Geofluids
Volume 2021 (2021), Article ID 6617945, 19 pages
https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/6617945

Research Article

Chemically Active Elements of Reservoir Quartz Cement Trace Hydrocarbon Migration in the Mahu Sag, Junggar Basin, NW China

Linjun Huang,1,2 Yin Liu,³ Baoli Bian,⁴ Yongping Ma,² Hailei Liu,⁴ Juanjuan Guo,² and Jian Cao¹

¹State Key Laboratory for Mineral Deposits Research, School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
²PetroChina Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration and Development-Northwest, Lanzhou 730022, China
³Key Laboratory of Deep Oil and Gas, School of Geosciences, China University of Petroleum, Qingdao, Shandong 266580, China
⁴Exploration and Development Research Institute of Xinjiang Oilfield Company, Karamay, Xinjiang 834000, China

Correspondence should be addressed to Jian Cao; jcao@nju.edu.cn

Received 30 December 2020; Revised 5 March 2021; Accepted 19 March 2021; Published 8 April 2021

Academic Editor: Yingfang Zhou

Copyright © 2021 Linjun Huang et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract.

Element exchange and enrichment during fluid-rock interactions are common, providing potentially novel proxies to trace hydrocarbon migration in addition to the traditional organic geochemistry tracers. However, the processes, mechanisms, and geological and geochemical fingerprints of these interactions are complex, hampering the applications of hydrocarbon migration tracers. To investigate such interactions, we conducted a petrological, mineralogical, and in situ and bulk geochemical study of authigenic quartz and whole-rock samples from the Mahu Sag, northwestern Junggar Basin, northwest China. We found that dissolution, clay and chlorite formation, and overgrowth occurred on quartz grains in hydrocarbon fluid migration pathways, suggestive of strong fluid-rock interactions. In situ quantitative elemental analysis of quartz grains revealed elemental enrichment (e.g., Mn, Fe, Al, Sr, and W) in quartz overgrowth rims compared with their cores, indicating that migration of hydrocarbon-bearing fluids in reservoirs may promote elemental exchange between fluids and minerals. Whole-rock geochemical analysis showed that decreasing contents of some elements may reflect the direction of hydrocarbon-bearing fluid migration and can be monitored with three geochemical proxies, which are the MnO contents and MnO/Zr and Y/Ho ratios. Our data provide new constraints on fluid-rock interactions in petroleum reservoirs and have implications for using inorganic geochemical methods to trace hydrocarbon migration.

1. Introduction

Hydrocarbon fluid migration is the key link between hydrocarbon generation and accumulation. Numerous studies have been undertaken on hydrocarbon migration, including physical experiments [1–5], numerical simulations [6–12], coupling analysis of thermal, stress, and pressure fields [13–18], and organic geochemical and isotope studies [19, 20]. Physical and numerical simulations build a model from the perspective of forward modeling and then observe the migration process of hydrocarbon fluids in reservoirs by using experimental facilities or computer models [8, 9]. Thermal, stress, and pressure field coupling analysis mainly involves assessing the direction of hydrocarbon migration using the fluid potential, crude oil density, formation water salinity, and other parameters based on the physical properties of hydrocarbon-bearing fluids [21–25]. Organic geochemistry indicators, including maturity indicators, nitrogen-containing compounds in crude oil, and fractionation effects on carbazole, pyrrole, and other compounds, are amongst the most efficient methods to trace hydrocarbon fluid migration [26–31]. However, due to mixing of multisource and multiphase hydrocarbons in superimposed basins and the effects of secondary modification, organic geochemical indicators are susceptible to complex geological processes [32, 33]. Therefore, it is difficult to determine the direction of hydrocarbon migration based on only one indicator.

Studies have shown that strata through which fluids have migrated experience strong physical and chemical interactions between fluids and rocks, which then lead to changes in the composition, morphology, and other aspects of the rocks and minerals [34–36]. As such, these interactions can leave a record of the processes, direction, and strength of fluid migration [37–40]. When hydrocarbon-bearing fluids migrate in strata, organic inclusions can form in authigenic minerals in reservoirs. An increasing number of studies have investigated the effects of fluid-rock interactions and, in particular, the elemental and isotope geochemistry of authigenic minerals [41, 42], sources of hydrothermal fluids [43, 44], and rates and mechanisms of fluid-rock interactions [45]. In theory, geochemical changes recorded by authigenic minerals can record the migration of hydrocarbon-bearing fluids and reveal the processes of hydrocarbon migration. Therefore, such information is of significance in determining the migration direction of hydrocarbon fluids. However, the whole-rock geochemistry records only the averaged history of a hydrothermally modified rock. In contrast, in situ geochemical studies of authigenic minerals can provide more resolved information regarding fluid migration.

Elemental geochemistry has been used in recent studies to trace hydrocarbon fluid migration, based on rationale of interactions between organic fluids and inorganic minerals [46–48]. Most of these studies have focused on calcite or calcium carbonate cements in fault zones. However, studies of fluid migration in reservoirs with low contents of calcite and other diagenetic minerals remain limited. In addition, the distribution of elements in diagenetic minerals is heterogeneous, and hydrothermal fluids are likely to modify parts of the minerals, which requires an in situ analytical approach.

In addition to calcite cement, quartz is common in terrigenous clastic sedimentary rocks, and diagenesis and hydrothermal fluids result in quartz overgrowths. Recent studies have proposed that the geochemistry of quartz overgrowths may reflect the characteristics of hydrothermal fluids [38]. However, the relationship between the geochemical composition of the quartz overgrowths and hydrocarbon migration remains unclear and requires further investigation.

