Geochemical characteristics of ultra-deep natural gases

Abstract

As a clean energy source, natural gas occurs at various depths. Natural gas exploration targets have shifted from shallow to ultra-deep reservoirs. Despite the considerable potential of ultra-deep exploration, its development remains limited. To accelerate and improve the exploration of ultra-deep natural gas, it is essential to thoroughly understand the characteristics and origins. Analyzing the geochemical characteristics of both hydrocarbon and non-hydrocarbon gases from ultra-deep reservoirs (depth > 6 km) across various global basins helps identify and classify their characteristics and origins. These gas pools typically contain helium in concentrations below 0.02% or is absent, with hydrogen generally below 2%, indicating that ultra-deep reservoirs may not serve as significant reservoirs for He and H₂. For hydrocarbon gas genesis, thermogenesis is predominant, with illustrative examples from different basins. Concerning CO₂ origins, inorganic processes such as thermochemical sulfate reduction (TSR) and magmatic CO₂ are prevalent, while organic and mixed origins, including organic matter degradation, are less common. The primary origin of H₂S is TSR, with the Mississippi Salt Basin being an exception due to possible contamination from inorganic volcanic gases interacting with hydrocarbon accumulations. Nitrogen’s origin is mainly related to the thermal evolution stage of source rocks. Understanding these gas characteristics provides valuable theoretical insights, which can guide the future exploration and development of ultra-deep natural gas and non-hydrocarbon gases.