and f).
4.7. Hydrocarbon Accumulation Process and Model
4.7.1. Hydrocarbon accumulation model for the
Kela 2 and Keshen gas fields
During the late Miocene, the Kela 2 structural trap began to
form, but its amplitude was low. The T3h lacustrine source rock
in the region entered a mature stage, and the expelled oil migrated
mainly vertically along the faults to the low-amplitude anticline
(Fig. 9d). This hydrocarbon charging event was recorded by the
gas-liquid inclusions with a light yellow fluorescence colour in
the Cretaceous reservoir. As the Kela 2 anticline was a structural
high in the Kela-Keshen area and no traps formed in the Keshen
zone, the oil derived from the deeply buried T3h source rock
bypassed the region and did not become trapped in the Keshen
zone, in accordance with the fact that no oil inclusions are
observed under the microscope.
In the early Pliocene period, the Kuqa Depression subsided
rapidly, and the T3h lacustrine source rock in Kela-Keshen
region started to enter the highly mature stage. The Kela 2 trap
formed prior to or during this hydrocarbon generation period,
and light oil generated in the source sequence migrated up
along the Kelasu fault and accumulated in this trap, although
the maturity of source rock was beyond the oil-generating peak
(Fig. 9c). This hypothesis is consistent with the information
obtained from the oil-bearing inclusions with a blue-white
fluorescence colour. In contrast to the Kela area, the Keshen area
still lacked a trap during this period. Therefore, little hydrocarbon
accumulation occurred in the Keshen zone (Fig. 9c).
In the middle–late Pliocene, the Kuqa Depression evolved
tectonically into an intracontinental foreland (Neng et al., 2012).
This region experienced N-S compression in response to the
middle Himalayan orogenic event. Due to the intense uplift of
the South Tianshan Mountains, the Kuqa Depression subsided
extensively and rapidly. Consequently, the Triassic and Jurassic
strata were rapidly buried to depths of 6–8 km, leading to a
quick maturity increase of the source rock. During the short
period of 2–3 Ma since the early Pliocene, the Ro value of the
lower–middle Jurassic coal-bearing sequence has increased from
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83
1.4% to more than 2% (Tang et al., 2014). A large amount of
expelled highly to post-mature gas generated by the Jurassic coal
measures migrated vertically along the faults and accumulated
in the Kela 2 trap. This hydrocarbon charge is characterized by
the large amounts of dry gas, and the single-phase gaseous
inclusions with no fluorescence colour in the reservoir are evidence
of this filling event. At the same time, compressional tectonism
resulted in the formation of the Kelasu fault and the reactivation
of its neighbouring faults. The lateral sealing conditions of the
reservoir became poor due to fault activity. Thus, the previously
formed oil was displaced by a large amount of gas and escaped
(Fig. 9b).
Because of the continuous N-S-directed compressive stress,
the structural deformation event extended from the northern
Kela zone to the southern Keshen zone, and the Keshen zone
experienced continuous subsidence. Numerous thrust faults
formed both in the salt overburden and in the subsalt layers,
resulting in the development of various thrust nappe structures
in the Keshen zone since the late Pliocene period. During the
late Pliocene–Quaternary period, imbricate fault-related anticlines
formed in the Keshen zone, and the dry gas derived from the
underlying Jurassic coal measures migrated vertically along the
faults into these traps (Fig. 9a).
4.7.2. Hydrocarbon accumulation model for the Dibei
gas field
During the early Miocene period, the Triassic source rock
entered the peak stage of oil generation, and the Ro values of the
sequence reached more than 0.8%. Correspondingly, the lower–
middle Jurassic coal measures began to generate oil with Ro values
of 0.6–0.8% (Liang et al., 2003). Due to the middle Himalayan
Orogeny, the Dibei region was compressed, and low-amplitude
anticlines formed in the slope zone (Tian, 2001). The oil derived
from the lower–middle Jurassic coal measures, along with some
contributions from the T3h lacustrine source rock, charged the
Jurassic reservoir (Fig. 10c). The gas-liquid inclusions displaying a
green fluorescence colour are evidence of this oil charging event.