Therefore, in this paper, we present a petrological, mineralogical, and in situ and whole-rock geochemical study of the Lower Triassic Baikouquan Formation, which is a new exploration target on the slope of the Mahu Sag, Junggar Basin, northwest China. We use these data to investigate the migration of hydrocarbon fluids in reservoirs based on the geochemistry of quartz cements.

2. Geological Setting

The Junggar Basin is located in northern Xinjiang Province and is an important part of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt, covering an area of ~130,000 km². The basin is surrounded by three fold and thrust belts, including the Zhayier and Hala’alat Mountains along its northwestern margin, the Qinggelidi and Kelameili Mountains along its northeastern margin, and the Bogda and Yilinheibiergen Mountains of the Tianshan along its southern margin (Figure 1(a)). The Junggar Basin comprises Carboniferous folded basement [49, 50] and sedimentary cover rocks, including Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic strata. The basin has experienced three main stages: development of a foreland basin in the late Carboniferous-Permian, an intracontinental depressional basin in the Triassic-Paleogene, and a rejuvenated foreland basin since the Neogene [51–53].

Figure 1: (a) Map showing the location and major tectonic units of the Junggar Basin. (b) Map showing the distribution of major oil fields and sampled wells in the Mahu Sag (modified after PetroChina Xinjiang Oilfield Company, 2019).

Several structural units occur in the Junggar Basin (Figure 1(a)), and the Mahu Sag is one of the largest depressions in the basin (Figure 1(a)) [54]. The slope of the Mahu Sag is the most favorable hydrocarbon accumulation area, where nearly one billion tons of oil have been discovered (Figure 1(b)). To the north, the slope area is bounded by the Wuxia (Wuerhe-Xiazijie) and Kebai (Karamay-Baikouquan) fault belts. The Yingxi Sag and Xiayan and Dabasong uplifts are located to the east of the Mahu Sag. According to drilling data, Neogene and Carboniferous strata are well developed in the Mahu Sag. Triassic strata unconformably overlie Permian strata. The source rocks in the Mahu Sag are mainly the lower Permian Jiamuhe and Fengcheng Formations [55, 56]. The Jiamuhe Formation has its hydrocarbon generation center in the west of the Mahu Sag and thins gradually to the east, north, and south. The Fengcheng Formation has its hydrocarbon generation center in the north of the Mahu Sag and thins to the east and west. Hydrocarbon accumulation in the Mahu Sag involved three stages, during the Middle-Late Permian, Late Triassic, and Early Cretaceous [57, 58]. The Triassic strata were generally deposited in the transgressive system of a lake basin, with alluvial fan and shallow-water fan-delta sediments deposited at the northwestern margin of the sag. The Baikouquan Formation (T₁b) consists mainly of red-brown and grey sandy conglomerates.

3. Samples and Methods

In this study, we collected 15 drill core samples of the Baikouquan Formation from 11 wells (MA18, MH23, AH2, AH11, B25, B63, D12, D13, D15, D18, and YB2) for mineralogical and geochemical studies. These samples are mainly grey or greyish green sandy conglomerates (Table 1). The locations of these wells are shown in Figure 1, and sample details are listed in Table 1. All samples were made into polished thin sections and powdered to <200 mesh (74 μm) in an agate mortar.

Table 1: Basic features of the Triassic Baikouquan Formation reservoir samples from the Mahu Sag, Junggar Basin.

Well
Depth (m)
Lithology
Core characteristics
Oil-bearing characteristics

B63
2452/2514
Sandy conglomerate
Grey conglomerate, the pebble is mainly lithic fragment and quartz
Oil stain

B25
2318.1
Sandy conglomerate
Grey conglomerate, the pebble is mainly lithic fragment and quartz
Oil stain

YB2
4110.2
Sandy conglomerate
Greyish-green conglomerate, the pebble is mainly lithic fragment and quartz
Oil stain

AH2
3313.6
Sandy conglomerate
Greyish-green conglomerate, the pebble is mainly lithic fragment and quartz
Oil stain

AH11
2824.5
Sandy conglomerate
Greyish-green conglomerate, the pebble is mainly lithic fragment and quartz
Oil stain

D15
4245/4253.7
Sandy conglomerate
Greyish-green conglomerate, the pebble is mainly lithic fragment and quartz
Oil stain

D12
4269.2/4267/4284
Sandy conglomerate
Greyish-green conglomerate, the pebble is mainly lithic fragment and quartz
Oil stain

D18
4451.4
Sandy conglomerate
Greyish-green conglomerate, the pebble is mainly lithic fragment and quartz
Oil stain

D13
4209
Sandy conglomerate
Greyish-green conglomerate, the pebble is mainly lithic fragment and quartz
Oil stain

MH23
4078.9
Sandy conglomerate
Greyish-green conglomerate, the pebble is mainly lithic fragment and quartz
Oil stain

MA18
3905.8
Sandy conglomerate
Greyish-green conglomerate, the pebble is mainly lithic fragment and quartz
Oil stain

The samples were examined under a polarizing microscope (Zeiss Axio Lab A1) at the China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao. Cathodoluminescence (CL) imaging was undertaken in the Beijing SHRIMP Center, using a Carl Zeiss Merlin Compact instrument coupled to a GATAN Mono CL4. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was undertaken at the Key Laboratory of Shale Hydrocarbons, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing, using a Zeiss Sigma 300 instrument. In situ microanalysis was conducted at Beijing Standard Energy Ltd. using a JEOL JXA-8230 electron microprobe (major elements) and GeolasPro 193 nm laser ablation (LA) system coupled to an Agilent 7900 inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS; trace elements). The error of the electron microprobe analyses is <2%, while that of the LA-ICP-MS analyses is <10%. Whole-rock analyses were undertaken at ALS Chemex Company Ltd., Guangzhou, China, where major elements were determined by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry with an and trace elements were determined by ICP-MS with an . XRF mapping was conducted in the Key Laboratory of Deep Hydrocarbons, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, using a Bruker M4 Tornado instrument with a scanning spot size of 20 μm.

