Condensation Mechanism of Hydrocarbon Field Formation

Abstract

Petroleum geology explains how hydrocarbon fluids are generated, but there is a lack of understanding regarding how oil is expelled from source rocks and migrates to a reservoir. To clarify the process, the multi-layer Urengoy field in Western Siberia was investigated. Based on this example, we have identified an alternative mechanism of hydrocarbon field formation, in which oil and gas accumulations result from the phase separation of an upward hydrocarbon flow. There is evidence that the flow is generated by the gases released by secondary kerogen destruction. This study demonstrates that oil components are carried by the gas flow and that when the flow reaches a low-pressure zone, it condenses into a liquid with real oil properties. The transportation of oil components in the gas flow provides a natural explanation for the unresolved issues of petroleum geology concerning the migration process. The condensation mechanism can be considered as the main process of oil field formation.

Introduction

Petroleum geology successfully explains how hydrocarbon fluids are generated during sedimentation but gives no clear explanation regarding further processes, such as how fluids are expelled from source rocks (primary migration) and move to reservoirs (secondary migration)^{1, 2}. Hydrocarbons are assumed to leave a kerogen matrix via diffusion and enter the pore space of source rocks. Then, as was concluded from a long-lasting discussion of various possibilities, the primary migration occurs in the form of a hydrocarbon phase that is separated from the water^3,4,5. However, it is unclear why this process occurs and what factors drive the process. In particular, kerogen yields contain copious asphaltenes and resins throughout almost the entire course of destruction⁶. Such a liquid has difficulties to migrate due to high viscosity and strong adhesion to rocks. To add to these hurdles, source rocks usually have low permeability. A variety of methods to explain the migration mechanism have been proposed^{3, 4, 7, 8}, including rock microfracturing^{9, 10}. Furthermore, the special role of water in oil formation and expulsion has been studied¹¹. Despite the particular importance of the primary migration, its key mechanism is unknown; therefore, in practice, overly simplistic models are used¹².

Secondary migration has been experimentally^{13, 14} and theoretically^{1, 15} studied. It is assumed that oil migration occurs due to buoyancy forces along restricted pathways at first vertically and then by migration below a sealed surface to a trap location. The migration pathways are difficult to determine; thus, they are often inferred based on indirect signs such as molecular markers/indices^16,17,18, oil-bearing fluid inclusions¹⁹, or a set of these types of indicators²⁰. The pathways are also determined based on the morphology of the sealing surfaces, which enable us to predict the potential localization of hydrocarbon accumulation with a certain probability²¹. Nevertheless, the process of oil migration from the suspected source rock to the reservoir has remained elusive.

When studying migration, it is explicitly or implicitly assumed that oil moves in the liquid phase. However, there is an alternative possibility: the transfer of oil components in the gas phase. In the 1960s, it was experimentally shown that high-pressure gases are good solvents for oil hydrocarbons²². At moderate pressure, heavy oil components are poorly soluble in gas, and this fact was used as an argument against oil being carried in a gas phase²³. Nevertheless, in the more severe pressure-temperature conditions that exist at depths of 5 km or deeper, the solubility increases to a sufficient level²⁴. The gases produced in the deep part of the basin are capable of effectively capturing oil hydrocarbons from source rocks and carrying them to shallower depths, where they condense²⁵. There is only one example²⁶ of oil accumulation (“light oil”) that is formed by condensation from a migrating gas. However, this example cannot be considered as valid. This “light oil” widely differs from normal oil because of its unusually low molecular weight and C₁₀₊ density²⁶. Thus, the possibility of forming real oil fields due to the transport of oil components in gas remains a hypothesis based only on laboratory experiments.

To identify the mechanism underlying migration and hydrocarbon field formation, we selected the multi-layer Urengoy field, in which a large amount of data is available. It is necessary to clarify whether gases generated at the bottom of a sedimentary basin can carry oil components to shallower depths. This study consists of two parts. In the first part, the generation and subsequent behavior of such gases are traced. The second part investigates the formation mechanism of Urengoy oil and gas accumulations to determine whether their formation is a result of hydrocarbon flow arriving from great depths.

