Origins of High H2S-bearing Natural Gas in China

Natural gas containing hydrogen sulphide (H2S) has been found in several petroliferous basins in China, such as the Sichuan Basin, Bohai Bay Basin, Ordos Basin, Tarim Basin, etc. Natural gas with higher H2S contents (H2S ＞5% mol.) is mostly distributed in both the gas reservoirs of Dukouhe, Luojiazhai, Puguang and Tieshanpo, which belong to the Triassic Feixianguan Formation in the northeastern Sichuan Basin and those of the Kongdian-Shahejie formations in the northeastern Jinxian Sag of the Jizhong Depression, Bohai Bay Basin. In the Sichuan Basin, the H2S contents of natural gas average over 9% and some can be 17 %, while those of the Bohai Bay Basin range from 40 % to 92 %, being then one of the gas reservoirs with the highest H2S contents in the world. Based on detailed observation and sample analysis results of a total 5000 m of core from over 70 wells in the above-mentioned two basins, especially sulfur isotopic analysis of gypsum,brimstone, pyrite and natural gas, also with integrated study of the geochemical characteristics of hydrocarbons, it is thought that the natural gas with high H2S contents resulted from thermochemical sulfate reduction (TSR) reactions.Among them, the natural gas in the Feixianguan Formation resulted from TSR reactions participated by hydrocarbon gas,while that in the Zhaolanzhuang of the Jinxian Sag being the product of TSR participated by crude oil. During the consumption process of hydrocarbons due to TSR, the heavy hydrocarbons were apt to react with sulfate, which accordingly resulted in the dry coefficient of natural gas increasing and the carbon isotopes becoming heavier.