4. Results

4.1. Petrological Features of Quartz

The edges of quartz grains exhibit curved dissolution profiles under the microscope (Figure 2), and parts of the quartz edges are replaced or infilled with clay minerals. The surface of the quartz is relatively rough, and a large number of fluid inclusions (typically <10 μm in size) are distributed along the fractures. Quartz overgrowths are developed along the edges of some grains. Most feldspar and lithic fragments in the sandy conglomerate have been altered, with the replacement products being mainly clay.

(a)

(b)

(c)

Figure 2: Morphological characteristics of quartz under the microscope. (a) Quartz replaced by and infilled with clay, with oil stains (sample B63; 2452 m; T₁b; 5×; plane-polarized light). (b) Inclusion-rich and oil-stained quartz overgrowth (sample D15; 4245 m; T₁b, 5×; plane-polarized light). (c) Quartz dissolved and replaced by clay, with oil stains (sample AH2; 3313.56 m; T₁b; 5×; plane-polarized light). T₁b = the lower Triassic Baikouquan Formation.

CL and SEM imaging was used to examine the interiors and edges of quartz grains. The quartz has obvious multiphase growth regions with different optical characteristics (Figures 3(a) and 3(b)). The secondary quartz is CL-dark and corresponds to quartz overgrowths. The quartz overgrowths are hexagonal and prism-shaped in SEM images (Figures 3(c) and 3(d)) and intergrown with clay minerals. Dissolution pores also occur near the edges of quartz grains.

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

Figure 3: Core and rim features of quartz in cathodoluminescence (upper) and scanning electron microscopy (lower) images.

4.2. In Situ Geochemistry of Quartz

Backscattered electron images also reveal the original quartz cores and overgrowths, and they are separated with dark and curved layers, similar to the results of petrological observations (Figures 4(a) and 4(b)). Major element contents were analyzed from the core to the rim in selected quartz grains. SiO₂ contents are all >98 wt.%. The distribution of the other major elements (Figures 4(a) and 4(b), Table 2) is variable, and most elements have significantly lower contents in the cores (Q-1) than in the overgrowths (Q-2), particularly for Fe and Al.

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

Figure 4: Distribution of electron microprobe analysis points (a) and major element contents (b) in quartz in a sample from well D13. (c, d) The distribution of LA-ICP-MS analysis points and major and trace element contents in quartz in the same sample (sample S016, 4209 m depth). Q-1 = core of the quartz grain; Q-2 = quartz overgrowth.

Table 2: Major element data for quartz in the D13 well (in wt.%).

Point
Na₂O
Al₂O₃
MgO
SiO₂
FeO
MnO
TiO₂
CaO
K₂O
Total

1
0.002
bdl
bdl
98.98
0.011
0.006
bdl
bdl
bdl
99.00

2
0.013
bdl
bdl
99.45
0.011
bdl
0.038
0.019
0.004
99.53

3
0.011
bdl
0.023
99.29
bdl
0.064
bdl
bdl
bdl
99.39

4
0.006
bdl
bdl
98.68
bdl
bdl
0.149
0.012
bdl
98.85

5
bdl
0.003
0.036
99.74
0.072
0.045
0.038
0.004
bdl
99.94

6
0.032
0.211
bdl
99.06
0.088
bdl
0.056
0.013
0.007
99.46

7
0.015
0.246
0.009
98.03
0.066
bdl
bdl
bdl
0.004
98.37

8
0.085
0.283
0.004
98.19
0.159
0.095
bdl
0.026
0.013
98.85

9
bdl
0.2
bdl
98.15
0.05
bdl
bdl
0.015
0.009
98.42

10
bdl
0.036
0.006
99.53
0.099
bdl
bdl
0.011
0.002
99.68

11
0.027
0.018
bdl
99.03
0.077
bdl
bdl
bdl
0.005
99.16

Note: bdl denotes below detection limit.

LA-ICP-MS was also used to analyze the major and trace element contents. The core analyses (S016-2-01–04) have average , , , and . The cores also have average , , , and . The average SiO₂, Al₂O₃, MnO, and FeO contents of the rims (S016-2-05–08) are 98.85, 3.261, 0.052, and 1.482 wt.%, respectively. The rims have average , , , and . The cores and rims separated by a thin, dark, and clay layer exhibit the largest compositional differences (Figures 4(c) and 4(d), Table 3). Some trace (e.g., Sr and W) and major element (e.g., Mn, Fe, and Al) contents are higher in the rims than in the cores. The differences can be by two or three orders of magnitude. However, some relatively immobile elements show no apparent concentration differences between the cores and rims (e.g., Zr).

