Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Isotopic geochemistry of non-hydrocarbons in natural gases from the Sanshui Basin, Guangdong Province, China

  • Published:
Chinese Journal of Geochemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study is focused on geothermal heat flow and the origin of non-hydrocarbons in natural gases in terms of the isotope geochemical characteristics of Ar, He, CO2 and N2 in natural gases from the Sanshui Basin, Guangdong Province. China.3He/4He ratios are of (1.60-6.39) × 10-6, and40Ar/36Ar ratios of 450–841. The carbon isotopic composition (δl3C PDB) of carbon dioxide ranges from -20‰ to -2‰. δl5N(air) ratios have a wider range of-57 ‰- +95 ‰. The isotope geochemical characteristics of non-hydrocarbons indicate that He, Ar and N2 in the gas reservoirs enriched in non-hydrocarbons were derived largely from the upper mantle. Non-hydrocarbons in gaseous hydrocarbon reservoirs consist mainly of crustal radiogenic He and40Ar and some mantle-derived He and Ar, as well as of13C-depleted carbon dioxide and nitrogen generated as a result of thermal decomposition of organic matter in strata. Carbon dioxide enriched in13C was derived largely from carbonate rocks and partially from the lower crust and upper mantle.

Based on the relationship between geothermal heat flow (Q) and3He/4 He ratio in natural gases, the Q values for the area studied have been calculated. Similar Q values are reported from the upper mantle uplift area (77 mWm-2) in Huabei and the Tancheng-Lujiang Rift Zone (88 mWm-2). More than 60 percent of geothermal heat flow in the Sanshui Basin may have been derived from the upper mantle.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Craig H., Lupton J. E. and Horibe Y. (1987) Mantle helium component in Circum-Pacific volcanic gases: Hakone, the Marianas and Mt. Lassen. Terrestrial Rare Gases (Advances in Earth and Planetary Sciences), Center for Academic Publications, Japan,3, 3 -16.

    Google Scholar 

  • Du, J. and Xu, Y. (1988) Geochemical characteristics and origins of natural gases from the Sanshui Basin. Annual Research Report of Biogeochemistry and Gasgeochemistry Laboratory. Lanzhou Institute of Geology, Academia Sinica (1987) Gansu Publishing House of Science and technology, Lanzhou, 150–166 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Emrich, K., Ehhalt, D. H. and Vogel, J. C. (1970) Carbon isotope fractionation during the precipitation of calcium carbonate.Earth Planet. Sci. Lett.,8, 363–371.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Germann, F. E. E. (1938) The occurrence of carbon dioxide (with notes on the origin and relative importance of subterranean carbon dioxide).Science,87 (2267), 513–52.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Headlee, A. J. W. (1962) Carbon dioxide, nitrogen crucial to oil migration?World Oil,155 (5), 126–144.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoefs, J. (1980) Stable Isotope Geochemistry. Springer-Verlag, Berlin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoering, T. C. and Moore, H. E. (1958) The isotopic composition of the nitrogen in natural gases and associated crude oils.Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta,13, 225–232.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kaneoka, I. and Takaoka, N. (1985) Noble-gas state in the earth interior —some constraints on the present state.Chemical Geology (Isotope Geoscience Section, 3),52, 75–94.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, W. and Xu, Y. (1987) Relationship between argon in natural gas, and potassium in source rocks. Annual Research Report of Biogeochem. and Gasgeochem. Lab. Lanzhou Institute of Geology, Academia Sinica. Gansu Pub. House of Sci. and Techno., Lanzhou, 191–200 (in Chinese).

  • Morgan, P., Sawka, W. and Furlong, K. P. (1987) Background and implications of the linear heat flow-heat production relationship.Geophys. Res. Lett.,14 (3), 248–251.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parada, C. B., Long, A. and Davis, S. N. (1983) Stable-isotopic composition of soil carbon dioxide in the Tucson Basin, Arizona,U. S. A. Isot. Geosci.,1, 219–236.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pinet, C. and Jaupart, C. (1987) The vertical distribution of radiogenic heat production in the Precambrian crust of Norway and Sweden: geothermal implication.Geophys. Res. Lett.,14 (3), 260–263.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Polayk, B. G., Prasolov, E. M., Cermak, V. and Verkhovskiy, A. B. (1985) Isotopic composition of noble gases in geothermal fluids of the Krusne Hoey Mts., Czechoslovakia, and the nature of the local geothermal anomaly.Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta,49, 695–699.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rigby, D. and Batts, B. D. (1986) The isotopic composition of nitrogen in Austration coals and oil shales.Chem. Geol. (Isoto. Geosci. Sect.),58, 273–282.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sano, Y. (1988) Helium isotope ratios and tectonics.Geochemistry,22, 1–11 (in Japanese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Stahl, W. J. (1977) Carbon and nitrogen isotopes in hydrocarbon research and exploration.Chemi. Geol.,20, 121–149.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tang, Z. (1984) Relationship between volcanism and oil, gas in the Sanshui Basin.Oil and Gas Geolo.,5 (2). 89–100 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Tedesco, D., Allard, P., Sano, Y., Wakita, H. and Pece, R. (1990) Helium-3 in subaerial and submarine fumaroles of Campi Flegrei caldera, Italy.Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta,54, 1105–1116.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Togersen, T. and Jenkins, W. J. (1982) Helium isotopes in geothermal systems: Iceland, the Geysers, Raft River and Steamboat Springs.Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta,46, 739–748.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Valyayev, B. M. and Grinchenko, Yu. I. (1985) The origin of isotopically ultraheavy carbon dioxide.Internal. Geol. Rev.,27 (11), 1315–1324.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, J. and Huang, S. (1987) Linear relationship between heat flow and heat production in Panxi paleorift zone, Southwestern China.Geophys. Res. Lett.,14 (3), 272–274.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu, Q., Xian, Y., Zhu, J. and Wang, D. (1985) Terrestrial heat flow and seismicity in North China. Research on Recent Crustal Movement, Seismological Press, Beijing, 133–141 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Xu, Y. and Shen, P. (1985) A preliminary study on geochemical characteristics of coal-type gas in Zhongyuan-Huabei oil-gas area. ActaSedimentologica Sinica,3 (2), 37–46 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhen, G. (1986) Distribution and occurrence of non-hydrocarbon gases in Guangdong Province.Oil and Gas Geol.,7 (4), 404–411 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Biogeochemistry and Gas-Geochemistry, Lanzhou Institute of Geology, Academia Sinica, 730000, Lanzhou

    Du Janguo & Liu Wenhui

Authors
  1. Du Janguo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Liu Wenhui
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

The project is financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Janguo, D., Wenhui, L. Isotopic geochemistry of non-hydrocarbons in natural gases from the Sanshui Basin, Guangdong Province, China. Chin. J. of Geochem. 10, 318–325 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02841092

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02841092

Keywords

Search

Navigation