Results

An upward hydrocarbon flow

The bulk of the gas is generated via the destruction of oil hydrocarbons that are formed earlier during kerogen craсking (secondary destruction gases). It is possible to trace the stages of upward gas flow formation based on well-understood physical phenomena. In sedimentary basins, due to the compaction disequilibrium and hydrocarbon fluid generation^{1, 27}, a pore pressure in excess of the hydrostatic pressure is observed at a depth greater than 3 km²⁸. Model calculations indicate that at the stage of kerogen conversion into oil-type hydrocarbons, the pore pressure can approach the lithostatic pressure only at unusually low permeability conditions^{10, 29, 30}. In the next step, during the transformation of oil hydrocarbons into gas (secondary destruction), the pore pressure rapidly increases to the lithostatic pressure^31,32,33. When the pressure reaches 0.7–0.9 times the lithostatic pressure (equal to 1.6–2.1 times the hydrostatic pressure), microfractures appear. These microfractures grow and merge, forming a connected fracture system. The fracture-type permeability facilitates the primary migration³⁴. Under such circumstances, an effective mechanism of hydrocarbon transfer appears, which is caused by the buoyancy-driven propagation of isolated fluid-filled fractions³⁵. The gases of secondary destruction are characterized by high pressure, and the oil components easily dissolve in these gases. Thus, an upward flow that transports the oil hydrocarbons is formed. The flow predominantly captures light oil components³⁶, which explains why the fractions of asphaltenes and resins in oil fields are much lower than those in kerogen yields. When the upward fluid flow reaches confining rocks, the pressure begins to grow until these rocks are broken through²⁸. The simulation results³⁷ indicate that a large quantity of hydrocarbons may pass through fractures in the cap rocks in a short time.

Such an upward flow formation can be observed in the Urengoy field. To illustrate this process, data from “ultra-deep” wells within a group of fields called the Greater Urengoy Area were used. The Tyumen (SG-6) and En-Yakha (SG-7) wells were included, which are drilled to 7502 m and 8250 m, respectively. Well SG-6 is located in the center of the Koltogor-Urengoy rift, which is 60 km east of Urengoy. Well SG-7 is between the Pestsovoye and Yen-Yakha fields. According to the standard scheme of oil and gas generation based on the vitrinite reflectance, the gas zone in this region begins at 4.3 km (Fig. 1a). At a greater depth, the proportion of methane in the gas increases (Fig. 1b, Well SG-7). The gas content in the pore space reaches the highest values in the range of 4.5–6.5 km, where it exceeds 50 cm³/kg (Well SG-7³⁸). Isotopically light methane with δ¹³C_CH4 from −45 to −75 pointing to oil component destruction is observed at a depth of 5.5–8 km (Well SG-7⁴¹). According to mud logging data, gas liberation occurs in a large depth interval with a maximum value at 5.7–6.0 km (Fig. 1c, Well SG-6³⁹). Hydraulically induced microfractures have been observed in Well SG-6⁴² with a maximum amount in the interval of 5100–5650 m. Core samples from a depth of 5663–5685 m in Well SG-7 exhibit horizontal microfractures with an aperture of approximately 5 micrometers. Based on these data, the upward flow is apparently generated at a depth of 5–6 km.

Figure 1

Evidence for upward flow in the Urengoy region. (a) Vitrinite reflectance and the corresponding zones of hydrocarbon fluid generation. (b) Methane molar fraction in the pore-space gas (SG-7)³⁸. (c) Gas escape peaks on mud logs (SG-6)³⁹. (d) Pressure coefficient K_p of the northern Western Siberia fields⁴⁰. K_p values (circles) up to the Upper Jurassic–Lower Cretaceous regional seal (3 to 4 km) fall into the fracturing pressure range of 1.6–2.1, which indicates migration processes.

