Abstract This paper summarizes the characteristics and research progress of biogenic gas, with an emphasis on the genesis, geochemical characteristics, exploration and research status, formation mechanism and controlling factors of biogenic gas. It introduces the concept and characteristics of the biogenic gas system, and finally describes the distribution of biogenic gas pools and prospectivity of biogenic gas in China. Biogenic gas is the final product of the degradation of organic matter by anaerobic microorganisms in the biochemical process zone of deoxidization environment. It mainly consists of methane, and also contains some carbon dioxide and tiny amounts of nitrogen and other trace gases. The δ13C1 values for the biogenic methane gas are generally lower than -55‰. Biogenic methane gas mainly results from acetate fermentation and carbon dioxide reduction. Formation of the biogenic gas is affinitive with depositional environment, paleoclimate, types and abundance of organic matter, water medium’s characteristics, geological process and depositional time Biogenic gas is shallowly buried and widely distributed. Biogenic gas pools are developed in delta, continental shelf and continental depositional environments. The geological ages of reservoirs are Cretaceous, Paleogene, Neogene and Quaternary. In terms of reserves, the Cretaceous is the most important and followed by the Paleogene and the Neogene. The Quaternary biogenic gas pools are generally of small sizes Exploration and study history of biogenic gas in our country is not long, but biogenic gas resources are abundant and their exploration potential is encouraging.
About author: Lin Chunming, born in 1964, received a B. Sc degree from Daqing Petroleum Institute in 1986, He obtained his doctoral degree from Tongji University in 1997. He is currently a professor at the Department of Earth Sciences in Nanjing University, and is engaged in sedimentology and petroleum geology E mail: cmlin@nju edu cn。
Cite this article:
Lin Chunming,Li Yanli,Qi Binwen. Research status and exploration potential of biogenic gas[J]. JOPC, 2006, 8(3): 317-330.
Lin Chunming,Li Yanli,Qi Binwen. Research status and exploration potential of biogenic gas[J]. JOPC, 2006, 8(3): 317-330.
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