Geochemical characteristics of Cambrian bitumen and Cambrian-Ordovician source rocks in the Keping area, NW Tarim Basin

The Cambrian Yuertus Formation and Ordovician Saergan and Yingan formation source rocks, which TOC contents of 0.38%-4.30%, are well developed in the Keping area of the Tarim Basin. Reservoir bitumen had been found in the Cambrian Wusongger Formation and Shayilike Formation. In this study, the geochemical characteristics of the bitumen and source rocks were analyzed through biomarkers for oil-source correlation. The results show that the characteristics of the bitumen and Yuertus Formation source rocks are similar. Comparatively, the Yuertus Formation source rocks and bitumen have lower Pr/Ph values and higher C28/C29 regular steranes values. The maturity characteristics and depositional environment of the Cambrian source rocks in the Keping area and the platform basin areas are similar. Plots of Ph/n-C18 versus Pr/n-C17, Ts/(Ts+Tm) versus 4-/1-MDBT (methyl dibenzothiophene), and DBT/P (dibenzothiophene/phenanthrene) versus Pr/Ph distinguish the bitumen and source rocks well. As an original plot, we found that the Fla/Py (fluoranthene/pyrene) versus MP/P (methyl-phenanthrene/phenanthrene) intersection plot can be used to identify the possible sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) to a certain extent and can distinguish between the Cambrian and Ordovician source rocks in this study. Comprehensive analysis revealed that the bitumen samples most likely originated from the Yuertus Formation source rocks. It was also found that the biomarker characteristics such as the shape type of the C27-C28-C29 regular steranes, triarylosteranes, and triarylosteroids are not applicable to distinguishing the Cambrian and Ordovician source rocks in the Keping area. These research findings provide references for studying the Lower Paleozoic oil-source correlation in the platform in the Tarim Basin.