High-pressure gases dissolve oil components at the flow generation moment and during the upward migration through rocks (for example, through the Bazhenov formation) with a high content of liquid hydrocarbons previously generated. The upward flow transfers the high pressure from deeper to shallower formations (see example in ref. 43). Thus, in a large interval up to the regionally extended Upper Jurassic–Lower Cretaceous seal (located at a depth of 3–4 km) at a pressure coefficient K_p, the pore pressure-hydrostatic pressure ratio remains high⁴⁰, i.e., 1.6–2.1 (see Fig. 1d). This value is exactly within the range at which fractures appear and thus provides the possibility for migration. When sufficient energy is accumulated, the fluid breaks through the confining rocks and enters overlying reservoirs.

Thus, all these data indicate that the generation of secondary destruction gases leads to the formation of an upward flow capable of transferring oil components to shallower depths. In Urengoy, there is evidence that flow generation occurs at a depth of 5–6 km.

Formation of the Urengoy field

The Urengoy field^{44, 45} is one of the three largest gas fields in the world. Its hydrocarbon in-place volumes are 16 TCM of gas and 1.2 billion tons of gas condensate. The field is located at the Urengoy megaswell, which is a N-S extended anticline. The field was discovered in 1966. Later, the Yen-Yakhinskaya, Tab-Yakhinskaya areas, Pestsovoye and a number of other fields were discovered in the vicinity, which together with the Urengoy field have been named Greater Urengoy, which covers a total area of about 6,000 km². The main pay zones are in Cenomanian (1030–1260 m), Neocomian (1700–3100 m), Achimov (3500–4000 m), and Jurassic reservoirs. The Paleozoic basement is at a 5–7 km depth.

• The Cenomanian reservoir (methane 98.5%, nitrogen 1%) contains the main in-place volumes of gas of the Urengoy field. The principal source of gas is a methane release from groundwater due to pressure reduction during the Cenozoic uplift⁴⁶. High reservoir permeability of 1000 mD ensured high gas flow rates of the production wells. In the late 1980s, the Cenomanian reservoir provided a half of the country’s gas production, 300 billion m³ of gas per year.

• The Neocomian productive complex contains 22 deposits (1700 m to 3100 m). The reservoirs are represented by alternating sandstones, siltstones and mudstones. There are only gas-condensate (GC) reservoirs without noticeable oil rims at a depth shallower than 2500 m; whereas the deeper reservoirs have oil rims (GC + O). All the gas-condensate fluids are saturated⁴⁷. Initial in-place volume of oil in the oil rims in BU₈-BU₁₄ reservoirs is 300 million tons. Thermogenic gases coming from the depth 4–8 km are considered to be the primary source of hydrocarbons accumulated in the Neocomian reservoirs⁴⁸, and at the same time methane released from water is gradually added to the reservoir fluids at a shallower depth.

• The Achimov reservoirs (containing both gas-condensate fluid and oil) are saturated by hydrocarbons within the area of 11,000 km². Most of hydrocarbons in place within this area belong to Greater Urengoy (4 trillion m³ of gas and 2 billion tons of liquid hydrocarbons). The Achimov clinoform complex within the confines of the Urengoy field includes 6 reservoirs, Ach_3–4 and Ach₅ being the most significant ones. The Achimov reservoirs are overpressured. The sedimentary rocks in the base part of the Koltogor-Urengoy rift⁴⁹ are considered to be a source of hydrocarbon fluids in the Achimov reservoirs.

• The Jurassic reservoirs are represented by alternating sandstones, siltstones and mudstones, which are distributed unevenly. Reservoir porosity is 14–15%. Pressure ratio is 1.6–1.95.

Characteristics of the main Neocomian and Achimov reservoirs are summarized in Table 1. The neighboring reservoirs, which are often hydrodynamically connected, were combined into clusters from G₁ to G₈. For each cluster, the average depth, temperature and pressure were determined (see Table 1).

Table 1 Characteristics of Urengoy reservoirs.

To show that the Urengoy field is formed as a result of the liquid-gas phase separation of upward flow, a phase behavior simulation was conducted. We consider the following model of hydrocarbon field formation.