Table 3: In situ major and trace element data for quartz in the D13 well. Sample S016, 4209 m depth.

Element
Unit
S016-2-01
S016-2-02
S016-2-03
S016-2-04
S016-2-05
S016-2-06
S016-2-07
S016-2-08

Na₂O
wt.%
0.0001
0.0009
0.0044
0.0028
0.0114
0.0403
0.0248
0.0456

MgO
wt.%
0.0018
0.0005
0.0014
0.0924
0.2689
0.4281
0.1951
0.238

Al₂O₃
wt.%
0.0157
0.0117
0.027
0.4778
1.5872
5.0255
27.8972
3.6433

SiO₂
wt.%
98.8128
99.3119
99.1262
98.5171
99.5735
99.4796
97.9821
98.3665

P₂O₅
wt.%
0.0004
0.0021
0.0017
bdl
0.0029
0.0016
bdl
0.0025

K₂O
wt.%
0.0005
0.0008
0.0003
0.0315
0.1263
0.6335
0.1276
0.5843

CaO
wt.%
0.0052
0.0023
0.0089
0.0106
0.0128
0.0484
0.0331
0.0502

CaO
wt.%
0.0286
0.0299
0.0275
0.0337
0.0359
0.0803
0.0321
0.0873

TiO₂
wt.%
0.0065
0.0054
0.0081
0.0085
0.0206
0.3722
0.0481
0.0186

MnO
wt.%
0.0001
bdl
0.0021
0.0219
0.0542
0.0746
0.0376
0.0429

FeO
wt.%
0.0035
0.0146
0.0227
0.5517
1.6852
2.0688
0.9899
1.1847

Li
ppm
2.0965
bdl
3.1423
7.8239
16.3127
23.3518
47.5405
47.7116

Be
ppm
bdl
0.0059
0.0268
0.1594
0.1286
0.5496
0.2767
0.5168

B
ppm
0.3452
0.9822
1.7401
0.3358
3.3413
15.6646
2.9438
5.3068

Sc
ppm
1.5332
1.5815
1.7752
2.4409
2.8277
5.2015
4.5676
3.5416

V
ppm
0.0768
0.141
0.1456
6.2744
18.6091
38.5048
44.2837
20.8029

Cr
ppm
0.9691
0.8712
1.1591
2.8601
5.3181
8.6423
8.2257
4.4051

Co
ppm
0.0849
3.4376
2.4933
1.1143
2.4508
3.1264
2.5711
1.737

Ni
ppm
0.1548
0.446
bdl
15.0496
18.0809
16.3241
60.7456
8.5679

Cu
ppm
4.6485
1.583
0.4035
10.0872
3.4157
8.3014
15.9753
10.3209

Zn
ppm
4.53
7.0383
3.4491
10.9982
15.4474
20.3231
8.3061
250.1787

Ga
ppm
0.0236
0.0091
0.0352
0.7123
2.3717
4.8447
5.7437
3.5102

Ge
ppm
1.1098
1.0578
0.917
1.2367
1.2775
1.584
1.1088
1.2653

Rb
ppm
0.0121
0.1982
bdl
0.7515
2.4961
21.3532
2.597
15.8376

Sr
ppm
1.1306
bdl
0.1347
1.3932
5.1935
13.4053
5.3072
12.018

Y
ppm
0.0789
bdl
0.3099
3.7087
4.4541
8.788
0.6344
3.0661

Zr
ppm
7.4731
27.9566
13.5468
27.0276
36.3953
83.4228
6.0641
19.4439

Nb
ppm
0.0072
0.0048
0.0083
0.1382
0.5832
4.2074
0.483
0.4359

Mo
ppm
0.0139
3.3567
0.8704
bdl
0.3764
0.1611
0.025
0.0231

Cs
ppm
0.0247
0.0419
0.146
0.0547
0.2173
1.947
0.1248
0.4007

Ba
ppm
0.0359
0.0357
1.0805
5.7055
20.774
92.4082
16.6073
125.0756

La
ppm
0.0032
bdl
0.0037
0.0462
0.2222
1.2463
0.3332
7.1036

Ce
ppm
0.1066
0.003
0.0191
0.1468
0.6328
1.9927
1.2214
12.4724

Pr
ppm
0.0059
0.0093
bdl
0.0183
0.079
0.1865
0.0786
1.1895

Nd
ppm
0.0064
0.0191
0.0074
0.107
0.4143
0.7609
0.2295
3.6637

Sm
ppm
bdl
bdl
0.0168
0.0664
0.2537
0.3327
0.045
0.4885

Eu
ppm
0.0185
0.0593
0.0309
0.0137
0.0202
0.1079
0.0064
0.1828

Gd
ppm
bdl
bdl
0.0078
0.1565
0.3665
0.4613
0.0312
0.3494

Tb
ppm
bdl
bdl
0.0038
0.0543
0.1052
0.2078
0.0237
0.0699

Dy
ppm
bdl
0.0307
bdl
0.6531
0.746
1.4292
0.1024
0.4987

Ho
ppm
bdl
0.0085
0.0136
0.1708
0.157
0.3226
0.0166
0.1081

Er
ppm
0.0164
0.418
0.0189
0.3973
0.4846
0.8769
0.0594
0.2808

Tm
ppm
0.0049
bdl
0.0056
0.1347
0.0878
0.1604
0.0075
0.046

Yb
ppm
0.0041
0.0041
0.0048
0.4731
0.493
1.0755
0.0836
0.3126

Lu
ppm
0.001
0.001
0.007
0.0804
0.0829
0.15
