Geochemistry and possible origin of petroleum in Palaeozoic reservoirs from Halahatang Depression

The Halahatang Depression in the Tabei Uplift of the Tarim basin is an active exploration area because it has substantial reservoir potential and contains or is near to many commercial oil fields. Geochemical analysis indicates that Halahatang oils were derived from marine carbonate source rocks deposited under anoxic reducing conditions. The maturities for Halahatang oils are corresponding to the peak of the oil window and slightly higher than the neighboring Tahe oils. The Halahatang oils feature low Pr/Ph, C-21/C-23 tricyclic terpane and, C-28/C-29 sterane ratios, high C-29/C-30 hopane and C-35/C-34 hopane ratios, a "V" shape in the distribution of C-27-C-28-C-29 steranes and light carbon isotope ratios, similar to the Tahe oils and correlate well with the Middle-Upper Ordovician source rock. However, some source-related biomarker parameters imply a more reducing source organofacies with more zooplanktonic contribution than that for the Tahe oils. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.