Secondary alteration and probable sources of oils and condensates in Jurassic reservoirs of the Turpan Depression, Turpan-Hami Basin, NW China

The identification of secondary alteration processes in Jurassic reservoirs of the Turpan Depression and the contribution of petroleum from Permian sources remains largely unexplored. This study, based on geochemical analyses of representative oil and condensate samples, systematically integrates carbon isotope data, biomarkers, C₅-C₇ light hydrocarbon, and diamondoids compositions to identify secondary alterations and assess the contribution of hydrocarbons derived from Permian source rocks. The results reveal that the Jurassic oil reservoirs of wells Y7 and Qt1 have undergone extensive biodegradation, followed by subsequent oil mixing processes with slight to moderate biodegraded oils and fresh, unaltered oils, respectively. Evaporative fractionation is frequently observed in the Jurassic reservoirs, although the degree of its occurrence varies considerably. Reservoirs in the Shengbei sub-sag experienced more intense alteration compared to those in other sub-sags, with the Sb3 and Sb5 reservoirs exhibiting the highest degrees of alteration. Thermal maturity evaluations, based on saturated, aromatic, and light hydrocarbons, reveal that most samples range from peak to late oil-generation stages. Some light oils and condensates have progressed toward the condensate/wet gas stage because of higher maturity charging events. Correlation analysis indicates the coexistence of three end-member oil and condensate families within the Jurassic reservoirs, those generated from Jurassic coal-measure source rocks, those derived from Jurassic Qiketai source rocks, and those originating from Middle Permian source rocks, further suggesting that the Permian-origin hydrocarbons have made a substantial contribution to the Jurassic reservoirs in some regions, despite being generated at varying thermal maturity stages. Overall, the Jurassic oil reservoirs in the Turpan Depression have undergone multiple secondary alteration processes and experienced complex charging events from both Jurassic and Permian source rocks, resulting in a highly complicated hydrocarbon accumulation mechanisms.