0.0078
0.0509

Hf
ppm
bdl
bdl
0.0036
0.6129
0.8206
2.2239
0.195
0.5997

Ta
ppm
0.0032
bdl
bdl
0.0082
0.0538
0.4038
0.1343
0.0415

W
ppm
0.0274
0.0471
0.0823
bdl
0.029
0.4034
0.0648
0.1617

Hg
ppm
bdl
bdl
bdl
bdl
bdl
bdl
bdl
bdl

Tl
ppm
0.6772
bdl
0.0362
bdl
0.0633
0.0847
0.0332
0.0451

Pb
ppm
6.8722
0.4472
1.3452
0.0906
0.3238
3.8856
0.7726
0.4805

Th
ppm
0.0192
bdl
0.0225
2.0437
1.3406
9.2599
0.8271
8.162

U
ppm
0.0017
0.0051
0.0778
0.2246
0.2462
0.9181
0.165
0.8694

Note: bdl denotes below detection limit.

4.3. XRF Element Maps of Quartz

The elemental map showed that the distribution of elements in the rock thin sections is heterogeneous (Figure 5). Elements mobile in hydrothermal fluids, such as Mn and Fe, are significantly concentrated at the edges of quartz grains.

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

(f)

(g)

(h)

(i)

(j)

Figure 5: Element maps of a sample from well D5 obtained by XRF analysis. On the migration pathway, Al, Fe, Mn, and Ti are enriched and have been affected by migration, indicative of strong fluid-rock interactions. Q-1 = core of the quartz grain; Q-2 = quartz overgrowth.

4.4. Whole-Rock Geochemistry

Whole-rock geochemical data for 15 samples from 11 wells are listed in Table 4. The samples have variable major element compositions, with , , , , , and . Total rare earth element (REE) concentrations vary from 81.50 to 140.85 ppm. The chondrite-normalized REE patterns of these samples show apparent fractionation of light REEs relative to heavy REEs (Figure 6(a)), with . The Eu/Eu values of the sandy conglomerates vary from 0.48 to 0.83, reflecting negative Eu anomalies. In trace element patterns (Figure 6(b)), the large-ion lithophile elements (e.g., Cs, Rb, K, and Ba) exhibit variable contents. Some high-field-strength elements exhibit obvious negative anomalies, such as Nb and Ta.

Table 4: Whole-rock major (in wt.%) and trace element (in ppm) data for samples from the Baikouquan Formation.

Well
B63
B63
B25
YB2
AH2
AH11
D15
D15
D12
D12
D12
D18
D13
MH23
MA18

Depth (m)
2514
2452
2318
4110
3314
2825
4245
4254
4269
4267
4284
4451
4209
4079
3906

Al₂O₃
19.66
17.44
13.12
14.9
9.69
13.15
10.83
12.42
10.62
11.29
10.65
12.78
11.04
11.1
13.46

BaO
0.03
0.06
0.06
0.03
0.01
0.04
0.02
0.01
0.01
0.01
0.01
0.02
0.01
0.02
0.02

CaO
0.64
0.66
0.59
0.47
0.48
0.4
0.64
0.55
0.25
0.42
0.4
1.04
1.4
0.38
1.3

Cr₂O₃
0.02
0.05
0.03
<0.01
0.03
0.02
0.02
0.02
0.01
0.03
<0.01
<0.01
<0.01
<0.01
0.01

TFe₂O₃
8.94
10.25
4.33
1.68
2.19
3.12
2.78
3.99
4.16
3.84
2.66
4.45
3.45
1.55
3.73

K₂O
3.2
2.73
2.39
2.4
1.31
2.16
1.16
1.37
1.01
1
1.39
1.09
0.92
1.48
1.44

MgO
0.95
2.04
1.3
0.66
0.75
0.9
0.76
0.73
0.88
0.9
0.62
1.33
0.97
0.52
1

MnO
0.08
0.11
0.09
0.05
0.06
0.06
0.07
0.09
0.15
0.13
0.08
0.18
0.16
0.08
0.2

Na₂O
1.23
1.33
2.85
2.4
2.95
3.83
3.05
3.3
2.68
2.99
2.61
3.12
2.96
2.75
3.84

P₂O₅
0.01
0.03
0.16
0.05
0.07
0.11
0.15
0.13
0.03
0.16
0.1
0.2
0.15
0.07
0.14

SiO₂
57.92
58.04
70.95
72.4
78.91
73.28
77.35
73.81
77.68
76.59
78.93
70.36
75.04
78.98
70.47