• 1) After breaking through the Upper Jurassic–Lower Cretaceous seal (depth from 3 to 4 km), the upward hydrocarbon flow simultaneously enters several neighboring reservoirs (G₇, perhaps more) at depths of less than 3 km, where the fluid separates into gas and liquid phases under in situ temperatures and pressures. Then, gravitational segregation occurs. Gas occupies the upper part of the trap, forming a gas cap, and the liquid forms an oil rim at the base.

• 2) Gas from the gas cap gradually migrates through the cap rocks into the next shallower trap, where some liquid may condense. Then, in a similar manner, the gas successively passes through the overlying traps G₆, G₅, G₄… one above another.

Because the exact composition of hydrocarbon flow in the place of its origin is unknown, the composition of gas-condensate fluid from G₈ – the deepest Urengoy cluster of reservoirs (average depth: 3650 m) – was taken as the initial composition. Using this composition, the phase separation was calculated for an instantaneous fluid charging neighboring reservoirs (see No. 1) and the sequential passage of the gas flow through the overlying traps (see No. 2).

The composition of gas-condensate fluid in G₈ (in mol%) is С₁ = 78.35, С₂ = 8.6, С₃ = 3.8, С₄ = 1.68, CO₂ = 0.1, N₂ = 0.81, С₅₊  = 6.66⁴⁷. Molar quantities (Table 2, column 3) of the lumped fractions with pre-defined boiling point ranges (Table 2, column 2) were determined from the debutanized condensate (DBC) distillation curve (Fig. 2a), generated by averaging the data from several wells. However, such C₅₊ characterization for the G₈ gas-condensate fluid would not be quite accurate due to the fact that the uncontrolled amounts of the lightest fractions had been carried away with the separated gases in the process of preparation of the DBC sample itself. The correction procedure described in “Меthods” was applied to account for this effect. The corrected molar quantities of the lumped fractions for of the G₈ reservoir fluid are shown in Table 2, column 4.

Table 2 Lumped fractions content in the G₈ reservoir fluid composition

Figure 2

Starting characteristics of upward flow. (a) Approximate curve (second-degree polynomial) for G₈ DBC distillation. Diamonds – distillation data for different wells^{47, 50}. (b) Phase diagram of the G₈ gas-condensate fluid and the upward fluid flow path on the P-T plane. The upward flow (polyline) passes through the G₈, G₇… G₁ traps (squares). The curve numbers indicate the volume fraction of liquid that results from the phase separation of the G₈ fluid under these PVT conditions.

The phase diagram, calculated based on the obtained fluid composition of G₈ (gas components + fractions), is shown in Fig. 2b. The calculated dew point pressure is 46.215 MPa at a reservoir temperature 105 °С. The earlier PVT experiments⁵¹ indicated a dew point pressure of 46.0–46.4 MPa (for the most likely С₅₊ content of 350–400 g/m³ in the reservoir gas). Thus, the calculated result is in good agreement with the actual data, which indicates that the reservoir fluid model correctly describes its phase behavior. The pressure-temperature (P-T) conditions of reservoirs G₈ to G₁ are indicated in Fig. 2b. As shown, when a gas-condensate fluid of G₈ reaches these conditions, it separates into gas and liquid phases.

Below are the results of our calculations in comparison with the actual data for the Urengoy field, namely, the characteristics of liquid and gas fluids obtained by simulating the phase separation of the upward flow at different depths in reservoirs G₇… G₁. Our main goal was to show how oil forms from an upward gas-condensate flow at shallower depths. There is a direct link between the composition / physical properties of any oil and its distillation curve. For this reason, comparison of the actual and calculated distillation curves for degassed oil and debutanized condensate has been chosen as a method to test and prove this oil formation concept.

