The Use of Integrated Fluid Inclusion Studies for Constraining Petroleum Charge History at Parsons Pond, Western Newfoundland, Canada

Abstract

This study, based on fluid inclusion petrography, microthermometry and ultraviolet microspectroscopy of inclusion oil, investigates the petroleum charge history at Parsons Pond, western Newfoundland. To address this matter, drill core and cuttings samples of allochthonous and autochthonous strata in the Parson's Pond area were collected from three exploration wells. Fluid inclusions were examined from fragments of calcite and quartz veins, diagenetic cements in sandstone, and in large hydrothermal dolomite and calcite crystals. Primary aqueous inclusions in authigenic sandstone cements indicate that cementation occurred at relatively shallow depths and low temperatures (<50 • C). Hydrocarbon-bearing fluid inclusions (petroleum, wet gas and gas) are generally restricted to calcite and quartz veins, indicating that petroleum and gas migration at Parson's Pond is fracture-controlled. No hydrocarbons were observed in the diagenetic cements of the essentially tight sandstones. Fluid inclusion microthermometry and ultraviolet microspectroscopy indicate the presence of multiple generations of hydrocarbon fluid, ranging in composition from 33 API gravity petroleum to pure CH 4 . Petrographic evidence suggests that hydrocarbons were generated multiple times during progressive burial and heating. In addition, the distribution of hydrocarbon bearing inclusions with depth suggests that deeper levels are gas-prone, with petroleum confined to relatively shallow depths. Although only gas flow was encountered during the drilling of exploration wells at Parson's Pond, the presence of petroleum-bearing fluid inclusions in calcite and quartz veins indicates that the historical production from shallow wells in the Parsons Pond area likely tapped small reservoirs of fractured petroliferous strata.

Fluid inclusions in buried quartz of the Yanchang sandstone in the Jiyuan area, Ordos Basin, China: Implications for basin evolution and petroleum accumulation

“…Hydrocarbon fluid inclusions constrain the time of hydrocarbon generation and demonstrate the migration pathways of hydrocarbons in the reservoir rocks by their location (Baron et al., 2008; Conliffe et al., 2017). Growth faulting was active in the southwest Ordos Basin since the Late Jurassic (Chen et al., 2006).…”

“…Fluid inclusions are micro-scale samples of fluids, which were trapped during the evolution of sedimentary basins, and can be used to identify the composition of fluids associated with diagenetic and post-diagenetic processes (e.g. Conliffe et al., 2017). Fluid inclusions could be revised depending on the geological events they undergone after entrapment.…”

Fluid Inclusions Record Hydrocarbon Charge History in the Shunbei Area, Tarim Basin, NW China

“…Fluid inclusions are widely used to the analysis of evolution of diagenetic fluids with the aim to decipher the hydrocarbon charging history [1][2][3][4][5][6]. Hydrocarbon could be trapped in primary and/or secondary inclusions within diagenetic minerals of reservoirs, when they migrated along pathways of transportation in successions.…”

Editorial for Special Issue “Fluid Inclusions: Study Methods, Applications, and Case Histories”

“…The authors suggest that hydrocarbons were generated multiple times during progressive burial and heating. They [15] also note that the distribution of hydrocarbon bearing inclusions with depth suggests that deeper levels are gas-prone, with petroleum being confined to relatively shallow depths.…”

“…The petroleum charge history at Parsons Pond, Western Newfoundland is the location for this study by Conliffe et al [15] of drill core and cuttings samples and utilises fluid inclusion petrography, microthermometry, and ultraviolet microspectroscopy of inclusion oil. The presence of multiple generations of hydrocarbon fluid, ranging in composition from~33 API gravity petroleum to pure CH 4 are recorded.…”