SO₃
<0.01
0.02
0.02
0.02
<0.01
<0.01
<0.01
<0.01
<0.01
0.01
<0.01
<0.01
0.01
<0.01
0.01

SrO
0.01
0.01
0.02
0.01
0.01
0.01
0.01
0.01
0.01
0.01
0.01
0.01
0.01
0.01
0.02

TiO₂
0.91
0.82
0.66
0.63
0.39
0.48
0.43
0.48
0.37
0.47
0.37
0.78
0.48
0.19
0.44

LOI
6.14
6.36
2.92
3.37
2.49
2.04
2.37
2.6
1.95
2.17
1.9
3.97
3.53
2.26
3.56

La
12.7
19.7
15.2
23.3
14.9
17.6
24
27.9
15.9
23.1
20.3
21.7
17.8
18.6
20.1

Ce
23.7
43.2
32.7
51
34.8
37.7
53.1
55.3
34.3
50.6
41.7
48.1
38
33.7
48.9

Pr
2.68
5.16
4.28
5.75
4.41
4.53
6.52
6.13
3.89
5.92
5.06
5.72
4.44
3.65
6.03

Nd
10.1
20.4
17.5
20.4
17.6
17.6
26.1
24.1
14.7
23
19.2
21.6
18.6
13.9
25.5

Sm
2.81
4.82
4.02
4.28
4.02
3.82
5.98
5.65
2.99
5
4.59
4.98
4.16
2.97
5.52

Eu
0.58
1.02
0.97
0.75
0.86
0.97
1.09
0.95
0.56
1.04
0.79
1.01
0.86
0.46
1.24

Gd
4.84
4.79
3.98
3.87
3.35
3.31
5.42
4.86
2.59
4.72
4.18
4.58
3.71
2.2
4.75

Tb
1.26
0.88
0.7
0.8
0.54
0.53
0.95
0.86
0.47
0.79
0.7
0.76
0.59
0.35
0.72

Dy
9.43
5.57
4.37
5.38
3.14
3.24
5.47
5.47
3.04
4.85
4.14
4.51
3.76
2.12
4.24

Ho
2.29
1.25
0.96
1.25
0.66
0.72
1.16
1.23
0.69
1.06
0.92
0.97
0.84
0.45
0.89

Er
7.28
3.65
2.76
3.84
1.74
2.15
3.37
3.58
2.09
3.18
2.76
2.85
2.43
1.26
2.48

Tm
1.14
0.56
0.42
0.63
0.25
0.35
0.52
0.56
0.33
0.48
0.42
0.44
0.39
0.2
0.38

Yb
7.52
3.68
2.81
4.37
1.73
2.47
3.55
3.68
2.29
3.29
2.84
2.87
2.57
1.4
2.51

Lu
1.22
0.6
0.48
0.7
0.3
0.4
0.56
0.58
0.38
0.54
0.46
0.46
0.43
0.24
0.4

Y
65.7
35.3
25.1
33.1
17.2
19.6
32.4
32.6
19.8
29.1
25.3
26.6
24.4
13.2
24.9

Cs
11.35
7.47
1.07
2.31
0.68
0.87
0.87
1.09
0.9
0.97
1.02
1.24
0.88
0.44
0.81

Rb
101
83.1
54.5
64.3
33.1
49.3
32.4
37.7
27.7
29.4
38.2
30.4
25.1
31.4
34.7

Ba
392
612
724
390
263
521
293
253
186.5
200
235
245
187
290
283

Th
11.3
6.6
4.25
8.46
2.78
4
6.34
6.83
5.08
6.51
5.99
5.68
5.68
3.71
3.97

U
2.57
2.04
1.65
2.82
1.19
1.34
2.06
2.24
1.67
2.04
1.99
1.68
1.62
1.09
1.4

Nb
13.3
9.7
6
13.4
5
4.9
9.2
10.2
7.9
8.9
8.9
9.8
8
4.2
5

Ta
0.8
0.6
0.3
0.9
0.3
0.3
0.5
0.6
0.4
0.6
0.6
0.6
0.4
0.3
0.3

Cr
120
210
130
20
240
140
10
30
10
10
20
40
40
30
80

Ga
23.2
19.6
14.5
17.5
10.3
14.4
12.3
15.4
11.8
13.2
12.9
13.8
10.3
13.8
14.4

Hf
14.8
5.8
4.4
7.3
6
4.3
5.3
6.2
4.4
5.7
4.9
5
4.4
3
3.8

Sr
67.9
112
201
140
94.4
168.5
130.5
130.5
89
98.1
95.9
133.5
124.5
96.3
187

V
79
103
80
73
73
61
60
51
62
73
51
104
65
37
64

Zr
641
224
163
279
258
154
211
238
170
217
197
208
170
108
143

MnO/Zr
1.25
4.91
5.52
1.79
2.33
3.9
3.32
3.78
8.82
5.99
4.06
8.65
9.41
7.41
13.99

Y/Ho
28.69
28.24
26.15
26.48
26.06
27.22
27.93
26.5
28.7
27.45
27.5
27.42
29.05
29.33
27.98

LaN/YbN
1.15
3.64
3.67
3.62
5.85
4.84
4.59
5.15
4.72
4.77
4.86
5.14
4.71
9.03
5.44

0.48
0.65
0.74
0.56
0.71
0.83
0.58
0.55
0.61
0.65
0.55
0.64
0.67
0.55
0.74

87.55
115.3
91.15
126.3
88.3
95.39
137.8
140.9
84.22
127.6
108.1
120.6
98.58
81.5
123.7

(a)

(b)

Figure 6: (a) Chondrite-normalized REE and (b) incompatible trace element patterns for sandy conglomerate samples in the Mahu Sag. Chondrite values are from [78]. Upper continental crust values are from [79].

5. Discussion

5.1. Fluid-Rock Interactions Recorded by Quartz

Fluid-rock interactions occur widely in reservoirs, and these can cause migration of chemically active elements, dissolution of minerals, or modification of primary minerals [34, 59, 60]. The sandy conglomerates of the Baikouquan Formation exhibit dissolution and overgrowths at the edges of quartz grains, suggesting that these samples experienced strong fluid-rock interactions (Figures 2 and 3). The quartz grains developed numerous microcracks, and SiO₂ from the hydrothermal fluids infilled these microcracks to form new quartz. In addition, abundant fluid inclusions were captured during this process. These samples exhibit obvious blue and white fluorescence around the quartz grains (Figure 7(a)) and even some strong fluorescence at the edges of the grains (Figure 7(b)), implying that hydrocarbons migrated with the hydrothermal fluids involved in the fluid-rock interactions.

