Two strongly oil-prone source intervals are present in the West Siberian Basin, the Togur Formation (Early Toarcian, Early Jurassic) and the Bazhenov Formation (Volgian-Berriasian, Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous). Clay sediments of the Togur Formation were deposited in a system of intracontinental sub-basins in the southern half of the West Siberian Basin. The marine deposits of the Bazhenov Formation accumulated throughout the entire basin. Two types of extractable bitumens and oils -marine and non-marine -may be identified from their isotopic carbon composition, sulphur content, bulk composition, and biomarker hydrocarbons (normal alkanes, pristane/phytane, C 27-30 steranes, hopanes and homohopanes). Marine oils, accounting for 80% of oil resources, are sourced from the Bazhenov Formation. The genetic relationship between oils in Upper Jurassic and Cretaceous reservoirs and the organic matter from the Bazhenov Formation is indicated by great similarities in their biomarker hydrocarbon compositions and their maturation levels. Non-marine (lacustrine) oils are sourced from the Togur Formation and account for 11% of oil resources.
Thermal maturation for the top and base of the Jurassic in the West Siberian megabasin was modeled on the basis of the vitrinite reflectance (Rvt0) data using mathematical modeling and computer simulations. The values of thermal maturation are found to vary within substages PC3–MC32 for the top (or being equivalent to PC3-MC12 on the periphery and southern part of the basin, or to MC2-MC32 in the north) and PC3-AC3 for the base of the Jurassic (or being equivalent to PC3-MC2 on the periphery and southern part of the basin or MC31-AC3 in the north). Thermal maturity levels of the Jurassic in West Siberia are controlled by depths of burial and peak temperatures which the source rocks were subjected to during this period. The situation is further complicated by high heat flows superimposed on the regional background, which are observed in deep fault zones and in the proximity of numerous igneous bodies.
Oil shows from the thermal springs of the Uzon volcano caldera have been studied by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry methods. Based on the composition and distribution of biomarker molecules, their genetic identity with the organic matter of Pliocene–Quaternary deposits has been established. It has been shown that the Uzon caldera is a unique natural laboratory of the present-day oil formation from the organic matter of Pliocene–Quaternary sediments. It has been stated that attempts to consider the compounds forming these oil shows as a product of hydrothermal abiogenic synthesis are absolutely unfounded.
The influence of 6.75 m thick dolerite dike on the sheet coal of the Kaierkan deposit (northwestern Siberian Platform) was studied by organogeochemical methods. It is shown that initial bituminous coal was transformed into anthracite in the immediate vicinity of the dike. Chemical kinetic modeling of the dike-induced cracking of coal’s organic matter was performed, and the maximum paleotemperatures were estimated.
Chloroform extracts of coals from different genetic groups and different ages have been studied by chromato-mass-spectrometry, namely, Devonian liptobioliths from the Barzas region (Kuznetsk Basin) and Lower Cretaceous humites and sapropelites from the Kangalas and Taimylyr deposits, respectively (Lena Coal Basin). It has been established that the most ancient Devonian liptobioliths formed in coastal environments. Lipids of different biotas of marine and continental genesis, including resins of early Conifers, were the source of biomarker molecules. The Mesozoic humic and sapropelic coals differ little in chemofossil biomarkers, which might be related to their significant bacterial transformation and biosynthesis of chemofossils mainly by prokaryotes.
We present new results on catagenetic alteration of dispersed organic matter (DOM) and individual hydrocarbon composition of bitumen extracts from the lower mesocatagenesis and apocatagenesis zone, based on the study of core samples from superdeep well SV-27 (Vilui syneclise), which penetrated Permian and Upper Carboniferous coal-bearing strata. The vitrinite reflectance data show a progressive increase in the thermal maturity of DOM at a depth of ~4 km. The major biomarker indicators of the thermal history of DOM in the central part of the Vilyui syneclise appear to play only a minor role below this depth, thus reflecting the early stages of mesocatagenesis. The pristane/phytane ratios begin to invert at the same depth. Bitumen extracts from core samples collected from this depth contain new hydrocarbons in trace amounts, which increase with depth. The identified compounds include homologous series of alkenes, 2,4- and 2,7-dimethylalkanes, and alkylcyclohexanes with a prevalence of compounds with an odd carbon number predominance. Unusual differentiation of aliphatic and cyclic hydrocarbons with even and odd carbon-numbered chains occurs at the maximum depth (6458 m). Among aromatic hydrocarbons, four new diastereomers are identified: 17-desmethyl–23-methylmonoaromatic steroids C27. Considerable variations in the composition of bitumen extracts from the apocatagenetically altered core samples appear to reflect the termination of hydrocarbon generation from kerogen and further thermolysis of residual bitumens, including their asphaltene components. This explains the low values of maturity biomarker indicators corresponding to the apocatagenesis grade, since in this case they reflect the composition of hydrocarbons generated during the early stages and later occluded and adsorbed by asphaltenes. “Deep-seated” microoil from Permian, Carboniferous, and Cambrian deposits did not participate in the formation of oil rims and major gas condensate pools in the Vilyui petroleum area.
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