Geochemical Characteristic and Source Correlation of Biodegraded Oils from the Western Halaalate Area of Junggar Basin

Abstract

The relationship between biodegraded oil and its source has long been a complex and contentious topic. The Western Halaalate area is located in the Piedmont area on the northwest margin of the Junggar Basin. Source rocks of the Fengcheng Formation exist both locally and in the nearby Mahu Depression. In order to determine the source of biodegraded crude oil in this area, the molecular marker characteristics of biodegraded crude oil were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The results showed that the vitrinite reflectance (Ro) of source rocks of the Permian Fengcheng Formation in the nearby Mahu Depression is greater than 1.3% and has entered a high mature stage of condensate oil and moisture gas; the source rock of Permian Fengcheng Formation in Western Halaalate area is in a mature stage with Ro of 0.79%~1.13%. The ascending configuration of tricyclic terpenes C₂₀-C₂₁-C₂₃ for the crude oil samples found in the Carboniferous strata of the Western Halaalate Area is consistent with the characteristics of the Fengcheng Formation source rocks, which are present in both the Western Halaalate Area and the nearby Mahu Depression. Chromatography spectrometry examination shows that crude oils have undergone a varying degree of biodegradation. The Carboniferous oil was originated from the in situ Fengcheng Formation source rocks based on the application of molecular markers resistant to biodegradation, such as maturity parameters, salinity parameters, the new gammacerane index, and aromatic hydrocarbon parameters, combined with the analysis of hydrocarbon migration pathway. In addition, the oil biodegradation alteration rules in the Western Halaalate area were clarified, which advances regional knowledge of the relationship between biodegraded oil and source rocks.