(a)

(b)

Figure 7: Fluorescence microscopy photographs showing the oil migration pathways in the Baikouquan Formation.

The geochemical data indicate that the chemically active elements, such as Fe, Mn, Al, Sr, and W, have higher contents in the rims than in the cores of quartz (Figures 4 and 5), implying that these elements migrated with the fluids and were deposited in the overgrowths.

The elemental contents of the quartz overgrowths in the reservoirs of the Baikouquan Formation in the Mahu Sag depend on internal and external factors. The internal factors pertain mainly to the initial elemental abundances of the quartz; the external factors pertain mainly to the mobility of elements during fluid migration and fluid-rock interactions. Major elements such as Mn, Fe, and Al and trace elements such as Sr and W in the quartz cores are relatively low in content. Permian source rocks in the study area are rich in Mn, Fe, and Cr [61]. Insoluble MnO₂ can react with water in the presence of anaerobic bacteria to form Mn²⁺ and OH–, which allows Mn to be dissolved in hydrothermal fluids and OH– to form an alkaline environment that promotes the dissolution of SiO₂ [62]. Elements such as Fe, Mn, and Cr in the source rocks are all elements with variable valence states, which can migrate in a reducing environment. Therefore, we speculate that the quartz overgrowths are rich in Mn and other elements, owing to the effects of reducing hydrocarbon-bearing fluids. This process can be described by the following chemical equations [62]:

During the process of hydrocarbon generation, a large amount of organic acids will be discharged along with hydrocarbons, which can promote the dissolution of feldspar and carbonates and thus form dissolution pores [63–65]. This is of significance in the formation and transformation of reservoirs and is also a common model for the formation of feldspar-rich reservoirs in lacustrine basins in eastern China (e.g., the Bohai Bay Basin [39]). However, in some areas of western China, such as the Sichuan and Junggar Basins [66–68], alkaline fluids are considered to have caused the dissolution of quartz during burial. The edges of quartz grains in the Baikouquan Formation have been dissolved and replaced by clay minerals (Figure 2). Most of these quartz grains exhibit features of multiphase growth and contain abundant fluid inclusions, which were related to late fluid activity (Figure 2).

Quartz is relatively stable in acidic and neutral environments but is more easily dissolved in alkaline solutions, especially at higher pH values [69, 70]. Experimental studies have shown that when the pH exceeds 6–7, the dissolution rate of quartz increases rapidly, thus forming curved quartz edges [71]. At higher temperatures and pressures, quartz is also more readily dissolved [72]. Clastic sediments experience the syngenetic, early diagenetic, and late diagenetic stages from the onset of sedimentation through to the earliest metamorphism [72]. Due to the effects of organic matter evolution and fluid-rock reaction in each stage, the fluid pH will increase [73, 74]. Therefore, alkaline fluids form because of burial diagenesis in clastic rocks [69–72]. Acid-labile minerals such as calcite and dolomite can be formed and preserved as cements in most clastic rock reservoirs, which also demonstrates that alkaline formation waters existed. Early and late carbonate cements in clastic rock reservoirs possibly reflect multiphase activity of alkaline fluids. It is known that the Mahu Sag was an alkaline lake basin in the Permian [68], which provided favorable conditions for the dissolution of quartz and formation of quartz overgrowths.

5.2. Implications for Hydrocarbon Migration

Given that a large number of elements are mobile in fluids, when fluids interact with rocks, the elements in the fluids can be partially incorporated into quartz overgrowths, thus resulting in elemental enrichment. Therefore, the distribution and enrichment of elements in authigenic minerals can indicate whether fluids have migrated through rocks and can also be used to infer the direction of hydrocarbon migration.

Based on our in situ geochemical data for quartz, we selected several proxies, including MnO contents and MnO/Zr and Y/Ho ratios, to examine the migration of hydrocarbon-bearing fluids in the Mahu Sag. The MnO contents tend to decrease from the center to the outer margin of the sag (Figure 8(a)). Those MnO contents to the south of wells MA18 and D18 are high and gradually decrease to the slope regions in the north, west, and east. The MnO contents on the western slope are slightly higher than those on the eastern slope. The reason for these differences is that Mn tends to concentrate in the center of a sedimentary basin, and MnO is then likely to be migrated away by hydrothermal fluids [47, 48]. Therefore, the direction in which the MnO contents decrease might have been a fluid migration pathway. Basin-scale pressure coefficient contours show that the distribution of MnO is consistent with the pressure coefficients, particularly near wells D12-D13-D15, MA18-AH2, and MA22. This reveals a trend of hydrocarbon migration towards the (N)NE and NW, which is also consistent with the distribution of the Triassic hydrocarbon reservoir (Figure 8(a)). For the trace elements, the chemically active elements also show a gradual change from the center to the margin of the sag. For example, Sr contents also increase to the NW and NE (Figure 8(b)), similar to MnO.

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

Figure 8: (a) Contour map of MnO contents (wt.%) and pressure coefficients around the Mahu Sag. (b) Contour map of Sr contents (ppm) and pressure coefficients around the Mahu Sag. (c) Contour map of MnO/Zr ratios and pressure coefficients around the Mahu Sag. (d) Contour map of Y/Ho ratios and pressure coefficients around the Mahu Sag.

