Characteristics and hydrocarbon generation kinetics of the Carboniferous source rocks in the Ludong-Wucaiwan area, the Junggar Basin

There are good exploration prospects of petroleum from the Carboniferous source rocks in the Ludong-Wucaiwan area, the Junggar Basin. Routine analysis was carried out to evaluate the Carboniferous source rock samples collected from the Ludong-Wucaiwan area. The results show that the Carboniferous source rocks have high abundance, wide maturity range from mature to high mature, and the source rock have organic matter with Type Ⅲ kerogen. Further kinetic study was performed by using open system pyrolysis to elucidate the characteristics of the hydrocarbon generation. The tries on the hydrocarbon generation process of the matured source rocks and the estimation of liquid hydrocarbon expulsion from type Ⅲ kerogen are conducted, and hydrocarbon yield of Carboniferous hydrocarbon source rocks was calculated. The results show that the hydrocarbon-generation started in the Permian(about 264 Ma), and ended in the early Paleogene(about 61 Ma), since the strata uplifted. The Lower Carboniferous hydrocarbon source rocks, which have large hydrocarbon yield, expulsed the liquid hydrocarbon from 232 Ma to 196 Ma. The Upper Carboniferous hydrocarbon source rocks, which have small hydrocarbon yield, expulsed the liquid hydrocarbon from 196 Ma to 178 Ma. However, the natural gas generated relatively late from the Upper Carboniferous, which is beneficial to be preserved. The natural gas probably derived from the Upper Carboniferous source rocks.