Formation of oil

The analysis of the main properties of the liquid in G₇, which results from the phase separation of the upward flow, reveals that it is conventional oil. To demonstrate this fact, Fig. 3 shows the calculated results of the G₇ degassed liquid distillation compared with those of the distillation of real BU₁₄ oil (reservoir BU₁₄ belongs to cluster G₇). The results indicate good agreement between the theoretical curve and actual data. Additionally, the density and molecular mass show a similarity. The calculated density is 0.826 g/cm³; the real density is 0.837 g/cm³. Note that the density of primary oils (not exposed to secondary transformation) from northern Western Siberia⁵² is in the range of 0.830–0.838 g/cm³. The calculated molecular mass is 194; the actual molecular mass is 197.

Figure 3

Oil formation from upward flow. Comparison of the calculated distillation of G₇ degassed liquid (curve) with the actual distillation of BU₁₄ (belongs to cluster G₇) degassed oil (diamonds⁴⁷).

“Liquid components” content in the upward flow

Due to the pressure and temperature drop, a part of the “liquid components” (C₅₊) condenses from the upward flow. Higher pressure helps capture heavier components into the flow, in particular, heavy alkanes, as it was shown in ref. 36. Therefore, the heavy alkane content in oil may indicate the thermobaric conditions that existed upon departure of hydrocarbons from the source rock. Gas accumulations are formed, in which the proportion of “liquid” components gradually decreases. Figure 4a shows the calculated and measured C₅₊ content in the gas cap of G₈, G₇… G₁.

Figure 4

Properties of gas accumulations. (a) Calculated C₅₊ content of G₈, G₇… G₁ gas accumulations formed at the phase separation of the upward flow (circles) and actual data (diamonds⁴⁷). (b) Comparison of the calculated DBC distillation for G₂, G₄, and G₇ reservoirs (blue, green, and red curves, respectively) and actual data⁴⁷ (blue diamonds, green circles, and red squares, respectively).

Genetic relationship of all the Urengoy fluids

Figure 4b shows DBC distillation curves calculated for G₇, G₄, and G₂ reservoirs compared with the gas-condensate well test data⁴⁷ (for simplicity, only the centers of measured ranges are shown, not the whole range of data). The portion of the heaviest fractions was consistently reduced at shallower depths. Accordingly, the end boiling temperature of DBC becomes lower. Based on the conformity between calculated and actual data, the genetic relationship of the Urengoy gas-condensate fluids G₇ - > G₄ - > G₂ is clearly observed. All of them come from a common source: G₈.

The process of the reservoirs filling

Upon breaking through the Upper Jurassic–Lower Cretaceous regional seal, the G₈ gas-condensate fluid simultaneously enters the shallower traps G₇, G₆, G₅, and G₄ under their different P-T conditions. Due to a significant pressure drop, a large quantity of liquid condenses from the G₈ fluid in the above-mentioned reservoirs, thereby forming the oil rims of Urengoy. In the gas-condensate fluid of G₈, several asphalt-resinous substances are concentrated in high-boiling (more than 450 °C) distillation fractions (see Fig. 2a). When such a fluid is injected into G₇, G₆, G₅, or G₄, the asphalt-resinous substances condense, which gives the liquid a black color typical of oil. The high-boiling fractions are absent in the gas phase of G₇, G₆, G₅, and G₄ (see Fig. 4b). Therefore, when this gas migrates upward, a lighter liquid condenses. Due to a small pressure drop at the jumps from one layer to another, a small quantity of liquid drops out. Thus, this process does not lead to oil creation and oil rim formation in G₃, G₂, and G₁. It can be concluded that the Urengoy oil in G₇, G₆, G₅, and G₄ can only originate from a high-pressure fluid that is rich in heavy components and injected from a greater depth. All the shallower traps (G₃, G₂, G₁) are filled with gas. The gas phase in all the traps from G₇ to G₁ follows the same trend and becomes lighter due to a gradual loss of heavy components during its upward migration. This trend can be quantified by the DBC density, which decreases from G₇ to G₁. Figure 5a shows densities of the degassed fluids (dead oil and DBC) of the reservoirs. Based on these densities, the splitting of the “liquid components” of G₈ into two parts in the upper traps was observed (Fig. 5a). The heavier liquid components predominantly move to the oil, whereas the lighter ones mainly remain in the gas flow. The increase in the densities of the real oils G₆, G₅, and G₄ relative to G₇ oil is explained by the absence of light boiling fractions (F₁, F₂), possibly washed out by the gas flow.