Inorganic geochemical proxies were used to investigate the fluid migration according to the distribution of these chemically active elements. For example, the MnO/Zr ratio was used as Zr which is a fluid-immobile element [62], which is also supported by the in situ geochemical data (Figures 4(c) and 4(d)), whereas Mn was fluid-mobile (Figures 4 and 5). MnO/Zr values decrease gradually from the center to the margin of the sag, and changes also occurred near wells DA12-DA13-DA15, MA18-AH2, and MA22 (Figure 8(c)), similar to the MnO contents. MnO/Zr values have a similar distribution to the pressure coefficients and also reveal fluid migration to the (N)NE and NW.

Yttrium and Ho typically exist exclusively as trivalent elements, with similar ionic radii of and [75]. Therefore, Y and Ho often exhibit identical geochemical behavior in geological environments [76]. Previous studies have shown that partial melting and fractional crystallization cannot fractionate Y and Ho, and the Y/Ho ratio in igneous rocks is ~28 [77]. However, these two elements may be significantly fractionated in aqueous solutions [76], such as in seawater, river water, and hydrothermal fluids. The Y/Ho ratios of the studied samples vary widely (Table 4), suggesting that the samples experienced strong fluid-rock interactions. The Y/Ho ratios tend to decrease toward the margin of the sag (Figure 8(d)). As such, Y/Ho ratios also reveal a migration direction to the (N)NE and NW.

Well correlations also reflect the trends of hydrocarbon migration. On the east slope of the Mahu Sag (Figure 9(a)), MnO, MnO/Zr, and Y/Ho decrease gradually from the center to the margin of the sag, suggesting that rocks in the wells on the hydrocarbon migration pathways were subjected to strong fluid-rock interactions. For rocks in wells on the west slope (Figure 9(b)), MnO, MnO/Zr, and Y/Ho tend to decrease.

(a)

(b)

Figure 9: (a) D12-D13-D15-YB2-MD3 tracing indicators (MnO, MnO/Zr, and Y/Ho) that connect the well profiles. (b) B63-AH11-AH2-MA18-MZ1 tracing indicators (MnO, MnO/Zr, and Y/Ho) that connect the well profiles.

Our results are also consistent with the hydrocarbon migration inferred from organic geochemistry proxies, such as diasterane/regular sterane and C₃₀ moretane/C₃₀ hopane ratios, and oil exploration results (Figure 8), which show that the western slope is the preferred area for hydrocarbon exploration.

Organic matter in sediments becomes buried and forms source rocks and hydrocarbons. Most studies have used organic geochemistry proxies to infer hydrocarbon migration pathways [19, 20]. However, organic geochemistry proxies are affected by heat and biodegradation effects in geological environments, and these indicators may not be robust in complex geological settings. Previous studies have found that Mn-rich calcite veins are efficient in tracing possible fluid migration pathways in fault zones of the Junggar Basin, and these processes are consistent with the formation of Mn-depleted and Mn-enriched pore waters [47, 48]. This demonstrates that inorganic geochemical methods are another way to investigate hydrocarbon migration. Our study also shows that the distribution of elements can be recorded by quartz overgrowths.

Hydrocarbon migration from source rocks to reservoirs is usually accompanied by the migration of hydrothermal fluids, which can also form hydrocarbon and brine inclusions. Hydrothermal fluids can infill cracks, faults, and unconformities with vein minerals and also enter pores and chemically react with minerals causing mineral dissolution and the formation of authigenic minerals. Based on our inorganic geochemical study of quartz in the Baikouquan Formation in the Mahu Sag, samples on the migration pathway of hydrocarbon-bearing fluids formed authigenic minerals through fluid-rock interactions, which resulted in the exchange and enrichment of certain elements. The fluids evolved with migration distance, with different element enrichments, showing that inorganic elements are affected by the migration of hydrocarbon-bearing fluids. Therefore, our methodology provides a new means for tracing hydrocarbon-bearing fluid migration.

6. Summary and Conclusions

We conducted a petrological and geochemical study of reservoir rocks of the Triassic Baikouquan Formation from the slope of the Mahu Sag, Junggar Basin. Our results show that inorganic geochemical data can track the migration of hydrocarbon-bearing fluids.

The sandy conglomerate samples on the hydrocarbon-bearing fluid migration pathways underwent strong fluid-rock interactions, with formation of clay minerals, and quartz dissolution and overgrowths.

Chemically active elements, such as Mn, Fe, Al, Sr, and W, have higher contents in quartz overgrowths than in quartz cores, implying that these elements were supplied by hydrocarbon-bearing hydrothermal fluids.

MnO contents and Mn/Zr and Y/Ho ratios can be used to reconstruct the hydrocarbon migration and accumulation pathways. The direction in which these contents and ratios decrease can indicate the potential direction of hydrocarbon-bearing fluid migration. More studies from different settings would refine the results and understandings of the present study.

Data Availability

The data used to support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon request.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Acknowledgments

We would like to express our sincere thanks to PetroChina Xinjiang Oilfield Company for providing core samples and data such as formation pressure and density of crude oil. Besides, our heartfelt thanks are also expressed to the Major National Science and Technology Project (Grant Nos. 2017ZX05001 and 2016ZX03003) and National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 41702138) which provide funding for the research work.

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