Application of biomarkers and oil fingerprinting for genetic classification of oil families and prediction of oil migration pathways in Nuraly field

Abstract

This paper presents the interpretation of the results of biomarker analysis and oil fingerprinting of all producing wells (36 samples) of Nuraly field for genetic typing and fluid communication assessment within the field, followed by predicting the hydrocarbon migration pathways. According to the biomarker study, it was revealed that the oils of central and western Nuraly have genetically different origins, and the petroleum accumulation in the southern part of West Nuraly was formed by the continuous secondary migration of HC from the northeastern and northwestern directions. Oils from central Nuraly field have higher thermal maturity and lower density than those of western Nuraly do. The thermal maturity of samples from Central Nuraly decreases from the northeastern part of Nuraly towards the southwestern part, which may also attest to hydrocarbon migration pathways. The presence of gas caps in the northeastern part of Central Nuraly may be due to their high thermal maturity.