Complex (superimposed) petroleum systems as the main object of exploration for ultra-deep deposits and unconventional resources

UDK: 550.8

DOI: 10.24887/0028-2448-2025-5-7-14

Key words: petroleum system (PS), total petroleum system (TPS), whole petroleum system (WPS), ultra-deep sections, unconventional resources, basin modeling

Authors: S.F. Khafizov (Gubkin University, RF, Moscow); K.I. Dantsova (Gubkin University, RF, Moscow); P.E. Syngaevsky (Eastern Mediterranean Business Unit (EMBU) Chevron, USA, Texas, Houston); N.N. Kosenkova (Nostrum E&P Services, RF, Saint-Petersburg)

The article is devoted to complex (superimposed) petroleum systems considering them as the main object of search for ultra-deep deposits and unconventional resources. Technological progress in geology and oil and gas production in recent decades has been concentrated in two areas. The first one is development of so-called unconventional reservoirs and the second is ultra-deep projects. Previously these two areas had been perceived as alternatives to each other, but they have recently converged because of the fact that unconventional reservoirs at ultra-depths are no longer seen as unprospective. This is mainly due to the fact that areas of high-capacity reservoir development have been established at ultra-deep depths and hypotheses were proposed about the ways of predicting them. In addition to all mentioned above, it has been proved that oil and gas source strata remain productive at depths greater than 9000 meters. All these recent discoveries require appropriate changes in the methods of oil and gas forecasting, including basin modeling, not only at the level of test projects, but also in routine projects. Successful experience in modeling of certain complex systems, carried out in test mode, should be studied and replicated. To optimize exploration work, it is also recommended to consider the geothermal potential of the studied objects.

References

1. Cheng-Zao Jia, Xiong-Qi Pang, Yan Song, Whole petroleum system and ordered distribution pattern of conventional and unconventional oil and gas reservoirs, Petroleum Science, 2023, V. 20, no. 1, pp. 1–19, DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.petsci.2022.12.012

2. Cheng-Zao Jia, Xiong-Qi Pang, Song Yan, Basic principles of the whole petroleum system, Petroleum Exploration and Development, 2024, V. 51(4), pp. 780–794,

DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/S1876-3804(24)60506-9

3. Tao Hu, Xiongqi Pang, Fujie Jiang. Whole petroleum system theory and new directions for petroleum geology development, Advances in Geo-Energy Research, 2024, V. 11(1), DOI: http://doi.org/10.46690/ager.2024.01.01

4. Zhijun Jin, Hydrocarbon accumulation and resources evaluation: Recent advances and current challenges, Advances in Geoenergy Research, 2023, V. 8(1),

DOI: http://doi.org/10.46690/ager.2023.04.01

5. Lixin Chen et al., An overview of the differential carbonate reservoir characteristic and exploitation challenge in the Tarim Basin (NW China), Energies, 2023, V. 16,

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/en16155586

6. Kosenkova N.N., Syngaevskiy P.E., Khafizov S.F., Review of the modern ideas about the hydrocarbon accumulations formation processes at the great depth

(In Russ.), Neftyanoe khozyaystvo = Oil Industry, 2022, no. 5, pp. 6–12, DOI: https://doi.org/10.24887/0028-2448-2022-5-6-12

7. Valenza J., Kortunov P., Alzobaidi S. et al., Origins of pressure dependent permeability in unconventional hydrocarbon reservoirs, Sci Rep., 2023, V. 13(1),

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-33601-5

8. Gaucher E.C., Moretti I., Pélissier N. et al., The place of natural hydrogen in the energy transition: A position paper, Eur. Geol., 2023 V. 55, pp. 5–9,

DOI: http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8108239

9. Jackson O., Lawrence S.R., Hutchinson I.P. et al., Natural hydrogen: sources, systems and exploration plays, Geoenergy, 2024, V. 2(1),

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1144/geoenergy2024-002

10. Wenyang Wang, Pang Xiong, Wang Yaping et al., Critical condition of the depth limit of oil accumulation of carbonate reservoirs and its exploration significance in the lower Ordovician of the Tazhong area in the Tarim basin, American Chemical Society, 2024, DOI: http://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.3c07793

11. Jianzhong LI, Xiaowan Tao, Bin Bai et al., Geological conditions, reservoir evolution and favorable exploration directions of marine ultra-deep oil and gas in China,

Petroleum Exploration and Development, 2021, V. 48, no. 1, pp. 60–79, DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/S1876-3804(21)60005-8

12. Juan He, Factors controlling the development of carbonate reservoirs of Ordovician Yingshan formation in the Gucheng area, Tarim Basin, Energy Geoscience, 2023, V. 4, no. 3, DOI: doi.org/10.1016/j.engeos.2022.100147

13. Qiang Ren, Zhen Sun, Hu Wang et al., Characteristics and genesis of carbonate weathering crust reservoirs: A case from the Ma5Member of Ordovician in Gaoqiao Area, Ordos Basin, China, ACS Omega, 2024, V. 9(32), pp. 34329–34338, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.4c00292

14. Mengying Yang, Xiucheng Tan, Zhaolei Fei et al., Differential evolution and main controlling factors of inner-platform carbonate reservoirs in restricted–evaporative environment: A case study of O2m56 in the Ordos Basin, North China, Minerals, 2025, V. 15(3), DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/min15030236/

15. Wang Xinpeng, Chen Shuping, Feng Guimin et al., Delaminated fracturing and its controls on hydrocarbon accumulation in carbonate reservoirs of weak deformation regions: A case study of the Yuanba ultra-deep gas field in Sichuan basin, China, Frontiers in Earth Science, 2022, V. 10, DOI: http://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2022.884935

16. Malysheva S.V., Vasil'ev V.E., Komissarov D.K. et al., Modeling of Bazhenov formation of Western Siberia as an unconventional hydrocarbon source (In Russ.), Neftyanoe khozyaystvo = Oil Industry, 2012, no. 12, pp. 14-17.

17. Guangyou Zhu, Milkov A., Li Jingfei et al., Deepest oil in Asia: Characteristics of petroleum system in the Tarim basin, China, Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 2021, V. 199, DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2021.108246

18. Kiswaka E.B., Mshiu E.E., Mafia deep basin: basin development and petroleum system elements, J. Sediment. Environ., 2023, no. 8, pp. 153–173,

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s43217-023-00128-8

19. Li Guoyu, World atlas of oil and gas basins, Wiley-Blackwell, 2011, 496 p., DOI: https://doi.org/10.5860/choice.48-6656

20. Xiongqi Pang, Chengzao Jia, Kun Zhang et al., The depth limit for the formation and occurrence of fossil fuel resources, Earth System Science Data Discussions, 2019, http:// doi.org/10.5194/essd-2019-72