| Title | Geochemical evidence for the internal migration of gas condensate in a major unconventional tight petroleum system |
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| Author | Cesar, J ;
Ardakani, O H |
| Source | Scientific Reports vol. 12, 7931, 2022 p. 1-15, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-11963-6  Open Access |
| Image |  |
| Year | 2022 |
| Alt Series | Natural Resources Canada, Contribution Series 20230059 |
| Publisher | Springer Nature Limited |
| Document | serial |
| Lang. | English |
| Media | paper; digital; on-line |
| File format | pdf; html |
| Province | Alberta; British Columbia |
| NTS | 83; 84; 93; 94 |
| Area | Montney |
| Lat/Long WENS | -123.7744 -116.7286 59.3675 52.8256 |
| Subjects | Science and Technology; geochemistry; fossil fuels; petroleum; Internal migration |
| Illustrations | tables; location maps; cross-plots; charts; diagrams |
| Program | Energy Geoscience Program Coordination |
| Released | 2022 05 13 |
| Abstract | Unconventional petroleum systems go through multiple episodes of internal hydrocarbon migration in response to evolving temperature and pressure conditions during burial and uplift. Migrated fluid
signatures can be recognized using stable carbon isotope and PVT compositional data from produced samples representative of in-situ petroleum fluids. Such samples, however, are seldom collected due to operational complexity and high cost. Here, we
use carbon isotope and PVT data from co-produced hydrocarbon gas and liquid to provide evidence for widespread migration of gas-condensate in the Montney unconventional petroleum system of western Canada. Extended C1-C33 isotopic profiles exhibit
convex upward signatures with C4-C5 maxima at low molecular weight, and increasing or nearly uniform signatures at high molecular weight. Additionally, recombination PVT compositional data show C6-C15 condensate concentrations are higher than
expected for unmodified oils. The combined convex upward and increasing or uniform isotopic signatures are interpreted as mixing profiles formed by the introduction of high-maturity gas-condensate (C1-C15) to shallower zones with in-situ hydrocarbon
fluids of lower thermal maturity. The recognition of widespread gas-condensate migration adds to the complex history of internal hydrocarbon migration within the Montney tight petroleum system including previously identified migration episodes of
early oil and late-stage methane-rich gas. |
| Summary | (Plain Language Summary, not published)
This study identifies widespread migration of gas-condensate in the Montney unconventional petroleum system of western Canada, based on molecular and
carbon isotope distributions. The findings thus affirm that not only methane, but also liquid hydrocarbon |
| GEOSCAN ID | 331882 |
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