Hydrocarbon migration and accumulation in buried hills based on quantitative fluorescence techniques, fluid inclusion, and 1D basin modeling: Shulu sag, Bohai Bay basin, NE China

Interpreting the hydrocarbon generation, migration, and accumulation process is significant for understanding hydrocarbon evolution and finding exploration targets. The buried hills of Shulu Sag exhibit great potential for hydrocarbon exploration. However, the variations observed in different oil reservoirs highlight the complexity of hydrocarbon migration and accumulation in this region. In this study, 1D basin modeling, fluid inclusion analysis, and quantitative fluorescence techniques were used to investigate the thermal maturation history of the source rock, the timing of hydrocarbon charging, the pathway of hydrocarbon migration, and the oil-water contact. Hydrocarbons in the buried hills in the Western Slope and Paleo-uplift are derived from the source rocks at the edge and center of the sag, respectively, which have different thermal maturation histories. The source rocks in the center of the sag mainly supply hydrocarbons to the Paleo-uplift through faults, while the hydrocarbons generated from the source rocks in the edge of the sag can be rapidly transported to the Western Slope through clast-supported terrigenous carbonate rudstone. Differences in oil sources result in different hydrocarbon charging histories for the Western Slope and Paleo-uplift. The Western Slope experienced a single low-mature oil charging event at 5-0 Ma, while the Paleo-uplift encountered two hydrocarbon charging events, including low-mature oil charging at 35-25 Ma and high-mature oil charging at 5-0 Ma. As a result of secondary changes controlled by the hydrological environment, the oil reservoirs in the Western Slope have undergone varying degrees of adjustment or even destruction, resulting in variations in the oil quality of different buried hills. The results provide a detailed understanding of hydrocarbon migration and accumulation in the study area, which can be used as a reference for hydrocarbon exploration. © 2024 Elsevier Ltd