In the Pliocene period, the South Tianshan orogenic event
increased in intensity, and regional faults under the salt layer
were reactivated. Due to the intense tectonic deformation, the
Dibei slope zone dipped to the south. The lower–middle Jurassic
coal measures were buried to a depth of 4–6 km and rapidly
entered the peak gas-generation window. As the Jurassic reservoir
had densified during the middle–late Miocene (Xing et al., 2011),
the gas charging was driven by gas expansion and diffusion
rather than by gas buoyancy. The wet gas derived from lower–
middle Jurassic coal measures expanded into the Jurassic reservoir,
resulting in the formation of the wet reservoirs (Fig. 10b). This
hydrocarbon charging event is recorded by the single-phase
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84 Xu Song, Xiuxiang Lü, Yunqi Shen, and Song Guo

Fig. 10. Evolution of hydrocarbon charges in the Dibei Gas Field. (a) The transformation of the Dibei gas reservoir during the Quaternary. (b)
Wet gas charged into the Jurassic reservoirs in the Pliocene. (c) During the early Miocene, the oil generation of the Jurassic source rock com-
bined with some contribution of the Triassic source rock charged into the Jurassic reservoirs.

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 Hydrocarbon accumulation history in deep reservoirs of the Kuqa Depression
gaseous inclusions with a blue-white fluorescence colour.
During the Quaternary, the intracontinental Himalayan orogenic
event reached its peak intensity, and the fault activity increased
(Zeng et al., 2010). Therefore, the southward dip of the Dibei
slope zone continued to increase, and a series of secondary faults
developed in the region. Due to the influence of the intense structural
deformation, a large-scale adjustment of the previously formed
gas reservoirs occurred in the Dibei area. The structural high of
the Yiqikelike anticline was uplifted, and the gypsum cap rock of
the Jidike Formation was eroded. Thus, the previously formed
reservoirs were destroyed as the hydrocarbons leaked upward along
the northern fault. Simultaneously, extensive lithologic gas reservoirs
formed in the slope, and some hydrocarbon accumulation occurred
in heavily fractured zones (Ju et al., 2017) (Fig. 10a).
5. CONCLUSIONS
The biomarker characteristics of the oil suggest that the oil
from the Kela 2 gas field was sourced from the T3h lacustrine
source rock and that the oil in the Jurassic reservoir in the Dibei
gas field was derived from lower–middle Jurassic source rock
with some contribution from the T3h source rock. The carbon
isotope composition of the natural gas in the Kela 2, Keshen and
Dibei gas fields indicates that the gas has the characteristics of
coal-derived gas and mainly originated from the lower–middle
Jurassic coal measures.
Complex hydrocarbon migration and accumulation processes
were identified in the deep reservoirs of the Kuqa Depression.
Two stages of oil charging and one stage of gas charging occurred
in the Kela 2 gas field: the two oil charging stages occurred in the
late Miocene and early Pliocene, and the gas charging stage
occurred in the middle–late Pliocene. In contrast, one stage of
gas accumulation occurred in the Keshen gas field. This gas
charging event occurred during the late Pliocene–Quaternary
period, following the formation of the Keshen fault-related
anticline traps. The Dibei gas field experienced one stage of oil
charging and one stage of gas charging. The oil began to accumulate
in the Jurassic reservoir in the early Miocene and was sourced
from the lower–middle Jurassic source rock with some contribution
from the T3h lacustrine mudstone. The gas charging event in
the Dibei gas field occurred during the Pliocene.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We would like to express our gratitude to Young Kwan Sohn,
Ph.D. and another anonymous reviewer for offering constructive
suggestions and comments which improved this manuscript in
many aspects. This study was supported by the National Natural
Science Foundation of China (No. 41372146 and No. 41572100)
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85
and the National Science and Technology Major Project (No.
2017ZX05008). The Tarim Oilfield Research Institute, PetroChina,
is thanked for providing some data and core samples.
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