Pyrolysis experiment and hydrocarbon generation potential of Carboniferous source rocks in the east of Qaidam basin

By taking pyrolysis experiment and analyzing composition and carbon isotopes of pyrolysis products, the hydrocarbon generation potential and products of carboniferous source rocks in the east of Qaidam basin were studied.The results showed that gas hydrocarbon generation of carboniferous source rocks were 67.27～161.01m³/t(TOC), the total gas generation of carboniferous source rocks was 220.51～453.39m³/t(TOC), these values showed that Carboniferous source rocks in the east of Qaidam basin had a high ability to produce natural gas.The yield of liquid organic matter only was from 1.73kg/t. (TOC) to 4.30kg/t(TOC), indicating lower residual oil generation capacity.However, since carboniferous source rocks are close to the maturity of oil window of the lower limit (1.3%), so the liquid organic matter yields can not reflect the oil-generating potential of Carboniferous source rocks.The reservoir-forming potential of Carboniferous source rocks has been discussed in this paper, it is predicted that the hydrocarbon generation intensity can be 14.2×10⁸～42.5×10⁸ m³/km² on Carboniferous in the east of Qaidam basin, capable of forming gas pools in certain scales.