Figure 5

Fluid densities at different depths (pressures). (a) Illustration of reservoir filling. Oil rim formation via G₈ gas-condensate fluid injection into adjacent traps G₇, G₆, G₅, and G₄ and subsequent gas migration through G₇… G₁ traps. Oil in G₇, G₆, G_5, and G₄ traps: red circles – calculated degassed oil density; dark red triangles – actual data⁴⁷. Gas accumulations in G₇… G₁ traps: blue circles – calculated DBC density; dark blue triangles – actual data⁴⁷. (b) DBC density variation with reservoir pressure. Circles – Urengoy reservoirs⁴⁷; triangles – other fields in northern Western Siberia⁴⁵; straight lines – corresponding linear regressions.

The decrease in DBC density with decreasing depth (pressure) is observed in many fields. Figure 5b demonstrates a linear correlation between the DBC density and pressure for the Urengoy and other fields of northern Western Siberia, which indicates a similar formation.

The agreement between the predicted oil and gas properties and the actual data over the entire depth interval provides evidence that the Urengoy field is formed as a result of the phase separation of upward flow. Starting with the hydrocarbon flow composition at a certain depth, it is possible to predict the composition of oil and gas in shallower reservoirs through the simulation of phase transitions. Simulated composition and physical properties of the liquid correspond to oil. The composition of gas accumulations formed by the upward flow becomes gradually lighter due to the precipitation of heavy components.

Methods

The simulation of phase behavior was based on the Peng-Robinson equation of state. The composition of hydrocarbon fluids is specified by the indication of molar fractions of individual components (methane, ethane, propane, butane, non-hydrocarbon gases) and lumped fractions (or pseudo-components). We address the phase behavior of fluids (gas, condensate, oil) at a high pressure in a reservoir and at a low pressure at standard conditions (20 °С, 1 atm). There are a wide variety of fluids whose distillation fraction properties are significantly different. However, to perform the calculations, fixed fractions must be set for all fluid types. The best method to take into account all the features of the fluids is the identification of “hybrid fractions.” At low boiling temperatures (up to 250 °С), the characteristics of “hybrid fractions” are based on the condensate distillation (“condensate fractions”); at higher temperatures, they are defined in a conventional manner (“standard fractions”) – see Table 3. To calculate the density of liquids under standard conditions, we assumed that the liquid’s volume equals the sum of the volumes of all components. Hence, the “condensate fractions” were used for the condensate density calculation, whereas the “standard fractions” were used for the density of dead oil.

Table 3 Characteristics of fluid fractions.

In the Urengoy field, the G₈ gas-condensate composition was determined based on fluid samples taken from a surface separator. Gas components were determined on a chromatograph, the multi-component “lumped” fractions of С₅₊ were determined from the debutanized condensate (DBC) distillation. DBC was obtained in the following process. The wellstream was separated at 40–50 MPa in a separator into gas and crude condensate; the latter was then stabilized at atmospheric pressure; then the components lighter than pentane were removed from the degassed condensate; and finally, DBC was recovered. In the process of separation, degassing and debutanization, some light fractions were carried away by separating gases in an uncontrolled manner adding an error to calculation of the original G₈ composition.

To address this issue, a computer simulation⁵³ of the phase separation process in the following chain: gas-condensate fluid in reservoir - > condensate in separator - > degassed condensate - > DBC was used. Based on this model, the inverse problem was numerically solved. As the result, the original G₈ composition (by individual gas components and fractions) was back-calculated from the known composition of DBC.

