Helium accumulation in natural gas systems in Chinese sedimentary basins

Liu, Quanyou; Liu, Wenhui; Li, Xiaobin; Cheng, Tao; Li, Xiaofu; Dong, Zhao; Zhang, Jiayu; Zhu, Dongya; Meng, Qingqiang; Xu, Huiyuan; Wu, Xiaoqi

doi:10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2023.106155

Cited by 18 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 80 publications

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“…Based on this principle, the target interval was repeatedly divided into two sections using the dichotomy method, and the point with the smallest S n was selected as the depth of the unconformity surface to ensure that in the upper and lower layers of the unconformity, the difference within the layers was the smallest and the difference between layers was the largest (Bao, 2005). The specific steps are as follows (Wang and Zhu, 2015). Establishing a raw data matrix X = [ x ij ] n × m A total of m types of logging curves, such as the spontaneous potential (SP), natural gamma ray (GR), acoustic (AC), density (DEN), neutron (CNL), borehole diameter (CAL), and true formation resistivity (Rt), which have obvious response characteristics to unconformity structures, were selected as variables, and n orderly and equidistant samples near the unconformity surface were chosen to form a data matrix with m variables and n samples.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…PCA, a multivariate statistical method, of the logging data was conducted using the idea of dimension reduction to transform multiple logging curve variables with correlations into a few comprehensive indices (principal components) that were independent of each other and contained most of the original indices (more than 80–85%) (Zhao et al, 2007). The specific steps used to identify the unconformity's vertical structural layer were as follows (Wang and Zhu, 2015). Establishing the raw data matrix X = [ x ij ] n × m The m types of conventional logging curves, such as the SP, GR, AC, and CNL, which can better reflect the lithology, skeleton structure, porosity, and permeability, were selected as variables.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Quantitative identification of triassic top unconformity: vertical structure and its reservoir significance in the sanbian area of the ordos basin

Sun

Liu

Yan

et al. 2023

Energy Exploration & Exploitation

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The Triassic top unconformity in the Ordos Basin, which serves as a transfer station for hydrocarbon migration, has become a bottleneck for Mesozoic oil and gas exploration. Taking the Sanbian area as an example, based on core observations, petrophysical properties, and a weathering index analysis of five coring wells, a standard for the quantitative identification of the vertical structure of the unconformity is established using the optimal segmentation method and principal component analysis of conventional logging curves. The standard is then applied to 40 real wells, and 32 typical unconformity reservoirs are dissected. The results show that the reclassification of the unconformity surface corrects the 17.5% error in the geological stratification as an unconformity. On this basis, a quantitative identification standard for the structure of the unconformity is established via the principal component curve. The analysis of unconformity structure types applied to five paleogeomorphic units reveals that the slope mouth and slope develop three layers of structure, namely residual layer, weathered clay layer, and weathered leaching zone, while highlands, river valleys, and inter-river hills lack weathered clay layer. As an independent oil and gas-bearing layer, the unconformity has two types of reservoir-forming models. The first is the hydrocarbon accumulation in the Chang1–Chang2 member shielded by weathered clay layer in the slope mouth and slope. The second is hydrocarbon migrated from the residual layer to the local structural high part of the Yan 10–Yan 9 member in the slope mouth. The hydrocarbon in the unconformity is complementary to the upper Yan 10–Yan 9 member and the lower unweathered rock layer of Yanchang Formation. The results of this study are of great significance to the quantitative identification of unconformity structures in exploration wells without coring data in the study area, as well as to future hydrocarbon exploration in the Mesozoic strata.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantitative identification of triassic top unconformity: vertical structure and its reservoir significance in the sanbian area of the ordos basin

Sun

Liu

Yan

et al. 2023

Energy Exploration & Exploitation

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“…Up to now, no independently formed helium reservoir has been found. Helium is mainly coupled with hydrocarbon gas and sometimes with nitrogen and carbon dioxide [4][5][6][7][8][9], and most of the world's commercial helium is extractfrom helium-rich natural gas reservoirs. Helium in helium-rich natural gas reservoirs is mainly generated by the radioactive decay of basement rocks, usually granite.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Lu,

Wang,

Zhu

et al. 2024

Applied Sciences

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Helium is a scarce strategic resource. Currently, all economically valuable helium resources are found in natural gas reservoirs. Owing to helium’s different formation and migration processes compared to natural gas’s, the traditional method of collecting wellhead gas to detect helium concentration may miss helium-rich layers in the vertical direction, which will not only cause the waste of helium resources, but also restrict the study of helium migration and accumulation mechanisms. To solve this problem, we designed a helium detector based on a quadrupole mass spectrometer. Through the combination of different inlet valves, we avoided gas mixing between different vertical layers during the inlet process and realized high-spatial-resolution helium concentration detection. We applied the helium detector to the Dongsheng gas field in the northern Ordos Basin, and the instrumental detection results were consistent with the laboratory analysis results of the wellhead gas, which demonstrated the stability of the helium detector in the field environment and the reliability of the data. Meanwhile, the results showed that the distribution of helium in the plane is highly heterogeneous, and the natural gas dessert layers and the helium dessert layers do not coincide in the vertical direction. In addition, we found a good correlation between helium and hydrogen concentrations. Combining our results with previous data, we propose a hydrogen–helium migration and accumulation model, which enriches the understanding of helium accumulation mechanisms and provides a basis for future helium resource exploration.

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“…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.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…(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.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Zhao,

Wang,

Liu

et al. 2023

Geological Journal

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The helium (He) contents of the Weiyuan and Anyue gas fields in the Sichuan Basin (China) differ significantly despite their similar helium‐nitrogen (N2) coupling characteristics, that is, the positive correlation between the N2 and He contents, and the negative correlation between the nitrogen/helium (N2/He) ratio and depth. To determine the factors influencing the differential enrichment of He resources and He–N2 coupling in the Weiyuan and Anyue gas fields, this study analysed the compositions of natural gases within the study area and established a computational model for evaluating the dissolution and exsolution amount of He and N2 in the pore water. The results indicated that: the uplift of the basement granite was crucial for the exsolution and enrichment of dissolved helium, and it was also the main reason for He–N2 coupling. The differential uplift that occurred in the Leshan–Longnvsi palaeo‐uplift during the Himalayan period further promoted the differential enrichment of He resources, thus also impacting the N2/He ratio in the study area. The distinct quantities of N2 and He exsolution during the uplift directly affected the negative correlation between the N2/He ratio and the depth. Within the same depth range of the uplift, the average and variations of the N2/He ratio in the crust‐derived helium‐rich natural gas reservoir were inversely proportional to the in situ molar partial pressure of He. The uplift of the crystalline basement is an important mechanism that causes the enrichment of helium resources and the coupling of helium‐nitrogen in the crust‐derived helium‐rich natural gas reservoir, which is of great significance for understanding the variation of N2/He ratio and exploration of He resources.

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Helium accumulation in natural gas systems in Chinese sedimentary basins

Cited by 18 publications

References 80 publications

Quantitative identification of triassic top unconformity: vertical structure and its reservoir significance in the sanbian area of the ordos basin

Quantitative identification of triassic top unconformity: vertical structure and its reservoir significance in the sanbian area of the ordos basin

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

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

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