Accumulation mechanism of mantle-derived helium resources in petroliferous basins, eastern China

High-Spatial-Resolution Helium Detection and Its Implications for Helium Accumulation Mechanisms

“…Generally, there was no correlation between hydrogen and helium concentrations from different sources, and these gases also appeared diluted to different degrees by the main gas components in the later stage. However, the positive correlation between hydrogen and helium concentrations in Figure 10b,d shows that hydrogen and helium were mixed before their upward migration, which was observed also in previous studies on the correlation between nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and helium concentrations [7,[10][11][12][13] and proves that hydrogen plays an important role in the migration of helium. sources, and these gases also appeared diluted to different degrees by the main gas components in the later stage.…”

“…When free gas passes through pore water, helium dissolved in water will enter the gas phase due to Henry's law and follow the gas, further migrating and accumulate. Free gas plays an important role in the migration and accumulation of helium [7,[10][11][12][13]. The formation and accumulation of hydrocarbon gases often occur in the overlying strata far from the basement; so, it is impossible to directly extract helium from basement granite.…”

“…When gas passes through helium-containing pore water, helium dissolved in the water will enter the gas phase due to Henry's law and further migrate and accumulate with the gas. This theory emphasizes the importance of external gas extraction and migration of helium, which is usually used to explain the coexistence of hydrocarbon gas and helium [7,[10][11][12][13]. However, under normal circumstances, the process of natural gas generation and accumulation often occurs in the overlying strata of a basement.…”

Mechanisms of helium differential enrichment and helium‐nitrogen coupling: A case study from the Weiyuan and Anyue gas fields, Sichuan Basin, China

“…However, helium extraction from natural gas reservoirs is still the only method currently being used for industrial helium production, despite being limited by resource distribution and development technology. Helium resources in natural gas reservoirs mainly originate from three sources, which can be distinguished by the 3 He/ 4 He ratio ( R ): (i) atmospheric helium, with R = 1.4 × 10 −6 (Ra), is mainly released by volcanic eruptions, magma degassing, and rock weathering (Chen et al, 2021; Wang et al, 2020); (ii) mantle‐derived helium, which originates from mantle‐derived volatile compounds entering the sedimentary crust along certain fault systems in tectonically active areas (Liu et al, 2017; Mamyrin & Tolstikhin, 1984; Wang et al, 2020, 2022, 2023), usually has a 3 He/ 4 He ratio similar to that of the mid‐ocean ridge basalt [MORB] (i.e., 8Ra) (Ballentine & Burnard, 2002; Wang et al, 2020, 2022, 2023); and (iii) crust‐derived helium, which is radiogenic 4 He produced following the decay of U, Th, and other elements in crustal rocks and minerals (Ballentine & Burnard, 2002; Kennedy et al, 2002) and often has a 3 He/ 4 He ratio of 0.02Ra.…”

“…(i) atmospheric helium, with R = 1.4 Â 10 À6 (Ra), is mainly released by volcanic eruptions, magma degassing, and rock weathering (Chen et al, 2021;Wang et al, 2020); (ii) mantle-derived helium, which originates from mantle-derived volatile compounds entering the sedimentary crust along certain fault systems in tectonically active areas (Liu et al, 2017;Mamyrin & Tolstikhin, 1984;Wang et al, 2020Wang et al, , 2022Wang et al, , 2023, usually has a 3 He/ 4 He ratio similar to that of the mid-ocean ridge basalt [MORB] (i.e., 8Ra) (Ballentine & Burnard, 2002;Wang et al, 2020Wang et al, , 2022Wang et al, , 2023; and (iii) crust-derived helium, which is radiogenic 4 He produced following the decay of U, Th, and other elements in crustal rocks and minerals (Ballentine & Burnard, 2002;Kennedy et al, 2002) and often has a 3 He/ 4 He ratio of 0.02Ra.…”