Discussion

The transfer of oil components by the gas flow naturally explains primary and secondary migration. Difficulties with primary migration arise if it is assumed that oil migrates as a liquid from the beginning. In this case, there are unresolved issues regarding driving forces, a high content of asphaltene-resinous components and residual saturation. If we assume that oil components migrate in the gas phase, there are no such difficulties. The generation of secondary destruction gases leads to high pressure, which creates fracturing conditions in source rocks. Under such high pressure, the oil components become soluble in gas. The gas, when generated, directly contacts the liquid products of kerogen destruction and, therefore, quickly becomes highly saturated with oil hydrocarbons. The migration of gas together with oil components through microcracks (primary migration) and secondary migration in rocks or along the cracks is not a problem because of high gas mobility. The transfer of oil components occurs in the gas phase; therefore, oil does not migrate as a liquid. Accordingly, there are no traces of residual oil saturation. Oil migrates as a liquid only after it has condensed from the flow. Oil field formation begins with the condensation of microdroplets of oil from the upward flow. Then, oil concentrates at the bottom and forms an oil rim. While charging a trap, the oil rim moves downwards and is pushed by the increasing volume of gas until the trap is completely filled. Then, bulk phase oil begins to migrate laterally and upward, which charges adjacent traps.

A hydrocarbon flow that transports oil hydrocarbons from a greater depth upwards necessarily originates in the sedimentary basins capable of generating secondary destruction gases. So, oil fields can be formed by this way, when a sedimentary basin is sufficiently deep to generate the secondary destruction gases. It is known, that the sedimentary basins with large oil reserves have a depth of more than 5 km; all large and especially giant fields belong to deep sedimentary basins⁵⁴.

Once emerged, the upward flow will continuously progress. The flow intensity depends on the amount of organic matter in the rocks that enter the flow generation zone. Thus, a large quantity of oil accumulates at the depth of condensation over geological time. The depth at which the upward flow originates is defined as 5–7 km or greater. Here, with the pressure ratio of 1.6–2.1, the pore pressure is 80–140 MPa. At such a high pressure, the gas saturation with oil hydrocarbons is approximately 1 kg/kg or more⁷. Specifically, the gas carries an equal mass of oil hydrocarbons. Only a small part of the gas from the flow is retained in the traps, whereas the oil condensed from the flow remains. Therefore, the oil mass brought by the flow into the oil deposits is many times greater than the mass of all gas accumulations existing in the basin. These arguments allow us to suggest that the transposition of oil hydrocarbons by gas provides the bulk of oil in the oil fields.

The oil- and gas-bearing basins are the results of consecutive stages in one evolutionary process. Initially, gas accumulations with small oil rims appear. Then, the traps are gradually filled with new portions of oil that fall out from the upward flow, whereas gas escapes through the cap rock. When the hydrocarbon flow stops and all gas escapes, only oil fields remain in the basin.

Conclusions

We have identified an alternative mechanism for hydrocarbon field formation, which is that oil and gas accumulations are formed by phase separation of an upward hydrocarbon flow. At the stage of secondary kerogen destruction, a large quantity of gas is produced to create high pressure and generate microfractures. An upward gas flow arises. The flow captures dispersed oil hydrocarbons, which have no other path to exit the source rock. Oil components are carried by the gas flow, and when the flow reaches a low-pressure zone, part of it condenses into liquid that has the properties of real oil. With decreasing depth, the fluids of gas-condensate accumulations formed by upward flow gradually become lighter because of the loss of the heaviest fractions.

Oil, as a liquid with a well-known composition and properties, appears at the moment of its condensation from the hydrocarbon flow. Two main steps of transformation can be determined. First, oil hydrocarbons that are dispersed in source rocks dissolve in the gas flow, predominantly the lighter ones. The second step is related to the condensation from the flow. Preferably, the heavier fractions condense into the oil.

The transportation of oil components in the gas flow explains the unresolved issues of petroleum geology concerning the mechanism of migration. The natural origin of an upward hydrocarbon flow in sufficiently deep sedimentary basins and its sustained activity over geological time lead to large oil accumulations at the depth of condensation. These factors provide a basis to consider the transportation of oil components in a gas flow and subsequent condensation as a main process of oil field formation.